300TD Road Trip "This European Life: an open travelogue" - Page 10 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ramonajim · #**136** 05-24-2011, 11:00 PM

Doh! Doh times 3 hunnert and eleventy gajillion.

So totally and completely would have loved to join you for the Korean dessert of obvious much need. We tried! Damn locals for making the one in closer to Dee8go land go under.

I do believe that would be Red, me Miata of the red roll bar, in one of your photos. Thanks muchly for including us in your ventures my friend.

Flip flops and and linen shirts? Been there, doing that currently. Be you - something that does seem to come naturally to you my friend. Wardrobe is whatever seems to make sense at any particular moment in your world. No reason to give a flying f@# what anybody else thinks.

SwampYankee · #**137** 05-25-2011, 09:04 AM

Yet another fantastic chapter, Miguel. Well worth the wait.

Stretch · #**138** 05-25-2011, 09:25 AM

Great write up so far Miguel - are you going to post an updated map with "done that one" crosses or smiles for the people you've seen?

Dee8go · #**139** 05-25-2011, 11:47 AM

What is it about abandoned institutions like mental hospitals and prisons that is so fascinating? I guess it is the "Spookiness Quotient" that such places posess. I'm sorry you couldn't have spent another night and day in VA, Miguel. by the time you get to SF, you may have met more forum members than anyone else.

I'm enoying you photos and write up of your travels. It just ocurred to me that you might find On The Road by Jack Kerouac interesting, if you haven't already read it.

Mistress · #**140** 05-25-2011, 01:08 PM

Ola Miguel- Que paso, mi amigo? It was nice spending the evening with you, Jim, Meredyth and Dee8go. I;m sorry the Korean desert place went by the way side. I think a Starbucks stands in it's place. Keep posting and if you find the "Silver Star Across America" send it back East.... Te quidado.

Dee8go · #**141** 05-25-2011, 04:13 PM

Yeah, whatever happened to the Silver Star that was headed across America. Whose sock drawer is that thing languishing in today?

Delibes · #**142** 05-25-2011, 07:12 PM

The idea of having a Mercedes hood star is VERY neat! Too bad there is always a weak link in the chain that happens to spoil the entire idea

.

Now, here's what I did today.

Day 6: The Big Rock Candy Mountain (click here to listen)
Today I am a little less afraid of mimicking Steve Jobs, so I have kept it low key and currently write from the McDonald's of Robbinville, North Carolina.

I do believe that by crossing the North Carolina border things have taken a sudden turn; accents become much more distinctive, and time seems to pass in a calmer fashion. Still, there is a certain air of oddity that I never saw in New England, something concealed, as if all of the sudden I had stepped in a completely different culture trying to adapt to my own. It is inherently present in the architecture, the colors of the landscape and people's mannerisms. And I like it, I like it a lot.

For one, the people I had the chance to interact with were friendly from the start. Two people gave me affable compliments on the USS Newport-Scotty from their cars; "nice rig", "I like your car", "love that lil' airstream" were showered all over my beloved medium of transportation.

The night before I drove through a dark highway, and, with the help of the satellite view Garmin Sandiego provided, found a little clear at the shore of Lake Santeelah. The sky above, starry and clear.

The next morning I woke up and resolved to open my hatch, to reveal a landscape of breathtaking beauty. I had camped in a low open ground next to the lake and the forest, overlooking a long wooden dock and the majestic, fluffy green mountains. Some people had already taken their trailers and unloaded their boats, however, I saw no signs of life anywhere in that little clear space. I then resolved to take a bath in the lake.

After the bath, if was time to test my modern, pressurized water supply. I had gotten a 2-gallon Round-Up bottle full of water if I ever felt taking a shower was urgent. Now it was time to test it! The water pressurized and not only it washed and rinsed my head and body without leaving any residue, it still held water for a teeth brushing and a face wash. I was very glad to feel clean for the rest of the day.

By the time I was done I felt hungry, so I headed to the local supermarket, where I picked up some turkey, cheese and (sorry, I could not resist) a whole pecan pie. Then I resolved to fix some of the problems I found with the trailer, so I bought some curtain bars and a couple big-headed screws at the local hardware store. With these little fixes in place, I would be able to hand my push-lights and have a minimum privacy!

Immediately after the installation of these two, a guard from the National Park came to greet me in my little Scotty. He asked me about the trailer, and gave me a heads up that the area I had camped at was reserved for boating only. He very kindly gave me directions to an actual free campground about three miles away, just as beautiful as the current one.

The new camp ground is a little bit more elevated, and the water on my side is sort of murky. At the other side of the cape, the water was clear and deep, perfect for a long swim tomorrow. I relaxed in the Scotty for the rest of the afternoon, talked to both my parents –3600 miles away–, and headed to McDonalds, from where I am currently writing.

