Health reasons have caused me to retire so I have decided to do a little traveling in the vette this spring and summer while I am still able to tolerate the ride.  Starting with the C3V registry annual get together in May and following that up a couple of weeks later with a trip to Yellowstone.

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

There's an absolutely FANTASTIC drive heading southwest out of Billings, MT through Red Lodge and over The Beartooth Pass.  Stay overnight in Cooke City, MT and then enter Yellowstone NP at the Northeast Entrance (the least used entrance to the park).  After traveling through the park find an outfitter in West Yellowstone, MT for fishing on either the Yellowstone River, the Gallatin River, or the Madison River.  We've seen lots of McKenzie River Boats floating down those rivers.  Drop dead beautiful country in every direction out there.

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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Never driven the vette there, but for what it is worth, in 1988 we (family of four) did tour Yellowstone in a 1987 Toyota Corolla Wagon.  No car problems at all.  Yes, you're going to love the trip.

Drove my 78 SA Vette all over the Sierras.  Never had to adjust anything, ran just fine.

With this E10 gas, it might actually run better at altitude.


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Sorry about the health issues.  I kind of did the same but it was because I was getting to old and realized that I could not do a lot of what I could do just 5 years earlier.  Wife got some health issues also.  That is why I purchase the Motor Home so We could get out and I would not have to lug suite cases which are a problem for me anymore.

|UPDATED|12/22/2013 12:21:33 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

I've got back issues and it's getting much worse.  I can't do most things associated with what you shouldn't do with a bad back.  Anything that has the potential for jerking me around is out. Horseback riding for example.  Walking can take a ridiculous amount of time.  My exhaust install is a good example.  A 2-3 hour job took me 4 weeks.  I won't be doing any hiking.  Yeah, I know I'm missing one of the great things to do at Yellowstone but it's too risky.  The potential for hiking out on a trail and then not being able to move because the back goes out is too great.

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

Dave,

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If you're going to continue west after the gathering you will need to take a side trip or just take your time heading west as the Beartooth Pass usually isn't open until Memorial Day weekend.  We went through there on our way to the 2007 Gathering in Carson City, NV (which was in the middle of June that year) and drove through a snow squall at the top of the pass.  There was still lots of snow piled up along the roadside near the summit as the road had only been open for a week or so.

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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Crazy Horse!  We saw that when we went cross country back in June/July of '77.  It was just a hole in the mountain under his pointing arm and a flat area above.  

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

Does a good Back brace help?  If you get a good one they often help.  There are a lot of things you can see without having to get out of your car and hike along.  I know as hiking above 2000 feet for me becomes an issue so I have to take it slow.  I have an oxygen machine but I just do not like dragging that around behind me.  Keep us up to date on your plans as they firm up.

So far no luck with braces or pads...lets not even talk about putting a heating pad Makes everything swollen and much more sore.  I'll just do what I can and drink a frosty beverage when there's stuff around I can't do.

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

Speaking of traveling....With the limited space available in the vette I was wondering if anyone has any tips on good emergency equipment to bring along that take up very little space.  For example a can of fix-a-flat instead of an air compressor, adjustable wrench instead of a wrench set(try and stop me from bringing a tool set).  

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

Dave, is this gunna be a solo trip, or you gunna have comp'ny? If solo, you should have plenty of room to bring yer tools....a many as you can.
Honestly, in all of the long road trips I've taken in either of the Corvettes, I've loaded my small box with dang near every hand tool in my home box...and I've NEVER needed any of it for my car....but I've used them for other folks' cars!
If you still have the stock distributor, take a spare set of points/condenser(and a coil, if possible). Take spare belts...and a spare tire. Make sure you have a good jack...don't depend on the factory jack...they're kinda flimsy.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Dave,

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AAA card already installed!

|UPDATED|1/6/2014 10:49:12 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

Sounds like a really really great trip! Never been to Yellowstone and always wanted to.
Besides AAA, I love my LED headlamp for anything and everything. That, a pocketknife and a bottle of water will take you far! Leaves lots of room for souvenirs

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My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

I was hoping to find a buffalo or elk head along the way...that would make for an interesting driving companion or hood ornament!

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

Finalized most of the upcoming trip.  

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

Sounds like a really great trip. I know you will enjoy it.

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You are going to have one heck of a grand adventure...!!! 

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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Jim, Thanks for the ideas!  I hadn't done any work for the trip back from Glacier National Park and you made it easy.  I was looking forward to a nice drive east.  I'll take your advice and head to Spearfish.  Really need to see Wall Drugs huh?  OK, I'll give it a shot.  Maybe I'll stop at the ranch and harass you.  At least we can do a meal together.

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

I would agree with previous posters.  The Going-to-the-Sun road in Glacier and the Chief Joseph Memorial Highway through the Beartooth Mountains are fantastic drives.  The northern loop around Yellowstone is also awesome.  Attached a couple pics for motivation - both taken from just outside the vehicle - no hiking.  I'm ready to go back now, too.  Best of luck to you.

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Oh yeah, THAT'S what I need as I sit here looking out a balmy 15 degree day. 

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

I don't know what Chief Joesph Highway is like but I know the Beartooth Pass is more fun going east to west.  If you don't want to repeat any road on that loop head south from the cabin and head out the East Entrance of the Park to Cody, then north to Red Lodge, up and over the Beartooth, through Cooke City, MT and back into the Park through the Northeast Entrance.  That's about a 6 hour loop provided you don't get stuck behind an RV from New York. 

 

The Black Hills Corvette Classic (http://www.blackhillscorvetteclassic.com/) is happening July 15th–July 19th so you may bump into a bunch of folks in Spearfish on that weekend.  If your timing has you in the neighborhood then plan ahead for a motel room as they will be hard to find in the area.  The event kicks off in Sioux Falls on the east side of the state on Tuesday night and they caravan across the state to Spearfish on Thursday (I've heard that is more of a sprint than a caravan!).

 

The "Welcome Weary Vette Traveler!" sign is always hanging on the post at "The Ranch"...!!! 

|UPDATED|1/26/2014 5:03:16 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

OK I have a little more of the trip figured out.  I only have up to Highway to the Sun on the calender.  If I keep the tentative schedule after that I'll just miss the Blackhills Corvette Classic.  That will just give me another reason to head out there again.

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.