Doug and friend (why am I so bad at remembering names?) just left to head up and see Rubo.

I sure hope the weather don't get any worse, it's rainin' here lightly, but I heard something about heavy rain later. Hope they don't get in it!

We are here!!!!!We met up with Rubo on I80 and followed him into the city across the Washington bridge----->Oh wait!!!


I failed to mention some details.It's been a good trip so far.Except for some serious traffic at 2pm on I95 At DC,
It took us 2 1/2 hrs to go 5 miles <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> that was BS it was 100 degree's and no ac.no wind and did I mention it was----HOT. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

So back to NYC Rubo get's on the cb and says:Dougie stay on my bumper,
ok, cool.........ugh on the bumper is not 5ft it's like 1ft...this is crazy.straight up,it's like you but zombies into cars and feed them crack!!!!!!!

So we cross into NYC....I am 5ft into NYC and Rubo puts his right turn signal on.I put mine on and HONK
I cut off my first car!!!!!!!!!wowowowoooooooo!yeh.I told rubo(quite proudly,I must say <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)------->ugh,then he comes back on laughing and says "Dougie that was good but,don't cut off any more cops"...oh crap.

We then started the 0-90mph driving style,this is sick,I almost hit Rubo twice!!!He said make sure to hit me not anyone else <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />...........we safely made to Casa'De Rubo and are relaxing and enjoying a drink..........

More later folks and by the way there is no way the Clampits actually did there NYC trip,unless granny actually used her shot gun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />


Bansil

Now you see why Rubo drives like he does <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Glad you guys made it alright, and since I'm reading your message, I assume there is power <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Enjoy ,
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />Andre

Hey Doug, you speek any Russian ?

If you go to that club, don't say them Russian words I taught ya! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Rubo's mom just cooked us dinner,it was awesome....not sure exactly what it was but it consisted of meat wrapped with vege's kinda like stuffed peppers but,all kinds of stuffed vegi's <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

We are changing into clubin' clothes <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> and then it's off into Ruboland

I want to thank Anubis,Troopersphere and Elmo for the hospitality. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Bansil

ACK!

Sorry for the huge delay. Apparently, my parents dropped their ISP connection, so I couldn't post like I told Doug I would. bleh.

Here's basically what I WOULD have said on Saturday afternoon.

Met up with Doug and Mike at the determined location pretty much on time. Any rumors that they can't find their way are greatly exaggerated. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I will point out they were naive enough to think they could navigate through the traffic around DC without any delays.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

In all fairness, they were mislead though, and told otherwise.

Their trip through NJ started off fun. Ask Doug about Jughandles. They claim my directions were pretty good. I guess they must have been ok, since they got to town before I did. I picked up the parts from my parents house, drove out to meet them, and had a great chat in the parking lot. Almost wish we could have lit a campfire and sat on lawn chairs with a beer for a few. It was even drizzling rain here and there, so it would have been just perfect. Except for the wierd NJ people walking to their cars with a cart full of groceries watching us like we're zoo animals. But hey, with beer in hand, would it have mattered to us? Probably not.

After our meeting, they headed off to meet up with Rubo somewhere along Route 80. I can't wait to hear the story, given that there was no power in some of the NY boroughs, so I can only imagine how bad it was. Rubo mentioned something about being at war. Three days without power? It's said that three days without the basics (food, water, safety) will cause any civilized society to regress to anarchy.

Anyhow, Doug and Mike planned their departure for Sunday, and were going to wisely take the Cheasapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on their way back, avoiding DC altogether. It'll be interesting to hear what they have to say about driving along that skyway that seems to go to nowhere over the middle of the ocean at points. =)

E.

Hey Doug, how bout an update. Or a picture of your truck all loaded down. Clampet style.

Joe

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

- But it was even funnier when I heard it straight from Doug, just moments after he arrived at Rubo's house!

For Sale:
One 2000 Isuzu Rodeo driverÆs seatàààà Perma-Creased <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />



I hope that all went well in NYCà
I havenÆt heard a single word from Doug or Rubo since The Hillbilly Contingent arrived. --- IÆm going to assume that a number of æspiritsÆ are responsible for the ongoing silence <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />


<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

excuse the writen' mistakes <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

Sorry for the delay <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />Just got home a 1/2 hr ago,it's monday but yuesterday was just too long so we got a hotel about 5 hrs out and just relaxed in the airconditioning <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />


Well back to NYC------>there is no possible place like it on earth,I am sure about it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />.

First impressions were that these folks are crazy <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> but after staying there and learning a few simple things,such as:

1)when lights turn green,you have exactly 1 second to punch the go-go pedal before it sounds like a christmas parade...
I actually now understand why you can buy replacement horns..............you can actually wear them out!!!

2)If you want to change lanes (be it 1 or 6) turn your turn signal on,wait 1 second and punch it!!!!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> it works great <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />Everyone pays attention,it's awesome.

3)the laid back driving style down here,sucks,know one paying attention etc,explains why we have accidents all the time.

I never saw one accident while I was there, none
and I personally watched about 40 cabs play a beautifully orchestrated ballet on 5th avenue .It was 5/6 cars wide,in 4 lanes and it was actually amazing to see,they went from curb to curb and no-one hit or blew their horn.

The whole thing was awesome.

some highlights:

We where on Roosevelt island,by the lighthouse just chillin' and enjoying the veiw,it was pretty in a way,
definiatley awe inspireing that's for sure <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />......
errrrr!!!!!! fast forward 15 minutes.

