I Just Threw This One In!!!!!!!

Well today you get a twofer because I am such a nice guy!!!!!! I decided to give you a mileage and location update. I know it has been a while since I let anybody know where I have been and what my mileage is.... So me being just the "NICEST GUY". And I know every body is just agreeing with that last statement, well maybe not every body but I would like to think that at least some body thinks that way and is not under the influence when they are thinking that way. But then I know every body thinks their own way and I would certainly not try to influence any one?????

Just remember that I am very sensitive and I am sure no one wants to hurt my feelings so I will just stay in my own world???? and what world would that be you ask and even if you don't ask I am going to tell you even though I am sure you are probably not interested, but you might be???

Oh well I will just make this short and sweet...... well maybe not sweet, but definitely short.....

I am in Mesa, AZ. as of last Monday. I was in California and Nevada and had a really good time. Sorry no stories as that was my getting away from it all time so no stories and no pictures???? There may be one story but it will be further down the line. The rest of it and the ghost towns will remain with me.

Miss Mabel has been running great and her mileage at this point in time is DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!!! 240,757 so you can try and figure out where I have been and what I have been seeing.....

and so I will post this and right below it should be the other part of the twofer...
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The Loaner Car????? {;-/

Now comes a story that is being written because it is one of those stories that just has to be...... I know that does not make any sense, but then most of what I do never does (make sense that is) but then that is what makes life interesting. Or at least it makes my life a little short of being normal but then somebody needs to define normal. I have to assume that I am normal, but then if I am normal then what would make some one else not quite as normal as me and is there really a normal or is that just a metaphor for being metaphorically right or is there such a term as metaphorically right and if I am right then who is to say that you are wrong??? and is there really a right and wrong or should that be a right and left??

All these unanswered questions that are parts of the meaning of life and if these are unanswered then why is there wine? For it has been said that "IN WINE THERE IS TRUTH" but how can that be for if you drink the wine then the bottle is empty and thus there can be no truth???? But I will drink the wine anyway and maybe one day all my questions will be answered????

But for now it is on to the loaner car. I had to have some work done by the GURU'S of Volkswagen repair. I really don't remember what it was that I was having done since I probably had to many bottles of wine the night before looking to try and get all my questions answered. So I took Mr. Blue to the Guru's to get better.

I was going to call to have some one pick me up when the the head guru, that would be Larry, said "why don't you just take the loaner car?????" Well folks you just have to take a look around this place and unfortunately I did not take pictures so there is no way to describe what I was thinking at that exact moment... All, their work is great and high quality, buttt??????
a loaner???????

Imagine if you will (didn't somebody say that once on a TV show) that you are surrounded by Volkswagen's of various makes and types. The next question is what exactly would a loaner car look like here???? There were buses, buggies, a wombat, an MG kit car and some that even defied description. So I said why not????

You have already seen the pictures of this loaner at the beginning of this story, but what you cannot tell from the pictures is that I was quite literally about 3 inches off the ground!!!! Now that in itself is quite a thrill wondering if the bottom will fall out and I would get the worst case of "ROAD RASH" known to mankind??? The other part of the problem was that not only did I have to get into this vehicle, but I had to get out of it!!!!!!

Now when something that low has to be driven by somebody of my height then getting into this vehicle is not going to be a pretty site!! So finally after a few entrances and exits I determined that what was best for me was to step over the door and not open it!!!! Ahhh but how to get out???? That was truly a feat unto itself. I could not use the seat to pull my self out so I had to open the door and make sure I always had a rag handy so I could sort of roll out onto my knees and then stand up. Well that is really something to see especially in a busy parking lot!!!! I am sure most people thought I was just praying that either I could get up or not have to get in the loaner again!!!

The other thing about this LOANER CAR was the fact that the wind shield was lower than me sitting in the vehicle so I had to for the first time in my life drive looking over the wind shield!!!!! and if you don't think that brought more than a few stairs????
OH YEAH!!!!!!

So now you know why I wrote this. Because in my life I have never driven and most probably will never again drive this type of a "LOANER CAR!!!!!!!"
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Over the River and Through the Woods--THE END???

