300TD Road Trip "This European Life: an open travelogue" - Page 15 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Prez808 · #**211** 06-03-2011, 01:56 AM

Wow what a nice trip! Let me be one of the first to welcome you to the SF Bay Area! We have had some nice meets but are long overdue for another get-together. Hopefully you can make it when the next one happens. Will you be living in SF or elsewhere in the Peninsula?

Safe travels!

Dee8go · #**212** 06-03-2011, 06:21 AM

I see a new TV series in the making . . . . Anybody else remember that old show Route 66 or 77 Sunset Strip? Now I'm really showing my age!

BobK · #**213** 06-03-2011, 08:12 AM

Yeah, I do remember them, darn it. Now you can watch them on youtube.

Delibes · #**214** 06-03-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panZZer

Miguel you forgot to mention who tipped you and Doublejody about barclays salvage

Oh, no, I did! Promise!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

Dear Panzzer, thank you for showing me all those gems, and getting me in the way for more. And for taking my preconceptions about Taco Bueno by having me try it for the very first time.

Other than that, yes, I found the trim piece, but it was cracked too. Oh, well, I am not going to break a sweat in a long time about a 30-year-old piece of rubber...

Day 14: Lots of Nothing (listen to today's theme)
In Texas, people's hearts are the size of the land. For this entry I would like to thank Jody once again, and David R. Ishlam, owner of the NRS Ranch in Decatur, the place where I was allowed to stay and rest.

Much like the previous morning, I took a good shower and packed back the luggage, taking a look at the outside lamp with the silhouette of a cowboy lassoing cattle, frozen in time, in Monument Valley. I will be there soon, I though to myself. With my worthy steed.

Newport started up fine, and, towing the lil' Scotty behind me, I drove to the Decatur Tourism Office to see Jody once again. We headed to the local bank to get some cash –Jody owed me $54 I lent him in the junkyard, and I had to cash a check for my apartment's sublet rent. Out in the parking lot, we took some final shots of the two cars, shook hands and departed with an air of containment and destiny.

Before getting in the highway, I made a quick stop at the local pharmacy. Maybe I have not mentioned this before, but I had been bit so many times by so many things (mosquitoes, fire ants, poison ivy), I was starting to have a hard time concentrating on anything else but the intense itching in my ankles and feet. Here's a rather graphic photo for you to see what I am talking about; do not check it if you are faint of heart. A quick spray of some mysterious solution cured the problem.

A quick, $3.65-a-gallon refuel (yeah!) and the road became my home once again. Halfway towards Amarillo, my A/C began blowing very hot, so I pulled into a picnic area to check the fuse. Blown. In the meanwhile, a sympathetic, 4'11 Mexican trucker had come to offer help. I was fine, as long as the car kept running. Some electrical problem was beginning to become the vein of my existence, again.

Amarillo is surrounded by lots of truck stops of bright, screaming colors. The land becomes flat and desolate, with some bushes here and there. Probably not the best place for a breakdown in the heat of Summer.

Much to my disappointment, the Taqueria popular, a little hole-in-the-wall butchershop and restaurant, had gone out of business. This is what I wrote about it on Yelp! a few months after trying their food:

"Let me tell you a little secret. Deep in the outskirts of this dinky, deserted town called Amarillo, two exhausted travelers found glorious solace. The Taqueria Popular can pride itself on two things. The first one is that it has its own butcher shop, so the meat in your dishes is guaranteed to be absolutely fresh and well marinated/spiced. The other thing is that it has the best tacos I have ever had in my life, which is a strange thing having visited Mexico three or four times.

Do not expect any degree of fanciness, at all. You should go somewhere else if you are looking for ambient music that is not a beat-up radio, decor that is not brushed steel and plastic chairs, and lighting that is not fluorescent. Sit down on one of those worn, cracked stools at the bar and prepared to be marveled. This is authenticity, this is the bare nuts and bolts of good, honest, blue-collar cooking. Serving food for people who are not in a date, or "exploring the area", or trying things for the sake of spending the money to try things, but for simple, plain, hunger's sake.

My personal recommendation is the following: regardless whether it is a taco or a burrito, go for carne asada or "al pastor". A true delight, which, in the company of ice cold horchata, makes for deep soul awakening.

Almost a year after I stopped there in the middle of a road trip, I still remember and miss that meat. Blame the circumstances, blame the scorching heat of the desert or blame my eternal craving for beef... for $7 a piece, I really cannot imagine a more flavorful, unexpected Nirvana."

May its secret rest in peace. Some things have to be tried only once for its memory to be eternal and everlasting. This be one of those memories.

