Tour of No. Georgia

Way to get things moving, Ron!  I am committed (and probably should have been long ago).

Folks, Ron, Maddie, me, and a bunch of the attendees at the last Tour de Smo' talked about doing something different so we don't get bored (short attention spans, you know) and they had some really great ideas that make this look like it could be quite an event.  If you've attended ether of the last couple of Tour de Smo's, imagine a similar vibe, but in a different place.  If you haven't, well what the heck are you waiting for?

And in case you're wondering, for that area and that time of year you do need to start planning this early.

Thanks Lane. Looking at some incredible lodges rather than a hotel. Maddie is on the job... stand back!

If we aren't in the UK, we'll be there.

I know I'm in. Michelle is most probably as well, but she's working today and I'm not (hehe!).

Thanks Danny. We will have details as we get a good idea have how many we plan to host. 

Stan Galat posted:

If we aren't in the UK, we'll be there.

We’re not final on the date yet. The last week of Sept. is the initial proposal, but we might move that depending on need. Love to see you and Jeanie down south again!

x2 on that!

Ron:  Any specific area in N. Georgia?  Just googling the distance from here.

Thanks.

Stan Galat posted:

If we aren't in the UK, we'll be there.

Why go there? I've been there, it's a gloomy place. But there's LOTS of really old and cool stuff to see.

Bob, follow the Blue Ridge mountains. North GA, Chattahoochee Forest.

850 to 900 miles depending on your route.

Same distance for us too. See you there!

Bob: IM S6 posted:

Ron:  Any specific area in N. Georgia?  Just googling the distance from here.

Thanks.

Plan on Blue Ridge, Ga

DannyP posted:

Stan Galat posted:

If we aren't in the UK, we'll be there.

Why go there? I've been there, it's a gloomy place. But there's LOTS of really old and cool stuff to see.

So, I'm 56. My life has been pretty pedestrian by most outward metrics. I've been married to the same woman for 34 years (as of a couple of weeks ago). I've raised 3 kids, and have 10 grandkids. I've not had cancer or a heart-attack, but in my life so far:

I've been a pedestrian hit by a car going 50+ mph, been involved (in some way) in at least a dozen total-loss vehicular accidents, have fallen off an extended 28' ladder, burned away a chunk of thumb in a near-electrocution, run my right index finger through a toothed v-belt and pulley and my left through a table saw, crushed my left thumb when a chain-fall skipped a link and dropped a 500 lb compressor, dropped though a drywall ceiling (and hooked my nose on a screw on the way by), suffered herniated discs from L1-L5, tipped over a scissor-lift (I was on it) and tore my tricep tendon from my elbow, re-tore the same tendon 2 days post-op then spent 12 weeks in a long-arm cast, had 2nd degree burns over my entire torso, have frostbite damage on every digit but my thumbs, and have caught my right hand on fire (there's a story). I've had hepatitis, tropical ulcers, and amoebic dysentery at least 1x ea., and full-blown malaria more times that I can remember. I've stood peeing in a fire-ant colony, crapped in 3rd world places with feces 6" deep on the floor, eaten meat with a blue sheen on it, and drunk water I could not see through. I lived off the grid for 2-1/2 years, and delivered a baby on my front porch.

I presently take medication for high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and low thyroid and testosterone. Throw in the supplements and it's a fistful of pills every morning, and another every night. I sleep about 6 hrs a night (but not all in a row) with the aid of a CPAP. I'm presently gaining about 5 lbs/year with no viable plan to arrest the decline (or assent, as the case may be).

I've built 2 houses, a barn, a family, and a business from the ground up. I've worked pretty hard to repair and maintain all of them.

I'm tired. I spent 3 hrs of my weekend driving though a blizzard to get to a supermarket so I could spend another 3 hrs saving the world (one frozen dinner at a time). I've been on call for work 24/7/365 for 23 years. At this rate-- if I'm going to do stuff with my wife, waiting to retire seems like a poor actuarial proposition.

I'd love to drive the small car to new places, but I'd rather do the things Jeanie would like to do before we can't do them. We went to Italy in 2015 and France last fall. I'd like to hit England before we do central Europe and Greece/Turkey/Holy Land. The exchange rate is good, flights are cheap, and I'll never feel better than I do right now.

It's an opportunity I'm going to have a hard time passing up. If we're not able to make it to the UK, we'll definitely be in GA (Lord willing).

Stan Galat posted:

DannyP posted:

Stan Galat posted:

If we aren't in the UK, we'll be there.

Why go there? I've been there, it's a gloomy place. But there's LOTS of really old and cool stuff to see.

