Saving The Old Rustbucket--My 1982 FJ40 Tale (5 Viewers)

[Sea Knight]

From The Road...

Afternoon Gentlemen. I'm traveling, thought I'd interject a few comments while chillin' at the airport.

I'll be lucky enough to be staying at a cabin on Lake Travis for a few days in a couple of weeks, so I'll get to enjoy some of your country.

I hope there's water in the lake by then. It looks pretty grim now. When you firm up a date, post to the LSLC-Austin forum and let us know when you plan to be here. If anyone is in town at the time, maybe we could arrange a Cruiser tech meeting.

Thanks for that post, Christian. A story like that just shows how great this thread is!

x2 on Dave's comment. This has become an interactive thread, pretty much unprecedented for MUD as far as I know (outside of chat). I hope it stays that way and that everyone will continue to contribute.

Just wanted to chime in for the first time, since I finally got caught up with this thread, and tell you how much I am enjoying your story.

Green Flash IPA is great. I have become so accustomed to the robust flavor of India Pale Ales, I can't even tolerate the taste of beer anymore. Everything else tastes watered down.

Welcome aboard the voyage of The Turtle.

Obviously I agree on Green Flash IPA. Fortunately we do get it in Texas. We aren't so lucky with Pliny the Elder, which I think is only available on tap in California. Try it if you ever have the chance. One of the world's great beers, IMO.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/863/7971

I was actually a bit embarrased after writing, I think mostly because I did not like the thought that I could detract from the actual tale, but as I was without computer until next day, I could not delete my post. Your remark made me very glad I didn't!

No need for embarrassment. Your post didn't detract from the tale. If anything, you enhanced it.

Lee, I just read post 1074 "Old Men, Old Iron", and your last evening with Army is so similar to what I experienced with my dad, it's uncanny! I received the dreaded call 0114 AM. Today I believe that my father knew...!

Yeah, I had that feeling as well. In ways I didn't fully grasp at the time, they showed us how to go with grace and dignity.

Cheers
Lee

 

[FltMed]

Have safe travels Sir!

 

[93jspec]

Let's bump this back to page 1.

Here are some examples of future stories that will be included in the Sea Knight biopic.

1. Vietnam and the Long Road Home
2. Mississippi or Bust (Road trip to bring back Pat's red FJ40 in MS)
3. To Da UP (Delivering Yoopers truck)
4. Keeping it Weird: My WALCS Family
5. Alaska Trek (in the Trooper)*not cruiser related
6. Alaska Trek 2013
7. The 3FE List
8. Colorado Road Trip: Craig's red FJ40
9. Cummin to Mississippi (UZJ100 and 4BT80 swap in MS)

Plus a ton more that I can't remember right now.

Number 6. looks promising. A few Cruisers up here in Fairbanks that would be glad to help with anything you might need in either preparing for, or during your travels.

 

[Major Nelson]

Wow

Ok, I've spent the better part of 3 days reading this to get caught up before posting...wow, wow, wow...that's pretty much all I can say at this point (obviously don't have the writing skills that Sea Knight has). I've been the proud owner of my first 40 for a full week now and had been pouring over all the build threads for ideas, to learn, etc. I had left this one til last since it was so long....and was also intrigued that this one had its own "sticky" status. Without question I saved the best for last (and my work definitely suffered for it!)

Aside from saying a loud thank you to Lee for writing this the other thing I can add at this point in my utter disappointment that I moved up to Seattle from Round Rock, TX 3 years ago....missed out on being a few miles away from all accounts is one top notch guy...Just one more reason to miss the great state of Texas.

I'm already hooked on this site and my 40, so hopefully I'll get to know many of you in the future.....and Lee if you do your planned Alaska road trip all I can say is that I'm 2 miles off of I90 just east of Seattle....always have strong coffee ready in the morning, cold beer every other time (IPA or oatmeal stouts are my go to's)....and some killer food (from the wife) waiting at all times....of course that goes for any mudder that may be passing by this way.

Cheers!

 

[77mustard40]

Aside from saying a loud thank you to Lee for writing this the other thing I can add at this point in my utter disappointment that I moved up to Seattle from Round Rock, TX 3 years ago....missed out on being a few miles away from all accounts is one top notch guy...Just one more reason to miss the great state of Texas.

I'm already hooked on this site and my 40, so hopefully I'll get to know many of you in the future.....and Lee if you do your planned Alaska road trip all I can say is that I'm 2 miles off of I90 just east of Seattle....always have strong coffee ready in the morning, cold beer every other time (IPA or oatmeal stouts are my go to's)....and some killer food (from the wife) waiting at all times....of course that goes for any mudder that may be passing by this way.

