GRIZZ's 2017 USA Road trip....... Small update. 28/08/18

[grizz]

Back to Sunday at the races.

Clint continued to work the car.



Danny and Tyler, actually busy, despite appearances.



Best ever use of a Suzuki bread van





Race is on.



Track after all the races.

Check out the height of the berm afterwards




And suddenly it was all over.



In the trailer before packing up, Danny the teacher and I.



Hooked up and ready to go at 02.00 in the morning.

[grizz]

LABOR DAY........

Monday 4th September was the USA Bank Holiday or a public holiday.

Spent in all manner of ways with friends and family.

Dennis, Debbie and I headed out in his favourite old Chevy truck, with air conditioning to see his parents and collect a load of treasures, tools etc.

Put him behind a wheel and you could drive clean across America.



Yes, two of the same.

Happy me, in a truck headed down i70



Signs of patriotism everywhere. I love these massive flags.



Into O'Fallon where Dennis' mum n dad live.





Showed some of their interior decoration last year, but still love it.



Air conditioning thermostats.





Fully functioning kitchen.

I absolutely love this as so much of it reminds me of growing up 50 years ago.






More in a bit.

[mrbounce]

Grizz I LOVE your road trip updates. I really enjoy the states and really need to find myself a petrolhead friend in the USA!! 

This time last year I was in the San Francisco Bay area (Sighs loudly)...

[grizz]

Sept 10, 2017 13:50:41 GMT mrbounce said:

Grizz I LOVE your road trip updates. I really enjoy the states and really need to find myself a petrolhead friend in the USA!! 

This time last year I was in the San Francisco Bay area (Sighs loudly)...

Thank you.

As far as finding USA based petrolheads goes........

We have a bunch on here, Garagejournal has them, pretty much anywhere.

[grizz]

Continuing at Dennis' parents, we loaded a lot of treasures into the truck.

Saw this collection of hatchets and hand axes in the garage too.



Cool brass pump handle and nozzle.

Note the nozzle has a nut shaped tip to open drums.



As part of their purging, Dennis' mum was getting rid of about 7 vintage duck hunting decoys.

She offered me as many as I needed, so I took one.

Love it.



From there we went over to Debbie's younger son Bryan and his wife Katie and his buddy Johnny over the street.

Within minutes we were having a Tailgate party, but with the tailgate up.



These guys are very keen bow, rifle hunters and fishermen.

I got lucky and Bryan brought me less than 24 hr old, fresh Dove breasts and Crappie fish fillets that Debbie was to prepare for us later at home before dinner. Which was BBQ Pork steaks and a load of other food.



The breast wrapped in bacon did not even make the photo shoot.

Both tasted just awesome.

Thanks Bryan !!!




Eventually made it home via one of the neighbours.....



Outbuildings where Dennis found the 6 foot snake skin last year.



Dogs everywhere, just the way I love it.

Tally and Molly in black.



Cinch.




Headed out now to play chainsaws and tractors and then pyromaniac.

Trees to be cut down.

[ozzy]

looks like you are having a good time

[grizz]

Sept 10, 2017 20:26:05 GMT ozzy said:

looks like you are having a good time

Just a little bit mate.

It makes me feel both blessed and very fortunate.

Almost time to head back home.

Not feeling it.

[grizz]

One of the pieces we collected that Dennis was totally in love with is this wood plane.









It seems this is around a hundred years old.

On Tuesday, after a late start around 10.30, I headed out toward Arkansas.

First point was to see Donnie Wilson and his family.

Along the way I "always" stop at McDonalds in Corning for coffee, wifi and a bathroom break.

I had managed to drop my Opinel pocket knife in Danny Kings truck on Sunday night after the races, so I popped into the local Walmart for a new lock blade, crisps and some great Jerky.

While in there, my mobile phone picked up its WiFi and delivered a couple of messages..... love technology.

Chatting to a friend in SA she was incredulous that I had picked up free WiFi, and only a selfie satisfied her disbelief.



Loved this signage.



The. Headed out again and went through Pocahontas where you keep right, toward Strawberry.



Along the way I stopped at a random shop and managed to buy the large top arrow for a weather vane.

Same guy had this '52 Chevy hood ornament for sale at $15.00 which seemed like a good price, if it was not free.



Got to Donnie late afternoon.

His son, both their wife's and grand children were all there for an awesome dinner and specially fried Deer meat that he had hunted

Possibly the best moment to date on this trip was when he offered me English Tetleys tea......

I had forgotten to bring my own supply this time.




After dinner we went and sat out on the front porch and just enjoyed the quiet, watching the humming birds use the feeders hanging out front.

For some reason my YouTube channel will not let me load videos, been going on for weeks.

