300TD Road Trip "This European Life: an open travelogue" - Page 18 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SwampYankee · #**256** 06-08-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

Lots of crops, and bright colors.

We used to contract the majority of our flower seed out of Lompoc. Sadly, domestic flower seed production is but a fraction of a fraction of its former self. Seeing the production fields in full bloom, acres upon acres upon acres of vibrant color, was truly spectacular.

I'm glad that your journey has been safe and without any major problems. But I've got to admit, I'm a bit saddened that the end is near. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your accounts, putting faces to names and seeing a bit of what you've been able to see. I'm honored to have been able to make a cameo appearance given the tremendous hospitality you found along your way. One thing is for sure, you've solidified my desire to do a similar trip when time and money permit (remember that whole "life happens" conversation?).

All you need to do is figure out how to parlay your travel blog into a FT, paying gig. You've certainly got a knack for it!

Dee8go · #**257** 06-08-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

87mi from Austin...just a conversation away. We have a small guest house with what has to be the most perfect porch. You are welcome to come see the place and stay a few days anytime.

In case you hadn't figured it out already, (grassfed) beef is my business. I'd be a damned poor producer if I didn't know all I could about it.

Yeah, I knew that. Thanks for the invitation. My son lives in Austin now, so I might actually get out there before too long. I'd love to come meet you and shoot the breeze or chew the fat with you.

Delibes · #**258** 06-09-2011, 12:50 AM

Day 19: So Close I can Touch It (listen to today's theme)
All I can remember about the San Simeon National Park was the cool air in the trailer that morning. I was in California already, halfway through; in the middle of Highway One, the road I had traveled up and down so many times before for the two past years, accompanied with friends, with the dream of great Summer internships. This time, however, was life-changing.

Highway 101 is strangely paved. For many miles, one of the two middle lanes has a crease that causes the car to handle funny; nothing a slight tilt of the steering wheel would not solve. Bit by bit, landscape after landscape, tree after tree, fruit post after fruit post. San José, Daly City, Southern San Francisco. The ships in the distance, the condominiums in the hills.

Soon enough I was somewhere in the Western part of the Peninsula, crammed with tiny townhouses of various styles: Victorian, neo-French, Spanish, Art Déco, even Magrebi; all painted in pastel colors. I had to keep going to stay at my friends' for the remainder of the week until I find a place to stay more or less permanently.

A couple Summers ago, I thought it would be a pretty cool idea to feed Garmin Sandiego with "The Best Bridge View Ever" placeholder, which I saved in My Favorites. Such spot is a narrow tract of land, a small parking lot overlooking the Golden Gate, place to stay for hours on end. Unlike the last time I had been there, the fog was not covering the top of the bridge. This time, the Golden Gate was shown fully in its exuberant proportions, standing tall above the Pacific, bright red, bathed by the sun; just there, proudly, with pose, like a showman who, after shrugging his shoulders, opens his arms to welcome you to a small cabinet of wonders.

On to Petaluma, hometown of the Good Ol' Moonies. Mr. Mooney, dubbed Moonbear, is a former Wall Street broker who currently designs websites. His loving wife is a Textile Conservator and excellent cook, always with a good joke on her sleeve. One of their daughters, a hyperactive, six-foot-two heap of excitement, had gone to RISD, and introduced me to the family a couple years ago.

The first thing we did was to start up Moonbear's old Ford Galaxie for the first time in two months, and wait for it to warm up while his wife finished a couple errands. Then, with the top down, we rolled through Sonoma county and had one of the top five hamburguers of my life at Mike's Mean Burguer. Excellent, just as I remember.

At this point I start realizing that this is the area I will be living at, and that the Bay Area will be the cradle for my madness for many years. It is both a wonderful and strange feeling, with the occasional shivers of fear, to meet a life-changing decision face-to-face; to steer one's life with an equal amount of confidence and uncertainty.

That night I proposed myself to look out for some cottages to rent.

Not for me!

A must: Highway One beauty shot.

When you see things like this, you know this is the State to stay at.

Little boxes, little boxes, made of ticky-tacky...

San Francisco is just a cavalcade of piled-up wonders.

Emailed this picture to my parents. I only wrote: "I arrived".

The final shot in one of my films, and beginning of a new life.

On my way to Petaluma.

Kicking butt, as it happens daily at the Mooney State.

- - - - - - -

There's a little more left! The trip will be officially over at the GTG. See my signature for full details on the meetup!

biking4jesus · #**259** 06-09-2011, 01:28 AM

you drive right past my house! literally 100 yards! im in the city, 2 streets over from 19th where you shot that picture of Pachecho st.

