From Moab to Salt Lake

From Q via email - Monday night

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Arrived at Mikes here in Salt Lake circa 6 this PM after driving up from Moab with Bill. Not a bad drive, but it crossed some of the most desolate scenery I have seen on the entire trip. That area on Rt 70 west and UT route 6 was amazing.


Other than the road the only signs of humanity were the desultory fence posts and some old barbed wire. Straight as an arrow for miles with no services. No Gas, No anything. I can imagine the early Mormon settlers of the area taking days to cross the expanse … Slow enough in the rover and almost unimaginable in an ox drawn cart.

So ends the driving phase of the trip.

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Total mileage covered was 2564
Highest altitude 10977
Max speed ( via GPS ) 81.3

Economy
Worst 14 mpg in MO against a STRONG headwind.
Best 21.5 in several runs.

The 88 performed better than I had any right to expect. Mechanical faults were limited to:
Leaky oil pressure warning sender ( last 1/3 of the trip )
One front spring bushing is going bad.
Horn stopped working in MO
The OD fills up by itself.. (bad oil seal somewhere..)

The 88 used No water, about 3 oz brake fluid, no gear oil, and about 3 quarts of motor oil.

Trail damage was limited to a few small dents and my neglecting to remove the rear mounted spare and bending the read door ...
The sliders took a few hard hits and all it did was scrape the paint.

Both Carlane and I have become very fond of the darn thing. And I can hardly wait to fly out here to take it on some new adventure.

My final thought about driving Cross country
Take 5 days on the back roads and it is an enjoyable experience
Take 3 days and it is an ordeal you have to take a week off to recover from.

Good luck Ben !

Rgds Q

Ps parking in St Louis is a PAIN

Pictures at www.roverist.com/moab9