So, I'm 56. My life has been pretty pedestrian by most outward metrics. I've been married to the same woman for 34 years (as of a couple of weeks ago). I've raised 3 kids, and have 10 grandkids. I've not had cancer or a heart-attack, but in my life so far:

I've been a pedestrian hit by a car going 50+ mph, been involved (in some way) in at least a dozen total-loss vehicular accidents, have fallen off an extended 28' ladder, burned away a chunk of thumb in a near-electrocution, run my right index finger through a toothed v-belt and pulley and my left through a table saw, crushed my left thumb when a chain-fall skipped a link and dropped a 500 lb compressor, dropped though a drywall ceiling (and hooked my nose on a screw on the way by), suffered herniated discs from L1-L5, tipped over a scissor-lift (I was on it) and tore my tricep tendon from my elbow, re-tore the same tendon 2 days post-op then spent 12 weeks in a long-arm cast, had 2nd degree burns over my entire torso, have frostbite damage on every digit but my thumbs, and have caught my right hand on fire (there's a story). I've had hepatitis, tropical ulcers, and amoebic dysentery at least 1x ea., and full-blown malaria more times that I can remember. I've stood peeing in a fire-ant colony, crapped in 3rd world places with feces 6" deep on the floor, eaten meat with a blue sheen on it, and drunk water I could not see through. I lived off the grid for 2-1/2 years, and delivered a baby on my front porch.

I presently take medication for high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and low thyroid and testosterone. Throw in the supplements and it's a fistful of pills every morning, and another every night. I sleep about 6 hrs a night (but not all in a row) with the aid of a CPAP. I'm presently gaining about 5 lbs/year with no viable plan to arrest the decline (or assent, as the case may be).

I've built 2 houses, a barn, a family, and a business from the ground up. I've worked pretty hard to repair and maintain all of them.

I'm tired. I spent 3 hrs of my weekend driving though a blizzard to get to a supermarket so I could spend another 3 hrs saving the world (one frozen dinner at a time). I've been on call for work 24/7/365 for 23 years. At this rate-- if I'm going to do stuff with my wife, waiting to retire seems like a poor actuarial proposition.

I'd love to drive the small car to new places, but I'd rather do the things Jeanie would like to do before we can't do them. We went to Italy in 2015 and France last fall. I'd like to hit England before we do central Europe and Greece/Turkey/Holy Land. The exchange rate is good, flights are cheap, and I'll never feel better than I do right now.

It's an opportunity I'm going to have a hard time passing up. If we're not able to make it to the UK, we'll definitely be in GA (Lord willing).

Man, you're one of the most interesting people I know.

I hope that says more about you than about me 

"Pretty pedestrian" life, and surprisingly long based on some of your experiences. 

Stan my friend, if you were a cat you would be running out of lives. Go have some fun with Jeanie. Look forward to seeing you soon.

Stan, slow down, man, I was joking. There is much to see there. I particularly liked looking at stuff that was from 600-900 A.D. Way older than anything here in our young country.

DannyP posted:

Stan, slow down, man, I was joking. There is much to see there. I particularly liked looking at stuff that was from 600-900 A.D. Way older than anything here in our young country.

I'm tracking with you, man. I'm just pushing back a little.

Popcorn anyone?  

Lane Anderson posted:

Popcorn anyone?  

Fight behind the bleachers at 3:00. I'll trip him up with my walker and clock him with my cane-- he'll never know what him him.

And I'll run you over with my knee scooter(left over from ankle surgery) LOL!

Stan:  Absolutely do the UK, hopefully Cornwall, Wales and Yorkshire (OK, so Yorkshire is a bit of a ride to the North, maybe not - the trains are really quite good).  There are good pubs out there that have been continuously operating since the 1600's (and look it) and when the locals discover you're a tradesman you'll find a lot of brothers you didn't know you had.  The local music in Wales is amazing, too.

Reading, you guys, about your misbegotten lives, I'm glad my exploits (while significant to me) seem to pale by comparison, but at least I'm still here with all (ok, most) of me intact.

So Gordon, why don't you and Kathy drive down and join us this year?

Do the UK, Stan.  We have been twice - mainly Scotland - and would do it again.  The history, the architecture, the landscape makes you enter into a different world.  We did a 14 day train tour of Scotland which was superb.  Just the two of us, with all arrangements made by a travel company.  I am not keen on driving on the left side.

https://www.mckinlaykidd.com/s...tour-scotland-train/

Stan:

Anna and I have been to England and Scotland several times both on vacation and business. You will have a wonderful time. 

Some favorite spots, London, Oxford (where Anna got her Master's) The Cotswolds. Dover, Canterbury. There might be some road race tracks to visit as well. 

