Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:40:07 -0700
Reply-To: Mike Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: I are mades it [no real VC]
In-Reply-To: <859085.90311.qm@web51408.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Thanks, all!
Al Knoll took a picture of me in front of Mellow Yellow during my
drive-by visit. Then, by using some clever and advanced Photoshopping
techniques, he substituted a picture of some old short fat guy in place
of me. Just look at this picture:
http://picasaweb.google.com/j.michael.elliott/LadybugTrailer/photo#5234382659994281042
Clearly, that can't be me.
@ Stephen G.: This massive undertaking has been in the planning stages
for a couple-three months, so there was plenty of opportunity to
thoroughly botch the job. But so far, so good. The only hitch has been
that the sellers did not get all the work done that was in the contract,
e.g., didn't clean the house (it's a mess), and didn't hire an
electrician to take care of the safety-related problems (aluminum
wiring, wrong breakers in the panel). No worries on either, I'm hiring
folk to take care of those things then will bill the seller back. If
they don't pay the tab, I'll take 'em to small claims court. My family
are a poor but proud people and not normally a litigious bunch but this
is a bit much.
(No Vanagon content so far . . . )
@ Jake de'V.: While the "aerodynamic aids" on the front of Mellow Yellow
probably have negligible influence on wind resistance, they have a great
big fat influence on nighttime visibility: on a dark road the headlights
to a far better job lighting up the bicycles than they do the pavement!
(Not really Vanagon content, but consider black bikes if you want to
mount them in front like I do ...)
@ Maggie: I think that an antonym for "fun" is in fact "moving." So, no:
it isn't fun.
(Etymology ain't Vanagons...)
@ Roger W.: I have heard of this fabled land of which you speak. Mayhap
the Missus and I will pay a visit!
(Jeez -- not a bit of content there, either ...)
@ neil N: Unlikely that I'll have Vanagon workshop here. The two car
garage will house Mrs Squirrel's car and tons of my cr#p.
(Vanagon content? You be the judge.)
@ Tom the BZ: 1. I passed a sign on the way that announced that this
stretch of highway had been adopted by the "BZs of Lemoine." Relatives?
2. w/r/t analyzing effect of trailer aerodynamics on mileage -- screw
that. Now that the Big Drive is over I'm content to drink beer and watch
the sun set. Oregon is very close to beervana and I intend to appreciate
that fact in full. You are welcome to visit and persue such scientific
endeavors if you wish. I, personally, get cranked up over such things
when they matter to me. Otherwise I'm content to watch.
(Again, nothing worth bragging about VC-wise.)
@ Phil Z.: The WetWesties ReUnion at Union, OR, is now within easy
driving distance. I will see how our energy level is so shortly after
our personal migration and whether we have sufficient wattage remaining
in our batteries to pay a visit!
(Invitation to WetWesties ReUnion/Bus Pilots Camp-out qualifies as
Vanagon content!)
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR