AMERICA HERE WE GO 🇺🇸🇺🇸 Grizz’s 2023 Road trip - WRAPPED UP 📪

[grizz]

Following the Razorbacks win, we headed out into Clems parts storage sheds and looked for a few bits for Paul Y and craigrk.

Paul needed some wheels from the lifting mechanism of a 66 C10 door glass.

Craig needed some patina tailgate hinges and chains.

Paul got lucky.

Craig not so.





Sacrificed








Thanks Clem.





Widdle Kitty couldn’t care less.






That kinda concluded my visit to Fayetteville.

I had hope to see a lady friend who has been unwell, nd was due some reconstructive surgery the week I headed there, so rather than bother her, I chose to leave her to recover post-op.

Sunday morning I was headed the easy 180 miles to Terlton, Oklahoma.


.

[grizz]

And at last….. Loaded.


A collage video I have put together of Tom’s work in Kansas where Dennis and I visited for Dinner.


Hope you enjoy.


He is a migrant worker in the USA and we have no real clue as to how hard or long his days are, but I admire his resilience.


Romanticised here.


During harvest season this is his typical two week period, NOTE: 13 days in this case.







Hardcore work.





For some more context, this is a guy I admire for the stuff he has done.

Some parts I prefer not to share here, but trust me.

He has worked with the Americans in Iraq, Iran, Congo, Afghanistan and more.

Fishing, not something I care for.

Chatting to Tom about his South pole stuff.


1 expedition on Marion and 4 on Gough Islands. The last two years were back to back

M63

G54 Expedition leader/medic
G69 Expedition leader/medic
G62 & G63 medic
































.

[grizz]

Leaving Fayetteville early on Sunday morning, I headed to Oklahoma……

In relation to the driving so far, this was a quick trip, 180 miles to Andy’s place in Terlton area beyond Tulsa.


Dennis’ street/road.










By 09.05 I drove past a field with a sign “Hillbilly Bootfair” and continued till I could do a U-Turn and go back.

Why would I miss out on a Bootfair in a field.

Turning in by 09.10 it was obvious this is a permanent set up, with many stands clearly long term.

Typical of the Midwest as well, stuff gets left overnight on tables, with plastic covering.

Many stalls were still closed or just being opened.




Walking around, I spoke to a few vendors, including some conspiracy theorists.

Always interesting chatting to the locals, and of course responding to them picking up on my foreign accent.

Many admit to never even leaving their own counties or states, or just having a singular holiday destination in the next state.


TRY THIS AT AN ENGLISH BOOTFAIR.

HE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE.

I HEAR BANJOS PLAYING








While there, I found a heavy, new aluminium sign for Dennis’ birthday.

Perfect to put out behind the workshop….. where guys go pee after dark in the woods.





After an hour, I was back in the truck…….


Headed for Oklahoma.





Getting to Andy’s farm by 11.30, I had a couple of hours to wait.


He had a wedding the day before, and on Sunday he goes to church, taking the two widows and friend Carol (45 year friendship) to church, followed by lunch at a not so local Mexican restaurant on Sundays.

So I walked around, flip flops and rattle snakes and others do not go well together, but I still walked as the trip was sedentary as expected.

Andy now has two of these, why???

No idea, but he likes yellow.





Spot, the yard dog was there, greeting me, then sitting with me, it front, and also walking around the farm, inspecting Andy’s stash of cars, tractors and other interesting stuff.








By 12.30, Andy and the three ladies arrived in his “New” Ford F150 Lightening EV truck.

It has already done over 22k miles, and I suspect it may be one of the highest mile examples in the USA, many stories about of them failing in various ways.

His, on the other hand, gets no mercy, and despite being 75, he drives it balls to the wall, all the time, makes it work, and has no issue taking it where any of his other vehicles are expected to go.


I will be back later to write up some more for those still engaged here.

[grizz]

When Andy rolled up in his quiet F150 EV, Spot and I had eaten half a pack of Cheetos, you know how it goes….. one for me, one for you.

She gets fed once a day, so treats are a bonus.

The widows were married to two brothers.

Madelyn and Darrel were an item from 3rd Grade, and he died a year ago, she has not yet forgiven him for getting cancer and choosing to die before her. He left her with a massive estate, but of course no money will bring back the only man she ever knew.

Carol in the middle, flanked by the widows. Bible on her lap…… yes, this is that sort of country.





Andy took us to their local-ish Mexican.

Good food, still large portions











After lunch, back into the truck and off, up to Madelyn’s farm, Andy was good friends with Darrel, and actually helped him with some of his projects and builds over the years.





As so often with these road trips, things change direction mid-stride and with deciding to go up to Madelyn’s a whole new story unfolded.
The land they owned was all flat and workable, but a parcel next to theirs had a small hill, unworkable for crops, and even the cattle steered clear of it. Darrel wanted to buy and own it from the rightful owners for 50 years, now that sounds crazy, but so the story goes. Eventually, he bought it, with one intention only. To build him and his wife a cabin right at the top.
Turns out, what he found out later, and contracted out, there is oil on the land. Double bonus then.
So they designed a cabin, and he proceeded to cut down many many cedar trees on the properties he owned and tuned them into logs, and then lumber. Which was used to build the cabin, by him.
VIDEO to follow once made, edited and uploaded.


