Albuquerque to Holbrook (Wigwam Motel)

With trepidation, we launched out this morning from Albuquerque. With the N6 valve in the carbeurator cleaned up and working properly, it appears as if we're no longer running rich. We also opened up the fuel regulator a bit so that with the auxiliary pump running there is ~5.5psi flowing through.

Going from Albuquerque there is a fair amount of climbing, nearly 2000 feet (although more than that if you count all the downhills along the way to the Continental Divide). I was very pleased with performance for a very long time, but when vapor lock occurred on a fairly flat section I was a bit deflated. I turned on the auxiliary pump and all was well. As we climbed higher and higher, I became more and more worried, wishing for rain to cool things off (ambient temperature was about 90F). We finally did hit a rainstorm and the outside temperature dropped to the 60s and all was well! It didn't last long though, and we finished the climb in the heat.

After we passed the Continental Divide I thought we were in the clear. Smooth sailing all the way back down towards Holbrook. In fact I called Gary Pollard, Tim Jayne, and Dick Frawley to tell them all the good news that we'd successfully accomplished the day. Unfortunately what was happening at that moment was that i) I picked up the pace subconsciously while talking on the phone, and ii) The temperature rose back up to 94F. Just as I was about to get off the phone with Frawley, vapor lock set in. We dove off the next exit and sat under an overpass in the shade in the middle of nowhere waiting for the car to cool off. I took a thermal reading on one of the fuel lines in the vee and it said 157F. After a few minutes it rose to 164F, but we sat for about 40 minutes until it dropped to 145F.

From there we had about 40 miles to Petrified Forest National Park. We counted down the miles as they passed by and I was very excited to be getting close to the park. With about 5 miles left vapor lock popped up again. We slowed from 60 to 50 and kept cruising, but the closer we got to the park, the steeper the upgrade, and the worse it got. We limped our way off the interstate to the Park and spent some good time there.

The highlight of the visit to the park was probably the Blue Mesa Hike in the pouring rain. We saw Badlands, petrified logs, and even a double rainbow!!! Kyle successfully completed the requirements for Junior Ranger, and now we're staying the night at the Wigwam Motel!

Plan for tomorrow is the south rim of the Grand Canyon....if the Vantom behaves. We just need to avoid driving when it's really hot.