Any ideas??

[grizz]

After dinner, we sat out till quite late, chatting all sorts, including trucks of course.

Cowboy, who is Donnies new yard guard, watching out for Coyotes and guarding the chickens at night spent time with us.

He also woke me at 04.00 and was certainly earning his keep.



After a great breakfast, we went for a drive over to see some cattle on Donnies land and then over to,Jimmy who has been building a new family home.

Transport.



Part way there, we crossed this stream, how idyllic.



Yes, he can stop in the water for a photo.



Then out to the cattle.

They are like kids, storming his truck inquisitively.

Then following when we drove off.



For the sake of posting photos in a group, I will put these together.

After the cattle we went to Jimmys place to look at some stuff being built, including his house.

After this, we drove back to Donnies farm and up to his scrap pile, where I managed to rob two good radiator wings off him, a speedo clock assembly to add to the parts I have to try repair my very broken one, as well as a set of Custom ally side sails.

While there, I saw other interesting stuff.

Grasshopper



A very large and beautiful lady spider, unfortunately she turned when I tried to photograph her.




And of course Donnie Chevy truck.

All tuned and sailed in now.

[grizz]

So back to the self built home.

Jimmy and his wife milled their own Red Cedar and Pine trees at her dads sawmill to build this home.

It is massive, has verandas or porches on three sides.

Not everything will be to everyone's taste, but guess what.....?

It's not our home.

Bunch of photos, as I need to get to bed, today was a long, physical day.

Cabinets.



Closer



So the question stands...... "Do bears poop in the woods?"

Red cedar, cut and milled by the owners.







Kitchen





Outside view, not easy to capture.



After this we headed home to Donnies place as Wanted to leave his place by 11.00 as Jonesboro and Steve Hansen awaited.

If there was time, Searcy was also on my mental agenda, to see Ta2Don for a bit.

So we had a last coffee, then said our goodbyes and I headed out.





This is where the road trip turned into an adventure.

Next report will include a 3 wheeled Vintage EZ-GO Golf Kart and some Samaritans.


Bed time now.

Later for those still along for the trip or photos.

Thanks for checking in.

[Paul Y]

Love the sprint Cars.

Many, many years ago when I worked in California for 6 months I used to go to see the sprint car races at Riverside with one of my fellow workers. Always amazed me that they were able to pull the front wheels... on dirt!

Please keep,it coming Rian, is the hurricane going to bother you at all?

P.

[grizz]

Sept 11, 2017 5:55:18 GMT Paul Y said:

Love the sprint Cars.

Many, many years ago when I worked in California for 6 months I used to go to see the sprint car races at Riverside with one of my fellow workers. Always amazed me that they were able to pull the front wheels... on dirt!

Please keep,it coming Rian, is the hurricane going to bother you at all?

P.

Morning Paul,

Flying out tonight.

Yes, those cars are brutally powered and lift the wheels at the sniff of throttle.

Weather currently far from me, so I will be at work on Wednesday.

[retrolegends]

Thanks for the update, it's giving me a boost as I'm half way through a block of night shifts. 👍🏻

[grizz]

Sept 11, 2017 14:26:14 GMT retrolegends said:

Thanks for the update, it's giving me a boost as I'm half way through a block of night shifts. 👍🏻

Pleasure mate,

Waiting for Dennis to pick me up and take me to the airport, via Ethel's where Kelly should be on duty.

I hope so for all our sakes.

Then out at 18.50 US time, and stopover in Chicago and further to London at some crazy hour.


So we left off just outside of Strawberry where Jake Brakes are banned.


I had also made out like a Bandit with Donnie giving me some part for my truck that I did not have, or were badly damaged on my truck.

Another big thank you.



From Strawberry, I was headed to Jonesboro to see Steve and his wife and Lulu the dog.

About 15 minutes after leaving, and 4 miles through a town called Lynn, the Challenger cut out...

I started it again, drove 50 yards.....

Cut out again.

Single lane road, sharp drops on both sides and gravel trucks hammering down it, with multiple blind rises.....

The third time it cut out, I managed to start it once more and reverse up someone's driveway, just to have it cut out again, and then refuse to start again.




The road trip had just turned into a Nightmare I mean ADVENTURE.

This was at exactly 12.00 midday.

Want to guess what next??

[captainmatt]

Lemme guess, you missed your flight and have to stay another week surrounded by awesome scenery, people and cars?


Also, you referenced but didn't answer what I was going to ask, what is a jake brake meant to be about?!

[Stu]

Still awesome! Still really enjoying this, keep up the good work :-)

[grizz]

Sept 11, 2017 18:02:38 GMT captainmatt said:

Lemme guess, you missed your flight and have to stay another week surrounded by awesome scenery, people and cars?


