Getting ready for a 1200 mile trip in the BN4

[cbrvfr]

My wife and I are planning a leisurely 5 day trek around Lake Huron in our Longbridge Healey in a couple of weeks unless the weather suddenly turns unruly. Will start from the Ann Arbor area and head to the east coast of Michigan above Saginaw, holding to US 23 right by the lake. We plan to cross into the UP at Mackinac, take the scenic route to Sault St Marie, then the Trans Canada East to Manitoulin Island, ferry over to Tobermorey, down the Bruce Penninsula and cross back into the US at Sarnia. We'll stay at B&B's on the way, doing 250-300 miles per day maximum.

I have a pretty good stash of spares, and the car has been a great runner for the nearly 2 years that I've had it.. I've put a couple thousand miles on each year with no issues.

We still have to do hood drills in case of rain..

If anyone has suggestions in terms of what to see or do, or lives along the way in case I run into a mechanical problem, I'd appreciate hearing from you in this thread.

I guess one question has to do with car ferrys and ground clearance on their ramps.. I've seen Healeys in the Pacific NW on ferrys, so it may not be an issue, has anyone had experience with this?

Cheers!

 

[Bob_Spidell]

...

I guess one question has to do with car ferrys and ground clearance on their ramps.. I've seen Healeys in the Pacific NW on ferrys, so it may not be an issue, has anyone had experience with this?

Cheers!

Have been on maybe 8 or 10 ferries of various sizes and configurations, in the NW and Canookistan (sorry, got hassled and searched by Canadian Customs the last time and have to get a dig in there). Some of the ramps are pretty steep, but have crossed worse in some driveways (you know, the 'driveways' that are little more than rounded-off curbs). Best to go very slow--impatient drivers behind you notwithstanding--and take the ramps at as acute an angle as possible. You'll be OK.

 

[Keoke]

Just stay out of Canada and on the ferries main deck and you will probably be OK

 

[Randy Forbes]

Are you a member of the Southeast Michigan Austin Healey Club (SEMAHC)? You can probably get a list of member's names that are willing to open their garages and toolboxes for a traveling Healey owner.

Sounds like fun/be sure to pack plenty of Advil... :wink:

 

[cbrvfr]

I need to get off my butt and join SEMAHC - I've met a number of the members and they're a fine bunch.

Advil? This car rides very comfortably. If I was riding my RC30, I'd pack near-lethal amounts....

 

[Healey 100]

The more you travel with your Healey, the newer it will become.

We completed a 4200 mile trip in our 100 this summer -- including several ferries to BC and the Vancouver Island Rondezvous. Our car also crossed Lake Michigan on the wonderful Badger coal fired ferry. Ground clearance has not been a problem with any of these ferries.

We don't carry a lot of spares. Just small items like ignition parts, spark plugs, multimeter, wheel spokes, a few tools. We bring a shop manual, Moss catalog, Healey club directories and cell phones. Nylon tow rope and AAA premium towing membership can be handy, though we have not had to use them much.

Packing breakthrough: don't bring any suitcases! We pack everything in many small soft carrying bags that we stuff into every nook and cranny of the Healey. They are easy to gather up and lug to your hotel. We bring soap for doing laundry on the road.

Enjoy, travelling by Healey is fun and always memorable!

Bill S
Albuquerque.

 

[cbrvfr]

Spokes!! Never occurred to me, nor a towing strap. Great ideas for packing too, thanks! I've taken the Badger from Michigan to Wisconsin on a motorcycle to watch the races at Road America a few times, that's a great trip.

 

[Keoke]

Yeah but he forgot to mention the credit card.---Keoke-- :laugh:

 

[Healeysince59]

Cel Phone, Rain X, and a good tow package (Hagerty, AAA, whatever) . And, listen to Bill S
(Healey100.) He's done it more than once.

Marv J

 

[judow]

with Marv.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

There are still areas with no cellphone coverage, generally off the main roads and highways (my favorite places to drive). They're getting fewer all the time, but they still exist and, not surprisingly, you don't get a lot of tow trucks passing by.

 

[57_BN4]

Make sure to take lots of photos, the modern ones weigh almost nothing and take up very little space.

 

[Healeysince59]

If you use your Cel in Canada and don't have an international plan, look out. I got hit for close to $200 when I was there 3 days and only turned on my phone to check for email. I didn't make any calls.

 

[pan]

Sounds like a great trip. I can't add anything to the above suggestions. I like 57 BN4's contribution about taking photos. That's good advice.
Hey Keoke, what's up with Canada? I visited British Columbia & Alberta recently and loved the place!

