Saving The Old Rustbucket--My 1982 FJ40 Tale (16 Viewers)

[Sea Knight]

Looks like she's been reading this thread and remembering back on The Commander with fond memories..good thing it's not a video. Might see her walking funny uh,... from riding in the 40...

Yeah, The Turtle had a damn rough ride. Yes it did. Now get yer mind out of the gutter!

Just post the story, I need it, I need it bad.........

Stand by.

Awesome! This can't get better???

Oh yes it can.

 

[Sea Knight]

Bozeman--Part Two

Ah the stories we could tell
If it all blows up and goes to hell
I wish we could sit upon the bed in some motel
And listen to the stories we could tell ...​

--John Sebastian​

In my youth, a popular comic strip of the day was Al Capp's "Li'l Abner." It was a satire that poked fun at everything and everyone, and I read it religiously. One of the minor characters was Stupefyin' Jones, a woman so stunning that any male who glimpsed her would immediately become petrified, literally rooted to his spot and unable to move. He'd become Stupified. I remember thinking at the time that the idea of being frozen in my tracks by the mere sight of a woman was completely ridiculous. Well, I just changed my mind. I'm frozen, halfway inside the door of Blue Sky Motel room 16, staring at the woman on my bed.​

She unlaces her hands, extends her arms, points her toes and stretches, a slow undulating stretch. She makes a throaty purring sound as she moves and in the near darkness of the room she reminds me of a jungle cat in the wild, limbering up and looking to play. I still can't seem to move my feet. I can't decide whether to go in, or return to the office and commence strangling that idiot Chris. Or thanking him.​

Jen: "Are you coming in or not?"
Me: "What?"
Jen: "Come in and close the door."
Me: "Uh...OK."
Jen: "There's a few minutes left in my show."
Me: "What?"
Jen: "It's a Deadwood rerun. I haven't seen this one. Have a seat."
Me: "Oh...sure."​

That's me, stupified, polite, and obedient. I take two steps inside the room and drop my bag. Just inside the door there's a small table and two wooden chairs. I take a seat in one of the chairs. It's not comfortable, but neither am I. Jen watches Deadwood. I watch Jen.​

Ten minutes gives me plenty of time to size up my new roomie. She's wearing one of those bulky Irish fisherman sweaters, oversized, with the sleeves covering most of her hands and the bottom extending to mid thigh. Underneath I see tights, but I can't tell if there's anything else hiding under the sweater, like a skirt, shorts, anything. On the floor at the foot of the bed is a pair of LL Bean boots, the style with rubber feet and soles and leather tops. Interesting outfit, a conglomeration of hippie-trendy-outdoorsy chick. Most girls couldn't pull off a combination like this, but she does. Jen is tall, with great legs, long muscular legs you'd expect to see on a cross country skier or mountain biker. Yes, even in my stupor I notice such things. She's attractive, but not classically pretty. Instead, she's the type you'd describe as striking. I put her age somewhere between mid 20's and early 30's, old enough. Deadwood ends and she swings her legs over the side of the bed, sits up, and turns on the nightstand lamp. Her hair is long, sandy brown, and she's wearing it in two thick braids. No jewelry, a few freckles, the natural look. She picks up a knit cap from the bed, pulls it over her head, and slips into her boots. She's better looking than I'd thought. And she looks...interesting.​

Jen: "Hope you don't think I was being rude. I don't get HBO at my apartment, and I love Deadwood."​

Me: " No, that's fine. I watch it too."

Jen: "Sorry, I didn't get your name."
Me: "Lee."
Jen: "So Lee, what are we doing for entertainment tonight?"​

Nice voice, sultry, definitely not a girl's voice, and I'm weak in these situations. I wish she'd shut up, so I can think.​

Me: "Uh...I've been driving all day. I'm not sure I want to go..."
Jen: "You need help unpacking?"
Me: "I need to go talk to Chris. The office guy..."
Jen: "Why? Is there a problem?"
Me: "No, I just hadn't planned to...uh...share a room."​

Silence. She looks at me for a few seconds. Puts one hand over her mouth, and I think "Oh crap, she's gonna cry. I made her cry." I see her shoulders begin trembling, usually a lead in to serious crying, and then she laughs. First it's little delicate feminine laughs that she tries to stifle with her hand. That doesn't work. She finally loses control, gives it up and guffaws, and now she's laughing so hard that she's crying. Laughing and crying while I sit there thinking "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? My roommate is a nut job. This just isn't gonna work."​

Jen: "I'm sorry. I couldn't help it."
Me: "No, I'm sorry. I never intended to hurt your feelings."
Jen: "No...I'm sorry! I thought you'd catch on."
Me: "Catch on to what?"
Jen: "I work here. I'm from housekeeping."
Me: "What?"
Jen: "I brought fresh towels. There wasn't anyone here. I thought I'd watch Deadwood, then you showed up."
Me: "And?"
Jen: "And I couldn't resist. The setup was too good. But we're OK, right?"
Me: "Sure. Just give me a minute."​

I remember the web site description that brought me here. "We really are the funnest, friendliest staff in town." So this is what they mean by "funnest." I can't say I wasn't warned. Jesus, I've only been here fifteen minutes and already this. What's next? ​

She's in no hurry to leave. Her housekeeping shift is over, she's a talker, and I was correct--she's interesting. Without much prompting, I get her entire bio. Her name really is Jen. She's a Montana native, spent three years after high school bumming around Europe, then returned to the states and wrangled a ski scholarship to Montana State. She was a Nordic skier, and a biathlete. The scholarship only lasted a year, but now it's six years later and she's still a student. She's 28, a college senior, lives in a garage apartment near campus, has changed her major a half dozen times and feels no urgency about graduating. She takes whatever courses sound interesting, works part-time, and enjoys the outdoors. She's what you'd call a free spirit. Jen asks where I'm from and why I'm in Bozeman. After weeks of telling this story, I have several variants at my disposal, ranging from the single sentence "I'm driving an old Land Cruiser from Texas to Seattle," all the way to the full saga complete with dramatic details. I give her the intermediate Cliff's Notes version, including the clutch failure in Raton Pass, braving the Wyoming blizzard, and ending with chillin' at Uncle Meldon's Kona beach house, just enough tantalizing detail to make me sound like a true adventurer.​

Jen: "You sound like a modern day Jack Kerouac. You should be writing a book."
Me: "I'm not sure this is book material.
Jen: "Sure it is. Everybody loves an adventure."
Me: "Well I do know the editor of an adventure magazine, and we have discussed writing about this trip. Articles, not a book."
Jen: "So you really are a writer?"​

That was all mostly true. I do know Todd, editor of Toyota Trails. I think of TT as an adventure magazine, and we did have a general conversation about the possibility of documenting this trip. And I have been making notes, in a notebook, which could be called a journal. So I am a writer, more or less. Time to turn up the BS. Turnabout is only fair, right?​

Me: "I guess you could say that. I've done some writing."
Jen: "So you are a writer."
Me: "Well, yeah, but I prefer to keep a low profile. Makes traveling easier if, you know, people aren't aware."
Jen: "Aha! I knew it had to be something like that. I won't blow your cover. I promise."​

With that little exaggeration, I figure we're even. Jen apologizes again for punking me, then offers to make amends. She asks if I have plans for the evening. I tell her my only plan is hosing off the road dust, grabbing a power nap, and finding a decent meal. Jen says I'm in luck, because her other job is tending bar at Montana Ale Works, which happens to be a short three block walk down Main Street from the Blue Sky Motel. It's a brew pub housed in the old Bozeman railway station. She says there's an excellent restaurant in the pub, and she happens to be working tonight, 7 PM to 1 AM. If I want to drop by later, pints are on her. Uh oh.​

To be continued... ​

 

[yooper]

exhale...whew

It's not easy to hold your breath for a week....

 

[Kaderabek]

You are indeed a writer.

TJK

 

[Texican]

You are indeed a writer.

TJK

Agree big time, Todd you need to hold him ransom for some stories, guarantee will increase membership.

 

[Kaderabek]

Yep yep....

TJK

 

[lordbater]

haha, man, I was all ready to give you the 'you are a man of great moral fortitude' speech.

Left Turn....

a

 

[MScruiser]

Free beer?! Man, you are a lucky guy!

 

[myquestoyota]

That is Classic!

 

[Godwin]

Lee, I only have two things to say about your stories - STOP! I can't take anymore. Day after day I walk past my old 40 that used to be my DD and field vehicle. We never had the exploits that you've experienced but that old Cruiser and I have been to many out of the way spots in Alabama and I fondly remember those trips. Now it is rarely driven because it needs major steering and brake work and I don't know when it will again be roadworthy. That and I'm stuck in Alabama and miss western travels.

The other is simply keep writing.

 

[Godwin]

I begin backing out the door, hoping I can get out before she starts yelling for the police, and I manage to mumble something along the order of "D'oh, Sorry, I'm in the wrong room. Sorry...Sorry."

