Five Morgans in Search of Fun and Adventure

Day Three - Lexington KY to Somerset PA.

September 9th 2009

Daily Statistics

Depart time  09:00 Am     Arrival time 06:30 PM

 Miles Covered : 428

Number of Delays due to Breakdowns: 0

Another adventure. At 9:00 AM the Group of 5 hit the road from Lextington, Ky in a dense fog. The fog was so thick that often the car in front of you would disappear from sight, only to reappear as a nebulous shadow a few seconds later. We were traveling through somke of the most scenic areas in Kentucky but to see them we would have to buy postcards. This was not a local condition. It lasted for some 70 miles until starting to lift about 10:00. An hour without sight or sound on the journey.

To regroup the first stop was at a roadside rest stop area at 10:45. Then it was on into West Virginia some 30 minutes later. For the Morgans, all seemed to be going without incident as the group headed for the lunch stop in Big Otter, W Va. When all finally arrived it was revealed that the Murphy trailer had its second flat of the day. So while we ate at the Antique Diner, (full of antiques and old things). Murphy got at least one of the spares repaired. The other tire was so destroyed that it would have to be replaced not a possibilty in Big Otter.

Boyles agreed to lead the next leg into Maryland but few seemed to follow. The others did not catch up until outside Morgantown, almost the end of the leg. The goal was to end the leg at the Maryland tourist Center, but Boyles erroneously led the grou;p into downtown Friendsville, a small town of 700 that did not even appear on the map. The cars certainly impressed the locals and many photos were taken. Then it was on to the over night stop at Somerset Pa.

The final route was over a twisting and turning road through backwoods PA. The perfect end to a relatively wonderful day, 428 miles through magnificantly beautiful mountainous country and again the group had reached their projected overnight stop. This time by 6:30 PM. A 9 and half hour day.

So what is the count on vehicle failures to date?

Nogueira + 4 no incidents reported

Flener + 4 an apparent leaking front oil seal, not serious so no remedial action taken.

Boyles 4/4 a dislodged radiator expansion tank cap. Solution? Secure with a hose clam;

Odometer quit working the second day, although the speedometer continued to work. Solution?

the odometer started to work on its own midway through the third day.

Murphy +4 No incidents, but then it has remained lathed to the trailer so far.

Murphy trailer failure of brakes to work solution? None to date. Two flat tires. Solution? One repaired and the second to be replaced when feasible. At present the two spares are on the ground.

So looking forward to the final day of this 4 day tri;p. No rain has been encountered, all the Morgans are performing without meaningful problems and we are now into the cool weather.