Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » trip report: Birmingham AL to Lexington VA part1
| trip report: Birmingham AL to Lexington VA part1 [message #102614] |
Mon, 11 October 2010 16:50  |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
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We had a great trip from Birmingham up to my 10yr college reunion in Virginia. Had a couple issues including a separated exhaust and a destroyed tire, plus a few blown fuses and other minor stuff, but the trip went well. First time towing my HHR and it went pretty smooth. Some comments on the trip:
First, I can't thank Chuck Boyd enough for helping me out with two problems around the Knoxville area. Heading north up 221 to Linville Falls NC our separated exhaust boiled my overfilled gas tanks so much coming up the steep grade that we spilled fuel out our vapor canister. A few lessons learned. 1) Straight pipe should we welded to the y pipes so it can't slip out the clinch 2) I need a new liquid/vapor separator, 3) don't overfill the gas tanks and 4) know the grade before starting up it. Should have unhooked the two where we got gas at the bottom of 221. Didn't realize the campground was 10 miles of 7%+ grade on top of a mountain...
The second thing I have to thank Chuck for is his help Sunday afternoon when our misaligned front-rear passenger tire stripped it's tread. Chuck directed us perfectly to a tire place that got us back on the road this morning with a new 16.5x8.75 Firestone Transforce. Chuck knew the place, gave spot on directions, provided us with the name and number. You can't ask for more help than that.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: trip report: Birmingham AL to Lexington VA part2 [message #102616 is a reply to message #102614] |
Mon, 11 October 2010 16:57  |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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I broke this up into two pieces to keep them short for space purposes...
Some comments on the drive. 221 to Linville Falls NC is a bear. It runs right up besides Grandfather Mountain. It's steep, 8-10% by my estimation, and a long grade (7.5 miles). Be ready for 2nd gear or even 1st. However, the Linville Falls campground at the top is a wonderful small campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Only 10 acres, but they went with the natural surroundings instead of plowing it all under to squeeze as many in as possible.
However, if you don't want to make the climb in your GMC, you can stay at Tom Johnson's Campground and Service Center in Marion NC. This place was fantastic. They parked us overnight, got us in first thing in the a.m. to put our exhaust back together, and got us out on the road. It's a very nice campground with possibly the nicest bath house I've ever heard of in a campground. It would be a great place for a GMCMI convention due to location, the large convention camp area, and the great service station. Couldn't ask for nicer people.
I-77 between I-40 and I-81 in the NC/VA area has a bear of grade on it. We have a 3.55 and pulled it in second gear with the HHR in tow. 8 miles of 6-7% grade and a whole line of pulled over trucks at the top. I know it's not a patch on some of the climbs out west, but it caught me by surprise.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: trip report: Birmingham AL to Lexington VA part3 [message #102620 is a reply to message #102614] |
Mon, 11 October 2010 17:03 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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OK. I lied, 3 pieces for size purposes...
The Glen Maury Park campground in Buena Vista VA is not very nice. It is, however, only 7 miles from downtown Lexington, VA. Lexington, besides being my college town, has the Lee Chapel Museum where Robert E. Lee and his family is buried, but also the Marshall Museum on the Virginia Military Institute campus. The campuses are both small, open, and walkable to each other. These museums are wonderful for history buffs. There is also easy access to VA's Natural Bridge, which is also a neat stop.
Pigeon Forge TN... we'll be back. We only had the one night there but it was neat to look around. We stayed at Rippling Waters campground which was close to the interstate but not too far from downtown. There are other options, but this one was clean, neat, and well-cared for. It was also close to Go Forth Tire which had the Firestones I needed (Thanks again Chuck!).
Anyway, a good trip overall. It was our longest by miles, time, and the first through the mountains (and with a toad). We had some problems, but overall the coach ran great and we were pleased.
My soon to be 1yr old daughter, the dog, the parrot, and my wife and I look forward to our next adventure.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: trip report: Birmingham AL to Lexington VA part2 [message #102632 is a reply to message #102616] |
Mon, 11 October 2010 20:20 |
shawnee
Messages: 422
Registered: February 2004
Location: NC
Karma: 0
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| jknezek wrote on Mon, 11 October 2010 17:57 |
I broke this up into two pieces to keep them short for space purposes...