Five hours to Albuquerque, munching on Woody's Beef Jerky and guzzling can after can of Peach Ice tea, with no A/C. At some point, all electrical systems in the car stop working. No lights, no wipers, no cluster. Nothing in the car, but me, my stuff and the clatter of diesel ahead; smooth as always. I am not worried about the engine temperature, as much of the cooling system had been upgraded; right now the biggest concern is time, and when I would get pulled over for my non-existent headlights and/or side markers. It was time to act, and act quick.

By sunset, I should find a place that is frequently trafficked by cars, so I can get a quick jump and get the alternator looked at. However, in a city I do not know that well, it should be a place that is not sketchy or dangerous. How about a car dealership?

With 3/4 of battery in the GPS, I punched "Mercedes of Albuquerque" and cruised to its location, parking in the very, very back parking lot. I tried to look for the management / security staff to let them know I was there and I could no longer move the car until the next day, but the only people I found was a team of very friendly Mexican painters in the Audi dealership.

Conversation (in Spanish) ensued. The painter I talked to had come with his brothers from Mexico to work in the US, away from the internal wars and corruption of the drug cartels. He was the son of a once wealthy man in the Southern Pacific coast of Mexico, and traveled extensively before the economy tanked. He even lived in California, and wishes he could return.

We talked about many other things, shook hands and departed. I needed to find food, as my sole diet that day had been beef jerky. Burguer King (do not judge me) did the trick. I returned to my little trailer and had a pleasant, safe sleep in the cool evening of New Mexico.

Jody (doublejody): The hospitality of Texas has a face.

The two beasts, at the Tourism Office in Decatur.

Two cowboys, two steeds.

The smooth, rolling hills of 287-N.

Suddenly, you start seeing less and less trees.

Freight train. I dreamed of a W123 heist, side by side.

One of the few highway ribbons in the way.

Do not tell me this is not the stereotypical, dry Texas of the movies.

Locomotive lovers, I do not know what this is. I just drive-shot it.

Closed for good. My heart was broken.

Back on the road, without electricity.

The "big nothing" starts here.

More nothing.

A few hours to go! I must get to Albuquerque before sunset!

Good ol' Route 66. Quite dilapidated and burnt.

Not an uncommon sight. Gas stations, motels, restaurants. All abandoned.

Original 1950s signage, beautiful. Cheap rates, too!

Abandon all hope for political correctness.

A lil' bit more nothing for y'all.

Did I mention this place is completely barren?

Just me, and my car. What I head to, and what I leave behind.

- - - - - - - - -

I am currently writing for a Barnes and Noble while the alternator is replaced. I shall update soon with today's progress. For all of those wondering out there, I am fine and safe, sipping on a cup of ice green tea as I write. Life is good.

Oh, Newport, thank you for taking me this far. It is not your fault if your alternator went bad. I must thank you, my iron steed, for driving 600 miles without a hiccup. You are a true champ. Any other car (with spark plugs) would have been left at the side of the road in the scorching heat of the desert. You, however, never quit until we found safe shelter.

Stretch · #**215** 06-03-2011, 02:42 PM

If you have the space save your Bosch alternator - they are well made - you could save it!

I'm glad you're chilled about it going south - it is the best way.

#**216** 06-03-2011, 02:49 PM

Ah! I was concerned about that alternator. I hope they checked the brushes before just replacing it.

vwnate1 · #**217** 06-03-2011, 04:28 PM

You'd be wise to go buy a BOSCH Voltage Regulator # 1 197 311 028 or # 1 197 311 028 and stash it as that's about the only thing that fails on these wimpy 55 Ampere units .

Paying ther $30 for a Bosch branded one , means it'll actually charge @ 14 VDC most of the time unlike every other (shyte) brand .

Best of all , it's easy to change in the car ! .

vwnate1 · #**218** 06-03-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doublejody

Ah! I was concerned about that alternator. I hope they checked the brushes before just replacing it.

You expect a Mechanic to loose the chance at a $200 job by doing a 15 minute $40 fix it really needs ?!

HAH ! .

Aquaticedge · #**219** 06-03-2011, 04:42 PM

Wow. old old BNSF Color Scheme. bet it's an old SD Series loco. I've yet to see a Dash-9 or Gevo painted like that, I love reading about this trip, Sorry about your alternator though.

#**220** 06-04-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

You expect a Mechanic to loose the chance at a $200 job by doing a 15 minute $40 fix it really needs ?!

HAH ! .

I know, I know...

Delibes · #**221** 06-04-2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

If you have the space save your Bosch alternator - they are well made - you could save it!

I'm glad you're chilled about it going south - it is the best way.

The previous cheapskate, epoxy-it-all dumb-a$$ owner had, amongst other "fixes", gone for a cheapo alternator, not Bosch. I consider myself very lucky to be able to still run without it, but definitely I am not happy about having to pay through my nose to have this emergency fix done.

