- Apr 23, 2012
- 1,234
- 18
Garry.
I'm in Calgary, but if you get delayed a day or two, send word. I'll be back.
[mob][/mob]
I'm in Calgary, but if you get delayed a day or two, send word. I'll be back.
[mob][/mob]
The journey of my beloved Z06 beings!
- Thread starter VelocityYellowRules!
- Start date
- Feb 15, 2012
- 1,391
- 41
I think that we are all excited for this build. I can't to see the end result.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2
- Jul 15, 2012
- 2,039
- 537
- Thread starter
- #23
Good morning,
So in a few hours I'll be on the road. My gf took time of work to come with me and it will be nice to have the company. Whatever incidents I may face it always makes such a different if you are at least not alone - a misery loves company sort of thing.
But all the prep work is done, arrangements made so it remains to go to get the trailer, load the car, strap it down and to get merrily on my way.
Like with most things in the life the more difficult part was to make the decision to proceed with the work, once that was made then it was almost wanting to have it done, from my end (shipping it) over as soon as possible. The nice thing about the winter is that it can also be done at a different pace. Manny et al. have a whole winter to work on this as I am not hounding him daily to be able to drive the car, you know, those "isn't it ready yet" phonecalls. As well it does allow me the chance to try to find more $ for a few other odds and ends it would be nice to get done. Sadly the grain bag situation and unexpected final herbicide and fertilizer bill are going to make that a challenge. But as Manny has the winter to work on the car and he will be keeping it for me until spring, I also have all that time to see where I might find some cash. The opportunity is certainly a good one as I don't have to subsequently take the car anywhere, it willbe with Manny.
So thanks everyone for your words of encourgement and support, for putting up with my pedantic worrying and long posts! I can certinaly say that joining this forum has been an integral part of the car experience for me, so many great people that I've corresponded with, who made me laugh and also gave good advice from their experience.
Like some, while I've gone on the US site, I do prefer this one for its greater, intimacy. I'd rather talk with maybe 15 to 20 people, have a chance to get to know them as well as you can in a situation like this, than a larger number of people who would be strangers. I find it interesting how your (our) personalities come through after enough postings.
I'll see about getting a post up as the day progresses. My gf is more tech savy and has an i-phone whereas I avoid such things myself...........a 10 year old flip phone and digital camera for this guy!
Cheers,
Garry
So in a few hours I'll be on the road. My gf took time of work to come with me and it will be nice to have the company. Whatever incidents I may face it always makes such a different if you are at least not alone - a misery loves company sort of thing.
But all the prep work is done, arrangements made so it remains to go to get the trailer, load the car, strap it down and to get merrily on my way.
Like with most things in the life the more difficult part was to make the decision to proceed with the work, once that was made then it was almost wanting to have it done, from my end (shipping it) over as soon as possible. The nice thing about the winter is that it can also be done at a different pace. Manny et al. have a whole winter to work on this as I am not hounding him daily to be able to drive the car, you know, those "isn't it ready yet" phonecalls. As well it does allow me the chance to try to find more $ for a few other odds and ends it would be nice to get done. Sadly the grain bag situation and unexpected final herbicide and fertilizer bill are going to make that a challenge. But as Manny has the winter to work on the car and he will be keeping it for me until spring, I also have all that time to see where I might find some cash. The opportunity is certainly a good one as I don't have to subsequently take the car anywhere, it willbe with Manny.
So thanks everyone for your words of encourgement and support, for putting up with my pedantic worrying and long posts! I can certinaly say that joining this forum has been an integral part of the car experience for me, so many great people that I've corresponded with, who made me laugh and also gave good advice from their experience.
Like some, while I've gone on the US site, I do prefer this one for its greater, intimacy. I'd rather talk with maybe 15 to 20 people, have a chance to get to know them as well as you can in a situation like this, than a larger number of people who would be strangers. I find it interesting how your (our) personalities come through after enough postings.