Prez808 · #**260** 06-09-2011, 01:36 AM

Welcome! I'm glad you have arrived safely. The best place to live if you're working in Emeryville will be somewhere in the East Bay. Living in the Peninsula or the North Bay (i.e. Marin/Novato/Petaluma/Vallejo) will cost you $5 in bridge toll daily. See you Saturday!

Stretch · #**261** 06-09-2011, 03:24 AM

Well done Newport

Jim B. · #**262** 06-09-2011, 03:35 AM

It's awesome !!!

I drove to MR MB's shop on Reseda Blvd, and met Miguel and Enrique, at Enrique's shop on Monday, which is in Tarzana, in the San Fernando Valley part of Los Angeles, before I left town, introduce them both, to each other, and these two Spaniards (Enrique is from Seville and Miguel's from Leon) and Mercedes owners, and veteran and new Mercedes mechanics were glad to connect!!

We had parked both our vehicles in the back where it's safer for them and out of the way, as seen here.

From Los Angeles, to San Francisco, already! Awesome!!

.

The other day, which was Sunday, June 5th, Rollguy, on short notice, managed to get a few of us Peachparts guys together in Glendora to welcome Miguel into California. He's the second from the left.

Here are the cars in the parking lot.

***********

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

Hello, Bay Area members!

I shall meet y'all soon!

Oh, I *might*

have been at that same place once or twice with cars and girls I have known. hahaha

Even for a wedding day picture or two..... a thousand years ago...

etc.

WELCOME TO San Francisco and the bay area!!
See you on Saturday across the bsay in Emeryville !!!!

Glad you are here!! Awesome, see you on Saturday morning !!

As my late father, ( he was German) would say: Till then: "Auf wiedersehen !!! " Miguel !!!!

Dee8go · #**263** 06-09-2011, 07:15 AM

Thanks for sharing your journey with us, Miguel. Hope to see you again soon.

engatwork · #**264** 06-09-2011, 07:40 AM

Glad you made it Miguel and thanks for sharing your experience via this electronic media. You'll do good with any endeaver you undertake. Don't make the mistake of setting your goals too low.

It was a pleasure having you stop by

.

vwnate1 · #**265** 06-09-2011, 09:04 AM

We're glad you made it ! WELCOME TO THE FUTURE ! .

Izzat old Ford a '65 ? with a 390 C.I. ? wow ~ that was once a very common car believe it or not .

Your grasp of Americam amazes me , I've not heard " Ticky Tacky Little Boxes " on the radio since the 1960's but here you use it ........

.

Aquaticedge · #**266** 06-09-2011, 09:08 AM

Well, It's been one heck of a journey, I'm very happy you made it to N. Cali!

Skid Row Joe · #**267** 06-09-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

Day 19: So Close I can Touch It (listen to today's theme)
All I can remember about the San Simeon National Park was the cool air in the trailer that morning. I was in California already, halfway through; in the middle of Highway One, the road I had traveled up and down so many times before for the two past years, accompanied with friends, with the dream of great Summer internships. This time, however, was life-changing.

Highway 101 is strangely paved. For many miles, one of the two middle lanes has a crease that causes the car to handle funny; nothing a slight tilt of the steering wheel would not solve. Bit by bit, landscape after landscape, tree after tree, fruit post after fruit post. San José, Daly City, Southern San Francisco. The ships in the distance, the condominiums in the hills.

Soon enough I was somewhere in the Western part of the Peninsula, crammed with tiny townhouses of various styles: Victorian, neo-French, Spanish, Art Déco, even Magrebi; all painted in pastel colors. I had to keep going to stay at my friends' for the remainder of the week until I find a place to stay more or less permanently.

A couple Summers ago, I thought it would be a pretty cool idea to feed Garmin Sandiego with "The Best Bridge View Ever" placeholder, which I saved in My Favorites. Such spot is a narrow tract of land, a small parking lot overlooking the Golden Gate, place to stay for hours on end. Unlike the last time I had been there, the fog was not covering the top of the bridge. This time, the Golden Gate was shown fully in its exuberant proportions, standing tall above the Pacific, bright red, bathed by the sun; just there, proudly, with pose, like a showman who, after shrugging his shoulders, opens his arms to welcome you to a small cabinet of wonders.

On to Petaluma, hometown of the Good Ol' Moonies. Mr. Mooney, dubbed Moonbear, is a former Wall Street broker who currently designs websites. His loving wife is a Textile Conservator and excellent cook, always with a good joke on her sleeve. One of their daughters, a hyperactive, six-foot-two heap of excitement, had gone to RISD, and introduced me to the family a couple years ago.

