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One of the things I love the most about following your journey is that not only were most of the places you visited genuinely fascinating, the people were really nice and friendly, and always ready to go the extra mile (a majority of them at least). I think for me that's what takes it from being just pictures and words to being really engaging and genuinely interesting to follow (I really wouldn't mind a trip to Ethyls' either) I only hope that one day I can experience something like the things you have on your travels. Thank you again for taking the time to write everything up for us, we definitely appreciate it All the best, Andrew Hi Andrew Thank you for taking the time to write up a response and reply. To me there is no way I could do a trip without engaging with local people. What you put in is what you get out. Ethyls is a fascinating place. Well worth the visit.
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After much more looking around and just drinking in the atmosphere and decor, I made it back to the bar to order a drink and lunch from Kelly our amazingly tallented waitress. Kelly.......... Perfect. They do say everything is bigger in America! Looks like another fantastic trip mate, have loved the updates, are you already planning the next one? Westbay - Thank you. Being back is good. But being there was better Elwoody - it can be done. Disasterbus - maaaayyyyybeee...... Think Blues, Creole food and floods.
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... I only hope that one day I can experience something like the things you have on your travels. ... I hope so, too, but tbh I am NOT sure if, by the end of the week, the US are still the same. The current "Hobson´s election" (between pestilence and cholera, as we say in germany) will leave a deeply split US-american population, which could change a lot. I feel veryveryvery uncomfortable about this ATM, TBH, and I live farfaraway from the states. I have to say I feel very much the same, really quite nervous about it. I sincerely hope it doesn't mean that experiences like grizz has had will be a thing of the past. Cheers, Andrew
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2001 Mk4 Golf - Not retro yet but getting there
Some cars I've owned: '91 Renault Clio 1.4 RT '96 Peugeot 306 2.0 XSi (the one that got away) '96 Vauxhall Astra Euro'96 Gold edition '97 Renault Laguna 2.0 RT '98 Mk3 Golf GTI Colour Concept '00 PT Cruiser
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I hope so, too, but tbh I am NOT sure if, by the end of the week, the US are still the same. The current "Hobson´s election" (between pestilence and cholera, as we say in germany) will leave a deeply split US-american population, which could change a lot. I feel veryveryvery uncomfortable about this ATM, TBH, and I live farfaraway from the states. I have to say I feel very much the same, really quite nervous about it. I sincerely hope it doesn't mean that experiences like grizz has had will be a thing of the past. Cheers, Andrew Though the jury is still out on how things may or may not change over here politically...I feel strongly that you can still (and will still be able to in future) go to a great many locations here in the states and get a similar experience with the local folks. The Cars and car culture that Grizz experienced, however was unique to only a select few places. California is a very seriously car cultured hub....but the flavor is very different. My buddy lives in North Carolina and loves every minute of it. last month, somehow or another, he hopped a ride in the 2nd and more modern Optimus Prime truck and can visit any of a dozen Nascar builders all within 10 or 20 miles of each other......and he tells me that each and every person he has met down there (he is originally from NY) is as genuine and generous as they get. NY seems to be more into pretense in urban locations, but here in the country/suburbia its a mixed bag of big ole trucks, pocket rockets, and muscle cars...the new stuff is low and sleek, up in NH, I see more interest in MGs, Triumphs, Austins, and VW busses, ect.....New England is my comfort zone. Grizz is also a person that, it appears, appreciates hospitality as much as those giving it love to share their experiences with him. its not easy to fit right in for all of us......You could take 10 other people and I bet you would have 10 different takes on the same set of experiences..... Grizz, this was one that I enjoyed with much eagerness...checking in almost every day to see how you were doing. Way to go, man....way to go! Ill take the banners down now that you have left the states!
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I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
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I hope so, too, but tbh I am NOT sure if, by the end of the week, the US are still the same. The current "Hobson´s election" (between pestilence and cholera, as we say in germany) will leave a deeply split US-american population, which could change a lot. I feel veryveryvery uncomfortable about this ATM, TBH, and I live farfaraway from the states. I have to say I feel very much the same, really quite nervous about it. I sincerely hope it doesn't mean that experiences like grizz has had will be a thing of the past. Cheers, Andrew I doubt it will make any difference matey. Plan and execute. Simple.
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I have to say I feel very much the same, really quite nervous about it. I sincerely hope it doesn't mean that experiences like grizz has had will be a thing of the past. Cheers, Andrew Though the jury is still out on how things may or may not change over here politically...I feel strongly that you can still (and will still be able to in future) go to a great many locations here in the states and get a similar experience with the local folks. The Cars and car culture that Grizz experienced, however was unique to only a select few places. California is a very seriously car cultured hub....but the flavor is very different. My buddy lives in North Carolina and loves every minute of it. last month, somehow or another, he hopped a ride in the 2nd and more modern Optimus Prime truck and can visit any of a dozen Nascar builders all within 10 or 20 miles of each other......and he tells me that each and every person he has met down there (he is originally from NY) is as genuine and generous as they get. NY seems to be more into pretense in urban locations, but here in the country/suburbia its a mixed bag of big ole trucks, pocket rockets, and muscle cars...the new stuff is low and sleek, up in NH, I see more interest in MGs, Triumphs, Austins, and VW busses, ect.....New England is my comfort zone. Grizz is also a person that, it appears, appreciates hospitality as much as those giving it love to share their experiences with him. its not easy to fit right in for all of us......You could take 10 other people and I bet you would have 10 different takes on the same set of experiences.....