I'll see about getting a post up as the day progresses. My gf is more tech savy and has an i-phone whereas I avoid such things myself...........a 10 year old flip phone and digital camera for this guy!
Cheers,
Garry
- Jul 15, 2012
- 2,039
- 537
- Thread starter
- #24
Tuesday night, back home finally. Exhausted. Car dropped off with transporter so it is out of my hands now.....details will follow........
- Dec 26, 2009
- 991
- 404
Well I'm sure your car is going to be just fine on its journey eastward and we know it will be in good hands when it reaches Manny.
- Jul 15, 2012
- 2,039
- 537
- Thread starter
- #26
Good morning everyone!
-25 currently although it is going to get to -7 which is better as I will be going out Trick or Treating with my son tonight.
So the trip...........
Well Monday headed out to Grande Prairie, about 175 km away to the trailer - no rental places around here sadly. Get there and discover that the trailer lights are not working which is a bit of a disappointment as when I called to book the trailer last week I specifically told them to check the tire pressure and lights so there were no surprises. But I was also not overly worried as long as I left as soon as possible with the car and reached Edmonton in daylight.
So I had to double back to Spirit River which was a set back. I'd originally been thinking that if the weather and roads had been good I would have driven the car to Grande Prairie (one last time behind the wheel!) and trailered it from there but the snow was falling again and getting deeper.
So I arrived and of course there was another 6" in snow on the driveway which had top be cleared (snowblower ran out of fuel on the final pass but I had some with me). I used the same technique as I had with finally backing the car in after reversing its facing, using the neighbour's driveway. No problems backing the trailer up, had to try twice but no traction problems.
My red truck is full of character. I can only use the front fuel tank. But stopping every 200 km to fuel would be good to stretch my legs and to relax. The tires, well look more like the pubic area of some South American women. I'm known for going to my local tire dealer and buying the tires people get rid of as being too worn. Generally I don't venture too far with the red truck ('97 Ford 4x4 3/4 ton 5.8 liter gas, only 134K km's so overall in good shape) it has only ever done one trip since I've owned it to Saskatoon to get a small plot combine and there were no issues. So lets see, tank, tires, what else? Oh ya, the windshield fluid doesn't work, not sure if it is the pump, fuse or what but as it was -10 I wasn't worried about it.
So I lower the ramp and everything is lined up nicely, just have to manuver the car to get it more in the center of the ramp but the garage is long and that is no problem. -10 but the car starts without hesitation. Then the 1st problem.
I never noticed when I looked at the trailer last week that the fender covers make it much narrower than I thought. Panic strikes! Would the car even fit? No measuring tape but an extension cord and it appears it might have a total of 3 or 4 inches total, not much when you divide that by two!
So thanfully my gf is with me and she guides me in and the car fits! But there is so little room that I can not open the door to get out and so am faced with doing it NASCAR/Dukes of Hazzard style, this gets recorded by my gf who somehow finds much mirth in the situation.
Then to proceed to tie the car down. I was going to go from tire to d-ring but I remembered someone talking about going crosswise instead (Riley, Colin said this maybe??) but it was sage advice. I did run the straps through the rims and there was no problem with this and so the car was secure.
Off we go!
The weather gets worse, much worse. I was going to go east of Rycroft and then south of Wanham as it is a short cut and you come out a Bezanson but decided to take the longer route back to Grand Prairie. The road south of Wanham was less likely to be plowed and there is a valley with a sharp turn at the bottom. When I went through Bezanson and was able to see the Wanham road I was glad I did not use that road.
As well, I have a construction trailer and a weigh wagon for my work and what I like about them is they are exactly the wide of the red truck, this car trailer is wider, maybe 18" on either side so that was something I was not comfortable with and was always in the back of my mind.
