I will be moving from Lil' Rhodie to the Bay Area in California. My belongings are scarce, so I will get my 300TD up to snuff and drive across the USA.

I have driven to CA many times before (two in the LS400, two in the Outback), but this is a no-return trip that will open a new stage of my life.

For that matter, I would like to meet as many of you as possible, as my experiences meeting people from PeachParts (Hogweed and Billybob) have been extremely rewarding and fun. I will be taking the Southern Route (down to TX and then westward). I will certainly stop by my friend's family town in Mississippi and New Orleans.

The approximate dates are at the beginning of June.
The photos will be posted on this thread. Here is the draft route, open to modifications depending on the members of this forum:



Looking forward to seeing many of you!
Let me know if you are in my route or close enough.
(Including the PeachParts central in Georgia!)

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

Far too north to hit me, best luck on your travels!

__________________
Current Fleet
1987 300TD 300,000 miles Official 2/28/10 <Ip shot; Out of service>
1999 E300D 292,827 30.2MPG
2000 Ford Ranger sisters now
Past
74,80 450SL
84 300SD
86 300E
94 E320 Wagon
All a man looks for in life, A good body and nice suspension.

Ladies and gents, Take my advice. Take off your pants and slide on the ice.

www.fineartAE.com check out my pictures

Heck, I may even be able to meet you, depending on the date in N. NJ.
I'll make the trip with my 300TD, just for picture album sake.
When you nail down the date of departure, I figure N. NJ will be on the first day, or I think it should be.

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'83 300TD, 234K with Euros and antique plates. No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

Very cool.

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

I'm in Philly, let me know if you swing by that way.

__________________
TC

Cool! I am REALLY looking forward to this!
Here are some of the pictures my girlfriend took on the last trip:

This thing...



...turned into this other thing. Photos were taken while driving 10mph over the speed limit, as #1 priority was to GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE!



Cruising around the Grand Canyon...



...until we got to the real deal.



And we move on to the City of Sin! This is how it looks from a distance.



Unbelievable at night.



I think I will rename this thread "The Adventures of Newport", as I do not want to create more threads if I travel more. One day I will visit Jurgen (Sahara 300TD) whenever I go back home in Spain.

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

I'm halfway between Bryan, TX and Temple, TX if you decide to miss Shreveport and Tyler.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Sounds great! Definitely within reasonable distance.

The route will change slightly depending if I have company or not. A friend is also interested on moving to the Bay area, she is just waiting to hear from her employer. If she comes along we would have to stick to a stiffer, quicker route with lots of interstate. If I go solo, my sole mission will be to meet as many of you as possible! I will probably tow a small trailer, eat beef jerky all day long and sleep in the 300TD.

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

From the route you posted, you'll pass by just a few miles away. Keep me up to date.

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83 SD

84 CD

Within striking distance of your route at the big yellow house in Frederick, MD - where there's always room for another guest (whether said guest hauls their bedroom along or not!).

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1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife

You will be passing through my town.

Shoot me an email if you want to stop and get some famous NC Barbecue.

I am in Chapel Hill NC. Allen and Son Barbecue is just off Interstate 85.

Better Wrench (the local MB indy) is on the same exit.

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo - fixed 30 mowers(Speedy)
1983 300 turbodiesel - fixed 18 mowers (Tractor)

Nothing but diesels from now on. Shoot me if I ever buy a gas car again.

You'd have to keep on going west or start out by going a long way to the east to get to see me! Seriously though - great idea - have a great trip.

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1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone

Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Fantastic! Will do! I know Powerpig lives around there, too.

Thanks for your hospitality! If I am let into anyone's home, the least I can do is to treat you (and wife) to lunch/dinner!

Barbecue?! I am all for that!!

Soon enough, my friend! I travel back to Europe about once a year, so it will not be long before I meet you.

- - - - - -

Responses aside, thanks to everyone for your generosity! As soon as I get a home in SanFran, my doors will be open to you. I am really starting to feel like I am part of an obscure, tight fraternity.

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

While the offer is appreciated, part of dropping by our little slice of insanity is that we get to feed YOU. Darling Wife is an amazing creator of things edible - and she hates missing an opportunity to feed people!

__________________
1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife

Oh - just noticed your sig line about a W123 diff for sale..... Gretel (our 91 300TE 4matic - a W124) has a pumpkin that sings. If yours'll fit ours, we should talk.....

__________________
1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife