Seattle to Costa Mesa Caravan - Update (Pt I)

[TJCallahan@domain.elided]

For all those living the convention vicariously, here's a first installment of the caravan trip. From what's happened thus far, the convention itself should be a doosey!

Saturday, 29 June, ended on a disappointing note - the Alfetta is back together and runs, but is not dialed in and is making a funny noise. So, in the interest of safety and marital bliss, it is staying home and the backup vehicle is prepped for the trip. The 'Alfa [very]Nord[ic]' has the oil/filter changed, fluids topped, tires checked, cabin air filter changed, and the requisite Alfa bumper sticker installed. 

You know, I remember a thread a few years ago about a Volvo engined Milano in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Well, here we have an Alfisti (and one in the making) in a Volvo heading for the Alfa convention.

Sunday starts a little confusing but ends delightfully. At 10:45A I get a call from Brian and Diana, our Canadian Alfisti, asking me where I am. It seems they are at the designated rendezvous place and I'm not. A quick (and panic filled) check of the calendar clears up the mystery - they have made it to the correct location at the correct time - but one day early. All is well when they accept an invitation to spend the day touring Seattle and staying with us for the night. We had a delightful evening chatting and getting to know them both. They, on the other hand, discovered what having a two year old, a seven year old, and company in the house all at the same moment can do to peace and tranquillity.

Monday dawns grey and drizzly, a perfect Pacific Northwest send off. Many last minute errands (take the garbage out, pay a bill, pick up and install the last car filter, gas the car, ...) and we are off the to meeting location. A timely arrival, a quick discussion of route and stopping plans, and ... oh, holy cow! I forgot to feed the seven year old breakfast! He's wasting away before my very eyes! A quick trip through Mickey-D's and we are (finally) on the road and headed to Portland.

Did you know Alfa speedometers are optimistic? The Volvo's cruise control is set rock solid on seventy (in the 70 zone, of course), there are cars passing on the left, and we are passing trucks on our right (60MPH limit for them), so it must be correct. But the two Alfa spiders are dropping further and further behind ... a quick discussion at the next rest stop determines that the Alfa speedometers are reading 80+ mph. We take a vote and decide the we'd follow the Volvo's pace, but the Volvo has to lead the pack.

To be continued ...

Tom
Seattle
11615 (grumpy at being left home)
10123 (telling the Alfetta to "Get used to it.")
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