Saturday, May 19, we went on our second Jag club drive of the year, over
to the Armstrong Redwood State Park in the Guernville, Ca. area, on the
Russian River.

Nix has been Ready for another road trip since the last one. As the group
met at a Starbucks in Sacramento at 9:30am. we spent Friday night there,
so we would have a fresh start Saturday morning. I didn't know it was Sac
State Graduation weekend, I don't think any other members did either. The place was a ZOO! TV stations warned if one had any business in the
downtown area, be Sure to get it early.

We got to the specified Starbucks early as usual (Nix does Not like to be
late) and had time to wander around WalMart for a while before the rest of
the participants arrived.

3 Jags (Nix, 2006 XK and 1952 XK140, new members) and 2 Brand X.
And we were off.

Even Saturday morning, West bound I-80, traffic was Filthy. And it only got
worse as we peeled off 80 onto 101. In the heavy traffic, drive leader stopped to gather the troops. Only Jag I got was Nix. That's OK though, because she was the Prettiest car in the lot.


In "normal" circumstances, whatever that is, we should have been at the
golf course for lunch at noon. However, Napa Valley traffic, even heavier
than I-80, moved at a crawl most of the time. We arrived at lunch at 1:30,
got to eat at 2pm. Members were Ravenous!

A picture of the cars:


XK-140 owner covers his car whenever he's not actually driving it. It's a
Beautiful thing, fully restored in BRG, but I never got a chance to photograph it, because as you see, he covered it Immediately upon arrival.

On to the trees:







Rip-Rap of a stream bank to prevent erosion.








Then came the adventure of getting out of that place (Napa valley), and
back to I-80 and home. Traffic was So heavy, we spent 2 hours traveling
about 30 miles, and then it was stop and go for another hour. I was behind
the wheel 12 hours Saturday. We covered a little over 450 miles, 100 of
which at speeds less than 35mph; sometimes one could walk faster than
traffic. Nix doesn't like that stuff, but the XK-140's clutch liked it even less. They parted company with us and went exploring somewhere, as they're new to California.

Finally back on I-80 East bound! 5 lanes, Heavy traffic, slowed by entrance
ramps here and there, but no one did anything stupid so mostly traffic
moved along, although slowly. We stayed in the middle lane hoping to
avoid most of the drama.

It was after about 15 miles that I saw this dark, menacing form coming up
on my left.


Traffic was heavy, but Fella paced us for a while just off the left front quarter,


dropped back and came up on the right front quarter and paced us for a
while there.

Brash!
I told Nix to just ignore him. He was obviously flirting with her.

Then, he pulled out front, and raised his spoiler! AT 55 MPH!! REALLY?!


Showoff!
Actually, that incident was probably the most fun of the whole trip.

Nix performed Flawlessly! Nary a hic-up. What a good girl, even under
those Arduous conditions! I've promised Never to take her over to the Napa
Valley area, including but not limited to, Santa Rosa, Napa, Sebostopol,
Calistoga, Guernville, etc., Ever again! We go on these trips to DRIVE not
sit in a linear parking lot.

However, Flashing side lights worked perfectly.
(';')

 

fabulous!

 

Very entertaining. Thanks. Unfortunately, this machine got fussy and only allowed some of the pictures. I'll hit it again later and see if it's mood improves.


Colonel? Sp or am I befuddled ? I suspect me, never mind!!!


So, was it the 140's clutch or the driver's left knee ? I recall that malady on the Bay Bridge in my last stick car. the 69 Toyota FJ40 land cruiser.


Fun, though. for sure....


Gotta leave in a bit. Audiology and get my new hi tech ears.


Carl
Carl

 

Better !!! Pics came in !!!


Naah, the "kid" was flirting. Jag to Jag!!


Carl

 

Great write-up, Elinor. For those who haven't been, the California traffic near the coast is horrendous. All those exotic cars, especially in southern California, and then they sit in endless traffic jams. The redwood parks are unbelievable. I knew they had big trees but the light filtering down has a beautiful green tint and I was totally unprepared for the fantastic aroma. Go deep into the woods and the air smells like fresh cut Christmas trees. Well worth taking an extra day to see when you are in San Francisco.

Of course, the XK was flirting, why wouldn't he? The young ones are beautiful but the older ones are much more fascinating.

Jeff

 

Guess the XK likes COUGAR's!

 

Elinor:


I forgot to ask? NIX's "old" engine or the new one???


But, a great travaloque for sure...


Jeff: The coastal lands are magnificent. One of my favorites was a trip through San Rafael to the coast, a great stand of redwoods along the way. Even the name of the road was intriguing. Sir Francis Drake!!!


