Departure from K-town: 1050 hrs.
Arrival in Indy: 1612 hrs.
ET: 5:22, incl. gas stop north of Lexington.
Distance: 374.6 mi.
Avg. speed (while engine on): 69.9 mph.
Mileage: 27.9 mpg.
Not a record run, but a respectable time nonetheless. The average speed would have been better by probably a whole mile-per if I hadn't spent the last fifteen minutes or so in stop-'n'-go early rush-hour traffic on Keystone Avenue. Still, counting check-in times and cab rides, I doubt I could have much bettered my time by flying. And while flying is more fun than driving in general, I doubt a 727 is quite as enjoyably nimble or as responsive to the controls as a 2,800lb Kraut roadster.
Keeping the cruise control on at ten over out on the open highway is a lot more relaxing and doesn't require any head-on-a-swivel behavior, really. I've never attracted a hint of interest from Johnny Law at ten over on the interstate, probably because I practice good lane discipline, leave adequate following distances, and signal my lane changes. In town, I just keep up with the flow of traffic around me; I don't want to stand out from the herd.
The Zed Drei tipped over the 108,000 mile mark about the time I hit I-465.
No TSA when you drive.
ReplyDeleteYet.
Papers, please?
Amen to that, John MXL.
ReplyDeleteWe're heading to Carolina in a week for some spring (and to breathe free air, unlike in the People's Socialist Republic of Massachusetts). I'd rather drive the almost-thousand miles than take the kids and stuff through the TSA.
What's odd is that the experience is very much a flashback to when I was a kid. Back then, flying was out of the question, so you drove. At least now we have iPods and air conditioning.
There's an experience in distance driving. A retro experience, to be sure, but that's not a bad thing.
Retro?
ReplyDeleteI vastly prefer roadtrips to cattlecars. Always have. I wouldn't even consider flying less than 1,000 miles.
The car has better music, plus I genuinely like to drive.
Tam i love cruise control over here in the UK the Max speed on Motorways is 70 so i set my cruise control at 76-78mph and you dont attract any notice keep you distances try to avoid sudden braking or the oh god seen a police car hit the bakes and look guilty.
ReplyDeleteI doubt a 727 is quite as enjoyably nimble or as responsive to the controls as a 2,800lb Kraut roadster.
ReplyDeleteOh, I dunno...
A roadtrip in the zed drei must be a blast. And that's a nice stretch of road, for the midwest. Being a decent driver puts you under the radar for a lot of ills. 108k? that's barely broke in for a beemer. Welcome back home (cue Jim Nabors)
ReplyDeleteI'm sooo tempted to install an aftermarket cruise control unit in TinyTruck. That's the only thing in "the list" that it's missing; with that, I'd happily keep it running as my daily driver for as long as feasible.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm only 10K miles behind you now, Tam. Not bad considering you'd had the rollerskate for quite a while when I bought the truck, with 11K on it.
Mileage: 27.9 mpg
ReplyDeleteThen only time my '79 Vette gets less than 10 MPG is when it's moving at less than 10 MPH.
I've yet to find out how it ever gets better than 10 MPG. Fuel calc's are easy.
Sounds like it was a good trip. I drove from upstate New York (great Italian food) to North Dakota (great roads) one time, and as much as it took a while, the scenery was beautiful in a lot of places, and it saves me the discomfort of being in an airplane when I'm not PIC.
ReplyDeleteJim
Three weeks ago flew from Columbus to Denver, then turned around the next day and drove a rental truck the 13010 miles back. Truck won't let you go more than 75, which is only a problem downhill with an 18-wheeler on your butt.
ReplyDeleteDrove back to Colorado Sunday - Monday in an '05 Explorer which needs new struts. 21 and 8 hours, bad weather both days. Try 80 mph in 40+ mph headwinds. Oh, E-85 is 15% cheaper, but yields 25-30% lower gas mileage. Just saying.
I push the speed limit the way you do. No problems, and I used to make this run from CO to NJ and back. Now it's CO-OH-CO, at least twice a year. Law of averages [not a bad pun] will catch up with me one of these days. Waved North and South as I passed Indianapolis. It's about 4 hours from the Ohio house; I'll get to the bar one of these days. Or to the gun shoppe, should you chose to enter employment in such. Keep writing! OldeForce
PS - My son bought one of the Russians you enjoy so much. How the bl**dy he** do you open the ammo box!? I used a pry bar and a hammer, hoping I didn't catch a primer. Just caught my thumb on the ripped metal, and inhaled what might be 70 year old Russian air.
Last Monday, Bradenton, FL, to Central North Carolina in a big, comfy, quiet, 93 Chevy Caprice Classic. 14 hours. I had much rather drive than fly as I don't care to be herded around. 130,000 on the Chevy and it still drives like a new one and gets 24mpg driven at the speed limit plus 5.
ReplyDeleteI would buy a new one just like it but sadly, Chevrolet does not make them anymore.
Heh...
ReplyDeleteMy first ticket said I was doing 65 mph in a 55 mph zone.
The ticket was for obstructing traffic.
Gotta love San Diego...
Yar!
"I doubt a 727 is quite as enjoyably nimble or as responsive to the controls as a 2,800lb Kraut roadster."
ReplyDelete+1 Noah D.
I had the pleasure of riding a 727 for two passes below the lip of Angel Falls in '89. It may look like a big ungainly cattlecar but that was the first time I was aware of pulling sustained G's in an airliner.
My fate is no longer in hands that I trust once I pass the metal detectors at the airport.
ReplyDeleteNo US carrier still uses 727s, that I'm aware of. Too piggy on fuel and uses too many pilots (3).
ReplyDeleteWell, no US passenger carrier still uses them, but my employer still flies a few. They are being quickly phased out in favor of 757s - the fuel economy alone will pay for the changeout in short order.
ReplyDeleteMy most enjoyable jet flight was flying jumpseat in a 727 (used to be a job perk, now gone since 9/11).
I better your speeds and times. Though I have Montana. No Speed Limits. Unless you're Pierce Brosnan in an Aston Martin. Or the Top Gear crew with "Man Love" sprayed on the side of a Lincoln...
ReplyDeleteTam DOES sort of look like THE STIG!
ReplyDeleteMy typical run to Kansas City (375 miles) runs 5:30 or thereabouts; flying time is about an hour, but there's so much crapola to deal with at the airports that it's way easier just to drive.
ReplyDeleteBesides which, I don't have to worry about how to get around once I get there.
Cruise control, on the Interstate.
ReplyDeleteWave that freak flag high! Git down. Crazy!