2013 Jive Weekend National Rally

[Keith Clements]

Day started with us not being happy with the stuck pressure relief valve . So off with the sump in Weatherford , a place known to Scott as he broke down there some years ago. Also changed oil.

This is the garage we used.


We polished and added a split pin to the assembly so that the piston now moved freely and in a different resting place. It was great to start with but stuck open again. Anyhow continued on past Dallas on our first bit of Interstate (I20) for a while

Past the Vietnam museum

down W.George Bush turnpike

Every bridge has this warning. Not sure if the locals would know what to do.

Dropped off the I20 at Shreveport
and now by the Bayou in Coushatta hoping to have a beer. One problem, beer is closed on Sundays in Louisiana.
So instead made do with a bloody mary without the vodka. Scott adjusted the tappets which had started to become noisy.
Stats for day. 316 miles 17.47 usg.

[Alf Heseltine]

Hi Keith, in NC Carolina Beach, it was 89deg yesterday! Going up to Raleigh today then flights to UK Tues.
Been following your epic journey, shame we couldn't make Clyde for the Jowett Jive event. Hope all goes well
For the rest of your trip, good luck with the oil pump.
Best wishes, Alf.

[Keith Clements]

We are in a jazz courtyard on Bourbon street sipping a margarita.

Arrived a day early so found a small hotel in the old french quarter. You will have to wait for more news as I am going to enjoy the next couple of days as I failed to make it here 40 years ago.
We followed the winding Mississippi



Cotton for miles





or sugar cane


Tried to stay off the interstate taking the 71 to Pineville then 418 to Baton Rouge then the I10 into New Orleans.

[Keith Clements]

Relaxed start with breakfast in the courtyard.
Then a stroll through the French market then a street car ride to the Garden quarter with lots of old elegant houses and a cemetery.



Swapped accommodation to an old creole house now off to jazz.

[Keith Clements]

Whisked through the 250 miles of Mississippi and into Alabama, jumped off the interstate at Tuscallola and Buckwheat started to misfire then overrun on shut off, changed the needle valve as float chamber was full, some dirt in bowl, but then adjusted points and all was well. I was attacked by fire ants so had to apply some antiseptic cream.
We took the 69 to Jasper and then to Cullman where we
stopped off to see church where Scott's parents are buried then on to his sister's in Huntsville via Arab..



Settled down with a beer after 472 mile today. 26 gall us used.

[Keith Clements]

Service with tyre rotation after a relaxed breakfast. Learnt that Neil and Terry will not be back as they are at the bedside of Terry's father but we will meet up tomorrow with Roger and Colleen in Clyde.
A short journey to see the Saturn 5, Space Shuttle and SR51 Gary Powers spy plane.

[jcpaquin1]

You haven't mentioned the oil pressure issue for a couple of days.
Was the last 'fix' to the pump successful ?
Jeff Paquin

[Keith Clements]

Oil pressure valve still remains open and hoping to fix with a new base when we get to Clyde.

[PJGD]

Thanks for the fascinating saga, Keith. You will be going through some great scenery in the Great Smokey Mountains.

FYI, While you were driving cross country, I was here:
in Lithuania where you were last year. . .

[Keith Clements]

70 miles on our way the rocker shaft broke so a call to AAA took us quickly back to Huntsville. Used Scott's sister's car to get to Clyde and have dinner with Roger and Colleen who had also come from CA but by train, plane and car. We went via Scottsboro and then diverted off the freeway around Chattanooga as there was traffic jam. Then onto the 40 out of Cleveland and followed the 74 to Clyde following the Ocoee river where the olympic kayak event was held.






A few phone calls to Neil located his house where we gathered around Neil's Jup the next day and located the spare pump and rocker shaft we needed.

[Keith Clements]

The four of us gathered at Neil and Terry's old farmhouse


and scrutinised his car, admiring the progress.

Then picked up a picnic and travelled the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Pisgah forest.


In the evening we drank too much good beer brewed on the premises of an inn in Waynesville.

[Keith Clements]

Took a scenic route along the Cherenola Scenic Skyway through the Cherokee National Forest. The Smoky mountains were smoking with cloud but this cleared as we dropped into Tenessee.

The autumn colours were just breaking through.


Back at Huntsville we cleaned up the spare pump and rocker shaft and fitted them. So now hopefully set for the return journey. I made a new sump gasket from a sheet we bought in New Mexico.

[Keith Clements]

Fresh oil fill up and then off we went but Scott needed a lot of convincing that 100 psi cold was OK. As soon as the oil was hot it went down to 50 and 30 at idle.
Took 72 through Decatur and Walnut.
Stopped for tour of Graceland.




Then through Memphis on 55 but then onto 64 through Earle.
Ended up here after 322 miles.

[Keith Clements]

After a sleepless night kept awake by train horns bellowing we checked valve clearances just before the rain came. A short stint on the 67 before rejoining the 64 to Conway.
Only a few miles down the road we had a misfire so rerouted onto smaller roads to avoid the spray, picking up the 154 through Morrilton.

We made numerous stops to apply plastic bags, rubber gloves and paper towels in a vain attempt to keep it dry.

We stopped in the Petit Jean motor museum to give the car a chance to dry out.




Then continued along the Arkansas river side on the 154 and 10and Ozark hills with more stops to change distributor cap, leads and ignition coil. Eventually solved when we changed a lead for the second time. But continuous rain brought back a more minor misfire. So now holed up on the Oklahoma border at Spiro..

[PJGD]

Keith,
That last pic looks like you are at the end of the world; or if not, then you can see it from there!