Well, the wife and I finally made it to Smokin. The Adventure Bound RV Park just opened for the season a few days before we arrived, and they're having a few problems getting things up and running. We spent our first day moving from one site to another as we had electrical problems at the first, then the water pump for the section where we relocated broke down, and we finally wound up in Site #1 where everything kind of works for now. At least we'll be easy to find if anyone wants to stop by and say hello.

For those renting cabins, they appear to be quite nice as cabins go. Only one is occupied now, and I chatted the guy up to inquire as to his water pressure which was good. It's also good in the restrooms and laundry rooms, but at my site I'm only getting 15 psi on my gauge (which won't even blow my thumb off the end of the spigot), and as I walk around the park I find it varies from just a trickle at some sites to full pressure at others.

To avoid potential confusion, the new name is Adventure Bound, however, some road signs use the old name Crazy Horse, and some use both names, but they all lead to the same place. We came in the long way from I-40, exit 440, and 73 to 321. That route would be a fun drive running empty, but my exhaust brake had just stopped working before we got to Knoxville, and some of the downhill approaches to hairpin turns made me realize that I really need to upgrade at least my front brakes to the new cyro rotors with heavy duty pads. Good news is that I think I've found the problem to be a bad relay for the pull-in solenoid, and I've got that part ordered so I should have my brake repaired soon.

Anyone using Cingular won't be able to get a connection with just their phone. Using my outside antenna and special booster amplifier, I can get 1 to 2 bars which is just enough for a call or a very low data rate connection to the internet. As an old time ham radio operator, I think I could send my emails faster using Morse code.

I talked with Diane today to order my DP so I can install it at Smokin, and I confirmed that there will be a dyno set up at the RV park all day on Fri and Sat, and something at the local drag strip on Fri night.

I had two days of (for me) cold weather towing from Memphis to get here, and I did some road testing and some analysis which confirms the advantage of getting as much cool air as possible into the turbo inlet for producing extra HP. I'll write up my results and post them, but I was so impressed with my findings that I've already removed my ugly splash guard so that now I've got unrestricted flow of outside air directly into the inlet of my AIS.

 

Cool!!
Seen Kris yet?

 

No, Smokin doesn't start until a week from this coming Fri on 20 April, I'm the early bird, but no worms because the ground's still frozen! Even the bears are still in hibernation! Actually, it finally warmed up some the past day or so which is good because I'm almost out of propane and they don't have any yet at this RV park.

 

Kris better keep us posted about what's happenin' when he gets there, and he BETTER CALL HIS MOM, too!!! ;-)))

Pop

 

Hehehe, there's no way he's going to forget with all of us FTE "parents" making sure of it.

 

Though she doesn't know it, she's got the aid of an entire army keeping her son upright and straight. She wouldn't worry if she knew.

On second thought, maybe she does! ;-))

Pop

 

We (the family) should be in Pigeon Forge sometime Sunday. With two kids, "sometime" is as concrete as it gets.

 

Ernest, you've got some weather, as in heavy rain headed your way if it isn't there already. Never mind, I see round one has gone through. Round two just went through here. Not as bad as the first set.

Probably won't hear from him here again tonight.

 

I'm jealous..... sucks to be stuck at home.

 

Tenn,


Next year I'll head out & go past you - maybee we can drive out together.

 

Hey......

Good news and i don't know who i have told or who i haven't but my father IS coming with me, we are saying "heck with it" for a week from the business and just going, i think he is almost as excited about going as i am. The one buddy had a prior obligation that he thought wasn't the week of the trip but turned out to be so he couldnt make it.

Slowly prepping the truck, ball joints (PITFA) and RF u-joint i found siezed (can't drag race like that!) new springs etc. I fixed a HPX oil leak tonight and retorquing every nut or bolt i can get at, making sure the stacks are straight, etc. Packing the toolbox with stuff and tools i might need for rest assurance.

Ernest im making some headway on that gauge, once i get my truck back on the ground i'll head to the store and get all of the parts i need, and "test it out" on the way down.

Is anyone lodging at Deer Ridge?

 

Okay, sounds good. I think I'm gonna run down there with Kris for at least a day if all goes well when he passes through. Don't really need anything, just a selfish me, myself, and I, guy thing. Meet a few people and get out of here.

 

Just a selfless you, yourself, me and Dad guy thing.

 

That too! Don't forget, I have quite an assortment of tools at my disposal as well. Once you're in my "area of influence", I'll be ready to assist if needed. I ended up taking the week off. Somebody had to do it.

 

I bought some new wipers last night hoping that i wouldn't need them like you do now..