May the Fourth Be with You - Battle of Puebla

Llama Farm

Other than the commute to work I didn't ride on May the Fourth because I am in the mist of grading exams and there was just no time.  However on the way to work, after crossing 30 on Spring Mill Rd, I saw an orange convertible Ghia waiting for the light.  I had to record that for the tally.

On the Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla I did make a little time in the afternoon for a quick loop.  My original flight plan was just to ride out to the end of Strasburg and turn around but after crossing 252 I fell in behind two Pennsylvanians that wanted to crawl on their way home.  I flowed with it until Providence but at that decision point they continued on Goshen so I took the ride on Providence for the free road.  I followed that to Warren and made the right.  I've never gone on Warren in this direction and although it makes no sense the hills are a better ride this way.  At Davis I made the right and followed the road to Grubbs Mill Rd.  Again, going in the opposite direction here made for a better ride.  There was a left twist somewhere with a drive way shooting out from it and for a second I wasn't sure which one was the road so I had to do some quick adjustment there but it was fine.

When I got to Llama Farm the pack was in the front pasture.  I have never seen them this close to the road so I had to pull over and take some pictures.  There was one little black cria running around like the devil was behind her and I tried to get some shots but with low light and movement they all came out blurry.

From there I headed back up Goshen to Sugartown and took the Paoli Pike, Devon Rd, Darby Rd, Sugartown, Church loop back home.

Two issues: on the run up Goshen to Sugartown the bike cut out on acceleration in fifth.  I'm getting used to this quirk so I just heeled the kick stand the light came back on the bike fired right back up.  All of that in motion without pulling over.  I felt a great sense of accomplishment at that but I am going to have that switch disconnected at the 3K check at Kiss Honda.  The other issue happened when pulling out of Llama farm.  I tried to kick start the beast but the kick start lever acted as if it was completely disconnected.  This happened once before at work.  I will need to put that on the list to check.

The classic car tally is now three Nash Metropolitans, three 1950s Jag, one MGA, one Hot Rod, one 1950s Chrysler, one 1950's Plymouth, one Karmann Ghia, and one Ford Model A.

Little blurry black cria

More llamas

On departure 3253.9 at 18:35

On return 3278.9 at 19:15

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Running on Empty

McLaren at 926 and 322

After supper on Sunday I put in a handful of miles on the Bullet because the weather was too good not to ride.  I didn't have a specific flight plan in mind, just wanted to head out to the end of Goshen/Strasburg and figure it out from there.

As cut across 252 on Goshen I fell in behind a red 1950s convertible Jag which looked a lot like the one I saw earlier in the day while on the MG.  I feel pretty sure it was the same but I will count it as a separate sighting.  I followed him down Goshen until he turned of on Old Covered Bridge Rd.  I gave in a honk and a wave and he responded in kind.

The road up Goshen/Strasburg was pretty clear and, while still pocked marked in some areas, there has been some work done so it's a lot more enjoyable to ride than it has been.  This time I brought both my sunglasses and my regular glasses so I didn't have to worry about the long shadows.  I've discovered that if I wear my sunglasses, I can ride with the visor up and other than an occasional bug slapping my in the face it feels better and more enjoyable than riding with the visor down.  Using my regular glasses I can't do this because the lenses are so small and wind and dust get in my eyes fairly easily.

3202.4 at refuel

The end of Strasburg snuck up on me but I did a quick turn around at the bank parking lot and headed back.  I noticed that the odo was reading close to 3200, if not over, and I couldn't remember what it was at my last refuel but I figured I must be close to 200 miles on this tank.  (Last refuel was at Boyle's where the odo read 3018.7 so at an estimated 60 mpg and a little under 3.0 gallons of usable fuel in the tank I was pretty close to empty.)  So I headed for the Wawa at 352 and the West Chester Pike for a fill up.   At the pump the odo read 3202.4 for 183.7 miles since the last refuel.  The tank took 3.247 gallons at $3.27 per gallon for a total of $10.65.  Mileage on this tank was 56.57 mpg.  This new setup with the Power Commander does eat more fuel than before but I still think it's worth it.  At 3.247 gallons the tank had to be completely empty and the Bullet running on fumes.