I thought,yes I am a redneck <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> but nooooooooooo!!!!
Rednecks will atleast look for a tree to go behind,not in NYC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> dude (1 of about 10 that were fishing)walks up to the small light house(30' tall)and proceeds to relieve himself on the historical landmark <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />,by the way it's about 4 in the afternoon,Rubo looks at me,shrugs his shoulders and says"DOugie,it's NewYork" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />we all started to laugh and noone cared,it was great.

It started to rain so we jumped into the Rubomobile and sped off into.....well I'm not sure but we waved at cops and went thru Astoria,Queens etc.......we still hadn't crossed into Manhatten yet......that's later.

He showed us lot's of neat things,the places you see in the movies etc.

It rained alittle but no big deal,nothing changed,when the roads became wet.

I realized that driving in NYC is like playing the video game,Grand theft Auto.I realized this as we were 5 wide at 60 mph on a 3 lane street <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> but it's all good........We Won!!!!!!!We had the best driver <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />


We went home and relaxed,watched some tv and then changed clothes.

We headed out,WOW what a different city,Everything is lite up and it looks like a Batman movie.....

We sped thru the streets looking for adventure.

We drove down 5th ave and watched all the people,some were dressed like us,normal........some had gowns and tuxes,others had work out clothes it was widely different.

We went to time square at midnight and parked and walked around.There were so many lights,LED bill boards etc,you almost needed sun glasses,just like highnoon in Tombstone.

We stopped and watched a naked woman playing the guitar,in the middle of the road,well the island,right in the middle of time square.......the same place they drop the ball every year.
Funny thing is except for us and other guys <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> no-one else cared <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> oh and she wasn't totally nude,she had 2 1" pasties on and a larger one also.

Once again Rubo smiled and said,"Dougie-it's Newyork"

Wow what a town,
We walked by a club where DMX was playing,I swear everyone in line was dressed like a gangster off of BET/MTV,it didn't matter color,race etc. they all looked like wanna be gangsters. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

We got back in the Rodeo and speeded off to our next adventure.

This one is placed in Queens.......the place: a small lounge with a name I forget that was pumping out Greek music.....the place was packed.Packed with Armenians,russians,Bulgarians etc.......I still don't know why they were playing greek music,but it was cool.
The club had a typical front area,but outback was sweet...
it was like we stepped back into time,to a garden patio in the Med.
We had a few refreshments and meandered around and then it was off to the Rodeo----------------------->time lapse to another lounge.......this was more like it,it was quieter,not real crowded and we talked and relaxed.......
A few local visiters had trouble holding there glasses,so as glass broke,friends were made,as everyone laughed and talked........it was getting late and after a few reddevils and 1800 it was time to go back to RuboHome and get some sleep,the cab dropped us off and we rolled out the sleeping bags on the floor of rubo's room.......and morning came way to quick.

Leaving NYC was a breeze........remember..... light changes ,punch it!!Need to move over,signal punch it.....it worked great.........but your MPG will suffer <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

We left Rubo in Brooklyn to fix his tranny and we headed to Independant4x..........in Richmond.
We met up with Matt about 5:15pm and we BS'd for awhile, looked over some cool projects and ideas were tossed around
but time was ticking away,thanks to Matt <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> for leaving the yardwork to let me pickup the wheels.Thanks TrailMystic........we shook hands and pointed the Rodeo--->
to McDonalds <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> we neede preformed,rolled,chop'd,processed
chicken parts.We picked up a couple 10pcs combos and made our way down I295--->I64......we turned west and followed the sunset,we stopped and got a room,'cause it was a 5 hour drive from INdependant4x to home......and that would put us home between 1 and 2 am and we had to work,So I called my Boss at home on sunday night and begged and pledded with him for monday off for both of us.....it worked <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
so we relaxed,slept......very late <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> and headed home.

It was a long weekend but it was worth it,thanks to everyone invloved and for more details you'll need to show up at Callantee and Uhwarrie <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

Tech:

Gas prices:

Home $2.99

I95 outside richmond $3.16

Service area on NJ turnpike $3.29 (full service)
folks look at you funny when you and your bud get out and stretch,check tire pressure etc...at a full serv.
pump,I actually almost had to threaten the guy 'cause he wasn't going to check my oil.... I WAS!!!

Queens NYC------> $3.08!!!

Mileage:
best 24._ unloaded going to DC
average 21MPG

that is 8-12 better than my daily 12/13mpg with these curves mountains....

Bansil
once again,thanks everyone it was great <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I may edit if I can think of anything else <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />


Also many thanks out to the great folks of NYC,you get a bad rap most of the time,and from what I say,the people are great,all the small parks were full of families and friends playing etc,not one single bad or rude thing was sayed to me or Bunkee while we we're in NYC.......my hats tip'd for the folks there. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like quite an adventure for a couple of country mice in the big city. I was in NYC for a week visiting some friends, and now that I think of it, we never rode in a car at all. We had a car to and from the airport, but the rest was trains, subways, and on foot.

I think the same principals that govern driving in NYC also apply to walking <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> When you have that manny people, you have to be efficient.

So you got a 3.4 block for the Trooper, and a set of Isuzu wheels. Pick up anything else on your journey?

Looking foward to the campfire version <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />Andre