The first thing we did was to start up Moonbear's old Ford Galaxie for the first time in two months, and wait for it to warm up while his wife finished a couple errands. Then, with the top down, we rolled through Sonoma county and had one of the top five hamburguers of my life at Mike's Mean Burguer. Excellent, just as I remember.

At this point I start realizing that this is the area I will be living at, and that the Bay Area will be the cradle for my madness for many years. It is both a wonderful and strange feeling, with the occasional shivers of fear, to meet a life-changing decision face-to-face; to steer one's life with an equal amount of confidence and uncertainty.

That night I proposed myself to look out for some cottages to rent.

Emailed this picture to my parents. I only wrote: "I arrived".

That's an interesting trailer you have there. Do you sleep/live in it now? What are cottage rental prices running there?

Jim B. · #**268** 06-09-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

The first thing we did was to start up Moonbear's old Ford Galaxie for the first time in two months, and wait for it to warm up while his wife finished a couple errands.

- - - - - - -

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

We're glad you made it ! WELCOME TO THE FUTURE ! .

Izzat old Ford a '65 ? with a 390 C.I. ? wow ~ that was once a very common car believe it or not .

.

It's a 1966 not a 1965. If it has bench seats it's a Galaxie 500.

Here's a '65, see the difference?

But if it has bucket seats and a console it's a Galaxie 500 XL, much more covetable..

The V8 engine choices were the 289, the 352 which mostof them had, the 390Thunderbird, and the rare hi-po 427.

The hardtops were ultra sexy looking from about any angle..

The '65 hardtop is seen here. Its grille s one piece, but your friend's red one has the '66 2 piece split grille, and a slanted engine emblem on the fender, whereas the'65 had an up and down emblem and the Galaxie 500 or Galaxie 500 XL chrome script near th4 top of the fender as seen here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb_72RBkjAU.

The body dies were ultimately sent to Argentina where sedanscontinued to be built as LTD sedan models for many years.

Skid Row Joe · #**269** 06-09-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

It's a 1966 not a 1965. If it has bench seats it's a Galaxie 500.

Here's a '65, see the difference?

But if it has bucket seats and a console it's a Galaxie 500 XL, much more covetable..

The V8 engine choices were the 289, the 352 which mostof them had, the 390Thunderbird, and the rare hi-po 427.

The hardtops were ultra sexy looking from about any angle..

The '65 hardtop is seen here. Its grille s one piece, but your friend's red one has the '66 2 piece split grille, and a slanted engine emblem on the fender, whereas the'65 had an up and down emblem and the Galaxie 500 or Galaxie 500 XL chrome script near th4 top of the fender as seen here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb_72RBkjAU.

The body dies were ultimately sent to Argentina where sedanscontinued to be built as LTD sedan models for many years.

A gorgeous 1967 Ford full-sized convertible 428 c.i. went for over $50K in a Mecum Auto Auction recently. IIRC, it went for close to $70K.

I like 'em btw.

Delibes · #**270** 06-09-2011, 11:43 PM

Dear clan of wise Mercedes men (and the occasional woman):
I could write a new entry stating how little I have done, not much worth mentioning beyond looking at possible properties to rent in the Bay Area. However, and as you see, this is not a diary entry, this is a request for advice, which I am in dire need of right now. I will explain the situation.

As soon as I arrived to my employer's shop, he was happy to see me, but soon I saw a shadow across his face. On a grocery run, he told me the shop was not getting enough business, and that its future is quite unstable. As he told me, work has been very slow in the last few weeks. My intuition tells me the last thing he currently needs in another employee in his overhead, and I imagine the only reason why he still wants to hire me is charity, judging from his arched eyebrows when he saw the RI plate on the wagon, and all my stuff packed inside.

Being so near the end of this road trip, I feel the globetrotter's itch. My current choice is between uncertain employment and more travel.

So, my friends, here is the question:

Should I just focus on the preparations for the Alaska-to-Argentina trip? And by this I mean, undergoing intense mechanical training and seeking funds and equipment to document it properly.

One factor to consider is the following: due to my USA immigration requirements, I can only work on very specific fields relating to my major (art and film). I cannot just start working at Starbucks or any mechanical shop that won't allow me to do film (like Workshop MB does) to gather funds, because Uncle Sam won't allow it.

Opening the can of worms, the following questions are optional:

Kickstarter.com is a good place to start, but how can I get funds?
Should I travel with Newport or should I look for a G-Wagen?
Am I just a crazy and idealistic twenty-something?