Be sure to read Part 1 for a trip overview.

Travel Dates: 5/12/11 – 5/16/11After just six hours of sleep, I was on the road again.

Chesterfield MO to Pottsville PA
865miNICOClub was going to be present at Carlisle Performance and Style, a large automotive event with drifting, autocross, and other activities. Andy from the NICO forum, an Australian, flew to America to spend time with us, so my attendance was mandatory. After years of talking to him online, I had to meet this character.

I neglected to realize how long the drive would take. Google estimated 15 hours, which I thought was ridiculous for 865 miles. Unfortunately, the moment I reached the Pennsylvania border, heavy construction forced speeds down to 55mph, heavily enforced.

Using Priceline, I booked three nights at a Ramada near Harrisburg PA for $131 including tax. I figured I would arrive at 6am, get a few hours of sleep, and join the gang in the afternoon. Instead, I didn’t get to town until 2pm! My Thursday night booking was a waste.

Somewhere in Indiana, my fuel and temp gauges suddenly died. I entered the Seville’s diagnostic mode and attempted to pull codes, which revealed nothing useful.

It was raining heavily, surprise surprise. I endured rain from the moment I began my travels in April and it hadn’t stopped.

I called Ian and asked him to look on the Cadillac forum for answers. The only discussion on this issue was from a guy who said he shut the car down, came back a few minutes later, and the problem went away.

So, I pulled into a gas station, topped off, used the bathroom, and my gauges were restored. Weird.

Rest areas get nicer and nicer as you head east.

The sun was rising.

Greetings

The hills are indeed very alive.

Pennsylvania’s highways use narrow corridors with little room for merging lanes. Instead, stop signs are placed at ramps.

Stopped at Burger King for breakfast. Terrible decision. There was a McDonald’s across the street.

A tunnel

A Pennsylvania Turnpike toll ticket. It can get quite expensive. Considering how low the speed limits are, it doesn’t seem like you get your money’s worth.

Another tunnel.

A Fiat

Attractive wooded area

I got to Harrisburg and received a phone call from James S. who just landed at the airport. I picked him up and we headed over to the Yeungling Brewery for an impromptu tour.

62 miles from Harrisburg to Pottsville

Navigating the Seville through Pottsville was like threading a rope through a sewing needle. There were several three-point turns. The only other Seville I saw there was parallel parked with a busted passenger side mirror.

My parking brake still worked.

The brewery at the top of the hill. It’s basically a cave built into the side of a hill with a building on top.

For safety reasons, and because they let visitors get so close to the equipment, they had me change out of my sandals and into a pair of used shoes.

Tons of shoes.

Down in the cave.

Over a century ago, miners were used to dig this cave.

Its cool and damp.

During prohibition the caves were bricked off by the government.

Brewing equipment.

Ornate ceiling

Storage area

Tour guide

Canning process. We were allowed to get within a couple feet of the line.

TRUTH.
Currency

Exhausted, I finally got to my hotel in Harrisburg later in the afternoon. I only had enough time to shower and get changed before meeting everyone at the Park Inn in Carlisle. I took some Five Hour Energy.

This Ramada was quite nice for $37. Sparkling clean with friendly hotel staff and a very comfortable bed.

I stopped at Wegman’s for a bottle of riesling as a gift to Ray. To purchase wine anywhere but a state-run liquor store (STUPID), you have to use this obnoxious kiosk. At the end of the transaction, it has to blow into a doughnut-shaped hole to make sure you aren’t drunk. Its intrusive, obnoxious, and dumb.

Pennsylvania’s liquor laws are bullshit.

Met up with the NICO crew at Park Inn.

A blurry picture of Torry, Andy, and Christine. I was mentally ‘drunk’ from a lack of sleep and forgot to set my camera to automatic mode. This picture basically sums up how everything looked through my eyes that night.

Abbey, Torry, Andy

RAY! He sent me a huge box of seafood from Rhode Island.

The Altima Coupe crowd likes their bass. I don’t know why this blue fellow climbed in.

Ray made us scallops and rice. It was excellent. James helped.

ANDY! All the way from Australia!

Front: Seth, Torry, and Greg. Greg is the owner/admin of NICO.

TIME FOR SCALLOPS

Wes, Ray. Wes has the world’s first Infinti Q45 with a 5-speed manual.

Greg drinking “Classic Lager”. It’s canned battery acid. I couldn’t take more than a few sips.

Wes’s 5-speed Q45. A very clean setup.

I was too drunk and tired to drive it.

Mike on the stage at Hardware Bar next door.

James’s turn.

Torry, Abbey, James

Torry brought two Yeungling kegs.

KEG STAND

PART 16: Carlisle PA