My mom's roots are in Scotland, Dunbar on the North Sea southeast of Edinburgh where Mary, Queen of Scots hid out. Beautiful countryside and friendly people. Great to take the train up to Edinburgh from London.

Amy and I would love to come on this trip.  We haven't made an event since Carlisle 2013, mainly because I haven't had a car to drive.  However, I'm hoping mine will be completed and broken in by then.  We can also plan a stop to visit our daughter who is a freshman at Auburn.  Here is the current state of my car as of last Saturday.

Nice colour combination.  

Bob: IM S6 posted:

Nice colour combination.  

I've been admiring your build for quite some time.  My color is a special order Porsche color called Brewster green.

Nice color ! For some reason your speedster is not done, jump in your daily driver and join us for Carlisle !

 

It did look familiar.  

Looks very close to my Jaguar British Racing Green.  Green and tan is a nice, traditional combination that looks good on a lot of cars.

Yours looks great.  Hope I see it someday.

Stan, it's hard to believe that 56 years are enough time to heal up from all your crash and burns, but here you are!  Have fun with your bride in the UK and for God's sake be careful !

Ron and Maddie, we've planned a trip to the West Coast in September, otherwise we would be there.  We usually look for a trip around that time of year.  Last year it was Lake George , next year it will be Georgia if you do it again.

@Stan Galat We, too have done a tour of UK and had a blast. We were there for 2 1/2 weeks with an open-gate ticket into London and out of Glasgow. The hardest part was cutting locations out of the trip which would have just rushed the whole experience. I rented a car, which others suggested I didn't and it was one of the better decisions I made. We are discussing a potential 2nd trip to see what we couldn't the first time. 

For the Tour, unfortunately; I have to be non-committal right now. There are a few considerations I have to make for both the location and the time frame. There are some other things that would need to fall in place to get the Spyder there. That doesn't mean I can't bring the Cayman instead if that is the only obstacle. Count me as a "maybe" and I will let you know if I am in as soon as possible.

Is there a hard date you need to know by?

@Stuman - You're much further along than I am.  You should make Carlisle.

Stan, I have superintendent with similar stories to yours. After doing some calculations I figured he had to be 300 years old to have had all that stuff happen.

You could be related to Joe Btsfblk! (lets see who knows Joe)

I've been blessed being able to travel to lots of places only "RICH" folks get to go. I am not one of them! I bought a couple of cars out of England in the 70's, but never been there. It's on my list.

Have a great trip.

that green looks almost identical to my 65 Tiger, BRG

Jim Gilbert - Madison, Mississippi posted:

Stan, I have superintendent with similar stories to yours. After doing some calculations I figured he had to be 300 years old to have had all that stuff happen.

You could be related to Joe Btsfblk! (lets see who knows Joe)

I've been blessed being able to travel to lots of places only "RICH" folks get to go. I am not one of them! I bought a couple of cars out of England in the 70's, but never been there. It's on my list.

Have a great trip.

If you always have that little dark cloud over your head...well, you certainly might carry the Btsfblk gene! 

At one point or another he has visited all of us. In Stan's case he must have been living in his work van jinxing him all the while.

Lots of guys say, "if I'd have known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself". In my case-- I never once in my wildest imaginings thought that I'd be around to see my 30th birthday, let alone become familiar with the cumulative effect of 50 years of playing a crash-test dummy (emphasis on "dummy").

If I'd have known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.

 

Having survived all that, Stan, you owe yourself some time in the UK.

We've been discovering it, a little at a time, over the past few years and are just now starting to 'get it'. Its charms are subtle ones, but endearing.

Taking ten or twelve centuries to sort things out has let them get their priorities right. They've learned what to save and preserve. I was able to see the very map the generals used to plot the movement of convoys across the Atlantic in the war. The pinholes that marked the ships are still there. It's in the very same room, just like the chair Churchill sat in and ground his fingernails into. They didn't tear it down. Or build condos over it. Their heritage means something to them.

What kind of country would allow a firm like the Morgan Motor Company to survive and prosper? Would still buy its products? Would make sure regulations won't snuff it out?

Their citizens are proud of the place. One of them got it right when he described it as a precious stone set in the silver sea.

There might not always be an England, so while there is, and as long as you're healthy, you should check it out.

 

Keeper of BIGBIRD reporting in from the Hinterland: Last week of Sept. will work, if I can get a kitchen pass. Currently have scheduled road trips to eastern NC and Atlanta first two weekends in Sept, plus Audi Club Fall Treffen in Blowing Rock, NC first weekend in October.

FYI: BIGBIRD is snoozing in its garage with battery tender attached. Now 12 years old, it has a whopping 12560 original miles on it.