There is a very long run into a river valley east of Bezanson, I stopped at the top to put the truck in 4x4 (older style manual locking hubs) and started down. Around the 1st corner in the upcoming lane (it is two lanes up and down) is a two trailer fuel semi that has jack-knifed, maybe he didn't chain up. But not a good feeling as I am creeping down. But no problems. Then the weather gets worse yet, visability is poor and white out conditions when someone passes you. But the one lane looks clear still. Around Debolt my gf asks me "So on a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the road conditions?". I had taken the truck out of 4x4 and didn't think they were that back and thought maybe a 5 or 6 when the back end of the truck snapped right! So popped it into neutral, foot off gas and it straightened out. I then said to her "how about zero!". Getting closer to valleyview I started to realize how bad it was, we came across a plow/sanding truck in the ditch.
We'd checked the AMA road reports and knew we were in for some "red" stretches" but wanted to proceed anyway.
Going up an uphill stretch the truck starts to fishtail again, I catch it after 3 swings, get that flushed feeling across my face. I start to wonder how secure the car is and if it would stay in place if I ditched. Oh ya and I also confirm that the current insurance in the car is only until May 8th..........
Stopped in Valleyview to fuel up and talked with some people there who had come from further south, the usual comments, 10, 15 vehicles in the ditch.
A quick stop at Tim's for snacks and it looked like it was clearing so we decided to go town by town and if it got back we'd stop. Off then to Little Smoky, then Fox Creek, Whitecourt etc. and it looked OK.
Then the realization that night is coming. The trailer lights! I really didn't want to stop as I had to get the trailer back by 5:30 to Grande Prairie as they close the gates and I would then have to wait until morning to return it and spending another night in a hotel was not something I wanted to do. I only had to drop the car off and then do my passport renewal and then I could leave. I hoped to be on the road by noon and if I had to stop 2 hours away from Edmonton it would have thrown that out the window. So gave the plugs a liberal spraying of WD-40 and volia they worked! Feeling much happier now that I can be seen and can let other drivers know of my intentions!
Arrive in Edmonton at about 8 pm, tired but pretty happy I am so close to being done with this. Go to Toys r Us as my son will be 8 on Remembrance Day and find some things for him.
Tuesday morning. Have breakfast, falling snow pellets. The transport place is on the opposite side of Edmonton but I wait until 8:30 before leaving.
Manny made the arrangements with Livingston Freight. Located in an industrial area but obviously a busy company, trucks arriving and leaving, taking and bringing cars. So go inside (had called when we were leaving the hotel) and see what has to be done here. Not much, just the inspection. Meet Jon. Nice guy, lived in Germany for 30 plus years, brother owns a Corvette. Given him my story on how I came to buy the car. Open trailer doors and find the car still in place. My gf thought I funny when we were manuvering in the hotel parking lot "I think I heard something move in the trailer" so I act cool and nonchlant but before going to Toys r Us without her I doubled back and peaking inside!! The power of suggestion!
But the car is still secure, made Jon smile when I had to go through the window to get in. In hindsight I could have gone through the trunk which might have been easier.
Car starts again, back out of trailer, check it over with Jon. Only issues are some of those 1" tall vertical reinforcing ribs at the front of the splitter are broken and as well there is a paint blemish on the front right fender, both things that were on the car before I bought it. So give him the keys and drive off watching in the side mirror as Jon drives the car to park it. Feeling sort of sad but the car arrived, in once piece and it is now out of my hands as it begins its trip to Manny.
Also checked to make sure the Mild to Wild was disconnected so there would be no battery drain from that. Don't need the guys unloading it to face that problem.
Start to feel better as I drive to renew my passport. Not excited about navigating downtown Edmonton with this trailer but find a good parking spot and in under an hour (Federal Government here!) I am back in the truck, 11:30 and leaving before lunch traffic.