AHHHHHHHHHH??? Again I am here, well not really here as you are here now and I was here before because one of us had to be here before the other one and since I got here first, I must have been the first one?????

And so after an exciting night of fireworks and adult beverages it was time for coffee and reflections on the day before.... I suppose using the word reflections is a bit of a stretch since a good time was had by all and the only thing on my mind at 6:45 in the morning was a cup of coffee!!!!! Unfortunately I neglected to read the sign in the lobby that read "OFFICE OPENS AT 7AM"!!!!!!!! ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! So after sipping on some yesterdays caffeine that was cold for a few minutes and fogging up the glass door by sticking my nose on the glass the door was unlocked and I was allowed to partake of the CAFFEINE LADEN NECTAR....

It is always good to start the day off with coffee or at least in my case that is true since I have a tendency to get a little GRUMPY with out having my caffeine fix!!!!

after absorbing a few cups of the required morning beverage it was time to fire up the vehicles and go find some place to eat!!!!! Again I do not remember the establishment that we ate at and I forgot my camera so there are no pictures available to see what a motley crew we were (which is probably a good thing) at that hour of the morning.

Breakfast was enjoyable, the waitress was fun as she gave us a hard time and we also returned the favor along with giving each other a hard time. Of course me being as sensitive as I am it might have been a little harder on me, but I survived.....

Breakfast done and out of the way, the next stop was the gas station to reload for the trip back home. After filling up we all headed back to the motel to pack, check out, and get ready for where ever we were going??? We actually thought we were going one way and as it turned out we went another way.....

So with every one loaded up, checked out and in line the parade started down US 101 headed for California. I guess I neglected to tell you that in order to get to Oregon, you must go through California because you cannot get there from here, you have to go some place else and start!!!!! With a line of VW's, some regular looking and some funny looking, all driven by OLD PEOPLE we went down 101 in the sunshine and just a little cool air, not bad just a little cool. Me in shorts and a t-shirt.

Well!!!!!!! as soon as we crossed the California line the weather changed immediately from sunshine to COLD DAMP FOG!!!!!!!! and me in a t-shirt and shorts!!!! but as luck would have it the fog only lasted about 10 miles and then we sort of got some sunshine, not much, but it was better than none at all...

Now normally there is a short cut back to Oregon called the HIOUCHI CUTOFF but the GIANT REDWOODS were on this tour as a stop so it was further down 101 to the US 199 turnoff that also takes you back to Oregon, but through the Giant Redwood forest. These trees are really HUMONGOUS!!!!! I am not sure how tall they grow to, but it is WAYYYYYYY UPPPP THERE!!!!!!! (see pictures)

So after an enjoyable tour of the redwoods it was back in to the line and we headed for Cave Junction in Oregon... I have to tell you that the road to Oregon is called Oregon Mountain (Hiway 199) and has a whole bunch of curves and switchbacks. It used to have a 133 curves, but when they built the tunnel they took some of the fun out of trying to straighten it out. Larry and Peggy (his wife) jumped into their buggy and I knew he was going to go fast so I took second spot and away we went. We actually had to stop twice for about 5 to 10 minutes to wait for the rest of the group to catch up. This road is all paved so it was not near the fun that Bear Camp road was, but with the cliffs, the curves, no shoulders and the on coming traffic it was definitely an exhilarating ride!!!!!!!!

As we came into Cave Junction some people had said they were not stopping, with horns blowing and people waving and the local population thinking that they must have forgotten a holiday or else a bunch of crazy people in Volkswagen's were trying to take over the town. More like the OVER THE HILL GANG in VW's!!!

A stop for a bite to eat and then it was back in to line and off on the last leg of this fun time. On this last stretch everybody is within 30 miles or so of Grants pass and some of us drop off at different roads. So there is no sparing the horses and it is every one for them selves... But as usual Larry in the lead and me on his trailer lights we blew out of Cave Junction and I followed him for about 25 miles to where my drop off point was and then blew my horn, waved goodbye and headed back to the Chateau To Go.

It was an exciting and fun trip and this is the end of this story, but did I mention CRATER LAKE??????
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Over the River and Through the Woods! AGAIN and AGAIN!!!!!

