cazalea[Seiko Moderator]
17087
Driving the Jag XK140 roadster in the fast lane, Pt 3
Nov 02, 2020,11:21 AM
We left Taos after the event wound down, and against our better judgement we both agreed it would be rude to miss the free lunch. Of course we figured it would be a diner, or a Howard Johnson's or something .... we should have know those kind of restaurant owners might not be driving Aston Martins.
His "little place" turned out to be the first Governor's Mansion for the state of New Mexico, and the Jag fit right in.We however were a bit scruffy, but the servers still gave us the royal treatment and a luncheon "on the house".
NOTE: My wife reminded me after reading this that her great-great-grandfather was the first Governor of New Mexico when it became a state, and his daughter (my wife's great-grandmother) was born in this house. His son wrote a family treasure/scholarly book called Mules, Mines and Me in Mexico about his exploits as a silver miner in northern Mexico... and at the very same time my great-grandfather was Governor of Tabasco, MX.
After lunch we put the hammer down and blazed south then west towards California.
Of course first we had to stop at Pie Town for an afternoon sugar infusion. Here the Jag was out of place but we scruffy drivers fit right in with the local clientele.
Driving west the sun was brutal -- we had no top, no sun visors, so we made our own protection with towels (not borrowed from the hotel)
At a particularly beautiful spot we stopped so I could take some glamor photos. Has there ever been a more voluptuous car?
As Austin Powers said "Yeah baby!"
Spending a bit more money to keep the oil industry well funded ...
Massive aluminium radiator kept our engine's temperatures under control. Didn't help us much though.
Yes, this car will hit 140 mph as we will both testify. But at that speed everything is flying out of the cockpit and the door are fluttering. No photos!
Steve is laser-focused on getting home in one piece.
The home stretch near Mount Laguna.
Damn. Should have watched the fuel gauge a bit more carefully. We ran out of gas. Not far to walk but only about 2 miles from Steve's house.
2057 miles in 5 days. 100 kph average over 33 hours driving.
Man I was beat, I had to drive 20 more miles home in my 2CV
Thanks for joining me on this recap of our wild adventures.
Cazalea
PS - 2002 was also the year my wife and I drove through England, Wales and Scotland. Man! When did I find time to work?