Looking at the AMA road report and red roads ahead, listening to CBC radio and the RCMP report a heavy nowfall warning for the Whitecourt/Fox Creek area. Decide to proceed. It is warming up slightly and then a problem, slush and spray from oncoming and passing vehicles! No windshield washer fluid working! This was not good, visability poor, sometimes the front window looks like my old glass lenses. End up finding the bottle of Windex that I had in the truck for cleaning the combine windows and every time we'd slow down going through a town or something rolling down the window and washing my side, sometimes good for 30 km, sometimes 3 depending on traffic.
Now we are at Onoway and the weather is horrible! I start thinking if the orad ahead is worse than this we are in trouble. But find some odd solice in that at least I don't have the car in the trailer still.
It gets worse, RCMP closing roads and not recommending travel. Proceed on, it clears! I think the eye of the hurricane sort of thing but then we realize as it gets better still that the reports we heard were old and out of date and the weather we encountered was what had moved 50 km further in the meantime.
The remainder of the trip outside of being the closest I've been to running out of fuel coming into Valleyview, went OK. Dropped off the trailer, returned home so happy and excited. I'm done!
Now the craziness of what I have undertaken and what Manny will be doing can begin soon.
Some pins and needles until Manny tells me he has the car but it is all out of my hands.
And that is that!
I'll see if the usual suspect will post some pictures for me once I've looked through them!
Cheers,
Garry
-25 currently although it is going to get to -7 which is better as I will be going out Trick or Treating with my son tonight.
So the trip...........
Well Monday headed out to Grande Prairie, about 175 km away to the trailer - no rental places around here sadly. Get there and discover that the trailer lights are not working which is a bit of a disappointment as when I called to book the trailer last week I specifically told them to check the tire pressure and lights so there were no surprises. But I was also not overly worried as long as I left as soon as possible with the car and reached Edmonton in daylight.
So I had to double back to Spirit River which was a set back. I'd originally been thinking that if the weather and roads had been good I would have driven the car to Grande Prairie (one last time behind the wheel!) and trailered it from there but the snow was falling again and getting deeper.
So I arrived and of course there was another 6" in snow on the driveway which had top be cleared (snowblower ran out of fuel on the final pass but I had some with me). I used the same technique as I had with finally backing the car in after reversing its facing, using the neighbour's driveway. No problems backing the trailer up, had to try twice but no traction problems.
My red truck is full of character. I can only use the front fuel tank. But stopping every 200 km to fuel would be good to stretch my legs and to relax. The tires, well look more like the pubic area of some South American women. I'm known for going to my local tire dealer and buying the tires people get rid of as being too worn. Generally I don't venture too far with the red truck ('97 Ford 4x4 3/4 ton 5.8 liter gas, only 134K km's so overall in good shape) it has only ever done one trip since I've owned it to Saskatoon to get a small plot combine and there were no issues. So lets see, tank, tires, what else? Oh ya, the windshield fluid doesn't work, not sure if it is the pump, fuse or what but as it was -10 I wasn't worried about it.
So I lower the ramp and everything is lined up nicely, just have to manuver the car to get it more in the center of the ramp but the garage is long and that is no problem. -10 but the car starts without hesitation. Then the 1st problem.
I never noticed when I looked at the trailer last week that the fender covers make it much narrower than I thought. Panic strikes! Would the car even fit? No measuring tape but an extension cord and it appears it might have a total of 3 or 4 inches total, not much when you divide that by two!
So thanfully my gf is with me and she guides me in and the car fits! But there is so little room that I can not open the door to get out and so am faced with doing it NASCAR/Dukes of Hazzard style, this gets recorded by my gf who somehow finds much mirth in the situation.
Then to proceed to tie the car down. I was going to go from tire to d-ring but I remembered someone talking about going crosswise instead (Riley, Colin said this maybe??) but it was sage advice. I did run the straps through the rims and there was no problem with this and so the car was secure.
Off we go!
The weather gets worse, much worse. I was going to go east of Rycroft and then south of Wanham as it is a short cut and you come out a Bezanson but decided to take the longer route back to Grand Prairie. The road south of Wanham was less likely to be plowed and there is a valley with a sharp turn at the bottom. When I went through Bezanson and was able to see the Wanham road I was glad I did not use that road.