Grizz, this was one that I enjoyed with much eagerness...checking in almost every day to see how you were doing. Way to go, man....way to go!
Ill take the banners down now that you have left the states! Thanks JP. Great reply. Yes, I am how I am and my home is always open to travelers and tourists. Banners.......thank you. You have a PM.
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Saturday afternoon late Miss Katy came over to visit. It had after all been three weeks since we last saw each other. Our Nomance based on an easy friendship meant that I had made some extra effort by going to the Turkish shop and bakery to buy flat bread, Puck spreading cheese and other treats. So we could have an easy dinner with no fuss. The Turkish bread is always a winner. Katy was happy to see me and she looked lovely. Harley was very happy. My left over Dollars were about to be converted to Sterling and stuck back into the mortgage that had become a priority earlier in the year. My baggage was delivered on Saturday evening just afyer 10pm. So of course I needed to unpack and get the bits I brought for Katy out for her, including the pink Buck knife that made her laugh. Sleep continued to evade me as my biological clock was now so screwed up that Saturday night delivered about four hours sleep. On Sunday we had a reasonable day. Lazy start and walk about then a walk down the Medway river from Upnor. Thankfully the tide was out but the windy day meant loads of Lazer class sailing boats on tbe river. Sunday night I got almost no sleep and up at 05.30 on my way to a team meeting in London for the day meant I really suffered to jusy stay awake. Monday night I turned off all electronic gizmos in the house and slep for 9.5 hours dead. The last time I slept that much, I must have been 10 years old. From Tuesday it was back to the day job. Suited up. Man, I miss my shorts and flip flops. By Wednesday evening it was late meetings and training again with London at night being my song. Last photo is a map made up by Elwoody (Michael) in Germany. Trying to capture all the routes and detours I used is not easy. So this map is a very basic representation of the 2500 miles I did either with other people or in the Dodge Hemi Challenger that Dennis gave me to use. I was amazed at the 25.3 mpg that it returned on longer trips like to 400 miles a day I did returning to Missouri. There are a few small things I still need to complete and record. I will come back to them when I get to it. Now its back to normal. Thanks for riding shotgun. I think there are around 550 photos in this thread. I could be wrong though. And Yes, unfortunately I have started planning next years trip already. It may include Blues, Bourbon and Beads. 2017 invite has also come from Colorado. This has to be considdered as I always like Colorado for its nature. Now relaxxxxxx.
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Nov 13, 2016 19:34:14 GMT
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Well it seems the road trip keeps on giving. One of the parcels I posted to South Africa went to a friend Jacques and contained a bunch of license plates and a 1.75m long snake skin for his break away cottage. He saw that both Donnie Wilson and I like and collect knives. So he arranged for some Okapi knives to be bought and shipped to him for distribution to various people. Karma...... did I mention it before? The last two weeks have been busy in the nomance and personal spaces. Katy saw her older daughter graduate this week. Great going for being a single parent for 16 years. Her daughters are certainly headed in the right direction. With the younger just starting at Bournemouth University. Last weekend she planted the water feature bed with a few plants. CLICKY LINKY: My week was a bit rough so Friday night saw two of these being swiftly dispatched. Honey Brandy and Pepsi Max. Pint at a time. Not sure it fixed anything. But certainly tasted great. On Tuesday on the way home from London I saw this lot in a skip outside my local station. The South Eastern Railway Hotel pub is being converted into over priced flats. So all the original wood and fittings get ripped out. There certainly were planks with borer beetle too. Anyway......... Time for the guessing game. Why would I skip dive these out of a dusty skip? Saturday morning the last of Nicolas stuff got collected from garage and loft.I am thankfull I had the sense to do two full carloads earlier this week for her. She has a surprise waiting at her place with all the stuff I took there on Wednesday and Friday nights. NOT MY PROBLEM. I am sure she will search sort it ruthlessly and dump what she does not need. Saturday morning she was over by 08.15 and I took her into garage loft, thankfully found one more bag I had forgotten the other night. Then room to room and cupboard to cupboard in house to let her pick over stuff again despite us previously "sharing" stuff. Took what she wanted and was hers in kitchen etc. Left a load of lovely white Sunday best crockery behind that mate Martin will take over. Into loft and brought last of her boxes down then let her look as well to make sure she had it all. Packed her car in rain and she asked me again if I was coming over to help her unload and get stuff in her loft. I said no, (as she has a perfectly capable 6'6" ex military boyfriend) I had already asked Jeremy the cat sitter to help her. Puts that one firmly away. Last step probably now just divorce at some point. I hope that will be a painlessexperience for both of us. Then finished up raking back yard in the rain, which was a mess and then showered, packed car and went shopping etc. Then to Katys place overnight. With me cooking us dinner. Its nice to give back to her. She has just been so kind to me since Nicola left and I met her. A really lovely friend. As Nicola was gone by 10.15 and Katy was not going to be home before 6pm and it was raining...... What better to do then than get the pressure cleaner out the garage and clean up the planks? Once done I took them into the house to dry again when the heating comes on. Plan is to try cut two sections from the long piece and one each from the shorter ones. Sand them down a bit but keep all the wear and scars. Then create a frame from more still to be found scrap wood. Once this is done the bits of crazy stuff I brought home this year and last year that makes people shake their heads will be mounted on the board and hung inside the house as a reminder of two awesome toad trips. Crazy?? Yes. Do I care ?? Watch this space. Probably not the best position in a post to be looking for a favour. I am looking for someone who is returning from the USA to the UK as soon as posdible that would be prepared to bring along a parcel of new replacement brake shoes for my truck. I did not think about it while in the US in October. Anyone who can help. Please PM me. In other news.......... Got this in the post this week. More about it later.
