The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Annual Stovebolt Reunion (Kansas City) 2013 Reunion: Eastern Convoy details

Here are the updated plans for the Great 2013 International Stovebolt Convoy/Le Premier Convoi International du Camions Stovebolt 2013.

Route Plan (as of 22 August):
Monday Morning/Labor Day -- Depart So. MD to Lexington, VA (Via Rt 301, Rt 3, Rt 15, Rt 231, I-64 and I-81). Load diesel conversion project on trailer & remain Over Night in Lexington.

Tues Dawn 3 Sept Depart Lexington, VA for Evansville, IN (Via I-64). We will stop for the night somewhere between Louisville and Evansville. Hopefully closer to E'Ville.

Wednesday Dawn 4 Sept Depart Evansville, IN for St Louis (Via I-64). Plan to rendezvous with Leo & Fred on west side of St. Louis around Noon. Details TBD. From St Louis, we will be running I-70.

Wednesday Evening 4 Sept Arrive Kansas City

If anyone wants to join us along the way, We'd love to have company. Chime in and let us know. We will not be running fast as I am governed to 63 MPH at 2300 RPM.

John

John, If you are taking I70, I could meet up near Indy.

Leo

Vicki and I should be headed to KC Thursday also.
Don't know yet what we'll be taking or driving.
Keep us informed on the time line as it developes.

Don & Vicki

John,
I'm hoping to make the trip again this year. So you can add me to the list of potential travelers.

.

Ned -- That routing takes you pretty far off your route, unless you wanted to come down here and start with me -- We could put the Phantom on the trailer to Grigg's and then you could drive from there. Just an idea.

I'm figuring on tough slogging through the mountains in West Virginia and clear sailing once I get to Eastern KY.

John,
Diverting to meet you along the way wont be a problem if I am able to make the trip won't be a problem, if I get to go. We can discuss more as the time approaches.

Status ... The 9500 is in the shop at the moment. I took it over there to have the 2-speed looked at. I told them it was acting funny so they told it to straighten up and get serious. Actually, they found the contacts in the switch (on the shifter) were bad. In going over the truck, they also found the front wheel bearings were bad (rusty) on both sides!

It's been sitting a lot this year and with the oil bath axles, I guess the oil just dripped off and with all the humidity bad things happened. Well, better to find that out here than on the road.

And it looks like I have company in the truck for the trip! Amtrakjoe will be riding along and joining us for the show. Glad to have you on the crew, Joe!

Me too, John. If we can't meet up in Indy, you may have to "meet me in St Louis."

"Louie ... meet me at the fair ..."

Speaking of St. Louis, how about some advice on the best ways to get thru it from the North East, East and South.

South is easy. I-55 to I-270 to I-64 west and pick up I-70 well west of St.Louis.

North East coming in I-55 or I-70. Take I-270 around the north side of St. Loius to I-370 and then back on I-70.
Trust me, I-370 is longer, but a whole lot less trafic and head aches. I-70 bridge across the Missouri River is being worked on and you can expect back ups at any time.

East coming in I-64, Don't get off I-64 and follow the signs to KC/I-70 as you come across the bridge into St. Louis. Unless you want to stop and visit the Arch, the bridge has a really good view of the arch and downtown. Have your cameras ready and STAY on I-64 to pick I-70 well west of St. Louis

Hope this helps!
Don

Who put that avatar there??????????????????????????? AHHH!

Peggy
Glad she has black hair. Scared me thinking Vicki founnd out about the M-37.
Never mind, it was sitting by the barn when we got home today.
Gotta love a Gal that does not flinch, when something shows up in the yard.

Don

Sure does, Indy was worse for me several years ago. I need all the help I can get. Thanks.

Leo,

Let's plan on meeting somewhere West of St. Louis, then. About when are you expecting to be in the St. Louis area? I'm still fluid in my planning but it looks roughly like mid day on Wednesday (4 Sept) for me -- assuming Joe and I only make it to Lexington, KY on Tuesday. I'm expecting the trip through the mountains to be brutal. And if you cruise with us, you're only going to do 62 MPH (on the flat or down hills).

John

John, Fred and I will be leaving Tuesday morning, looks like Wed. afternoon will work out very well. I'm having more and more confidence in my panel making it without and problems. (If Ned can do it, so can I!)

I can give you guys some places to meet up depending on when you are going thru St.Louis.
I suggest somewhere west of where I-64 and I-70 come together west of St.Louis.

Don

Leo,

Looks like we have a plan carved in sand, then As I always say, "Flexibility is the key to effective indecision."

Don -- Suggestions welcomed! I do not know that area and call me crazy but I'm thinking our timing will not likely be to the split second on this rendezvous ... so a good rally point would be advisable. I'd say our window for being there is 10 am to 4 pm And I'd bet doll hairs to doughnuts that it will be Leo & Fred waiting on John & Joe ...

John

I have several places in mind for a meet up point.
One is an old style truckers cafe at New Florence, Mo. Next to a Mc'crap.
Been there a long time. Big gravel parking lot and if you look at Google street view, the trucks are lined up next to it.
Dad's Junction Cafe.
North west corner of I-70 and Hwy 19.

Vicki and I are hoping to leave early tomorrow to see my parents in St. Louis and will try to stop and taste the sunday buffay.

