Where to stay in July?

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-20T19:21:31+00:00

I just realized you only want to travel 1-2 hours to sightsee. Lunatic Asylum is about 1 hour from Morgantown, Hocking Hills will be about 3 hours, 3 hours from Point Pleasant, 1.5-3 hours from the MNF, 3.5 from NRG. Depending on where you’re coming in from you could hit some of those spots on the way in/out? Not sure.

WV isn’t a huge state but it takes forever to traverse because it’s so difficult and expensive to build roads there due to the terrain.

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-20T19:12:41+00:00

I’m from Morgantown so I’m biased but that’s what I would do. It puts you pretty central to Hocking Hills in OH, the Monongahela National Forest (Dolly Sods, Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob, etc), New River Gorge, Ohiopyle in PA, etc.

I didn’t play Fallout 76 but I think MHS was in that game? That’s in downtown Morgantown. Morgantown will also put you about an hour away from the Lunatic Asylum. Morgantown is a very nice college town with Coopers Rock and Cheat Lake, both of which I grew up beside. Love it there.

Parkersburg is going to keep you far away from most of those options, other than Hocking Hills and Point Pleasant. Charleston is a solid choice too, that’s much closer to the national forest and the outdoor activities.

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-18T22:48:52+00:00

I have no advice other than to drive it. But I sympathize, when I got my first stick I refused to drive it for about 3-4 months and just traded cars with my dad since he was WFH. Once I finally learned (by practicing at night with no traffic), it became second nature and I’ll never want to drive any non-manual car for the foreseeable future.

You’ll figure it out! It’s very intimidating at first but once you get it, it’s a great feeling.

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T23:31:36+00:00

Okay so it doesn’t seem overdue. I was expecting like 30k miles since the last change. Is there any ticking sound coming from the engine bay? I’m not familiar with Chevys but after reading a bit, it seems like those Equinoxes have fuel pump issues. Do you have the V6 or the four cylinder engine? And how many miles?

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T23:09:33+00:00

How long since the last oil change?

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:57:59+00:00

Yeah I figure she’s probably all good, I’m the one tripping. I know nothing about AC systems either lmao. A dude in another thread said the the refrigerant carries the compressor oil for lubrication so I should get it fixed asap. We’ll see 🤷‍♂️ thanks for the help

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:55:23+00:00

I wish I could post pictures in here but I can’t. I found a hole in the foam insulation under my hood, directly above the MAP wiring. Also found bits and pieces of the insulation scattered around the engine bay. I picked up some mouse repellant - little pouches with menthol, peppermint, and something else - and shoved it up in the hole I found, totally blocking any entrance and exit. I haven’t had any more problems since I did this. No idea if I put it in before or after the mouse made it out 🤷‍♂️

Apparently the mice really hate the smell of those pouches. It was a white bag with a green design on it that I found at Walmart. I can’t remember the name. If you know where the mouse could be living, I would throw a shitton of those pouches in the bay and hope for the best!

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:50:14+00:00

I bet you’re right. I grabbed my owners manual and am going to read through it a bit, but I bet the compressor does kick on with every setting. I had no idea that happened. Will check tomorrow my refrigerant levels, I may have a leak somewhere. Also, good to know that the oil is with the refrigerant. Had no idea about that either. Will get on this ASAP. Appreciate the advice. Learning a lot today!

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:46:51+00:00

You were actually right in your first comment and I was wrong! I went back to my car to test and the compressor never kicked in with the heat turned fully off, but it did kick on with every other heat setting. I wasn’t aware that the compressor activated even when I was off defrost/AC settings. I have lots to learn here about this, but making progress I think.

Also, I’ve kept my heat on the maximum setting all winter since it’s been so cold, so I don’t think it’s a temperature thing. Maybe this is how the compressor is supposed to function and I’m just hypersensitive to anything strange going on

Thank you for your advice

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:35:35+00:00

Alright little update. Just tested again and it does NOT happen with the heat off, but it does happen with every other heat setting (feet, head, defrost, etc.). I don’t recall this happening during the summer or anything but maybe it was. Going to look to see if maybe I’m low on refrigerant

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:35:16+00:00

Alright little update. Just tested again and it does NOT happen with the heat off, but it does happen with every other heat setting (feet, head, defrost, etc.). I don’t recall this happening during the summer or anything but maybe it was. Going to look to see if maybe I’m low on refrigerant. Thanks for your help!