In any case, and as a consolation thought, I have been saving a lot of money. The Scotty paid for itself about 4 days ago, maybe even more, given some of the very exclusive locations I have awaken at.

Day 15: Requiem for an Alternator (listen to today's theme)
The morning started in the back parking lot of a Mercedes dealership. As soon as I opened the hatch, a roadside assistance B class rolled by, and one of the dealership employees blurted "You can't park here! This is all employee parking!". After explaining him my situation, he gave me a business card for an master tech who had left the dealership to start his own shop. Then, he gave me a jump and got me on my way.

At 8 sharp I arrived to Silver Star ********, where I scheduled an urgent alternator replacement. The correct Bosch part (my own was a cheap aftermarket replacement the previous, clumsy owner had put there) would arrive around noon, so I was politely driven to a mall to kill some time.

Chris Wagoneer, owner of the shop, drove me to the closest Barnes and Noble in ecstatic bursts of acceleration in a late model Benz. Such beautiful sound! Such breathtaking force against the seat!

In the mall, I split my time between writing a diary entry, food and drooling over the latest Craftsman creations at Sears. I went to Fuddruckers for the first time, where I devoured a heaping pile of meat and a milkshake, as the diet of the previous day had only been beef jerky and a small Burguer King meal. It was nice to remember how wedge fries tasted like, as it had been so ridiculously long since I last tried them.

I headed to Sears with the intention of getting myself a ratchet and a wrench set, but all I did was to get a headache and a slim stream of drool at the side of my mouth. The range of options was so ridiculously varied, I could not make a rational decision. If I went with the small sets, they would not include wrenches; however, if I went with the bigger, $199 set, I would have most tools I would ever need for a beginner DIYer, but no space to put it, and a full set of American tools I would never use. Such was the confusion, I decided to wait until I get settled in a somewhat permanent place and build a decent collection. I am honestly tired of hauling clutter from one side to the other and selling things for a pittance because of space concerns. I shall wait, and I shall sprawl.

Back in the workshop, there were good news and bad news. The good news was that the car was charging correctly; the bad news was that they could not find a Bosch alternator, so they had to go for a Napa one. I was bummed, but the trip had to continue; I might return it as soon as I have the privilege of a lift and enough time and tools to do the job in my future job. Oh well. I changed both fuel filters for good measure, and resumed the journey, heading towards the North-West.

The drive to Monument Valley has been the best one so far. Never a dull moment, moving in permanent fascination by the reddish and yellow rock formations, changing constantly as the sun sets behind the plateaus.

The landscape is... spiritual, to say the least. The light, gliding down the bare stone; the heaps of sand at the feet of steep cliffs; the thought of the slow process of corrosion on these magnificent structures; the abandoned shacks and gas stations; the smoky mountains in the background; the long, cracked spine of the road; the emptiness of it all.

At 10.15pm I arrived to a gas station, where water was more expensive than ice tea (!), so I went with a couple gallon jugs for good measure.

Forty minutes later I was idling in front of the closed door of the Monument Valley Visitor Center. I made a U-Turn and parked in the lot of a health clinic, under a street lamp. The night was cool and calm, very dark, without a hint of where the Monuments were. But I was tired, so the little Scotty was home to me once more.

The outskirts of Albuquerque.

A woman in a gas station told me "I hate this place!".

My office setup in a Barnes and Noble.

So much knowledge to be had! All, compacted under one roof!

This is the motherload. And it went in no time.

The headache starts. Oh gosh, the choices.

What... do... I... do?!

This was the point I started to reach a state of desperation.

Chris Wagoneer (Silver Star ********) and his team.

We all have jacked our car. But, an entire building?

Out of Albuquerque, heading North-West.

The mountains are smooth, but soon they will get steeper.

Gorgeous rock formations. They will be there when you and I are gone.

The most pleasant drive.

The light likes to play in the little rock creases.

No shadow in this cliff will be the same as the day goes by.

Suddenly, everything was bathed in orange.

- - - - - - - - -

Dear Northern California owners:
My boss has told me he is willing to open the shop for a No-Cal GTG to celebrate the culmination of the road trip. Anyone interested?

Stretch · #**222** 06-04-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

Dear Northern California owners:
My boss has told me he is willing to open the shop for a No-Cal GTG to celebrate the culmination of the road trip. Anyone interested?

Can a bloke from Europe gate crash if he can get some time off for good behaviour?

vwnate1 · #**223** 06-04-2011, 11:33 PM

Miguel ;

I'm a Journeyman Mechanic who spends all his spare time out on the road in some dilapidated vehicle I've saved from the crusher and I know the importance of tools , ones that do the job , not look pretty nor cost the most . both on the road and at home , the same tools should be used so you won't get caught short .