Cheers!

Check in on Josie'sLandCruiser aka Alan, he dropped in on us in Austin last year when he was in from Seattle on biz and we had a great time. Trust me your not missing the last 3 summers, cooler air tomorrow will be an invitation to enjoy Ole Iron Horse around town.

 

[lordbater]

I'd love to get together when I'm in A-Town next weekend Lee, but we have a full schedule. I'm going to put together a get together up there in a couple months, before it's out of wetsuit weather. I'd love to find some brews then..

Do you know what a wetbike is?
ever ridden one?

Want to?
do you have a wetsuit?

A

 

[G-Cat]

Lee,

Answer me this. In your pictures, you have the appearance of a fit dude. Your menus, regarding both food and beverage, lead me to surmise that you are either 1) a work-out freak or 2) a genetic freak. Which is it?

 

[Christian]

Finally, my wife is planning a trip for the three of us to Montana next year, she lived in Montana for a year, first in Scobey, later in Whitewater working on farms as a exchange student. She dreams of showing both me and our 1 year old daughter the Big Sky State. It's her birthday the 10/9, and your story about Jen made me google ""You Can Take The Girl Out Of Montana, But You Can't Take Montana Out Of The Girl" and whatchanow! I just found out I can buy her a hoodie with that on, Thanks Lee and Jen!

(I best not show her this thread before her birthday)

I have a small update; the wife loves the hoodie!
We hope to see some of you next year!

 

[DeltaT]

I have a small update; the wife loves the hoodie!

Pictures or it didn't happen !

 

[Christian]

I'll have wear it and take a poser shot in front of her BJ42 tomorrow!

 

[Sea Knight]

Number 6. looks promising. A few Cruisers up here in Fairbanks that would be glad to help with anything you might need in either preparing for, or during your travels.

Appreciate the offer. I'll probably need all the help I can get by the time I hit Fairbanks. Hope to cross the Arctic Circle and end up in Coldfoot before turning around. Thought about driving on to Deadhorse, but that may be too much for me and the old rustbucket.

I'm already hooked on this site and my 40, so hopefully I'll get to know many of you in the future.....and Lee if you do your planned Alaska road trip all I can say is that I'm 2 miles off of I90 just east of Seattle....always have strong coffee ready in the morning, cold beer every other time (IPA or oatmeal stouts are my go to's)....and some killer food (from the wife) waiting at all times...

I'm sure you're missing our Texas 110 degree summer temps.

My son lives in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island. I'm in Seattle a couple of times a year. Will definitely give you a heads up the next time I'm in your hood. Couldn't pass up strong coffee and oatmeal stout.

I'd love to get together when I'm in A-Town next weekend Lee, but we have a full schedule. I'm going to put together a get together up there in a couple months, before it's out of wetsuit weather. I'd love to find some brews then..

Do you know what a wetbike is?
ever ridden one?

Want to?
do you have a wetsuit?

No sweat, I'm out of town until October. Maybe next time.

Don't own a wetsuit, and no thanks to riding a wetbike. Sounds like too hazardous an activity for the elderly, same reason I gave up flying and sky diving. Driving old trucks is more my speed now.

Lee,

Answer me this. In your pictures, you have the appearance of a fit dude. Your menus, regarding both food and beverage, lead me to surmise that you are either 1) a work-out freak or 2) a genetic freak. Which is it?

I guess this merits a serious reply. Probably some of both. My parents and grandparents all lived well into their 90's so the gene pool is pretty stout. I was a lifetime workout freak, until recently. Not so much for the past couple of years. I'm pretty sure the pics in this thread were all taken in 2005. I do eat too much and I love craft beer. Unfortunately I have the extra tonnage to show for it.

In the words of Toby Keith:

I ain't as good as I once was
I got a few years on me now
But there was a time, back in my prime
When I could really lay it down ​

 

[Sea Knight]

Thought I should post this link before Butch beats me to it...

I ain't as good as I once was--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQrapQ4d0Y

Lee

 

[1911]

Hope to cross the Arctic Circle and end up in Coldfoot before turning around. Thought about driving on to Deadhorse, but that may be too much for me and the old rustbucket.

I've spent some time in Deadhorse and you're not missing much cuz except bragging rights and the Beaufort Sea. Oh, and the Prudhoe Bay National Forest. The pretty parts of Alaska are all south of there. Well OK, pretty much all of Alaska is south of there, but take my word for it, Deadhorse, Barrow, and Prudhoe Bay are all pretty ugly but the North Slope does have its own kind of majesty, especially in the winter. The Dalton Highway/North Slope Haul Road will take you through the Brooks Range to get there though.