Now isn't this fun????? Almost like a never ending story?? But not for a while since I have to do this in segments so that I can get the pictures in.... and it seems to be easier to do it this way since I am not required to write long pieces of this stuff and therefore you do not have to fall asleep reading what I so fondly try and remember is my search for the "MEANING OF LIFE or IS IT POSSIBLE TO CONSUME THAT MUCH ADULT BEVERAGE IN ONE NIGHT????

But in the mean time or maybe not really the mean time, but the good time and if it is the good time then why am I not staying warm or at the very least consuming some kind of frozen drink with an umbrella in it on the beach???? Well these are questions that may be answered at a later date but for now it was adios to the Natural Bridge and HEAD EM UP, MOVE EM OUT for Brookings.

We had left Merlin about 9am and finally arrived in Brookings about 3:45pm and rendezvoused with the rest of the people at the Harbor Inn where we were staying and who had come over the way we would go back the next day.

We got all checked in and still had some free time to wander around soooooo since I had not been in Brookings for a really looooooong time I decided to go see if some places that had been there a long time ago were still where they were when I left.

I remembered a restaurant from days of yore (I REALLY LIKE THAT WORD) that served what is arguably the best clam chowder in the world. Now I understand that can be a debatable question, but I have had CHOWDAH in quite a few FAH,FAH away places and I still say that this is the best. So with time on my hands and a need for a pre dinner treat I went looking and to my surprise the place was still there!!!! and not caught up in the never ending need to tear down and improve or rebuild!!!!!

So I went in and partook, that means I had some chowdah and even took pictures (see the pictures) of the place for future reference.

Then I proceeded to go see where my folks used to live and there was a chain link fence around the property and no house???? It had been torn down by the co-op that had bought the property from my folks. Oh well that is progress or lack there of??

Then it was back to the Harbor Inn to clean up, and go out to eat again!!!!! I cannot remember the name of the place we ate at, but the OLD PEOPLE in the funny colored shirts are all from the OLD VOLKS and FOLKS club. Kinda looks like a mass escape from a time capsule nursing home?

After supper some of the guys had searched in vain for a place to shoot off all the fireworks that had been purchased for use on the beach. It seems that since last year the rules had changed so no UNAUTHORIZED FIREWORKS were allowed and so after a meeting of the minds and a few bottles of beverages it was determined that we would shoot all the fireworks off in the motel parking lot which was a hit with all the people at the motel and also some that were not even staying there!!!! It was actually a good thing since we were able to drink and then only had to walk a few feet to our rooms.......

Unfortunately there are no pictures as it is hard for me to drink and take pictures, actually it is hard for me to drink and do anything else, but then that is a story for another time....... and so again due to picture limitations I must stop here, but do not fear as there is only one more chapter to complete this saga!!!!!
and "I'LL BE BACK"!!!
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Over the River and Through the Woods!!!!! AGAIN!!!!!!

Well it is over the river and through the woods PART 2 and aren't we excited? Well maybe we aren't all excited??? But maybe we should be excited because I was excited when I went to these places and you all should humor the OLD GUY and get excited!! or maybe we can all hold hands and sing CUMBAYA and since I am not sure how that is spelled and since I am one place and everybody is some place else I suppose holding hands is out of the question?? or is it really a question when it could be more of a statement and since at this point, well it is not really a point, but more like a JUNCTURE and I have no idea what that word means, but I have seen it used before and since I am now thoroughly confused I better stop and get back to what ever it was that I was doing????

I am really glad that I titled this otherwise I would have forgotten what I was writing about!!!!!!! So in the first part I left you in Agness,Or. and now we shall be on our way on down the road.

The next stop, well not really the next stop was Gold Beach,Or. and it is actually quite a spectacular view as you come out of the mountains and see the Pacific Ocean and the huge rock formations on the beach, not to mention the temperature drop which is quite significant. Where we stopped for lunch at the QUOSATANA Campground the temperature was probably about 78 degrees and this is about 10 miles???? I am guessing here so maybe for verification you could check map quest?? anyway the temperature change is about 15 to 20 degrees down!!!!!! and when you are in shorts and a t-shirt you gotta know that it is quite noticeable!!!
OH YEAH!!!!! Unfortunately when I am driving taking pictures becomes a bit of a challenge, but have faith as a future story will show you pictures of the Oregon Coast and you will actually get pictures of some of the wonders in this part.