As well, I have a construction trailer and a weigh wagon for my work and what I like about them is they are exactly the wide of the red truck, this car trailer is wider, maybe 18" on either side so that was something I was not comfortable with and was always in the back of my mind.
There is a very long run into a river valley east of Bezanson, I stopped at the top to put the truck in 4x4 (older style manual locking hubs) and started down. Around the 1st corner in the upcoming lane (it is two lanes up and down) is a two trailer fuel semi that has jack-knifed, maybe he didn't chain up. But not a good feeling as I am creeping down. But no problems. Then the weather gets worse yet, visability is poor and white out conditions when someone passes you. But the one lane looks clear still. Around Debolt my gf asks me "So on a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the road conditions?". I had taken the truck out of 4x4 and didn't think they were that back and thought maybe a 5 or 6 when the back end of the truck snapped right! So popped it into neutral, foot off gas and it straightened out. I then said to her "how about zero!". Getting closer to valleyview I started to realize how bad it was, we came across a plow/sanding truck in the ditch.
We'd checked the AMA road reports and knew we were in for some "red" stretches" but wanted to proceed anyway.
Going up an uphill stretch the truck starts to fishtail again, I catch it after 3 swings, get that flushed feeling across my face. I start to wonder how secure the car is and if it would stay in place if I ditched. Oh ya and I also confirm that the current insurance in the car is only until May 8th..........
Stopped in Valleyview to fuel up and talked with some people there who had come from further south, the usual comments, 10, 15 vehicles in the ditch.
A quick stop at Tim's for snacks and it looked like it was clearing so we decided to go town by town and if it got back we'd stop. Off then to Little Smoky, then Fox Creek, Whitecourt etc. and it looked OK.
Then the realization that night is coming. The trailer lights! I really didn't want to stop as I had to get the trailer back by 5:30 to Grande Prairie as they close the gates and I would then have to wait until morning to return it and spending another night in a hotel was not something I wanted to do. I only had to drop the car off and then do my passport renewal and then I could leave. I hoped to be on the road by noon and if I had to stop 2 hours away from Edmonton it would have thrown that out the window. So gave the plugs a liberal spraying of WD-40 and volia they worked! Feeling much happier now that I can be seen and can let other drivers know of my intentions!
Arrive in Edmonton at about 8 pm, tired but pretty happy I am so close to being done with this. Go to Toys r Us as my son will be 8 on Remembrance Day and find some things for him.
Tuesday morning. Have breakfast, falling snow pellets. The transport place is on the opposite side of Edmonton but I wait until 8:30 before leaving.
Manny made the arrangements with Livingston Freight. Located in an industrial area but obviously a busy company, trucks arriving and leaving, taking and bringing cars. So go inside (had called when we were leaving the hotel) and see what has to be done here. Not much, just the inspection. Meet Jon. Nice guy, lived in Germany for 30 plus years, brother owns a Corvette. Given him my story on how I came to buy the car. Open trailer doors and find the car still in place. My gf thought I funny when we were manuvering in the hotel parking lot "I think I heard something move in the trailer" so I act cool and nonchlant but before going to Toys r Us without her I doubled back and peaking inside!! The power of suggestion!
But the car is still secure, made Jon smile when I had to go through the window to get in. In hindsight I could have gone through the trunk which might have been easier.
Car starts again, back out of trailer, check it over with Jon. Only issues are some of those 1" tall vertical reinforcing ribs at the front of the splitter are broken and as well there is a paint blemish on the front right fender, both things that were on the car before I bought it. So give him the keys and drive off watching in the side mirror as Jon drives the car to park it. Feeling sort of sad but the car arrived, in once piece and it is now out of my hands as it begins its trip to Manny.
Also checked to make sure the Mild to Wild was disconnected so there would be no battery drain from that. Don't need the guys unloading it to face that problem.