Carl

 

Thank you everybody,

@Jeff; We've been over there 4 times with our Jag club, beginning in March of 2014. Traffic was a bit heavy that time, but we thought it was because 101 went through the center of every small town in the area. Not surprising given that it was the original highway.

But every time since then, traffic has increased by at Least 30% each time! It was So bad this time it made 37 across the swamps at the top of the Bay look like a rural, open road! (I've also promised myself I will Never set tire on 37 ever again!)

You're right about Redwoods though (we've been into 3 groves, Muir Woods, Avenue of Giants, Armstrong Preserve), once you get a few hundred yards off the road into the trees, the whole environment changes radically. There's the color and fragrance of the air of course, but there's also the Silence! On the forest floor, there aren't even any birds to disturb the peace and tranquility. There's a sense of awe in there, a reminder of one's individual insignificance.

And, by the way, it wasn't an XK, it was an F-type!!

@ Carl; I knew someone would ask eventually, and I thought it would probably be you.
"Old" engine made this trip, and as mentioned, performed flawlessly. Husband has taken over the "new" engine project. He read some stuff on the Net and got frightened about something or other, so he's now taking the valve train apart for the 3rd time. I've walked away.

@Yachtxx; Cougar???
(';')

 

Hehe!!! Methinks Elinor is still far from cougar status. In a couple of decades or so ???


Husband might be on to something. Valve train geometry can be tricky.


Memories: 37. Across the top of the bay, between Vallejo and Novato. In my former profession, I often went that way for cases along 101. Always did just fine, no matter what time of day. But, 101 just south of Santa Rosa in the AM or PM was at snail pace...




Nevertheless, I liked going that way. Nice people, interesting cases, nice scenery.
Carl

 

I was referring to her Feline Jaguar, not her!

 

We were trying to think what a classic coupe had to do with Redwoods. With Carl's help we tumbled to it. (By the way, it was an F-Type as clearly seen by the badges.)

She tells me, she's quite happy to have the garage all to herself.

She does, however, as all girls do, appreciate the flattery and attention....



For those unfamiliar with CA-37, allow me to give a brief overview;

This road goes across the top of SF Bay. This is a salt marsh that can't be stabilized no matter how much fill is put down. The road surface undulates, sometimes gently sometimes not, for a distance of about 27 miles.

It's only 2 lanes, concrete barrier down the center (emergency lane on each side), after that Swamp! There is NO passing, NO access roads on or off for the entire length. Woe be unto the unfortunate soul who breaks down! It could be Hours, or even Days before help arrives.

I have been on this road 4 times, average speed each time is around 45 mph, with *Heavy* traffic, as in, Bumper to Bumper. For 27 miles! Nerve racking doesn't Begin to cover this!

If I Never enter this chute again it will be too soon!
(';')

 

I do apologise. I didn't mean to offend anybody. I'll keep my humor to my self from now on. Don't want to create negativity. Again, please accept my apology.

 

Please don't do that, keep your humor to yourself, that is, it might start a trend. Then I couldn't post those tongue-in-cheek comments supposedly coming from a CAR!!

It merely seemed like a good idea at the time (how many of those have risen up to bite me later..). but I should perhaps think them through more thoroughly in future.

Humor makes this place what it is. Otherwise, it would be dry, hide-bound, never crack a smile (let alone a joke), like that Other Jaguar forum. If you knew me better you would have known it's all part of the anthropomorphism so prevalent this forum.
(';')

 

Well there's a new word I never knew! But you are right, it is so fitting. My XJ6C's name is Duncan. PO named him that, and I decided not to give him an identity crisis by renaming or changing gender. And Duncan too has a predisposition towards the older more classic looking and acting motorcars. They all have character. Can't say that so much about most of the younger ones. I love watching the auto auction shows on TV - inspiring!

 

You'll have to swing by mine next time and I'll join the Jag caravan in something suitable...you were visiting my neck o'the woods!

 

Hello, Oliver,
Had we only known........
(';')

 

1. I see wry humour in the "other forum" !!!


2. 37 has changed, I hear. I've not been over it in a decade or more.
A. The greenies decided to flood the pastures North of the pavement.
B. The road surface has been elevated to reduce the flood aspect. Odd I never encountered a flood. Oh well, those might have been drought years.


Carl

 

Timing is everything driving in the wine country, and always on google maps is your friend to avoid bottlenecks (not wine bottle necks, what happens when one of the thoroughfares gets blocked by suv on suv fender benders...)

CU next year maybe...