From the Wawa I headed up 352 to 926 and took that to 322 with the intention of using one of the parking lots there as a turn around.  As I approached Concord Rd, I saw a tan Austin-Healey sitting on my right waiting for the light.  Soon after that I came up on the lot on the right at 322 and turned in there.  Being late Sunday, that lot was mostly empty and I used to do some figure 8s and some weaving for my own amusement.  There was a burned yellow exotic parked among the few other cars and I rode over there to figure out what it was.  It turned out to be a McLaren. This car reminded me of the exotic I saw last summer that I couldn't identify, so much that I am sure it was the same model car.  Due to the highly scientific nature of this tally, I will count that car with this one as a McLaren.  After fooling around in the lot I headed back to 926 and then it struck me that taking a pic of the McLaren would be like shooting fish in a barrel so I crossed 926 to turn around in that lot and come back.  Lo and behold but who should I run into there but my friend in the Austin-Healey I had seen at Concord Rd.  I gave him the thumbs up and he smiled and returned it.  A good time was had by all.  I then went back to the MacLaren and took a couple of happy snaps.

This time I did head back down 926 to Garret Mill and Goshen for the ride home.  The ride was amazing.  I'm glad I lucked into not running out of gas and everything worked out fine.  The roads are looking better here too.  A big portion of 926, where the bigger holes were, has now been completely repaved making it a safer ride.  Looking forward to the Bullet's one year anniversary on the eighth of this month.

On departure the odo read 3189.6 and on return 3223.2 for a total of 42.6 miles on this run.

The classic car tally is now three Nash Metropolitans, three 1950s Jag,one MGA, one Hot Rod, one 1950s Chrysler, one 1950's Plymouth, and one Ford Model A.  The exotic tally stands at 10 Ferraris, 9 Teslas, 6 Maseratis, 3 Cobras, 2 Bentleys, 2, McLarens,  1 Austin-Healeys, 2 Lambos, 1 Rolls Royce, 1 DeLorean, and 1 Unknown.

McLaren

On departure 3189.6 at 18:10

On return 3223.2 at 19:15

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Phoenixville Ride on the MG

Sunday afternoon we took another MG ride, this time out to Phoenixville.  We took a circuitous route as Charlene wanted to go to Mostardi's to buy a bag of potting soil.

We headed up Goshen to Boot Rd and took the right there to the Pike.  Shortly after crossing 252 on Goshen I saw a red 1950.s Jag (that may figure in another post) headed in the opposite direction.  Gave him the wave and he waved back.  Close behind him followed a blue Cobra with white stripes.  No wave back from the Cobra guy.  We continued on to the Pike were we stopped at Mostardi's got the potting soil and headed back out.

We followed the Pike to Providence and that to Goshen, then Earle's Lane out to Darby-Paoli and Church to Waterloo.  Waterloo is fine on the outbound side of the road but there are some huge holes on the inbound side.  I am talking about holes that will swallow up an aircraft carrier much less a little MGTDr so I made a decision not to come back that way.

We followed Waterloo all the way to its end on 23 at Valley Forge. It's not called Waterloo there but it's the same road.  At 23 we made the left towards Phoenixville despite signs of road closures and detours.  We stayed on 23 until we reached Country Club Rd which we took to Valley Park Rd and that to White Horse to loop back onto 23.  There we headed west to Starr which we followed to Bridge and Downtown Phoenixville.  While on Starr we saw a turquoise and white Nash Metropolitan sitting in a driveway.  This is either the third Nash Metropolitan of the same color I've seen or this one little car really gets around.

We did the passeggiata in downtown Phoenixville, got frozen yogurt, visited a couple of shops and then headed back.  We also so a gold 1950s Plymouth station wagon with huge fins cruising on Bridge Street.  Unfortunately I did not get a chance to get a shot of it.

We took the reverse way back except that we did a loop around Valley Forge because the roads there are a blast to drive.  As I didn't want to head back down Waterloo, we got on 202 to the 252 exit and followed 252 to St. Davids for the way home.

Another great day for a ride.  Perfect temps with blue skies, not any traffic to worry about, and great roads despite some pretty bad conditions in some areas.  The road crews are not moving as fast this year as they did last but they are making some progress in several areas.