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Nov 13, 2016 19:47:31 GMT
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Good to see you wearing the correct PPE for pressure washing. Slipslops, aka Samoan Safety Sandals for the win, hehehe
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Nov 13, 2016 20:05:39 GMT
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Excellent rack.
Thats all i have to say on the matter.
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Nov 14, 2016 12:41:51 GMT
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the contents of the road trip pictures are a bit like your man cave, to most people just "stuff" but to others its years of work or collecting and everything has a story to tell. i find that sort of social history fascinating, not necessarily confined to actual story behind specific items, even just wondering is fascinating !
i think you airport selfie sums up the feeling about the trip being over, spells a similar end for us hearing about it too! certain it wont be the last though !
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Nov 16, 2016 13:29:48 GMT
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Well I called a local UK spares outlet for American cars. The price for one set of shoes excluding delivery is £53.35 Total price for a full set then for me in England would be £122.00 or $152.00 This is a lot more than the approximately $48.00 plus local tax in the USA. Looks like I am going to have to find a way of getting them from the US.
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Nov 16, 2016 18:14:02 GMT
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Was the relaxxx comment football inspired? enjoyed the trip report very much
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Rebel
Part of things
Posts: 343
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Grizz, Give Ron Fenton an email at ron@stsimports.co.uk he might be able to help with getting the brake shoes over for you. Think he has a uk bound container leaving shortly
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1968 Dodge Charger 1985 Chevrolet Camaro 1993 Toyota Hilux Surf 2001 Ford Mondeo
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Was the relaxxx comment football inspired? enjoyed the trip report very much Sadly, Football to me is right up there with watching paint dry. I certainly would find stuff to do, but it's rarely in front of the tellybox
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Grizz, Give Ron Fenton an email at ron@stsimports.co.uk he might be able to help with getting the brake shoes over for you. Think he has a uk bound container leaving shortly Hey Rebel, Good call on Ron, have used him a few times. But once landed here, along with the hassle and logistics of getting them delivered to him, I am back at the numbers above. Looks like my UK contact will be collecting some new shoes on Friday if his colleague can take him via the shop on he way to work. Then just UK postage or collect in Stroud from him. Possibly doing another friend visit the same day.
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CaptainSlog
Part of things
Posts: 510
Club RR Member Number: 180
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Grizz, hope the whole Nicola chapter and the resulting pain is over soon - you need some Grizz, nomance time and to heal, sterkte boet.
loved the reports of your travels among the good folks in the US. Hopefully the UK winter is not too hard on y'all.
Edit: Have you still got a bakkie to rebuild?
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Grizz, hope the whole Nicola chapter and the resulting pain is over soon - you need some Grizz, nomance time and to heal, sterkte boet. loved the reports of your travels among the good folks in the US. Hopefully the UK winter is not too hard on y'all. Edit: Have you still got a bakkie to rebuild? Thank you for the post mate. Yes, some Grizz and Nomance time would be good. Getting over the past 8 years will take a bit longer. Travels were just awesome. And yes, we do have a bakkie to restore. Watch this space. And winter......? Yes its here.
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Nov 20, 2016 10:05:47 GMT
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Yes, some Grizz and Nomance time would be good. Getting over the past 8 years will take a bit longer. Travels were just awesome. And yes, we do have a bakkie to restore. And winter......? Yes its here. Always look forward, but then I reckon you're that type of guy anyway. Travels were 'awesome' to read, never mind to go on. I just knew there was something you were supposed to be doing! What is this winter of which you speak? I didn't comment much on your trip. I only followed it on this thread, not the other, as I get easily confused. Didn't want to get caught up in the whole Barmaid, boobs and butt bit either, just in case Madam ever reads this. But yup, enjoyed every word of it.
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CaptainSlog
Part of things
Posts: 510
Club RR Member Number: 180
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Nov 20, 2016 15:22:04 GMT
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Where is the barmaids and boobs thread?
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