And so it was down Hiway 101 with a blast of ARCTIC AIR and a "WHERE IN THE H@#$ IS MY SWEAT SHIRT????" and we headed south towards Brookings,Or. We made a stop along the way at a natural wonder called the NATURAL BRIDGE, naturally........ and it is actually natural since the ocean did create the bridge..

And so again I must stop the story so that you can see the pictures and whence we meet again, well not really meet again, but hopefully you will return for more fun filled prose. Sort of like a CLIFF HANGER without the cliff????
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Over the River and Through the Woods!!!!!!!

So here it is the 4th of July and I am still here waiting for the weather to change!!!! and what should my eyes behold but a change in the weather!!! It actually was going to be a nice day!!!!!

So up early in the morning, have my coffee, start packing Mr. Blue for what would be the longest trip that we had ever been on together. I have put a few miles on him, but never to this extent. We were going over what is known as BEAR CAMP ROAD which is a road between Merlin and Gold Beach, Oregon with a stop at Agness, Oregon. Sort of a back way to the coast. Of course the last time I was on that road it was not paved, and no we did not go by horse and wagon, but as it turned out it definitely made the trip a lot more exciting!!!

I would recommend that you pull up MAPQUEST and put in Merlin, Or. as a start point and then put in Agness,Or. as the first destination, then add Gold Beach, Or. and then add Brookings, Or. and then add Merlin, Or. as the final stop and you will be able to see the whole trip from start to finish.... and we did this all starting the morning of the 4th and getting home the evening of the 5th in VOLKSWAGEN'S!!!

Well some of the OLD VOLKS and Folks make that annual run on the 4th and there ain't no better way to do it than just going fast!!!!! Unfortunately due to family sickness some of the people who would normally make the run were unable to so there were only 3 vehicles. This road has a lot of twists and turns that don't even begin to show on the map, but it is definitely a road that is fun to try and straighten out!! It is about 80 miles from Merlin to Gold Beach, give or take a few curves?? But getting over that 80 miles was a real HOOT!!! Unfortunately there are no pictures to show since driving in the mountains on a real curvy road and trying to take pictures can make things get a little dicey at times.

So with Larry the Leader in a hot rod dune buggy and me right behind him in a cloud of dust and WHOO HOOOO!!!!!!! we headed on down the road.....(see the first picture) We took the first turn off the pavement at about 45 mph. Now I know that does not sound very fast, but when you come off of pavement on to gravel I can tell you things start to happen in a hurry and you better be ready or you will be looking at the car that was behind you, not only does that give you a thrill, but everything you own starts to PUCKER UP!!!

The fun part is that Larry had a GPS so he knew where the curves were before they got there. Unfortunately I did not, but once I figured out how he shifted, then it was off to the races as he took off and I stayed right behind him and we left the others in a cloud of dust!!!! Of course we would slow down to allow a catch up, but I gotta say that just trying to keep up and not go off the road and avoiding oncoming traffic on some of those curves made this run nothing short of interesting!!!!

What really made it fun for me was that following his souped up buggy would have been fun, but he was also towing a small trailer!! and you have not seen anything until you see a hot rod buggy with a trailer going down a curvy mountain road at better than 50 miles an hour!! because every now and then the curve was so sharp that I would lose site and then come around and there he was going like a scalded dog and me on his tail lights!!

I am not exactly sure how long it took to get to Agness, Or. because we made a stop at about 5000 feet up. There is a rest area there, yes folks I said a rest area, not exactly like what you find on a highway, but a potty stop on this trip is definitely required!!!!! Since not only are you climbing until you get to this stop, but you are also trying to keep from going off the mountain because going over there you are always on the outside of the road!! But everything from the rest area on is downhill so you know what that means????? MORE SPEED!!!! Oh yeah, it was really interesting then.

So we got to Agness all in one piece and stopped and used the facilities which you can see in the pictures. Well this is where this part of the story ends as I am limited by pictures so you will just have to go to part two for the REST OF THE STORY!!!! and yes folks, the OUT HOUSE is the facilities in Agness, Or.!!!
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