I'll list some other places in detail latter this week.

Don

John, you've been looking at my avatar, right? (My son snapped that photo at the beach this summer) According to my research, it's 1110 miles from Mechanicsville to Kansas City and only 1060 from Oakwood.

After seeing you all post this, I am going to use this as part of the index page: something to this effect: If you live less than 1,000 miles ... you NEED TO BE HERE!

Don -- Still looking for a recommendation on the St Louis Rendezvous 10-20.

Leo, Fred, Joe -- I'm thinking that we set the rendezvous and whoever gets there first gets the table and once we all arrive, we have lunch and then hit the bricks for KC as a convoy. What do you think?

Any others want to join our little convoy? West bound down, loaded up and truckin'...

I am riding along so I defer to Leo!

Hey John, we'll be at Dad's Junction Cafe sometime on the Wed. afternoon. It's at I70 and Highway 19, on the north side of the Interstate. I should get your cell number in case we wait for you for hours and hours... I'll pm you mine, although Peggy likely has it somewhere.

Leo,

Numbers exchanged! We'll keep the dialogue going here until departure. And Then I will call you Wednesday Morning to check in, update on status, etc. Hopefully noone will be waiting anywhere for hours wondering...

Maybe we'll get some company for our little convoy ...

John

John
My puter is messing up and will post more details and my cell phone number latter. Hope to be at Dad's Junction Cafe.
It just says Cafe on the front. North west corner of I-70 and Hwy 19 at New Florence, Mo.

Okay Don -- Thanks! So you will be joining us Wednesday?? Cool!

I'll start a PM thread with all the known Convoy Commandos!

John
I'll try to meet you and Leo at the Cafe for lunch some time Wednesday, then see you on your way.
I give it a 50/50 chance I can make it.
Vicki and I will be headed to KC on Thursday.

Directions thru St.Louis will be posted this evening.

Thanks
Don

Time for some advice on what is the best way thru St. Louis.

If you are coming in on I-55 or I-70 from the north east.
Get off and take I-270 around the north side of the metro area.
Then I-370 back to I-70.
Trust me, The I-370 cut off looks longer, but the I-70 at St Charles is being worked on and back ups are very comon.

Coming in I-55 from the south.
I-270 west bound and then I-64 west bound to I-70 across the state.

West bound I-64 from the East.
This is important,
Stay on I-64 as you cross the Missippi river!
Have a camera ready as you cross the bridge, very good view of the arch, stadium and down town St. Louis.

Do not exit the highway down town St. Louis where it says Kansas city this way.

STAY ON I-64!

I-64 is all new highway and will hook you back up with I-70 well west St. Louis.

Hope this helps
And my cell is 314-974-8567
Don

Okay, I have Map Quest open ... Rt 19 and I-70 ... That's New Florence, right?

Wow ... Joe and I will have to put it to it like Sonny Pruitt on Tuesday and then we should be able to make it for lunch at Dad's on Wednesday ... We will keep you posted, however.

The good news is that we won't have to worry about Buford T Justice ... The 6-71 ain't likely to bust too many speed limits ...

Thats correct John, New Florence, Mo.
I may or may not be off work Wed.
If I am off, give me a call after you get on I-70, that should be about the right time line to meet up with you guys,
Morning, Noon or afternoon.
Are you going to try and make it to KC on Wed?
I'll try to post some places to fuel up in Missouri on I-70 latter.

Don

From New Florence, it's only 180 miles to Kansas City (according to Mapquest...) ... But I'll leave it up to the group to discuss/decide. If all goes well and we actually meet for lunch ontime at Noon in NF, we may as well mush on after we eat. Then again, if you know of a cool junkyard in the area ...

Don't know of any old junk yards that will just let a group of people wander around in.
But!
There is a used equipment sales place I have been wanting to stop at.
It's has a lot of cool looking, aged road tractors, earth moving stuff and farm equipment.
Not even out of your way.
When you leave Dad's Cafe, turn west on the outter road, it's about 2-1/2 miles and sets between the outer road and I-70.
Another mile west and you can jump back on I-70 at Danville, Mo.
Check out Google satilite, they have a lot more stuff now.

Don

Sounds like a good drive by, at least -- Thanks Don!

Well, this time tomorrow, Joe and I ought to be on the West side of Fredericksburg, VA heading for the Chancellorsville battlefield.

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon you
And the hand of a friend always be near.


See you in a few days, Leo

Times 2 on what Leo said.
Vicki say's Hi also and be safe on your travel's.

Don

We're loaded and the truck has been services, washed and waxed. We ought to be on the road by 0700. We'll probably post an update sometime tomorrow when we leave Grigg's or when we stop for the evening.

Thanks for the well wishes, Amigos! The same back at you. We'll see you at the rendezvous!

leaving in the a.m. ourselves john. promised mrs. me a trip to branson.




just to hear me sing (not)

Trip through Indy. This could slow your route through Indy. not living there makes it hard for me to understand the effect on your route. You can go to www.wishtv.com for a different look. go to south split story.Good luck.

Not to hijack this thread but in the video, did you see the bridge move after being hit? That was unbelievable!

Yea, that video was something. At least the news report gave some possible options.

Peggy