TheSamba.com :: View topic - Cross-Country Road Trip Just Completed

Sun May 27, 2012 4:22 pm

Hi,

I just completed a 3,375 mile cross country road trip in my 1972 KG convertible. I moved it from my home in Viriginia to Arizona, permanently. My route: US 29 from suburban Washington DC to mile 0 on the Blue Ridge Parkway - 440 miles on the Parkway to Ashevile, NC - Great Smokie Mountain Parkway through the Smokies to Gatlinburg - I-40 west to Franklin, TN - the length of the Natchez Trail Parkway to Natchez - Across Louisiana and East Texas to Fort Worth - across North Texas and northern New Mexico to Santa Fe - up to the Four Corners area across Colorado and Utah to Monument Valley - from Monument Valley south through Arizona on US 191 and AZ 77 to Tucson.

It took 9 days with 8 driving. Longest day: 14.5 hours; shortest: 2 hours (last day from Globe, AZ to Tucson). Faced amazing winds, steep climbs, and, thankfully, little rain. Left the top down at Clingman's Dome in the Smokies and paid a small price.

With wind and steep climbs, frequently needed 3rd gear at 50+ mph to get up the hills. Max speed downhill was about 80 mph. Able to sustain 70 mph on flats with little wind. Needed to add only 3/4 of a qt of oil for the duration. Had no significant mechanical problems nor flats. The choke seems to need adjustment. Often took a lot of cranking before it would turn over, but always eventually started. Now to find a good air-cooled mechanic in Tucson. Recommendations?

Has been a second car that will avoid climate challenges of the East. Will be garaged now (wasn't in VA) at in-laws.

Trip full of memories. Appreciate the change in automobiles over the last 40 years. Glad I did it, glad I won't have to drive it home.

Lastly, recreated in part a trip my wife and I took in 1976 in our first Ghia, a 1971 red hardtop. This green w/ tan top cv is our third.

Thanks for reading

Sun May 27, 2012 11:22 pm

Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Been a while since i've taken an extra long road trip in an air-cooled & i'm longing to do it again. I've got some good memories of traveling from Houston to Boston with my brother. Haven't driven one further than 400 miles in over a decade now.
Glad your trip went well. Your post is inspiring- Thanks.
- Laurence

Mon May 28, 2012 12:29 am

Come on!! You know the forum saying...pictures or it didn't happen. :wink:

Mon May 28, 2012 5:17 am

Good read and report.
E TN is my stomping grounds. I've been getting my 72 coupe road worthy and she's about ready to venture into those Smokey Mtn's. :D
About 3 weekends ago there was a VW swap meet in Sevierville which is right next to Gatlinburg. Shame you couldn't have made the trek sooner. Theres another in Oct tho :D

I've crusied that same route, or very similar, on a motorcycle and several liquid cooled vehicles, very beautiful country it is.

Your reported speeds and performance is just about matching what I've been realizing on my 72, which I think is pretty close to stock. Looks like we've got a good benchmark, at least for the highways & byways of my locale. When you think about it, it's not bad for 40 yr old cars :D

I hear the air in Az is great, no humidity. Should be good for you, your family and that Ghia :D

Dave

Mon May 28, 2012 6:49 am

East TN is where I am at too. I went to Circle Yer Wagens for a few hours, and went up to Clingman's dome. It was one of those rare days where you can see for over 10 miles, and this was the first time that I saw Fontana lake from the dome.

Mon May 28, 2012 8:54 am

Welcome to Tucson! I hope you love it here as much as I have loved here. I am moving in 4 days to north eastern Ohio. There is a import car service here called Stuttgart Auto that has a good air cooled mechanic, a place called Uncle Bob's that has a ton of parts and a whole yard full of VW's. I am sure you have already done it, but the drive through Gates Pass in the Saguaro National Monument is one of many beautiful drives in the desert. The heat does get unbearable here at some point in the summer and it's best just to leave the Ghia in the garage, and go to the movies. But you won't have to worry about rust! Sounds like you had a great trip, I am looking forward to doing some driving in the weather up in Ohio and enjoying green grass and trees and the change of seasons.....something you don't get much of here in Tucson. Good Luck!