Start to feel better as I drive to renew my passport. Not excited about navigating downtown Edmonton with this trailer but find a good parking spot and in under an hour (Federal Government here!) I am back in the truck, 11:30 and leaving before lunch traffic.
Looking at the AMA road report and red roads ahead, listening to CBC radio and the RCMP report a heavy nowfall warning for the Whitecourt/Fox Creek area. Decide to proceed. It is warming up slightly and then a problem, slush and spray from oncoming and passing vehicles! No windshield washer fluid working! This was not good, visability poor, sometimes the front window looks like my old glass lenses. End up finding the bottle of Windex that I had in the truck for cleaning the combine windows and every time we'd slow down going through a town or something rolling down the window and washing my side, sometimes good for 30 km, sometimes 3 depending on traffic.
Now we are at Onoway and the weather is horrible! I start thinking if the orad ahead is worse than this we are in trouble. But find some odd solice in that at least I don't have the car in the trailer still.
It gets worse, RCMP closing roads and not recommending travel. Proceed on, it clears! I think the eye of the hurricane sort of thing but then we realize as it gets better still that the reports we heard were old and out of date and the weather we encountered was what had moved 50 km further in the meantime.
The remainder of the trip outside of being the closest I've been to running out of fuel coming into Valleyview, went OK. Dropped off the trailer, returned home so happy and excited. I'm done!
Now the craziness of what I have undertaken and what Manny will be doing can begin soon.
Some pins and needles until Manny tells me he has the car but it is all out of my hands.
And that is that!
I'll see if the usual suspect will post some pictures for me once I've looked through them!
Cheers,
Garry
- Jan 11, 2009
- 11,104
- 1,983
Good job pressing on when things were looking sketchy! I can totally understand the "face flushing" feeling! That would have had me sweating bullets the whole way!
Too bad we don't have pics of you Duke of Hazzarding into the car.
Glad to hear the car is in good hands and off to see Manny!
Too bad we don't have pics of you Duke of Hazzarding into the car.
Glad to hear the car is in good hands and off to see Manny!
- Jul 15, 2012
- 2,039
- 537
- Thread starter
- #28
Good morning Riley,
I am hoping that you will have pictures soon. I am trying to Webmail them to the same gentleman that helped me previously but for some reason it won't get on its way. Maybe this is how I am being told to stop bother other people and to just sit down and learn how to do it myself, but there will be pictures at some point to be sure!
Cheers,
Garry
I am hoping that you will have pictures soon. I am trying to Webmail them to the same gentleman that helped me previously but for some reason it won't get on its way. Maybe this is how I am being told to stop bother other people and to just sit down and learn how to do it myself, but there will be pictures at some point to be sure!
Cheers,
Garry
- Jul 15, 2012
- 2,039
- 537
- Thread starter
- #29
- Jul 15, 2012
- 2,039
- 537
- Thread starter
- #30
- Feb 5, 2009
- 3,183
- 63
Great pictures Garry , nice to put a face to a voice .
I will post up pictures of your Z, once it is arrives here
This has all the makings of a magazine quality story
I am going to make a few calls and see if we can get the build and story in Vette Magazine
I will post up pictures of your Z, once it is arrives here
This has all the makings of a magazine quality story
I am going to make a few calls and see if we can get the build and story in Vette Magazine
Last edited:
- Jul 15, 2012
- 2,039
- 537
- Thread starter
- #32
Now that would be a super addition to the story! How about:
"Cancer couldn't kill this western Canadian farmboy but his DeSilva Motorsports modified Z06 certainly could..........." LOL.
Cheers,
Garry
"Cancer couldn't kill this western Canadian farmboy but his DeSilva Motorsports modified Z06 certainly could..........." LOL.