NEVER buy the sets ! just buy what you need for a specific job and add the sockets , extensions & what not you need as you go along , this way your kit will be compact and actually useful .

Many swapmeets sell the Craftsman tools individually as they buy the biggest sets on sale & parcel them out *very* cheaply .

Don't be afraid of Chinese tools , some are quite good .

I've changed Mercedes alternators on an Arizona curbstone in the sun using the factory tool kit , it has very good tools indeed although they look cheap , they're NOT ~ they're Vanadium Steel , that's very good stuff .
FWIW , a Bosch branded rebuilt electrical item , may well have a mystery brand voltage regulator , in North America , Bosch doesn't fix anything , they farm it all out .

Just get the correct voltage regulator , most indie Mercedes , Volvo , Saab , Porsche etc. shops will have one on the shelf .

It sounds like you're giving So. Cal. a pass , too bad as I'd like to meet you .

ROLLGUY · #**224** 06-05-2011, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

It sounds like you're giving So. Cal. a pass , too bad as I'd like to meet you .

Not really. Check out: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/events-gatherings/299812-possible-gtg-so-cal-sometime-between-june-7-11-a.html#post2728726

Delibes · #**225** 06-05-2011, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

It sounds like you're giving So. Cal. a pass , too bad as I'd like to meet you .

What are you talking about? I will be in SoCal until the 11th. I do believe this will be enough time to get a few things fixed and meet a bunch of MB enthusiasts, as well as paying the Classic Center (another) visit.

Day 16: Solitude in the Plateau (listen to today's theme)
With such a deep-sounding title, I will start today's entry quoting a young fellow in a gas station, who, looking at the Scotty stickers on the shiny aluminum, went forth and asked "That trailer, is it for a dog?".

Today, I woke up to be the Marlboro man. What was darkness the day before now stretched before me in its colossal, red solidity: before me lay Monument Valley, the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen with my own eyes. The shapes and silhouettes in the rock are so bold, so distinctive, and so delicately layered and shaded. Not only that, I had woken up at 7am, the perfect time to see the sun carve hard shadows on the many faces of each Monument. There, the Monuments, my rig and I. Everything else was emptiness, even in the clinic where I had spent the night. It seemed as if the world was painted with thick clay watercolor and my eyes, shiny from the night before, were laden with it.

I just wonder what the first American settlers who found these formations may have thought. "I am just way too busy trying not to get shot at by the natives" might be a good possibility; however, in all their novelty, I imagine that at some point of their days, they may have stared like I did, and remained silent.

7000 feet of altitude. My engine feels it, until the turbo starts feeding air into the heart of the beast. I headed to Flagstaff, still wondering about the Arizona members. A quick stop in a local Segway (next to a McDonald's, naturally) solved the issue, and much to the unpredictable course of things, I steered West, ready to meet username ROLLGUY (Rich).

Desert, the Mojave desert. Dryness. Tumbleweeds. Men of burnt, wrinkled faces and squinty eyes. Streaks of melted tar on the road. And then, the noise.

Newport started vibrating up and down, as if it was excited for something. A little further into the road, I pulled over and checked under the hood and under the car. Everything seemed fine. Back on the road, the vibration resumes at about 45mph. My wild guess, the old tires on the car are due for a change. I limped slowly to Rich's, ready for another mind-blowing moment. More mind blowing –Monument Valley, Rich and his wife– would probably result in a violent internal hemorrhage of awesomeness.

Rich and his wife not only live in a fully tailored geodesic castle. Rich collects player grand pianos and has a full Alexandria library of player scrolls. But there is more. His three-legged giants are hooked to a computer system that actuates each of its solenoids, making it possible not only to listen to each song very much like when played by real musician (with variations of reverberation and tempo, true personality in each note), but listen for hours on end rather than keep changing scrolls.

Then we had some tacos. And it was all good.

Not all the money in the world could buy and experience like this.

Taken right on the spot at around 7.30am.

In command of my life.

San Francisco Peaks, they call them.

The perfect Marlboro film setting.

How would you like 7 hours of this?

California is near... I can... smell it!

Just let California become its own country, for heaven's sake.

Not a drastic change from the Mojave desert.

A few scarce miles from Rich's house.

And here is some valley for you.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Today I have a little extra time to fool around with Photoshop, so I have made you a DESKTOP WALLPAPER out of a slightly modified version of the first picture from today's post. Choose your resolution:

Click HERE for 1024x768p.
Click HERE for 800x600p.
Click HERE for 640x480p.

Hope you like it, enjoy!