Thanks Marty! Glad you enjoyed my miscellaneous ramblings. It was a dream trip for us for sure.
Steve Hart and I successfully completed the Green Grand Prix on Friday. I can't report on results yet, as I'm still waiting for the final numbers to be posted, but it was great fun to drive the circuit!
Watkins Glen So I've really enjoyed your "Garrison Keeler" approach to cross country travels. Thought maybe you could share results of the Watkins Glenn competition, or am I too early?
The Great Western Adventure It goes without saying that you systematized logistical flexibility in planning your intergrated reciprocal, mobility excursion over many months by synchronized ,incremental, time-phased thinking. The reliable Porshe proved to be functional under most trying conditions and answered every test you put it to in a very responsive management decision. Your combined experence will go down in your memories as a compatable transitional concept of man. machine and a dream come true !!
We love you !! Your trip was our trip, you blogs were great and enjoyable. We rode with you , Bill and Betty. You brought more tears to my eyes.Cathy your were a brick , encouraging and understanding. cheers to you both.. We love you, Mary and Art
Well, thanks Dick! I'm glad that I could, in some small way, help you to pass (as it were) the time while in your delicate condition.
Though the speedo continued to work fine for the rest of the trip, the odometer croaked for good about two weeks after my repair. I did learn how to record mileage with the GPS though, so no big deal.
Entertaining Blog / Great Trip Dear Tom,
I've been sitting here much of this morning in my bathrobe, trying to ignore a nasty attack of bleeding hemorrhoids (seriously) . . . and found the wonderful narrative of your February odyssey west a great distraction! You write well and I much enjoyed how you confronted all the inevitable thisses and thats along the way -- many of them familiar from my earlier travel days (Upper NY snows, Sitgreaves Pass, the PCH, nonfatal breakdowns, flats, ETC., etc.). Your speedo repair impressed me no end, as did your diesel mileage! (we have an '84 Benz turbo-D). Ennyhoo . . . welcome home, serious congrats on this epic shakedown cruise in your fine little car, and enjoy the rest of the winter.
Best wishes,
Dick Pike
356 Registry Case Drips editor emeritus
Whats next in your bucket list?? and what did you name that sweet little red car ??Did you bust the champagne bottle on the car before of after your trip ?? Bet you were met by whole Megan clan. Wayne Russel would be proud of you as we all are !! Love to you all. Mary and Art
your secret is out Well Tom, the last photo confirms what we've all suspected about your mileage - your car is actually a hybrid, I've spotted that Briggs Vtwin you've cleverly hidden away in the passenger's foot well!
If I look further and spot evidence of a bran muffin and other health food residue, the jury is in, you've gone green on us.
Glad you're home w/o incident!
j.
Thanks Mr. Charlie!
I enjoyed every bit of the trip, but I'm very, very glad to be home.
I'd be very happy to make a similar trip in the Dodge, but only if I could find a wealthy investor to stake me for the additional fuel cost needed to feed that beast at $4+ per gallon. It would burn almost 3X what the little Tub did.
Glad you enjoyed the blog, It was fun writing it --
Think June!
Home At Last Congrats Mr Tom for what you accomplished - I hated driving once from Wappingers to PBF alone and I went bonkers- table for 1.
So glad you were able to fulfill your dream and that of your parents - i know they are very proud of you right now-maybe not so when you get the WiFi and par 3 installed.
I really had private thoughts that the " Old Bucket of Parts" would not make it- but old McGyver really pulled it off. Relax and try and fulfill your usual Sunday treats!!!
Thanks for all the blogs- we almost felt like we were riding co-pilot. Maybe next time you can take the Dodge- now there's a challenge.....Enjoy and thanks....Sue and Charlie
The Next Mr Russell Tom: I like Mary and Art's idea - we all miss Mr Russell and maybe you are posed to carry on his tradition. His slide shows were always a treat at PBF along with his fish snacks- oh, where did the years go?
I'm ready with the big tent- drive carefully and keep the bucket right side up.
You WILL write a book !!!! Dear Tom, I guess the whole family has been traveling with you. What a great idea.Let us know when you have a slide show like Wayne Russel !!
On the home stretch Borrrring.............no more interesting and exciting play-by-play accounts. Time to hit PBF..
It was fun reading while you had fun...thanks for the memories...... Cathy is waiting with a new honey-do list. Enjoy your last few days away from the farm....the main dock is calling !!!!! Drive carefully and safely....Henry must feel lonely.....
Not many folks living near the Moki Dugway, that's for sure. There is a little settlement maybe 15 miles away -- Mexican Hat, Utah. (again - not making this up)
I did see one other vehicle in the hour or so that I was atop the mesa, a BIG 10 wheel water tanker going down -- very glad not to have met him on my way up!
so very bleak Tom, there was no mention anywhere in this entry of people. This looks like something from the moon, did you see anyone there? Does anyone live there? Is there any water? Where is the nearest town - nearest to what?
Has to be one of the most barrren and inhospitable looking places I've seen.
Are you sure you're not lost?
j.
king of the road Tom,
Retirement looms in a year or two.... to emulate in some fashion what you are doing would be incredible. Good for you!
John alerted me about your travels.
Ron Hochmuth
Your blog Darn You Tom, you brought tears to my eyes. You are a softee!!! It is great to follow your miles . How lucky and plucky you are. I know Joni and Mark are following you too. We admire you both so much. Love, Mary and Art
On Calif's best burger UT, so pleased am I to hear of your test bite at the "In-An-Out", but did you know they also have the best street ride auto tshirts in the business? YES, 'tis true, I was lucky enough to pick one up when I visited Laura some years ago just outside of Sacramento. Now I know there are lots of these in Calif, so you'll probably pass another one or two in your trip, so if you'd be kind enough to pick up one or two (I'll fund ya, I promise!!), and there's room to fit them in to your smurfmobile, I'd be so v. pleased.
Sorry to see no airborne shots ala Steve McQueen, but I guess with cold and rainy, it just wouldn't be so much fun.
Thanx for great shots of the rock, I always enjoy looking at deteriorating industrial-age architecture, some day you should look at some of those old abandoned power plants along the Hudson near Albany and along the canal going west - same sort of vibes.
Have a good trip, drive carefully!
Bringing Snow to the West Tom: Heard on the local radio station that SF may get snow for the first time in some 30 years- is it because you miss it so much? Don't let anyone know you are from upstate NY but then again you can show them how to plow it. Sue is in Saratoga this weekend and they are getting a pretty good shot of the white stuff. # 3 son and his wife took off for Lake Placid- rough life.
Hopefully your bride made it back east OK and you and your GPS companion can head back East, safely and with few breakdowns. Stay safe.
vonbondo
Tom Megan
Thanks Marty!
Glad you enjoyed my miscellaneous ramblings. It was a dream trip for us for sure. Steve Hart and I successfully completed the Green Grand Prix on Friday. I can't report on results yet, as I'm still waiting for the final numbers to be posted, but it was great fun to drive the circuit!