Dawson Ck Day 2 - Aug 2

I have been enjoying looking at all the photos people are posting to Facebook and to individual blogs. I find myself looking closely at them to see if I can see E-W or the E-W crew. From the postings and pictures about the convoy and get-together at Rolla last night, it appears it was a lot of fun. I understand that 58 vehicles went on this little 12 mile side trip.

I guess today is full of meetings. There was a driver's meeting this morning, followed by march unit meetings. The convoy will be divided up into March Units. Each march unit will have a person in charge at the front, and a tail-gunner at the rear. Mike and E-W are the tail-gunner for a march unit made of jeeps.

Each participant and vehicle going on the AC'12 convoy has to be registered and safety inspected. There is a list of specific equipment that each must carry. A large enclosed car-hauler will follow the convoy full of spare parts that people have put in there. There will be a maintenance section, but maintenance and repair is up to individual vehicle drivers.

Over the last year, I have been listening in on Mike's teleconferences with the core team. There was a huge amount of planning that went on. As refuel planner, Mike investigated the Canadian and provincial rules on carrying extra fuel. He designed a monstrous spreadsheet with each days travel plans and stops. Included in the spreadsheet was everyone's military vehicle and any personal chase vehicles.

Based on mpg of the vehicles he determined fuel needs for diesel and gasoline. Both gallons and litres were used, as well as the projected cost. It became clear that refueling could become a nightmare at some stops that have just one pump for each type of fuel. At other times, the spreadsheet showed that vehicles with same fuel tanks were going to have to use their spare fuel cans. Mike called those days a "Gas Can Day". Most fuel stations are anticipating the convoy, and have said they will have plenty of fuel on hand.

Version ??? of the Fuel Spreadsheet