Some comments on the drive. 221 to Linville Falls NC is a bear. It runs right up besides Grandfather Mountain. It's steep, 8-10% by my estimation, and a long grade (7.5 miles). Be ready for 2nd gear or even 1st. However, the Linville Falls campground at the top is a wonderful small campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Only 10 acres, but they went with the natural surroundings instead of plowing it all under to squeeze as many in as possible.
However, if you don't want to make the climb in your GMC, you can stay at Tom Johnson's Campground and Service Center in Marion NC. This place was fantastic. They parked us overnight, got us in first thing in the a.m. to put our exhaust back together, and got us out on the road. It's a very nice campground with possibly the nicest bath house I've ever heard of in a campground. It would be a great place for a GMCMI convention due to location, the large convention camp area, and the great service station. Couldn't ask for nicer people.
I-77 between I-40 and I-81 in the NC/VA area has a bear of grade on it. We have a 3.55 and pulled it in second gear with the HHR in tow. 8 miles of 6-7% grade and a whole line of pulled over trucks at the top. I know it's not a patch on some of the climbs out west, but it caught me by surprise.
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Jeremy,
We have had GMCMI conventions at Tom Johnson's campground and one had the largest coaches on record, almost 400 coaches.
Gene Dotson
74 Canyonlands
www.bdub.net/Motorhome_Enhancements New Windows and Aluminum Radiators
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| Re: trip report: Birmingham AL to Lexington VA part2 [message #102633 is a reply to message #102632] |
Mon, 11 October 2010 20:23 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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JR Wheeler sent the same to me offnet. I thought I remembered the name of the place from somewhere. must have been the day I went and looked at those records on the GMCMI website. It is a beautiful place. Maybe one to hit again someday.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: trip report: Birmingham AL to Lexington VA part2 [message #102638 is a reply to message #102616] |
Mon, 11 October 2010 21:08 |
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jaholland
Messages: 565
Registered: June 2010
Location: Sweet Home Alebamy
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| jknezek wrote on Mon, 11 October 2010 16:57 |
I broke this up into two pieces to keep them short for space purposes...
Some comments on the drive. 221 to Linville Falls NC is a bear. It runs right up
besides Grandfather Mountain. It's steep, 8-10% by my estimation, and a long grade (7.5 miles).
Be ready for 2nd gear or even 1st. However, the Linville Falls campground at the top
is a wonderful small campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Only 10 acres,
but they went with the natural surroundings instead of plowing it all under to squeeze
as many in as possible.
However, if you don't want to make the climb in your GMC, you can stay at Tom Johnson's Campground
and Service Center in Marion NC. This place was fantastic. They parked us overnight,
got us in first thing in the a.m. to put our exhaust back together, and got us out
on the road. It's a very nice campground with possibly the nicest bath house I've ever heard
of in a campground. It would be a great place for a GMCMI convention due to location,
the large convention camp area, and the great service station. Couldn't ask for nicer people.
I-77 between I-40 and I-81 in the NC/VA area has a bear of grade on it. We have a 3.55 and
pulled it in second gear with the HHR in tow. 8 miles of 6-7% grade and a whole line of
pulled over trucks at the top. I know it's not a patch on some of the climbs out west,
but it caught me by surprise.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeremy;
I see that you found I-77's Famous 'FANCY GAP' ~
Its more fun coming down that mountain for the ist time at about 10 PM ~
~ Joe ~
/_]*[__][] *[__|] ~ * '73 TZE063V101887 "
"
O----------OO--]* ~ '78 TZE168V100234 "
"
" Joe & Lavelle " "
"
'sweet home alebamy'
[Updated on: Mon, 11 October 2010 21:12] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] trip report: Birmingham AL to Lexington VA part2 [message #102673 is a reply to message #102646] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 07:00 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Wasn't us Nelson. We didn't see another GMC the whole trip but we were packing the mustard yellow Glenbrook with the grey HHR towd southbound out of Knoxville to I59 most of yesterday. Enjoy the campground. You can ask about the GMC that got towed in on the hook last wed but left on our own. That was us...
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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