 

[77mustard40]

Gentlemen

Please do not attempt to hold your breath tonight waiting for OMA's next installment. Tonight was a MUD hospitality night at the clubhouse and our leader was holding court. Texas $2.75 pint night and the 512 and Real Ale IPAs were a perfect backdrop to 40, 60 & 80 tech night. Enough said, carry on.

 

[jeffro109]

Thank you Commander and crew for the great night out, good food, and cheap but good beer. Thanks to Lee for the ride in a borrowed 40, see you guys tomorrow. Good night all, photos perhaps when I get back home to the real computer.

 

[2thdoc]

Gentlemen

Please do not attempt to hold your breath tonight waiting for OMA's next installment. Tonight was a MUD hospitality night at the clubhouse and our leader was holding court. Texas $2.75 pint night and the 512 and Real Ale IPAs were a perfect backdrop to 40, 60 & 80 tech night. Enough said, carry on.

I'm thinking I must have missed out on a good time...

 

[James Lillie]

"I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of their wisdom.”
--- Umberto Eco, Foucault's Pendulum

I'm just back from a family reunion, at Lake Conroe,

So there it is...

Steve's Grandfather's 1931 Ford, Army's 1937 Ford, Craig's Grandfather's 1952 Chevy Pickup. Old men, old iron.

Its interesting the memories that a story like that will dredge up, so here is a short one back at you. (Although my grasp of English is kinda thin, so you'll have to bear with me.)

My father always thought of his cars as a means to an end, or so I thought. One econo box to the next, I can still remember my sister asking to be dropped off a block away from her friends house so that they wouldn't see the chevette.

I loved cars, trucks and bikes, when the time came I went big.
(In my book anyways)

My first car was a triumph Spitfire, and everyone in my family (except for my father) as well as most of my friends tried to talk my out of buying it. "Its junk, Lucas, the prince of darkness will get you.,.."

Yea, I heard them all, I had it for about five years, and for me that is a very long time in the car world. All in all, I loved that car. (Most of the time....)

Years later I asked Dad why he didn't try to talk me out of buying the triumph like everyone else had. He told me that back in the 60's he was looking at an Austin Healey and his father told him to 'grow up, and get a real car'.

So he did, Dad bought a valiant instead, and after that, just one 'real car' after the next. He said that kind of took the steam out of him, and over time you develop patterns.

I guess my Dad just wanted me to keep my steam.

 

[Cruiserless]

Its interesting the memories that a story like that will dredge up, so here is a short one back at you. (Although my grasp of English is kinda thin, so you'll have to bear with me.)

My father always thought of his cars as a means to an end, or so I thought. One econo box to the next, I can still remember my sister asking to be dropped off a block away from her friends house so that they wouldn't see the chevette.

I loved cars, trucks and bikes, when the time came I went big.
(In my book anyways)

My first car was a triumph Spitfire, and everyone in my family (except for my father) as well as most of my friends tried to talk my out of buying it. "Its junk, Lucas, the prince of darkness will get you.,.."

Yea, I heard them all, I had it for about five years, and for me that is a very long time in the car world. All in all, I loved that car. (Most of the time....)

Years later I asked Dad why he didn't try to talk me out of buying the triumph like everyone else had. He told me that back in the 60's he was looking at an Austin Healey and his father told him to 'grow up, and get a real car'.

So he did, Dad bought a valiant instead, and after that, just one 'real car' after the next. He said that kind of took the steam out of him, and over time you develop patterns.

I guess my Dad just wanted me to keep my steam.

Yet another great reminder to us parents... our sometimes jaded opinions can easily derail a dream... glad your dad broke the cycle!

.

 

[lordbater]

Alright Austin, hijack time. I'm in Lakeway, will travel. What can me and the lady do for the afternoon?
Burger/beer, or something cooler?

I'm in raingear derigging the Hobie, it just ain't gna happen today..
Thanks,
Andrew..

 

[77mustard40]

Alright Austin, hijack time. I'm in Lakeway, will travel. What can me and the lady do for the afternoon?
Burger/beer, or something cooler?

I'm in raingear derigging the Hobie, it just ain't gna happen today..
Thanks,
Andrew..

Well if it's a killer burger and beer your looking for, let me recommend HopDoddy's. Incredible all natural and organic burgers with great local craft brews; I'd go for the 512 Pecan Porter with my burger.

If you want a real relaxed environment you could hit Billys on Burnet aka the WALCS clubhouse. You might even pull OMA away for a pint and burger, talk tech and catch an afternoon game on the flat screen. He held court earlier in the week with another visiting Mudder.