Cheers,
Garry
- Feb 5, 2009
- 3,183
- 63
Ok but you have to start spelling my last name right "Dasilva " not Desilva
- Aug 5, 2011
- 7,854
- 111
wow, Garry -- congrats on what must have been one harrowing trip. I'm glad you had the g/f along.
Now that's over, the long wait for spring begins.
At least you can follow the progress by cct and phone.
As far as sending pics by email: you may need to downsize them first or send fewer if they are big (in pixels). It's easy to exceed the server's size limit .
Get some rest.
Colin.
Now that's over, the long wait for spring begins.
At least you can follow the progress by cct and phone.
As far as sending pics by email: you may need to downsize them first or send fewer if they are big (in pixels). It's easy to exceed the server's size limit .
Get some rest.
Colin.
- Apr 24, 2011
- 879
- 72
I'm telling ya Garry, you missed your calling. In stead of bring a farm boy you should have been a writer for all us grown up older Corvette kids! I'm sitting here on the edge of my chair wondering what's going to happen next!!!!
Thanks for the great read.
Rob
Thanks for the great read.
Rob
- Jul 21, 2012
- 461
- 3
Ok but you have to start spelling my last name right "Dasilva " not Desilva
Is Desilva the Mustang guy???
- Feb 5, 2009
- 3,183
- 63
Is Desilva the Mustang guy???
Yes its is .
- Jul 15, 2012
- 2,039
- 537
- Thread starter
- #38
Good morning Manny,
No connection yet with the link but I will keep trying.
Oops! Considering how often people butcher my last name I tend to be sensitive about others last names. People who have not met me think that I am Chinese with a "chan" in my last name or the locals really do a bad job and pronounce "Ropchan" as, and get this, "Rup-shin". Not sure how this ever happened. But it is two sylables, pronounced as you'd expect "Rop Chan".......
When I was asking Jackie to send you an email that we had left/arrived I remembered the email correctly except for the "Da" instead of the "De" so I should have learned this already!
I'm not sure why. I think for some reason I was thinking you might be Brazilian and my favorite Formula 1 driver was Nelson Piquet DeSilva (I think or maybe it is Dasilva too?!). So through laziness I just jumped to the conclusion that your full name was probably be Manuel and it was De and not Da.
But as I've always told the women I've dated, one of my best characteristics is that I am trainable so hopefully I will get it right next time!
Cheers,
Garry
No connection yet with the link but I will keep trying.
Oops! Considering how often people butcher my last name I tend to be sensitive about others last names. People who have not met me think that I am Chinese with a "chan" in my last name or the locals really do a bad job and pronounce "Ropchan" as, and get this, "Rup-shin". Not sure how this ever happened. But it is two sylables, pronounced as you'd expect "Rop Chan".......
When I was asking Jackie to send you an email that we had left/arrived I remembered the email correctly except for the "Da" instead of the "De" so I should have learned this already!
I'm not sure why. I think for some reason I was thinking you might be Brazilian and my favorite Formula 1 driver was Nelson Piquet DeSilva (I think or maybe it is Dasilva too?!). So through laziness I just jumped to the conclusion that your full name was probably be Manuel and it was De and not Da.
But as I've always told the women I've dated, one of my best characteristics is that I am trainable so hopefully I will get it right next time!
Cheers,
Garry
- Jan 11, 2009
- 11,104
- 1,983
Woo! Car on the way and lots of posts! I love the picture with the windex on the wind shield. That is great! I can't believe how crappy the roads are! I think I would have put grip marks in the trucks steering wheel!
I can't believe how crappy the roads are! I think I would have put grip marks in the trucks steering wheel!
- Jul 15, 2012
- 2,039
- 537
- Thread starter
- #40
Good morning Riley,
Well, you did bring up a point I never mentioned. My hands did not come away from the steering wheel at first. It reminded me some something that I used to experience in my younger days cutting firewood with a chainsaw when I worked at a park as a student. After a while I would put the chainsaw down and end up with my fingers still curled and I started to refer to it as "chainsaw claw". No doubt I was so tense on the drive that the same thing happened again.