Also, you referenced but didn't answer what I was going to ask, what is a jake brake meant to be about?!

Mr Google says: A compression release engine brake, frequently called a Jake Nett brake or Jacobs brake, is an engine braking mechanism installed on some diesel engines. When activated, it opens exhaust valves in the cylinders after the compression cycle, releasing the compressed air trapped in the cylinders, and slowing the vehicle.

Sept 11, 2017 19:09:20 GMT Stu said:

Still awesome! Still really enjoying this, keep up the good work :-)

Thanks mate.

Made it to Wednesday so far.

Sept 12, 2017 5:25:19 GMT @automatik said:

Next you were waiting for help and did some investigation on that green truck just a few steps from that lilac piece of '+§*~#', then some 'murican with a big gun appeared on scene and told you to get the hell out of there.
Knowing what might happen to englishmen in the former colony from that episode of TopGear, you ran - and ran - and ran...

Then when you felt like being far enough you stopped - noticing you already got to Ethyl´s!

Desperately needing a beer now. You got in...

And there she was!

Kelly!

Taking care of your needs, knowing what you desired, warmhearted as she is, giving you an ice cold beer - and some look that promises...



Erm, sorry, guess you already told us last time that she is a married woman.
Guess I need a cold shower now.

What was next?

You are closer than you think.

Pop back in......

Later, much later

[grizz]

Just for those who do not read words, and will not read this.
I am back in the UK now, got in around 3pm today
Knackered in a word.


So I try various ways to start the Hemi Challenger, but no go.

So I pull out my UK based mobile phone that will let me make a call at £1.10/min to call Dennis......

No reception.

So took some pics of the car, the address etc and started to walk toward the next home down Hiway 25 Arkansas.

Number 3001 has an old guy working in his yard, next to a trailer and 70's Subuurban.





So I look for guns and approach, explaining my situation.

He pulls out his mobile phone and says "You can use my phone" while he carries on trying to remove a tyre from a rim with some wholly inadequate tools. But he does succeed.

Long story short, Dennis refers me to Dodge recovery service, they take my exact details and say it should take an hour (I am 29 miles from one small dealer at Wallnut Ridge and about 45 miles from the bigger dealer at Jonesboro)
I get a text a while later to confirm it will be just over two hours for them to get there.
So Walk back to the car to check if it will start again, but also just to move it more on driveway.
Then I hear RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.........!!!

Look back and see this.



Old guy in his EZ-GO Golf kart coming to pick me up and run me to the car.

No luck there in the end.

We do look at this truck, found out later it was bought for the house owners son, but he lost interest fast and now has a jacked up V6 Toyota pickup



We go back to the old guys home, try to get a tyre onto the rim, unsuccessfully.
More chat, glass of water and local history.
Help him adjust golf kart throttle cable.
And then I go back to the car to await recovery service.
By 3.30 pm still no recovery, so I walk back to the house and ask for phone again......
at 4.03 a missed call, as I cannot raise the service......
Call back and it is the Recovery service owner to say they were given the wrong details and despatched to the wrong address

So I walk back to the car and at the same time y friend Steve from Jonesboro where I was headed arrives in his Toyota truck, so we chat while waiting for the service guys, who eventually get there after 5pm.



Car loaded, we head to Jonesboro, which is where Steve lives, the recovery service is based even though Dodge will only recover to the nearest address etc...... the owner Glenn says he will take the car to Jonesboro with us in Steves truck.



Once we got there, signed off the car, to be investigated on Thursday.....

And Steve and I head home via. Pizza place with cold beers.



Then home to see Lulu the dog and his wife.

Knowing we need to be back at the dealers 30 minutes away by 07.30 the next morning, we turn in early-ish.

Thursday was going to turn into a pile of steaming poop.

Bed time for me, I am shattered and back to work here in the UK tomorrow.

Later guys.

[ozzy]

I have had a few mopars and had no luck with any of them. stick with GM or Ford.

would love to do a road trip in the USA

[grizz]

Sept 12, 2017 20:04:43 GMT ozzy said:

I have had a few mopars and had no luck with any of them. stick with GM or Ford.

would love to do a road trip in the USA

Regarding these Road trips. Big or small.....

You gotta just get on and do them.

You will never regret it.


Shock news from the Grizz House.

Morning all. Went to sleep around 9.30 in end. Woke 10.30 and 11.30 then basically slept to 7.30
So thankfull.
As jetlag kills me.
Now to start facing the real world again.

Trying to get IT sorted. Email and system passwords expired while away. Now locked out and need to get boss who is in a meeting to reply to IT desk to get that going then head out to work.