I can say that today it was a lazy day, a perfect chance to unwind from the previous, more scheduled meetups. However, I must really put emphasis on the inner rhythms of Robbinsville, where everything happens in a calmer way that usual... thankfully.

I woke up, I saw this and smiled. Prime lakefront property!

Gypsy setup for a tranquil morning.

Hey, do not laugh! It works just fine!

Newport at the Robbinsville Shell... he gets thirsty too! MPG: 26.8.

It is a lot of pie for a single human being. But hey, it was GREAT!

On to the new location. Life seldom gets as good as this.

For those who are curious about what the interior looks like!

A beautifully lit afternoon to culminate a fantastic, relaxing day.
- - - - - -
Tomorrow, Georgia. Still concerned about finding people beyond Texas!

Fulcrum525 · #**143** 05-25-2011, 07:20 PM

Sorry I haven't responded but the past few days have been crazy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

It is funny when one wishes something so hard it becomes reality. I recall making a little movie called W123 (), in which there is a scene taking place on that on-ramp to I-95. It was a strong feeling to see that one was crossing that symbolic ramp, on to one's new life, for the last, definitive time. That crossing felt like that, definitive, sealed, final.

9pm, a dark parking lot behind the Milford Public Library. Two W126s, lots of new friends! Hattie (Chris), Fulcrum (Mike), Solid Snake (?) and other Mercedes enthusiast whose name I cannot remember were there. We talked about Mercedes, battleships, beaters, guns, trailers, people and, of course, PeachParts. One really gets to realize the power of the Internet when something is so blatantly real as having dinner with three people you could not meet any other way. A beautiful Reuben sandwich, by the way. Thank you to you all four for the wonderful times and the endless amount of good jokes and retorts. Truly, a blast!

Yes the night was a blast! Too bad you left later then expected but everything still turned out well. We also talked about watches don't forget

I still haven't been able to figure out what (Fantastic

) wheels Solid Snake had on his 560SEL but i'm still looking!

Oh wow I didn't see that video the first time around! Everyone check it out, it's very well done!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

A painful, long drive followed, authored by Garmin Sandiego, who happened to behave vile and treacherous. Sometimes it will assume that the speed limit is 55mph in a 25mph full of deer, curves, darkness and trees, so it will tell you that it is the quickest way and a good alternative to the flat, well paved interstate. Ugh, Garmin. Two hours over the planned arrival time. Thank you, little machine. One of these days you will end up on eBay and be handled by someone with Cheeto fingers for the rest of your life... how about that, dear pocket navigator?

Yet another good example of why I hate those damn aftermarket GPS systems.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

PS Mike did you get a ticket last night?

No but you know you're tired when......

(I can't think of another time that anything like that has ever happened)

Ok enough talk here are a few pictures that I snapped that night.

LoosBenz · #**144** 05-26-2011, 07:05 AM

Sorry I missed you while you were in Frederick, Miguel. It appears that Jim/Meridythe and my wife Barbara kept you entertained/occupied during your stay. We have talked about visiting Allison and Adam in CA at some point, so perhaps I won't have to wait for you to swing back through this side of the country to meet you. Good luck on the rest of your journey and life out west!
-Louis

PS: I could have met you in CT had I known about this thread/trip earlier. I'll have to pay better attention to the goings-on around here.

Mistress · #**145** 05-26-2011, 08:51 AM

Miguel- you have a star above your bed, albeit a blue and white one but a star none the less...

Stretch · #**146** 05-26-2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress

Miguel- you have a star above your bed, albeit a blue and white one but a star none the less...

I know it is obvious - and you probably want someone to ask - but how would you know? Can you fit two in the little trailer?

Dee8go · #**147** 05-26-2011, 12:34 PM

It's in the photos . . .

Stretch · #**148** 05-26-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

It's in the photos . . .

Ohhhhhh

(Clouds parting big shaft of light...)

#**149** 05-26-2011, 06:02 PM

I just read all ten pages (!) of this epic trip and realized you'll be in Texas soon. From the looks of your map you'll be coming through Dallas/Fort Worth then on Highway 287 west as you continue on to Cali. It would be my honor to provide a country retreat for you to spend the night or just say howdy just 35 minutes or so west of Fort Worth. As you head west you will go right through Decatur and it would be a great stop for a photo shoot at our beautiful old courthouse and square. Good luck on your journey!

Jody

engatwork · #**150** 05-26-2011, 09:54 PM

I sure do like that trailer you've got hooked up to the 300TD Miguel. It was a pleasure meeting with you and having you visit. Interesting stories so far. I have posted a pic of the rig in front of the ONLY grocery store in town. Unfortunately, the town only has three resturants so we picked out the Chinese place. Be safe in your travels and again it was a pleasure meeting with you.