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TomFromStLouis
Jedi Trainee
Offline
I am still introducing myself to my BJ8. I've noticed that around Monday or Tuesday I begin thinking of a weekend drive. Is this normal? ;-)
Anyhow, this week's forecast for bitter cold came true, but I stuck with my plan for a 3 hour round trip to visit some river locks and dams where bald eagles regularly hang out for turbulance-stunned fish. The two lane road north from here is roughly along the Mississippi river, so it is relatively flat but not without curves. The Healey was not pleased with being awakened, but once going, the engine warmed right up, unlike the cockpit. I kept gloves and hat on all day. Driving into the wind yielded an extra burst of "heated?" air off the windscreen. I was in touch with the elements.
The locks had large patches of ice upstream with no path for barges. Traffic must be slow or stopped; the upper Mississippi is closed for parts of winter I know. Below the locks maybe a hundred gulls circled and dove with 3 or 4 eagles gliding above. They are quite majestic. Even with the stiff wind they needed little effort to keep an eye on their business.
I ducked into a nearby restaurant to see if bad coffee and indoor heating could refresh me and the answer was yes. I continued north maybe 10 miles to reach the bridge which would let me take the Illinois side of the river south. The two lanes on this side were more fun; I even got off the state road onto a winding section that seemed to connect dilapidated barns with rusting machinery and an occasional farm. I've been spending time watching rally videos on YouTube and reading the newer Rally Giants book by Robson on Healeys (recommended). It wasn't hard to enjoy accelerating into a few turns or feeling a bad road patch.
There is another set of locks near where I cross back over into Missouri. It is right near the conservation area made up of the Missouri/Mississippi rivers confluence point. To reach the point takes a 5 mile trek on a gravel road to the hiking trail. This might have been the most fun part of the drive. I noted several stunned but smiling looks from others who came to see migratory birds and saw a panting Healey kicking up white dust into the wind. Then I froze anything exposed on the half mile hike to stand a yard from both rivers at once. The wind was whipping the Missouri into what appeared a raging torrent while the Mississippi was more old man river. Stepping back into the car made it seem almost warm.
On the way out of the conservation area I parked within 25 yards of an eagle sitting atop a stump at water level. (S)he did not see any lunch in the water and after a while launched over the pond towards home. Me too. The car performed admirably although the engine died 4 or 5 times coming off an aggressive stretch to a stop. Fuel pump issue?
I parked in the sun and admired all the fresh dirt on the car, including streaks of white dust on the wheels and across the back. It was beautiful. Suddenly feeling a bit tired from a considerable effort, it seemed like a good time for a nap.
For those of you needing a fix....
Anyhow, this week's forecast for bitter cold came true, but I stuck with my plan for a 3 hour round trip to visit some river locks and dams where bald eagles regularly hang out for turbulance-stunned fish. The two lane road north from here is roughly along the Mississippi river, so it is relatively flat but not without curves. The Healey was not pleased with being awakened, but once going, the engine warmed right up, unlike the cockpit. I kept gloves and hat on all day. Driving into the wind yielded an extra burst of "heated?" air off the windscreen. I was in touch with the elements.
The locks had large patches of ice upstream with no path for barges. Traffic must be slow or stopped; the upper Mississippi is closed for parts of winter I know. Below the locks maybe a hundred gulls circled and dove with 3 or 4 eagles gliding above. They are quite majestic. Even with the stiff wind they needed little effort to keep an eye on their business.
I ducked into a nearby restaurant to see if bad coffee and indoor heating could refresh me and the answer was yes. I continued north maybe 10 miles to reach the bridge which would let me take the Illinois side of the river south. The two lanes on this side were more fun; I even got off the state road onto a winding section that seemed to connect dilapidated barns with rusting machinery and an occasional farm. I've been spending time watching rally videos on YouTube and reading the newer Rally Giants book by Robson on Healeys (recommended). It wasn't hard to enjoy accelerating into a few turns or feeling a bad road patch.
There is another set of locks near where I cross back over into Missouri. It is right near the conservation area made up of the Missouri/Mississippi rivers confluence point. To reach the point takes a 5 mile trek on a gravel road to the hiking trail. This might have been the most fun part of the drive. I noted several stunned but smiling looks from others who came to see migratory birds and saw a panting Healey kicking up white dust into the wind. Then I froze anything exposed on the half mile hike to stand a yard from both rivers at once. The wind was whipping the Missouri into what appeared a raging torrent while the Mississippi was more old man river. Stepping back into the car made it seem almost warm.
On the way out of the conservation area I parked within 25 yards of an eagle sitting atop a stump at water level. (S)he did not see any lunch in the water and after a while launched over the pond towards home. Me too. The car performed admirably although the engine died 4 or 5 times coming off an aggressive stretch to a stop. Fuel pump issue?
I parked in the sun and admired all the fresh dirt on the car, including streaks of white dust on the wheels and across the back. It was beautiful. Suddenly feeling a bit tired from a considerable effort, it seemed like a good time for a nap.
For those of you needing a fix....