The classic car tally is now three Nash Metropolitans, two 1950s Jag,one MGA, one Hot Rod, one 1950s Chrysler, one 1950's Plymouth, and one Ford Model A.  The exotic tally stands at 10 Ferraris, 9 Teslas, 6 Maseratis, 3 Cobras, 2 Bentleys, 2 Unknowns, 2 Lambos, 1 Rolls Royce, 1 DeLorean, and 1 Austin-Healey.

Phoenixville

Phoenixville

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Wagner 4415A Amber Fog Light

Wagner Fog Light

Another thing that happened Friday was that the Wagner fog light I ordered came in.  Obviously there was no time to install it on Friday but Saturday after our two rides I had a little time to jack the car up and put this thing on.

The Wagner light is a little thinner and much lighter than the original GE but it fit in place quite nicely without any major problems. I have connected but I want to get back down in there and put in a better connector than the splice and electricians tape I'm using now.  It will have to work until I buy some shrink wrap connectors.

Below is a sequence of photos showing the steps.  The most important one is the last one because as they say, the proof is in the pudding.

GE light - Wagner light

GE light - Wagner light

Assembly with 3 spring clips and retention screw

Placed in the outer ring

Secured with clips

Connected to live

Assembly complete

In place before connection

Ground connected, live to be connected

I think that bar in the front is a sway bar

It's alive!!!!

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Potter's Guild and Tyler Arboretum - MG Rides

Potter's Guild

Friday I didn't go to work because we were hosting some students for dinner and I needed to cook and do errands for the dinner.  I used the MG in the early afternoon to run some errands and while on 252 I saw a white Tesla for the exotic tally.

On Saturday morning my wife and I decided to take most of the day for riding.  We headed out to the Potter's Guild for their semi-annual sale.  We headed out 252 towards Media and followed that to Baltimore Avenue where we made a left.  We followed that for a short way for a right at Plush Mill Road.  I was supposed to follow that to the Guild but I took a wrong turn down Rogers Lane down to a right at Turner Road and another right at Plush Mill.  This was a lucky turn of events because that loop is through a really nice wooded area with a good winding road.  When we got to the mill a family pulled up next to us and just chatted about the car.  They were also going to the sale so we all eventually did that.

Tower at Potter's Guild

I took a chance to go out behind the building and take some shots.  The building appears to be an old mansion built in 1896 and the grounds are very well kept.  There is a medieval looking tower and a Gothic looking arch leading to a wooded area.  The whole grounds are really well kept and sprinkled with artwork by members of the guild.

From there we headed back up Plush Mill towards Baltimore Ave with a quick detour around Victoria Mills on Plush Mill Road.  I wanted to take a shot of the smoke tower there but the sun was in the wrong position and it wasn't worth getting out of the car.  We circled the mill and headed out Plush Mill Road.  Once on Baltimore Ave we followed that to Monroe Street for a run to the Media Downtown area.

We cruised State Street and took that to Orange which we followed to Providence.  Once I Providence we headed towards Rose Tree Park and there we stayed on Providence until we reached Bishop Hollow Road.  We took that all the way out to Rose Tree and followed that to 352 and there made a right. On the corner where Sycamore Mill (what Bishop Hollow eventually turns into after becoming Ridley Creek Road) comes out at Rose Tree we saw a late 50s Chrysler sitting in a yard.  It looked like a barn find and had no "for sale" sign on it so I hope someone is going to rescue.

Tyler Arboretum

We stayed on 352 Until we reached the antique shop at 1176 on that road.  We stopped there for a bit and then went back out on the road.  As we were leaving the parking lot there was a huge caravan of fire vehicles running their sirens headed towards the West Chester Pike on 352.  We headed in the opposite direction toward Barren Rd were we made a left to get to the Spring Sale at Tyler Arboretum.  We stopped there for some plants and could have stayed to visit the arboretum because entrance is free during the sale day but we were both getting hungry so we headed out on Barren to Chapel Hill Rd for an immediate left on Bishop Hollow towards home.  Barren comes out in the parking lot of Ridley Creek Park and Chapel Hill Rd is the Bridge that crosses the creek there.

It was a great morning for a ride with beautiful weather and temps so we decided to have lunch, take a little nap, and head out again for an afternoon ride.