Looking back now and hearing the icey road conditions around Edmonton I am glad that I did not make the trip yesterday or today but at the same time I am thinking in hindsite that I didn't exercise the best of judgement on going on Monday and that there were a few times I should have probably stopped.
I remember thinking about things like if the trailer were to flip would the tie straps hold it in place upside down?
I was lucky in the second instance when the truck and trailer started to sway and it went back and forth 4 times before I caught it. I'm lucky I've driven enough icey and poor roads so far in my life that some things have become ingrained. Hit the clutch with a manual transmission or pop it into neutral if an automatic and foot off the gas and brake and let the vehicle straighten itself out, steer where you want the vehicle to go.
I have to admit that I used 4x4 a lot and that should have been a sign to me that I was driving beyond what I shoudl have been.
Around here everyone has 4x4. It wasn't that way 30 years ago, 4x4 was rare then. I think that it has really allowed people to think that they can get away with more than they ought to.
1)"4x4 only allows you to end up getting stuck in more inaccessable areas".
2)If you didn't have 4x4 you wouldn't be venturing on the roads and you'd be staying home where you should be anyway.
3)While 4x4 helps you to accelerate it doesn't help you brake at all! You may end up going faster than you should be as a result.
4)4x4 is no replacement for responsible and prudent driving.
But I probably saw more 4x4 on this 1100 km trip than previously all totalled in the 134,000 km the truck has on it.
I did push my luck and I just was fortunate that nothing bad happened. I would have been a shame to have Manny doing body work along with engine work!
But yes Riley, what a relief that it is there and I don't have to face doing this still. I am happy that it will soon be in the gentle and loving hands of Manny and his team and only hope that I can get a few odds and ends done while it is there for several months.
Cheers,
Garry
Well, you did bring up a point I never mentioned. My hands did not come away from the steering wheel at first. It reminded me some something that I used to experience in my younger days cutting firewood with a chainsaw when I worked at a park as a student. After a while I would put the chainsaw down and end up with my fingers still curled and I started to refer to it as "chainsaw claw". No doubt I was so tense on the drive that the same thing happened again.
Looking back now and hearing the icey road conditions around Edmonton I am glad that I did not make the trip yesterday or today but at the same time I am thinking in hindsite that I didn't exercise the best of judgement on going on Monday and that there were a few times I should have probably stopped.
I remember thinking about things like if the trailer were to flip would the tie straps hold it in place upside down?
I was lucky in the second instance when the truck and trailer started to sway and it went back and forth 4 times before I caught it. I'm lucky I've driven enough icey and poor roads so far in my life that some things have become ingrained. Hit the clutch with a manual transmission or pop it into neutral if an automatic and foot off the gas and brake and let the vehicle straighten itself out, steer where you want the vehicle to go.
I have to admit that I used 4x4 a lot and that should have been a sign to me that I was driving beyond what I shoudl have been.
Around here everyone has 4x4. It wasn't that way 30 years ago, 4x4 was rare then. I think that it has really allowed people to think that they can get away with more than they ought to.
1)"4x4 only allows you to end up getting stuck in more inaccessable areas".
2)If you didn't have 4x4 you wouldn't be venturing on the roads and you'd be staying home where you should be anyway.
3)While 4x4 helps you to accelerate it doesn't help you brake at all! You may end up going faster than you should be as a result.
4)4x4 is no replacement for responsible and prudent driving.
But I probably saw more 4x4 on this 1100 km trip than previously all totalled in the 134,000 km the truck has on it.
I did push my luck and I just was fortunate that nothing bad happened. I would have been a shame to have Manny doing body work along with engine work!
But yes Riley, what a relief that it is there and I don't have to face doing this still. I am happy that it will soon be in the gentle and loving hands of Manny and his team and only hope that I can get a few odds and ends done while it is there for several months.
Cheers,
Garry