Loaner

We've got a loaner engine in, had a few tricky situations with it~ vacuum line leak, timing got a bit off, oil sensor went out, accelerator pedal sticking or coming totally off.  But we've got it all together now and plan to hit the road this afternoon for North Carolina.  Going to visit the organic farm we visited in November, and then hitting up High Country Bus Festival for our 3rd year in a row.  The first year  we camped for only 2 nights. The second year we camped for 3 or 4 nights, this year we are going for a wopping 10! Will report back with trip photos in a few weeks. :)

How to kill an engine

Drive long distance in 110 degree heat...

engine is out, going back to Bear to be fixed, in the mean time we are putting in a carburated loaner engine.  Should be on the road Saturday evening! 

Drive smart, if the engine's air cooled (and especially new) don't drive during the middle of a steamy, southern day!

Slow Progress

The paint job was a quick one, and looks pretty good.  We've already had two friends give him "tattoos", with more to come soon. 
Last weekend we drove him up to Morganton NC and back.  We got to see our friend Peter who is traveling from New Mexico.  Lenny easily turned a 4 hour drive into 9...  the hottest weekend so far with temperatures over 100 degrees, Lenny's engine couldn't cool itself.  After only an hour of driving we had to pull off for two to let the oil cool.  Luckily we have gauges that tell us when things are getting too hot.  Now we are in the process of installing a secondary oil cooler to keep up with the heat. 

Lenny and Dean

However, all of these small problems cropping up are adding up- leaving our pockets sad.  This time we may only get to travel to Colorado and back, because we are too afraid to drive all the way across the country and run out of money or face more costly repairs.  If we run out of money here we have lots and lots and lots of friends who would put up with us while we find jobs/places to live/etc.  I guess right now I am choosing the comfort of the known, and shying away from the excitement of the unknown.