Sisu travels, Part 5.

After Phoenix, next stop: Los Angeles!

Sisu heads west at dawn. After a comfortable hour and a half on the road, the pilots hear a pop and feel a little jolt. Wonder what that was? Hold on, we see a wisp of smoke in the passenger side rear view mirror?!? Full stop!

The pop and jolt turns out to be a blown tire. Luckily it is on the passenger side as the freeway, even in the middle of this no-where, remains busy and there are semis whizzing by at steady pace.

The tire change operation takes, remarkably, less than 1/2 hour but requires a little bit of imagination to get the lug nuts off. The tire has totally disintegrated and there is not much left of the tire on the rim. Without anything touching the surface the wheel wants to spin freely when co-pilot Jouko applies pressure to the tire iron.

Amazing what a 60 mph speed does to a tire in distress! Please drive carefully!

We soon pass the California border and arrive to Blythe, CA where we decide to get a new tire, some well deserved lunch, and finally get an opportunity to fuel with Neste MY Renewable diesel.

So, AZ wanted a little over $100 for us to use their well managed roads. We didn’t even want to guess how much CA would want for the same. Zip. Yes, you read right. Nothing. Just observe the top speed fo 55 mph for vehicle combinations, and welcome to California!

About an hour later, even though we just refueled both Sisu and ourselves, we feel like we have to make another stop.

At exit 173, lies a small unincorporated community of Chiriaco Summit (pop.: not listed) and a travel stop. Plus, signs inviting to visit the General Patton Museum. What? Was he from here? We really have to go find out!

So can you. The museum is right on Fwy 10, 200 miles from Phoenix and 150 miles from L.A.!

Rest of the trip to L.A. goes without any further disruption, except that we are more than pleased to be heading into the city, rather than heading out of it. The last 35-40 miles, there’s pretty much a stop-and-go heading the other way.

What happened in Los Angeles is very well documented in the latest video blog on Youtube, go check it out: Sisu goes to Hollywood, Sisu visits 626Golden Streets, Sisu hears another “Happy Birthday” song.

A big thank you to Suvi Aherto from the Consulate General of Finland in L.A. for coordinating our visit to L.A.

Greetings to Aki Luukkainen and family from the Consulate, Tero Frestadius with family & friends, Anssi & Chelsea Viljanen & family.

A very special “Vuosipäiväonnittelut” to Ridgecrest, CA.

Sisu’s full schedule and up-to-date calendar: please click here

Finland Centennial Calendar in the US: please click here

Like reading about Sisu’s travels? Please help us bring Sisu to a location near you.
Get a souvenir from our web store, or feel free to make a donation.