Jun 3 - an easy drive

We got out of the house around 8am.  Sandy was up early but it took me longer than usual to get the computer squared away.  For some reason the weekly backup hadn't worked so I had to copy files from drive to drive to ensure that we'd be in good shape upon returning.  I always bring a copy of my "digital world" with me as well as leaving one behind.  That gives me "offsite backup" as well.

Sandy had to take care of the garden before we left, dusting the plants so that the leaf hoppers wouldn't get them.  Off with the gas, water, fans, some breakers, all the usual stuff and we were on our way.

Oh yes, and on with the alarm system.

It was basically a 12 hour drive.  The best that I've made the drive was about 10.5 hours without any stops other than gas and that was to Radnor, not Reading.  Reading is a little further and a bunch of traffic and traffic lights.  That 12 hours also include going to Giant for dinner (salads) for Sandy and me.

Emma was still awake, up late waiting for us.  Zoe was in bed but we could see her on the monitor rolling around in the bed.

We munched on our salads, had a glass of wine, chatted a little and then I was off to bed.  Sandy wasn't long after me.

The car is still half loaded -- all my biking stuff.  I want to go for a ride today as well as do some errands.   This is Emma's last week in school, so she'll be off this morning as well.  She's in all-day kindergarten, so we won't see her until later.  Jeffrey is in Waltham, returning tonight.

We'll be bringing Emma back north with us and then Jeffrey, Sara and Zoe are coming up the weekend of June 28/29 and staying for a week, taking Emma home.  That's going to be a busy week, since Kim's parents are also coming East and Stef is busy packing to move.  Jeffrey will head off on Saturday the 6th, probably, and we'll hike down to help Stef with last minute stuff as well as being available on closing date for whatever she needs.  The timing is perfect !

We weren't long on the drive before my "tire defect" light came on.  It's always something.  I checked the pressures and they were all ok -- I don't think that I'd reset them since I'd topped up the pressures as we prepared to leave Florida, so the sensor finally detected the small difference.  Of course there were major differences in the amount of load in the car as well, which affects the tire deflection and rotation.

It's interesting that the new thermostat keeps the temperature a couple of degrees lower and that makes a major difference in oil consumption.  I haven't had to add oil since early on the trip north and we've driven a whole lot since then.  For years, I've had to add about a quart of oil every 1000-1500 miles, basically a quart of oil per north/south trip.  The car has always had that "appetite" for oil, typical of BMW's.

What else ... can't think of anything.

Onward !