What do Roses, Turkeys and MGBs have in common?

HOT WATER!  Let me explain.

We started off bright and early under bright and sunny skies.  We left the hotel at 8:05am heading for Lawrenceburg, KY, going to the first of two distilleries to visit today.  Our first Kentucky Bourbon Trail distillery to visit was Four ROSES.  What a big and beautiful manufacturing campus!  We were the first tour of the day at 9am and our guide was Leila.  We watched a video to learn about their distilling process and then toured the plant. At the end of the tour we had a tasting of three brands of Four Roses bourbon.  Very smooth!

A car show at the Four Roses Visitors Center

Video at Four Roses

George and Ron

Sign in 4 languages - Japan and Europe are big markets

Tasting - got a free glass

It was 1-1/2 hrs later when we said goodbye to Four Roses and headed just up the road to the Wild TURKEY Distillery.  They have an even bigger manufacturing campus - acres of land and dozens of buildings.  The tour covered several buildings - so much distance was on the tour that we had a tour bus.  Our tour guide was Aaron.  There was a lot of information to absorb, as well as absorbing the "angel share" by osmosis when we toured the warehouse where some of the barrels will sit for 6-10+ years.  Then came the tasting.  We each had our choice of 2 of the 8 brands of Wild Turkey bourbon to taste - some really strong and others smooth.

Chairs outside Visitors Center

PJ and Mike riding the Turkeys

Inside the warehouse - Aaron next to 10+ year old barrel of bourbon

In the fermenting area of the plant

Our tasting

The distilling process uses HOT WATER to activate the various recipes of corn, rye, malted barley, and yeast to produce the bourbon.

Our tastings were followed by lunch at Eduardo's Italian Restaurant.  It was a good place to have our meal and get ready for the long drive to French Lick, IN - the end of Le Tour to MG2014.  We spent more than 1/2 a day in the same town - we hadn't yet left Lawrenceburg.  We drove lazy country roads - good MG driving roads. 

Left - Janie, George, Pat R, Norm, Joyce, Craig, Mike, Doug.  Right - Paul, Ron, Ken, Ann

Wayburn, Kim, Doug, Mike, Craig, Joyce, Norm, Pat R, George, Janie, Deanna

Not long after lunch Ron pulled off the road because his temperature gauge was getting high.  The fix was identified as being a fault in the fan switch causing the water in the radiator to be HOT WATER.  Ron (with the help of the ladies) made a temporary repair and we were off again. 

Ann, Kim, Deanna, Wayburn, Pat W

Who really fixed the car?

We were sailing along Hwy 56 to French Lick, time and miles were getting longer, and our bladders were getting fuller.  We finally found a place to stop in Scottsburg.  Ken and Ann's MGB was way overheated.  A quick look determined that the issue was the water pump - HOT WATER was draining onto the asphalt.  It was determined that it would be a big repair.  A tow truck was called - Mad Cow Towing - to get the car to French Lick where it could be repaired after the engine cooled.  Most of the group traveled to the hotel with Norm leading the way.  Gary, Wayburn, Ron & Pat, stayed with Ken until the tow truck was confirmed as being on its way.  Ken finally arrived at the hotel after 9:00pm.   

Ken O, Ken D, Ron

All is well once again.

Ten Little Indians (oops! that's LBCs - Little British Cars)

All together now to the tune of Ten Little Indians....

There were 7 MGs

Then 8 MGs when Ken and Ann finally joined us

Then we were 9 MGs when Carl from Kingsport drove with us for an hour

Then we were 10 MGs when Paul and Mike from Australia joined the parade

Then 9 again when Carl dropped out to drive home

And now tonight we are 10 again as George and Janie arrived at the hotel!

Carl Floyd from Kingsport got up really early to meet us at the hotel this morning.  He was introduced around and we all proceeded to chat some more.  The cars were ready to go - we left at 7:35am out of the parking lot with Ron and I leading the group.  We had a bit of difficulty finding our way out of Abingdon, VA, to the great MG driving roads on today's agenda.  Carl (who is totally familiar with the area) came to our rescue.  Yes, we knew we were going the wrong way (we had already turned around twice).  Carl got in the lead and led us to the exact route I had been looking for.

PJ and Carl

Paul, Carl, Mike

10 MGs - Hiltons, VA - The Australians joined us!

The weather was good and the temperature was on the cold side in the mountains and heated up when driving in the cities.  The Crooked Road lived up to its name (Hwys 58 & 421).  Carl led us to Hiltons, VA, where we picked up another MG.  This one is driven by Paul Kern and Mike Smith who are from Australia.  They've been traveling in the U.S. and decided to join Le Tour to MG2014.  Now our group is INTERNATIONAL!  Their joining necessitated another car show and more introductions and another round of conversation.

We continued on some more of The Crooked Road.  We waved goodbye to Carl when he went left and we turned right.  We crossed from Virginia into Kentucky at the Cumberland Gap.  We drove to London, KY, where we had lunch.  Then it was on the road again to Danville, KY.

In Danville we drove straight to our first of many distilleries.  We went to the Wilderness Trail (formerly Trace) Distillery.  Jerod Smith greeted us.  He regaled us with his enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge about all things distilled - from whiskeys, bourbons, vodka, and rum, to ethanol fuels.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the distillery.

Dennis and Pat at the bar with Jerod

We tasted their vodka and rum

Listening to the presentation

Jerod getting ready for the tasting

Our MGs in the parking lot of Wilderness Trail Distillery

Then it was on the road for a short drive to our hotels.

