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Thank you again for all of your helpful comments. The trip was a great success!

I was this close || to buying some AlumiSeal at Autozone. While the cashier was ringing me up, i decided to return the bottle back onto the shelf and find that leak. Sure enough - While I was looking on the L side around the timing belt cover, the leak was dripping down the R side. It was leaking a small drop from the top right-side radiator hose, and the drip was traveling behind the inner timing belt cover, on the firewall side, where I couldn't visibly see it if I was looking in from the front. Problem solved, new hose, Leggie is road-trip ready, got peace of mind, and a new knowledge of the cooling system. Thanks guys. Thank you for all of your help on my first posting. I'll be leaving for Portland, ME in about 5 hours.

UPDATE: I removed the left-side timing belt cover and checked for leaks - not a single drop anywhere near the pump. No leak around the thermostat housing, and the weep hole is still holding tight - there's a "red dot" that I've read about that acts like a gasket/seal to the weep hole, and it's still intact and dry. The previous owner had recently had the timing belt, pulleys, etc. replaced before I had bought the Legacy about 4 years ago. Perhaps there's a small crack somewhere in the system, and coolant is getting burned up or evaporating. I have been looking for small pools of coolant on the ground, but haven't found any. I'll take another look tomorrow. My next option may be to add some Bars Leak into the coolant.

Haynes mentions 2 things as common signs of water pump failure: "...coolant leakage and a howling or screeching sound. Don't mistake drivebelt slippage, which causes a squealing sound, for water pump bearing failure..." CHECK on both of those. All of your helpful comments & Haynes' mention have lead me to believe that I may have a faulty water pump. So I'm preparing myself for some time in the garage during this Easter weekend. Could be worse - I could be spending some time on the side of the road with a failed pump. I'll let you know how it goes.

The collant hoses have been replaced about 2 years ago, and the cap is OEM. I'll check under the motor for leaks this weekend when I'll have access to a garage. Thank you so much for your help.

I'm about to embark on yet another road trip with my '96 Sub Leggie 2.2 @ 130K. This the 4th time I've taken her/she'll be taking me across at least 4 states, so I know she can do this one. This time we're driving from Chicago to Halifax and then to Norfolk and then back to Chicago- Total: 4200 miles. I've done all of the work to her since I bought her a few years ago, and I've prepped by giving her a tune-up and all before the trip - I'm confident in my decision to switch from Bosch to NGK plugs. I've not had a single major chronic problem with her. In fact, the last time she gave me an issue was with the radiator on my way back from Atlanta - turned out to be a bad radiator cap. Since then, I've been having to top of the radiator fluid with maybe a cup of fluid every 3-4 months. This is not a major problem. But, now that I'm about to drive 4200 miles (Highway) in 2 weeks, that whole radiator issue may come back and flare up. Does the fact that I have to top her off every few months imply an issue with the radiator. More importantly, would it exacerbated enough to stall me on the side of the highway? I plan on bringing extra fluid and water, and an extra radiator cap. But is there anything else that someone would suggest to bring just in case of an emergency - aside from a whole new radiator. Maybe Bar's Leak? This trip is happening in a week, so it'll be highway miles in cool to moderate temperature.