A friend was once traveling in south Alabama and checked into a local motel in Atmore I believe. He arrived in town around 3 in the afternoon, was going to toss his bag in the room, then head out to do some work. So he goes to the room, inserts key into lock, opens door, and there's a couple in the bed going at it. His reaction was much the same, "Oops, sorry." He went back to the desk and requested another room.

 

[Sea Knight]

Lee, I only have two things to say about your stories - STOP! I can't take anymore. Day after day I walk past my old 40 that used to be my DD and field vehicle. We never had the exploits that you've experienced but that old Cruiser and I have been to many out of the way spots in Alabama and I fondly remember those trips. Now it is rarely driven because it needs major steering and brake work and I don't know when it will again be roadworthy. That and I'm stuck in Alabama and miss western travels.

The other is simply keep writing.

Thanks Jim. I'm honored to see you in this thread. I will keep writing. Lots more to come. Stay tuned.

BTW, it saddens me to hear that your 40 has been put out to pasture. You need to change that, sooner rather than later.

Lee

 

[1911]

I've been on the other end of that kind of deal twice. The last time was in a motel in San Angelo, TX. Heard a key rattling in my door fairly late at night that woke me up. Thought it was just a drunk at the wrong door. I had the deadbolt in place. A short time later, the people came back with a desk clerk and a pass key. They got the door opened but stopped pretty short when they saw the muzzle of my .45 ACP leveled at the chest of the first person and made a quick decision to get a different room. Turns out that the front desk had sold my room twice.

 

[rope]

Awsome!!!

 

[Sully73FJ40]

They got the door opened but stopped pretty short when they saw the muzzle of my .45 ACP leveled at the chest of the first person and made a quick decision to get a different room. Turns out that the front desk had sold my room twice.

Best commentary post yet

 

[Ghillieshot]

This is my first MUD forum post, not new to forums, new to MUD, and I gotta say I'm loving it! I have read this whole story and I am loving it as well! My question is, do you know if The Turtle has original paint on it? I looked up the paint codes and cant quite tell. I suppose I should ask Uncle Meldon, but might as well say hi here.

Carry on Commander!

 

[Sea Knight]

A friend was once traveling in south Alabama and checked into a local motel in Atmore I believe. He arrived in town around 3 in the afternoon, was going to toss his bag in the room, then head out to do some work. So he goes to the room, inserts key into lock, opens door, and there's a couple in the bed going at it. His reaction was much the same, "Oops, sorry." He went back to the desk and requested another room.

I had an identical experience in a Denver hotel, about a dozen years ago. Nice hotel too, I think it was a Four Seasons. I walked in, turned on the light, did a quick about face and went back to the desk. When I got there, there was a guy on the phone screaming at the desk clerk. I could hear him yelling from 6 feet away. Same guy I'd just walked in on. I think they ended up comping his room.

This is my first MUD forum post, not new to forums, new to MUD, and I gotta say I'm loving it! I have read this whole story and I am loving it as well! My question is, do you know if The Turtle has original paint on it? I looked up the paint codes and cant quite tell. I suppose I should ask Uncle Meldon, but might as well say hi here.

Carry on Commander!

Welcome to MUD and 40 tech, and thanks.

I'd say it's likely the paint you see on The Turtle is original. The firewall and underside of the hood are the same color as the exterior. I think it's called Deep Green, paint code #632--see attached pic. BTW, that is not The Turtle in the second photo, just another 40 in the same color.

Speaking of Uncle Meldon, I heard from him this morning. He's back in Kona and still enjoying The Turtle, which has sported a new name since arriving on the Big Island. When we finally get to the Hawaii part of this tale, I'll post his comments and her new name, and some recent photos of the old girl. She's lookin' good, mighty good.

 

[chazehen]

It has taken me about three weeks of on again off agin reading at work to get here--kind of bittersweet now to be all caught up. Lee, you have a way of taking us along on the journey with you that is nothing short of a gift. Not everyone can write this way. Thank you for bringing us into your life and along the road with you on this epic journey. I will be anxiously awaiting the next chapter.

 

[Jacket]

I don't know what path you went down to conclude that this story was free material for the Mud 40's section, but I would have paid good money to read about this epic journey, and it certainly would have been a great multi-part series for TT. Followed by a made for TV movie with Lindsay Vonn playing the part of "Jen."

Thanks for keeping it going.

 

[jeffro109]

While I'm still catching up, on page 11 now, it is not very often that you read something written by someone who really "gets" it. And this story is just that, and very well composed.

It makes you feel human, pause and think of how things have gone in your own story, reflect on they might go still, want to hug the kid just because, and take stock of what actually matters.

Thanks for the great read!