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Stone Mountain Trip Report [message #295573] |
Mon, 15 February 2016 17:17 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057 Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Left Saturday morning to take the kids to Stone Mountain for the annual Snow Zone. Towed the HHR because they don't shuttle people around inside the park this time of year. With my new vacuum gauge and tachometer I was amazed how much time I spent in the yellow or red ranges, even knowing I was towing the HHR. Seemed I was out of the green zone on every little hill in the low 60s. Made the campground despite a detour on the ring road to visit my favorite salad bar restaurant, that extended the trip and landed us in a pile of traffic, but we got there none the less. The campground is a nice one. A little sprawling and the sites aren't particularly level, but the bath houses are nice and the campground edges along a lake. With 400+ spots it is fairly empty this time of year.
It was cold for this part of the country. Mid 20s at night both Sat and Sun, days in the 40s. Kids had a blast toasting s'mores and loved the snow zone. The tubing was pretty neat. The gondola to the top of Stone Mountain is a little underwhelming, especially for the price, but fun to do once.
On the ride home we had a bit of an adventure. About 20 miles west of Atlanta I took off the electronic cruise and tried to hit the gas. The pedal went to the floor with no resistance and obviously no gas. Coasted to the side of the road and peered at the pedal for a minute. Realized the problem was the cable, but wasn't real sure how to fix it. A 5 minute conversation with Jeff at Alex Sirum had me straightened out. I think when the vacuum and tach gauges went in, the mechanic forgot to put the little clip back on that holds the accelerator cable to the carb. Eventually the cable worked itself free. Since the cruise has a different cable, I could have gone until the ramp to I459 if I never had to take the cruise off! Fortunately I found the clip sitting on top of the engine.
Of course, in the process of putting the cable and then clip on, I dropped the little clip straight out the bottom of the coach. Parked on the side of I20 it was a bit of an adventure to get back, but I pulled it back with a broom and installed it. Rest of the drive went well.
I did find the throttle was quite a bit more responsive and that I was in the yellow and power zones of the vacuum gauge less with the cable properly installed, though still more than I had thought I would find. If it ever happens again, I'll have a better baseline to realize when something is wrong.
Overall a good trip. A little adventure, and a little more knowledge, isn't really a bad thing!
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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Re: Stone Mountain Trip Report [message #295588 is a reply to message #295573] |
Tue, 16 February 2016 07:48 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412 Registered: May 2011 Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Care to share where all you're headed? Haven't been down to Stoned Mounting in several years, not since it went private. Sounds like that was an improvement. We fill the Meadow to SRO a couple of times with concerts.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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Re: Stone Mountain Trip Report [message #295592 is a reply to message #295588] |
Tue, 16 February 2016 09:01 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057 Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Johnny Bridges wrote on Tue, 16 February 2016 08:48Care to share where all you're headed? Haven't been down to Stoned Mounting in several years, not since it went private. Sounds like that was an improvement. We fill the Meadow to SRO a couple of times with concerts.
--johnny
Stone Mountain was nice. A lot of the attractions are closed this time of year, so we may revisit in the spring or summer, but that's not yet on the docket. They did a good job with the tubing, and the campground, as I said, was very serviceable. Not sure I'd go if I wasn't planning to do at least some of the attractions, as the campground by itself seemed a little expensive but it came with nice packages for the other stuff to do there.
As for where we are heading, March we are looking at taking the kids to a Medieval Festival that is opening for a trial weekend about 45 miles south of Montgomery. The official Alabama Renaissance Festival is up in the NW corner of the state, this seems to be some kind of knockoff they are trying to get going but they are planning to have all the fun stuff like jousting and turkey legs and medieval trade demonstrations, so that should occupy the kids.
April I'll be in Dothan with the dog, but the kids and wife are staying home. Not much for them to do in Dothan, and a little "man weekend" for me is good to have now and then.
May we are heading up to Nashville. My parents are going to fly in and will probably stay in cabins at the KOA we are planning to stay at. We'll do the tourist stuff as my wife and kids have never been and for my parents and I it has been probably 30 years.
June we are planning to head to the George/SC border area. Meeting up with some family friends for a weekend at a lake. They have a house there and we use the coach as a spare bedroom.
After that it starts to get really hot, so water related places will probably top the list. I'm mulling a weekend at one of the Alabama State Parks with lake swimming.
August I haven't really planned, though a return to Nashville to visit the Nashville Shores waterpark/campground might top my list. September is on the docket as we go up to Sewanee to see my alma mater play football when they come to "The Mountain" every other year. One of my favorite trips every other year because I get to hobnob with fellow alums and tailgate. Of course it inevitably rains during the game, but I think it rains all year long on top of MontEagle.
October or November I'm thinking a trip to the Gulf Coast, best time of year as far as I'm concerned to be down there.
Early Dec we are already set up to be in Disney. The boys turn 5, so my parents are taking them to see the Mouse House as they have all the grandkids for the big 5th birthday. But with my parents getting older, and the twins being twice the trouble, we are going as well. So Ft. Wilderness is booked and I can't wait for my first trip to Ft. Wilderness since I was a boy. One of my fondest childhood memories!
So that's the plan, but we all know about plans...
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
[Updated on: Tue, 16 February 2016 09:10] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Stone Mountain Trip Report [message #295598 is a reply to message #295573] |
Tue, 16 February 2016 10:16 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412 Registered: May 2011 Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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See ya in Dothan during the week at least. They have a big RenFest down 85 here, we went a couple of days. And the Eukanuba/AKC Championships and Meet The Breeds are 17 - 18 DEC, so the annual Orlando no-host rally, harassment of Bounds and money spending at Skycraft is gonna be the 12th through the 18th at Wekiwa Springs State Park up in Apopka. The Mouse is like maybe ten miles or less down the road. Almost Famous BBQ chicken, other potlucks, adult beverages, and a great way to relax after a day at the attractions with kids. Also substantially less expensive.
Wind Creek is probably the move for State parks over to home. Option is Don Carter State Park over here, it's brand new and has good facilities.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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Re: Stone Mountain Trip Report [message #295601 is a reply to message #295573] |
Tue, 16 February 2016 10:23 |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913 Registered: October 2012 Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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>12th through the 18th at Wekiwa Springs State Park
We'll sign up as soon as you pick your slot, Johnny.
We may need to change the rally name to 'Skycraft Rally' --I go every time I'm in Orlando now. I've also learned the hard way that if they have something you want, you'd better grab it. They turn over amazing quantities of stuff there. For instance, who else but me would want 18" mic goosenecks? LOTS of people, apparently.
SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
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Re: Stone Mountain Trip Report [message #295603 is a reply to message #295598] |
Tue, 16 February 2016 10:59 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057 Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Johnny Bridges wrote on Tue, 16 February 2016 11:16See ya in Dothan during the week at least. They have a big RenFest down 85 here, we went a couple of days. And the Eukanuba/AKC Championships and Meet The Breeds are 17 - 18 DEC, so the annual Orlando no-host rally, harassment of Bounds and money spending at Skycraft is gonna be the 12th through the 18th at Wekiwa Springs State Park up in Apopka. The Mouse is like maybe ten miles or less down the road. Almost Famous BBQ chicken, other potlucks, adult beverages, and a great way to relax after a day at the attractions with kids. Also substantially less expensive.
Wind Creek is probably the move for State parks over to home. Option is Don Carter State Park over here, it's brand new and has good facilities.
--johnny
Unfortunately Johnny that isn't the week we will be there. But one day we'll make it...
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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