3257 on Saturday, 02 May 2015

After lunch we headed out Malin towards the West Chester Pike to get some gas at the Sunoco at Springfield Road.  I noticed that we have put just over a 1,000 miles since we got the car late last summer.  We had it inspected at 2243 and on Saturday at the gas station the odo read 3257.

From the gas station we went to Nicholas Smith Trains so I could buy some paints for the MG TC model that I'm still building and then we headed down the Pike to the Wawa at 252 for a coffee.

After that we took Goshen to Grubbs Mill Rd and did several loops on Grubbs Rd, White Horse, and the area back there before heading home via 252, St. Davids Rd, and Church Rd.

It was a  great day for riding and we certainly took advantage of it.  The MG did great with no issues and I'm looking forward to getting the new tank and the headlights fixed next Tuesday.

The classic car tally is now two Nash Metropolitans, one MGA, one 1950s Jag, one Hot Rod, one 1950s Chrysler, and one Ford Model A. The exotic tally stands at 10 Ferraris, 9 Teslas, 6 Maseratis, 2 Cobras, 2 Bentleys, 2 Unknowns, 2 Lambos, 1 Rolls Royce, 1 DeLorean, and 1 Austin-Healey.

Potter's Guild

Potter's Guild

Potter's Guild

Potter's Guild

Potter's Guild

Potter's Guild

Potter's Guild

Potter's Guild

Potter's Guild

Tyler Arboretum

Tyler Arboretum

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Short Ride

3171.1 at 18:55

Beyond commuting, this week I haven't ridden the Bullet much.  I did take it on Wednesday at lunch to my appointment with the dentist in Newtown Square and then to pick up my new glasses at the shopping center on 30 accross from the Radnor Hotel.  On my way to pick up the glasses from the dentist's on 352 as I accelerated to make the light at Goshen the Bullet cut out on me.  I pulled to the side, kicked the kick stand with my heel, and it fired up again.  When I make my appointment with Kiss Honda in a couple of weeks for the 3,000 mile check I will ask them to disconnect that stupid switch.  I don't want to say the words, much less write them down, so the gods will see and hear but I can't risk that switch cutting out on me when I might need it.  Lived with it long enough, don't want to tempt the Fates anymore.  Maybe this is way I haven't ridden much.

On Thursday night, I took a short run up Goshen.  At first I intended to go all the way out to where Strasburg runs into the West Chester Pike but I left the house a little late, 18:55, and I only took my sunglasses with me.  That was a tactical mistake, although sunset would not have been until after 20:00, Goshen/Strasburg is pretty wooded in a lot of places and the sun was down below the tree line pretty quickly.  I got as far as Christine Lane and used that as a turn around.

It was a nice ride and I wish I had not run out without my regular glasses.  I would have probably made it all the way to the Pike and back home before true sunset and darkness but risking running blind is not an option.

On the way out the odo read 3171.1 and on return  .  A short ride but enjoyable nonetheless.

3189.6 at 19:28

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Replacement Tank - Part II

Shortened spout

Last Tuesday morning I got up early and headed out to Angelo and Son's before work.  The trip had to be made because they had not returned any of my calls since I dropped off the tank at the beginning of the month and I was afraid that they hadn't done anything at all.  I was pleasantly surprised to find the shop open and that they had already cut the spout.  They hadn't finished welding it back together but they promised to have it done later that same day and although I was skeptical I was glad to see a little progress.

Much to my surprised I got a call at work a little after 14:30 saying that the tank was finished and that they would be in the shop until 16:30.  I wasted no time to head out there as soon as possible.

The job looked great and they only charged my $40.00 for it.  They recommended that I put some tank sealer around the inside of the welded joint as an extra precaution which I did this morning.

On my way form from Angelo & Son, I stopped at Gene's and made an appointment with Harold to bring in the car next Tuesday to have the tank installed, the oil changed, the headlights fixed, and get a complete check up before Carlisle.  Harold said he would keep the car for two days but that I should have it back by Wednesday afternoon.

Below I have some photos of the sealing the seam process.

Fuel Tank Repair Epoxy

Bead of epoxy compound

Sealed seam 

Shortened spout

Tank

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