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

My wife and I are planning a leisurely 5 day trek around Lake Huron in our Longbridge Healey in a couple of weeks unless the weather suddenly turns unruly. Will start from the Ann Arbor area and head to the east coast of Michigan above Saginaw, holding to US 23 right by the lake. We plan to cross into the UP at Mackinac, take the scenic route to Sault St Marie, then the Trans Canada East to Manitoulin Island, ferry over to Tobermorey, down the Bruce Penninsula and cross back into the US at Sarnia. We'll stay at B&B's on the way, doing 250-300 miles per day maximum.

I have a pretty good stash of spares, and the car has been a great runner for the nearly 2 years that I've had it.. I've put a couple thousand miles on each year with no issues.

We still have to do hood drills in case of rain..

If anyone has suggestions in terms of what to see or do, or lives along the way in case I run into a mechanical problem, I'd appreciate hearing from you in this thread.

I guess one question has to do with car ferrys and ground clearance on their ramps.. I've seen Healeys in the Pacific NW on ferrys, so it may not be an issue, has anyone had experience with this?

Cheers!

I had a checklist of what spare parts to take ona Healey trip and it came from BCS, British Car Specialists. It was very complete and covered just about everything. I'm sure they still have the "list" available.

 

[cbrvfr]

I bought a trunk rack from Moss, but really don't want to use it unless I absolutely have to, so after I spent the day under the car changing fluids and lubing the chassis, I rearranged the boot using a tool bag I found at an HVAC shop that is designed to go around a large person's waist, under the spare tire. Happily, it also fits under the Healey's spare..

https://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj524/cbrvfr/toolkitandspares.jpg

Now if you know where to look, you'll find:
-a tool kit with manuals
-fuses,voltage regulator and starter solenoid
- radiator cap, thermostat and gasket, new hoses
- fan belt, fuel pump,
- a couple of quarts of VR1 and a quart of Redline for the OD
- spare tube and of course the tire changing stuff.

https://s1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj524/cbrvfr/?action=view&current=allthatroom.jpg

I recently bought some OGIO soft luggage for a sport-motorcycle that fits the remaining void space (left after the side curtains are laid in their official pillow cases) like fitted luggage, leaving room for a gym bag and a bag for a few garments on hangers.

Thinking I won't need the rack.

 

[glemon]

If you don't have it in the kit some wire (baling and insulated) isn't a bad thing to have, and it doesn't take up much space. Although I don't think I have ever had to use it I have taken to putting a service manual under my seat or the passenger seat.

Sounds like a great trip, have fun. Greg

 

[cbrvfr]

Good idea!

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Road flares, duct tape and about 30 distributor rotors.

 

[terp83]

From a long-time vacationer in the Oscoda area:

One of the places that we enjoy dining are Red Rooster in Greenbush, north of Oscoda on US 23. It's nothing fancy, a Mom and Pop place, but the perch dinner (we ate there last Friday night) was outstanding. Red Rooster also has an excellent assortment of cream pies. It is located on the west (left) side of the road as you are heading north.

If you are driving along the "Sunrise Side" a little earlier in the day, then the Flour Garden, located in Harrisville, has excellent breakfasts and lunches. Flour Garden is located on the right (east) side of US 23. There are small parking lots on each side of the restaurant, but you can also turn right just after the north parking lot, and park along the street. We didn't get to Flour Garden over the past weekend, but did make it there when we were up north in July.

Another recommended place is Wiltse's, a restaurant and microbrewery. It is not on US 23, but rather on F-41. To get there, go to the north end of Oscoda, and turn left at the traffic light just before the Burger King. Once on F-41, Wiltse's is about two miles up the road on the right side (past railroad track). Whenever we are in the area for a week, we usually get to Wiltse's at least once.

If I correctly recall, you are into motorcycles as well. There is a business on the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (a B-52 base decommissioned in 1993) known as Biker Garage 101. This business buys close-out lots of motorcycle parts, then resells the parts. I have not personally visited this business, but read about it in the local weekly newspaper. Wurtsmith's main gate is on the left side of F-41 just beyond Wiltse's. You can actually see this entrance from Wiltse's parking lot.

Another attraction are the Lake Huron lighthouses. In this area, there's the Tawas Point lighthouse in East Tawas, and the Sturgeon Point lighthouse at Harrisville.

If the hum of the Healey straight 6 is not enough music for your ears, and you like classic rock (slightly soft of center), then 103.3 FM (Hits FM) from East Tawas is a possible choice.

Finally, there is some road construction going on in Oscoda. The traffic is being maintained very well, and you should be able to get through the construction very little delay, if any.

Enjoy the journey!

Jerry