In the previous episode, our intrepid heroes are feeling pretty good about themselves after avoiding turning the F-1 into a rolling molotov cocktail, and are ready to get back on the road. Hey, it’s my blog, I’m allowed to call myself an intrepid hero if I want to!

10pm Saturday - Saint Clarisville, OH

Back on the road, and into periodic drizzle. It is now fully dark. The F-1 has no windshield wipers or side windows. Joel is back at the helm. We’ve worked out a system whereby he will communicate problems to me by flashing the headlights (I am leading in the Hon-duh). For my part, I am feeling like Steve McQueen, Elwood Blue, and Mr. Blonde all rolled into one… we will take no shit from this vehicle. It will make it home. Under its own power by god!

11pm Saturday - PA State Line

It’s good to be back in PA. It appears that the patch job is holding. We’ve had a few false alarms where I pulled off thinking that Joel was trying to get my attention. The violent bouncing of the truck when going over potholes makes it look like he is flashing the lights to get my attention. PA roads are the best in the country, bar none.

Joel and I work out a new system: When I see ‘road surface irregularities’ (read: giant Mack truck eating potholes), flash the brake lights to warn him.

At our gas stop, we decide to try to make Bedford, PA, find a hotel and get some sleep. Conferring with the little woman provides confirmation of: weather of biblical proportions near home, general loss of sanity, and that stopping for the night is the right move. So be it.

11:30pm Saturday - Somewhere west of Uniontown, PA

I am a slave to the rear view mirror. I see Joel slow (more giant potholes), in turn I try to slow down; but in the interim two cars cut between us. A minute passes and I can no longer see any sign of Joel or the F-1. Perplexed, I pull off the side of the road and wait. Another couple of minutes go by and I get a call: “Dude, we’re #$%^ed… hit giant pothole… it’s losing oil all over the place…”. I had to continue down the road to the next exit, get turned around and head back to meet up and survey the damage.

Upon arrival, the situation is less grim than suspected (Joel is still fairly ‘excited’ and convinced that this is the end of our adventure — I’m having none of that). The power steering lines and the rack have come into contact with the crossmember and ruptured. Predictably, the power steering fluid deluge all over the hot exhaust has created a James Bond-esque smoke screen inside the cab (the floors share much in common with Swiss Cheese). We pull the power steering pump and remove the belt and are at least able to limp the thing to a more reasonable place to spend the night.

Joel reports that the steering feels ‘a bit better’ without the power assist. It really couldn’t be a lot worse, so that stands to reason.

12:15am Sunday - Bella Vernon, PA

We find an appropriately sleazy roach motel to crash for the night (Relax Inn - Bella Vernon, PA: great vacation spot if you have shit for brains). Weirdo working behind the counter asks us no less than 5 times “Just you two in the room?” Listen jackass: we both have girls back home, and have neither the interest nor the energy for some ‘companionship’ or anything else at the moment. Christ.

After dodging the random parking lot creatures and making it to the room, I am out like a light in about 45 minutes. We are both awakened at several points throughout the night to what sounds like the room downstairs being remodeled by driving a car through the bathroom.

7am Sunday

We roll out of the room in search of coffee only to be greeted by 40 degree temps and windy conditions. Despite the screwed up weather, we must press on. A quick inspection of the truck reveals that things are generally no worse off than I thought they were the night before.

8am Sunday

Back on the road. We’re only about 15 minutes from the turnpike, and despite the cold temps things are going well. We make another fuel stop and check the fluids once again. “Oh, look at that, it’s leaking oil! Sweet!” Looks like the rear main seal is coming apart. The leak is bad enough for concern, but I think we’ll be ok as long as we stay on top of the oil level.

We snap some photos for posterity at a PA Turnpike rest area. All is pretty much uneventful for the rest of the trip to Mike’s place.

3pm Sunday - Highspire, PA (400ish miles from Patrick’s compound)

We stop by Road Devil brother Mike’s shop. He confirms Kim’s appraisal of our mental acuity. Mike also discovers that it looks like the rack had been welded together at some point (scary). After swapping stories (Mike was at the Jalopy Showdown while we were limping the truck home), we’re on our way back to my place in York where Joel will leave the truck until he can get the PA title mess sorted out.

In all: a pretty interesting weekend. I’m sad to have missed the Showdown, as that is always a great time. Just the same, we had quite an adventure, and got to hang out with Patrick and some of the Ohio chapter (without whom this wouldn’t have been possible). I’m in no hurry to repeat this episode, but there are far worse ways to spend a weekend.

Some more pics on flickr