Full, Loaded, Chocked, and Packed - and all FUN!

Today's MG Adventure was fun - full of energy, loaded with curvy MG roads, chocked with learning, and packed with good food.  Yeah, packed with good food is how I felt at the end of the day!

The morning's weather was foggy but no rain.  We put the top up anyway because we couldn't be sure that the no-rain situation would hold.  We pulled out of the driveway at 7:20am with 161,133 miles on the odometer.  Here we are with Doug and Kim.  They spent the night at our house. 

2 MGs and 4 people

We drove just up the road to the next town where we met up with Norm and Pat and Ken and Deanna.

Now we are 4 MGs and 8 people

Soon enough the fog lifted and it was clear skies all the way to our lunch time Noggin & Natter at Mike and Anita's cabin in Independence, VA (really just outside Galax).  It's a single lane road leading to their place.  Around one corner of the road we met headon a garbage truck who, luckily for us, knew the territory and backed up so that we did not have to back up our parade of MGs.  We ate at the picnic shelter along the New River right next to the pasture.  The cows in their pasture came to greet us, along with the other MGers already gathered for lunch. 

Mike said the cows are just nosey

We picked up 3 more MGs and 5 more people to add to our parade

We ate fried chicken, baked bean, potato salad, brownies, and drinks.  And we had a car show - the New River MG British Car Show (there was a mini in the group)!  And we were all excited to see one another and to meet new friends.

After lunch, we turned left to take the back part of the loop road back to Hwy 58.  We hadn't gone but a few yards when a car coming in the other direction told us the road ahead was blocked by a fallen tree.  So we turned around on the single lane road and went back to Hwy 58 the way we came in. 

Looked like the road had just been widened and resurfaced

The road from there to Abingdon, VA (US Hwy 58) is known as the Daniel Boone Trail, the J.E.B. Stuart Hwy, the Mountain Hwy, National Scenic Hwy, The Mighty Python.  It crosses Whitetop Mountain and Mount Rogers (Virginia's highest mountain).  So, yes, it was curvy.  But not as twisty, turney as The Tail of the Dragon which we have traveled at MG2006.  Still, Ron had a great time driving - even in the rain and on wet roads.  So, it was a good thing we had kept the top UP!

Curvy roads

We made it to Abingdon, checked into the hotel, and got to Town Hall on time.  We were met by Alexandra Veatch who introduced us to Greg Kelly, Town Manager.  Using FaceTime, we connected with David Wardell in the UK so that we could have an interactive session for the MG90 worldwide celebration.  The Town Manager has visited Abingdon, UK.  We listened to and watched a presentation about the history of the two Abingdons.  We learned new things about Abingdon, UK - more than being the center of MG manufacturing.

Then we decided (with the recommendation of Greg) to go to the Tavern on Main Street.  We really enjoyed it. The proprietor was most hospitable to quickly set up a long table so that all of us could sit together.  Good food, good price, great service.  We liked it!  Finally, some of us went back to the hotel, some to the Barter Theater, and some to the Blues concert at the Farmer's Market.  I think we all agreed this is a place we would like to visit again when we have more time to enjoy it.

All Packed

Selfie - On our way for ice cream

Yesterday we got on the road to test the readiness of the  MGB.  So we took a trip to the neighboring town to get ice cream treats.
 



We are as ready as we can be to begin our MG Adventure.  MGB is ready, full of gas, tools and bits are packed, luggage is packed. 


We may have to put the hood up as it looks like rain tomorrow morning when we head out.  However, one station says no rain till noon ... so we'll wait till the morning to see what the weather is really like to determine if we will drive with the top down.

This will be our new profile photo

Getting ready for MGB trip (French Lick, Indiana)

Preparing for any trip in any vehicle takes PREPERATION!... PLANNING! ... MONEY for PARTS! ... and TIME!  Ignoring any of these steps could cost lots of extra time and money while on the trip.  I go through our 1979 MGB from back to front, test drive, pack and enjoy the trip.

I check all the nuts, bolts and bits (parts) I can access.  Replace any parts that appear faulty.  I change all fluids and spark plugs.  

Replacing the solenoid

I took the MGB out for a test drive and noticed the overdrive was not shifting properly (it acted funky in the past)!  Found the overdrive solenoid to be at fault!  It is Saturday.....We are leaving Thursday.....I have to order the part.....(Monday).  If in stock I COULD get it by (Tuesday), if in.....Virginia?.....Next Day Air.....$$$.

Working steady and fast

I called a few club members on the off chance they had the part.  Paul Cousins had a complete overdrive transmission with the proper solenoid and said come and get it.  (MY HERO) ( A friend in need is a friend indeed!)  Thank You Paul and Kimi!

This morning...(Sunday) I retrieved the solenoid, installed it, test drove the car and now feel she is ready!  I will detail the MGB (makes it easier to get dirty on the trip).  We are now ready to go once the final luggage is loaded.

 

When planning a trip in your British Marque,

1---If you can           Service your vehicle!    Think Safety

2---If you can’t       Take it to a service department for a once over.

3---Call around to the club members and see if you can get some help!    List serve

As Debbie Hawkins says  SAFETY FAST!

P.S.    Pat says she travels with her Mechanic?

by:  Ron Wharton (of many hats - Driver, Mechanic, Sightseer, Tour Guide, Navigator, Fueler)