Preparation Complete

The preparation for 3DL170's trip from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Lake Tahoe and back actually began over a year ago in the disguise of preparation for a 2010 trip to the RROC Annual Meet in Toronto. The car didn't make that trip due to a fairly severe oil leak and was brought to The Frawley Company for repair. That snowballed into a new clutch, head gaskets, valve job, overdrive, and other assorted jobs. The car is now well-prepared for the over 8,000 mile round trip.

We will embark at about 11am today (July 27th) with our first stop at my Grandparent's in McComb, Mississippi. This approximate 950 mile journey should be complete by Thursday evening (28 July).

Participants in the trip include myself, Carter (12), and Kyle (9). Jennifer and Katelyn (6) will meet us in Lake Tahoe on August 12th -- they are the smart ones and flying. My Dad will be joining us for the first week of the trip out, and that assistance driving will be welcomed, as will the chance for all of us to spend a week together!

We will be updating the blog at least daily with pictures and adventures, pending internet connectivity. In addition to the mechanical preparation for the trip, we have a trick setup for internet connectivity -- 3G to my cell phone, PDANet via USB to my laptop, and then Connectify Me providing a WiFi hotspot to the kids' devices. Look for a roving WiFi hotspot (39Rolls) along the highway in the coming month!

Our route will generally go from National Park to National Park, so if you're reading this and live along the route please consider letting us know and we'll get together for a meal. Planned parks include Carlsbad Caverns, Bandalier, Petroglyph, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Devil's Postpile on the way out to Tahoe. The return route likely will make stops at Great Basin, Zion, Bryce, Arches, and Pike's Peak (not a National Park, but worth the ascent!).

Tomorrow once we're on the road, I will post a link to a map that will show you precisely where we are so you can track our progress. Wish us luck!