Nikko,

That's a great idea to get together! I am not far, currently in Morristown but I used to live in the area of PA/NJ off of 80...maybe some other MB'ers would want to come, seems to me there are a few in the Philly area as well.

Not to TJ, but let me know, fall might work best for me as currently I am going back and forth to Ohio...

nab

Hello all! 2long and his trusty travelling companion have come and gone from Topeka. From outward appearances, they have weathered the miles traveled thus far very well.

We visited for a couple of hours, but the time came when they had to forge on. I suspect we could have talked for hours more.

I have never met anyone in person that I met first online, but it was sure worth it this time. Seems that now I have one more reason to travel to the lower left corner, in hopes to meet again.

Anyway...2long, it was great to meet you. I hope your journey is safe and fun.

SD

SD,

So they trekked through your state. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> But was it really 2L? What color were his sneakers?!??!!? LOL!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Glad u all had a nice visit.

L.

Yeppers, and I'm honored they stopped here in Tornado Alley, where it was 97 degrees with a heat index around 105. It was so hot he nearly shaved <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

He said he was gonna drive by your place on the return trip, but he lost his oars. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

SD

hey wow, it is hot!

I let my friend drive after the feed with sd. and we stopped for the night - really early morning - at a rest stop somewhere outside of east jesus, iowa. I got out of the van and my glasses fogged up. and that was after midnight! hopefully, all those diesel engines will lull me off 2 sleep.

more 2morrow,
-ol' 2long

You guys are sleeping in a truck stop in East Jesus, IA, 2long?

You're gonna have to right a book, and make characters out of all these MB folks you are meeting up with. Hope you are recording the convo's.

Orchid, don't you think it would be a good book? Maybe you should do one, and use 2long's trip in there somehow, where he stops off and has coffee with all these strange people he met somewhere other than real life.

Some one should dang well write a book. It would be way cool. I'll do up a website to market it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I-40 runs a few blocks from my house. I-65 and I-24 cross it downtown. And the Natchez Trace is only a few miles away - runs from here to Natchez, Mississippi. Not a hotel on that route....scenic highway.

Wow, it's not even the 90's anymore! They've got wireless in the woods out here in Vermont!

It was a 5-day trek getting here, and a couple of them were more than 12-hours long. I 'spect we'll be switching driving a lot on the way 2 Oregon.

weaver: Well, we'll likely be crossing through your neck of the woods on Monday or Tuesday, don't know what time yet. But I still doubt you and GB would have time for us. No worries, you've got more important things 2 prepare for!

gc: Hey, do you know where the Gertie the Duck statue is? Any chance we can meet there and get a pic2re 2k for the photo album? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (edited 2 add: Oh crud! I got my "M-word" cities mixed up! Gertie is in Milwaukee! We should of looked for it when we visited my friend's daughter the other day! Maybe next time.)

I'll call you when we get within a few hours of your neck of the woods, likely Tuesday.

Off 2 look at some cool telescopes...

-ol' 2long

Well folks!

It's our last night in Oregon, and it's clouding up, so I thought I'd pay for a little satellite time and say: "YO"

We met up with gc in a great little Cuban lunchy place in Minneapolis on Tuesday. Then we got back on the road. When we finally realized we wouldn't make it here before dark, we camped on the side of the road about 20 miles north of Prineville. The sky was so gorgeous and dark!

By then, we'd been on the road almost 2 days straight, and hadn't stopped but for one half-hour catnap (on my part) in Wyoming when my friend was sound asleep and I didn't think it safe to continue. We made it from the Upper Penninsula, Michigan, to central Oregon in that one swell foop!

Boy, I'm getting 2old for this! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

2morrow, we hit the road again for the drive home. We're going 2 try 2 visit my friend's sister a few hours from here. Then I need 2 give my sister in Auburn a call 2 see if we can hole up at her place for the last night before the final push 2 LA.

It's been a fun trip. Amazing folks met along the way. Good convo. Big telescopes! And some real peace and quiet under the stars.

Next weekend, I'm off 2 Chicago on a business trip. Going 2 see if I can get time 2 drive the rental up 2 Milwaukee and get my pic2re taken next 2 the Gertie sta2! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

-ol' 2long

he he...

http://worthy-tomes.com/gertie/images/57.jpg

-ol' 2long

It's marked as Forbidden.

It looks like you didn't come anywhere near me....so sad. The last MBer that did, got dinner and showers. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> Your bad luck....not theirs.

Maybe this will help w/ the info on Gertie.... Gertie the duck and her ducklings

What did you see in the U.P., 2long? Anything besides jackpines?

Milwaukee is a great city. Try and make it to the "safe house" for a brewski while you are there. It's only entrance is in an alley behind the Pabst brewery off of the river walk. And the sign reads "Int'l House of Imports". You have to figure out the secret pass word to gain entrance though, and I am not going to give that to you free. Already I've given too many clues. LOL