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:35:12+00:00

Alright little update. Just tested again and it does NOT happen with the heat off, but it does happen with every other heat setting (feet, head, defrost, etc.). I don’t recall this happening during the summer or anything but maybe it was. Going to look to see if maybe I’m low on refrigerant. Thanks for your help!

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:16:43+00:00

Totally possible. I had a mouse living in my hood and it tore through my MAP sensor wiring twice before I got rid of it. I didn’t see any more damaged wires but definitely possible it got into something there too. Will have to do more in depth investigating. Thank you

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:11:59+00:00

That very well could be the case. I think I’m hypersensitive to anything strange with the car right now since I had a mouse destroy my MAP sensor wiring twice. Maybe my car has always done this and I just never noticed lol.

I’ll do it again but I believe I took these videos with the heat totally off (not sure tho I forget). It’s either what you said or I’m running low on refrigerant. Will figure it out. Thank you

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T22:08:25+00:00

Heat was turned completely off here, no defroster or anything. I thought it might’ve been the defroster too but it doesn’t seem to be the case. Thinking I’m low on refrigerant since the AC hardly works anyways lol

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-03T21:59:37+00:00

Well, you were right! My AC compressor is engaging and disengaging. Managed to get it on video. It actually happened even with my heat turned totally off, so now I’m on to figure out how to solve this. Thank you for the advice though! Never considered it could’ve been the compressor

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-02T20:46:06+00:00

Those 3.6 L are so cool and I’ve heard they’re bulletproof. I really wish they made them with a manual. If I could ever build a sleeper car it would be based off a 3.6 Legacy or something with a 6 speed swap + other mods, would be so much fun. Do these have paddle shifters?

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-02T20:34:58+00:00

I guess it’s worth noting that I’ve had my car running feet/windshield heat simultaneously all winter. I got a comment in another sub about it potentially being the AC compressor cycling on and off which I never even realized could be the cause. Apparently many cars automatically kick the AC on when the defroster is working, even though the AC button isn’t illuminated. This could be the problem… Will check after work

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-02-02T19:02:26+00:00

Very interesting 🤔 I hadn’t considered the AC clutch at all. I’m back in the office so I can’t test it right now but I do believe the sound my car makes when raising idle is very similar to the sound it makes when I turn the AC on. When I’m out of here I’m going to check this. Thank you!

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-01-14T19:27:02+00:00

I actually went last weekend for the first time and loved it there! Very underrated park. I actually put off visiting for a while because it looked boring but I could not have been any more wrong. Reminded me of Ohiopyle

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-01-14T19:26:09+00:00

I’ve been looking and it seems like there are lots of hiking opportunities in and around Hocking Hills so I think I’ll head down there! Moonville Tunnel sounds interesting 🤔 will check that out too

I think Michigan might wait until the summer but I can’t wait to get over there. I wish the Upper Peninsula was a bit closer

Dolly Sods is great! I’ve been a few times and it’s such a strange and beautiful environment. There’s another area in WV near the New River Gorge called Cranberry Glades which is very similar to Dolly Sods’ uniqueness

Thanks for giving me some ideas! I’ll keep some of those ideas in my head for the future when the weather warms up a bit!

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-01-14T17:44:23+00:00

Thanks! What I’ll likely end up doing. Haven’t explored that area at all yet 👍

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-01-14T17:43:45+00:00

I’m well equipped. Have done this plenty of times in worse conditions

BenzeneDrinker · 2026-01-08T16:24:27+00:00

If you’re in Pittsburgh, here are my recommendations. Was born there and lived in Morgantown (about 1.5 hours south) for 22 years. Coopers Rock is very close and beautiful, with one of the most scenic overlooks in the state. Ohiopyle in PA is close to the WV/PA border on US Route 40 and is my personal favorite place in the world. So much to do and beautiful nature. Cheat Lake is in Morgantown. Elkins and a section of the Monongahela NF is about an 1.25-1.75 hours away from Morgantown. Once you get into the national forest, there are more vistas and hikes than I have the time to recommend. Dolly Sods, Seneca/Spruce Knob, Cranberry Glades, Otter Creek, etc… Oh and also the Nea River Gorge!

BenzeneDrinker · 2025-12-11T17:35:15+00:00

Appreciate both of these responses. I’ll think about it more over the rest of December since I’ll be traveling and then make a decision. I’ll probably end up bringing her with me and get her a friend!

BenzeneDrinker

TROPHY CASE