We had a good day out today, left home in the pouring rain with Emma giving me 'that look', I kept waiting for her to say scrap the idea of laning and picnic in the Dales!!
Well as we got off the A1 and started heading to Leyburn the skies were blue
Through Leyburn and onto the lanes
Nice long lane with the sun shining and temp rising, now had a happy wife.
Rather then heading higher up as some of the lanes aren't advisable for solo we dropped down to Bolton castle
Had a wander round to give the kids a leg stretch.
Headed over to Aysgarth falls and went for a walk, the recent dry spell has left the falls more of a trickle
We had lunch and carried on, now the plan was to head over to a really good set of long lanes, eventually dropping to stalling busk, across cam high and west cam road ending the day in Hawes.....
well the 80 had other plans on the way to these these lanes!!
It did something it's NEVER done before, the temp gauge went up past half way and had itself a look at the little red box!! We hadn't even got to the steeper hills to get to the lanes and was only doing 45 mph.
Heater went on full, ac off, Windows open etc to get it back down (didn't stay high for long)
Got to the steeper hills and gently drove up with the temp high again. Gently to the lane entrance and popped the bonnet. expansion bottle level good engine heat was high, trans tunnel, gear lever etc all hot.
Let it cool down a bit then set off up the lane, nice a steady in low box
First section has a steady climb, temp was good but a bit higher then middle where it always sits.
Took it steady and it flattens off across the top then drops down
80 had behaved itself but I decided not to drive the other lanes planned as they're not as steady, quite rocky and I don't need to be looking at the temp gauge while driving them!!
We dropped over to Hawes by road and stopped at the creamery for cheese and ice cream. Even with further steep hills etc temp stayed perfect as normal!!!
Only thing I can think is I don't run with the ac on while laning even between lanes, Windows down does me nicely. The outside temp, added heat from the condenser and a bit of extra load. Ac off for the remainder untill we left to drive home and it didn't get hot.
I've been in the Dales with similar outside temps on the same lanes and roads, with a bootfull of gear etc and never seen that gauge move.
Next mod.... getting some heat out of that engine bay!!
All in a good day out and the kids enjoyed it.