Hard working people need no grammar.











Out on the deck/veranda.








Older, wiser, and still a woman, Carol always makes me smile at her being such a girly girl at 72 plus.





View from the hill. And table made of hill rock.








After about two hours of just sitting, talking, relaxing, enjoying the breeze, we all got back into the truck and headed back to civilisation.
The F150 Lightening EV is amazing, with 5 adults in, which is possibly just the perfect ballast, it was amazing how smooth the ride down the farm track down the side of the hill was, 4 wheel drive, large tyres and obviously a modern, computerised suspension makes for the most incredible ride.
I was really looking for reasons NOT to like this thing.
Andy is a Farmer, former oil field engineer and executive, collector of tractors and most importantly, PETROLHEAD. And he does not cut this truck any slack, in fact, he possibly tries to challenge it more than any of his regular vehicles, wanting it to fail and prove to him it is rubbish.
The truck just refuses to submit to him.
Delivering on all levels.


After dropping the widows back at church, both getting into their respective HUGE farm trucks and heading out, we went off to see the house Carol and Andy have built over the last 18 months on a mountainside, overlooking the Cimarron river.


More later for those still checking in.

[redratbike]

Tom looks like he has had a life with the artic stuff and the military.

guys like never seem to open up about stuff i have found.

thread tangent
i met a guy a few years back through my Aprilia bikes, lives less than half a mile from me , very quiet asked him what he did and turns out ex-forces some sort of special forces then an independent and slowly got it out of him that he had done some gun for hire / protection stuff in iraq and afghanistan ,at the i was talking to him he was protecting a group of auditors brought in to go through some corrupt african governments accounts and his team of 15 and the auditors had a 5 star hotel all to themselves they themselves were guarded by that countries forces too but the upshot was he was earning $1500 a day!! and it was a 3 year contract working 3 months on 1 month off.

think we worked it out it was worth just over $1.5 million if he could stick out the 3 years!!!

[grizz]

Sept 20, 2023 15:40:15 GMT redratbike said:

looks like he has had a life with the artic stuff and the military.

guys like never seem to open up about stuff i have found.

thread tangent
i met a guy a few years back through my Aprilia bikes, lives less than half a mile from me , very quiet asked him what he did and turns out ex-forces some sort of special forces then an independent and slowly got it out of him that he had done some gun for hire / protection stuff in iraq and afghanistan ,at the i was talking to him he was protecting a group of auditors brought in to go through some corrupt african governments accounts and his team of 15 and the auditors had a 5 star hotel all to themselves they themselves were guarded by that countries forces too but the upshot was he was earning $1500 a day!! and it was a 3 year contract working 3 months on 1 month off.

think we worked it out it was worth just over $1.5 million if he could stick out the 3 years!!!

100%

Those guys are often the unassuming quiet ones.

Tom, and Freddie he works with, is so quiet spoken, and too shy to buy a bottle of water in a shop, speaking with people etc.

Yet, I have seen him take command in a flash and become this focussed action driver, he is of course also a highly trained and skilled paramedic.

I do like people like that.

These are the sort of companies they used to work for…….

No grave stones, just a needle of remembrance somewhere distant.

[grizz]

Off to Carol’s new home, built kinda in the middle of nowhere, on a hillside by her and Andy, using some subcontractors along the way of course.
But a lot of the work was their own labour.


Andy is like kid who loves to share his toys.
So at some point it was inevitable that he would be letting me drive his new truck, already 22k miles of work on it.





Andy designed the house, with input from Carol, possibly ignoring some of her objections, and ending up with a place that actually has 5 levels. 6 if you include the double tandem garage that is at a level between two floors with 4 steps into the kitchen.
Views from the lounge and first floor library.














Up in the cupola, the views really quite outstanding.
It is to be completed with some reading chairs etc, but even up there you have ducted air conditioning cooling the room.
Looking out over the river and surrounding landscape.
Andy wanted to add another observation deck on top of this area but Carol refused.
Sensibly.





Front door and another veranda.
This is a really good place to sit, though no majestic views, it was cool and peaceful, being on the tree line and away from the setting sun.





Andy offered to buy dinner, rather than Carol cooking, so we drove 40 miles to Tulsa for some of the nicest Chinese served buffet food I had in a long time.
Sunset is always good, even in an industrial setting.





Dinner venue.





Really great choices. They usually share a plate as it is so much food, I loved having vegetables for a change, alsways in short supply on these trips.
Except when Debbie cooks at Dennis’ place.




Both Andy and Carol have the body shapes reminiscent of 30 year olds, we are not talking overfed fatshits but as you can see, they often buy a single serving, and share onto two plates as the portions typically in America are really 50% too big.




A really interesting read, from the fortune cookie, and this was before I knew I was coming home without a job.
This was really my fortune cookie as well.





Outside, he showed me the front trunk of the truck, a decent space for even two dead bodies.

The other thing is the surround camera views on the reversing and moving cameras.

Certainly impressive in its own way.







Back to Andy’s farm.





That concluded Sunday afternoon at Andy’s and though such a short time, it was great.

Dennis’ birthday Monday 11 September, so a long way ahead.


Right.

Off to work for the day, seems pretty pointless, but I would struggle to sit around at home till the contract ends.

Later.

[grizz]

Sitting in a hospital passage, junior doctors on strike, everyone else working hard.

Perfect time to load some pics and tell a bit more of the story.


So Andy and I crashed early, by 10.30pm and both of us were up by 05.00

Me to get on the road, and waking naturally, Andy had a day planned in his wood shop to make some more door fronts for Carol’s kitchen. Did I mention excluding some of the heavy stuff, everything was being done by them on this build.

So Andy greeted me with a coffee mug, offered as a gift, he knows me well.

Weirdly, after 6 tries and editing and screen shotting the pic, I cannot upload a coffee mug that reads I ❤️ Beaver


Day plan.





Well, seems that I cannot load any further pics.

Later.

[pedalcarjoe]

[quote author="grizz"

Well, seems that I cannot load any further pics.

Later.

[/quote]


OK, in that case we will wait

[pedalcarjoe]

it will be worth it

[grizz]

Take 2 for 11 September.


Breakfast.





Then out on the roads.

Took more than the prescribed time, as I stopped at least an hour along the way to eat, talk, fill up etc.

Even at tollgates I tend to stop and chat if not rushed.

First stop a mile or less from Andy’s place was to pick up this tricycle.


RADIO FLYER……. PLAN WAS TO ROB THE EMBOSSED STEP FOR ANOTHER APPLICATION IF I could not fix it at Dennis’ place.





Then onto the roads…..

One for akku who likes a naughty name. Not as bad as some. Missed a few due to my lack of speed grabbing the phone camera.








Filling up.





Ugleeeee but possibly practical Nissan van. Sprinter Clem size.























I saw a load of stuff where my speed, driving, and the speed of getting the camera just did not come together, so missed some cool shots.

Though I nearly drove into Uranus.

[akku]

I find the number of "Japanese for the American Market" vehicles in vans and trucks etc to be quite interesting, some of the large Japanese cars going into the tradition Buick, Cadillac buyers also very interesting.

[LPlates]

Thanks for this glimpse of real America. Some great folks (and cars/trucks!). Killdozer T-shirt is great. Any chance of a link to purchase?

Must have missed the details about work. These things have a weird way of opening new doors and possibilities you may have missed.

Lastly, your employer has given you a great opportunity. You have just shy of 8 paid weeks to arrange your next trip, which means more time at home for your van.

[grizz]

Sept 21, 2023 15:26:57 GMT LPlates said:

Thanks for this glimpse of real America. Some great folks (and cars/trucks!). Killdozer T-shirt is great. Any chance of a link to purchase?

Must have missed the details about work. These things have a weird way of opening new doors and possibilities you may have missed.

Lastly, your employer has given you a great opportunity. You have just shy of 8 paid weeks to arrange your next trip, which means more time at home for your van.

Always a pleasure sharing.

And even more so when you guys reading, reply.

Killdozer T-shirt could be a Google search away, or on eBay, maybe from a specialist seller like Qwertee.

The expectation at work is “business as usual” and they have the power, as they are the contracting agency, so if you screw up or don’t play ball, they just won’t find you a next contract.
Of course there are other ways too, which I will start investigating next week.

[grizz]

And on the road went.



































Stopped for a bite to eat…….








Carried on, getting to Dutzow where we had breakfast the first day by 2.15pm.
Stopped at the junk store, again here time had been unkind, new ownership, nice, but vibe and feeling changed completely. Walked out after half an hour, not buying anything.
Voting with your feet often feels much better than regretting a purchase

[Rob M]

This is living the dream Grizz!!!
Top thread from you, as per usual, you never disappoint!

[grizz]

Dutzow shop as described before.

Pic would not load.






Days trip video just loading up for those who do watch the videos.



.

[brachunky]

Sept 21, 2023 19:00:14 GMT grizz said:

Dutzow shop as described before.

Pic would not load.






Days trip video just loading up for those who do watch the videos.



.

I love these oldy world photo's. Just needs a couple of horses tethered out side!

[grizz]

Sept 21, 2023 15:18:24 GMT akku said:

I find the number of "Japanese for the American Market" vehicles in vans and trucks etc to be quite interesting, some of the large Japanese cars going into the tradition Buick, Cadillac buyers also very interesting.

Interesting but I guess there is money in delivering what the market will buy.

[grizz]

Sept 21, 2023 18:28:39 GMT Rob M said:

This is living the dream Grizz!!!
Top thread from you, as per usual, you never disappoint!

Thank you Rob.

Much appreciated.

I know my threads are a touch random at times, but it is not for those who read between the lines.

Of course those who edit my text etc have more work to do, but maybe even they get it.