Pullstart 62,786 #1 Posted July 2, 2020 A couple things here before I get started. A hillbilly man I worked with many years ago often told me, “All women are beautiful, just some more than others.” I’m gonna one up him right now. All people are beautiful. They just don’t all look the same. Well, Uncle Jim... I’m not gonna go there. I am a fortunate man. We’ve had the opportunity to un-officially adopt a German girl we call our daughter but was just a foreign exchange student wanting to see America. We have chased her all over the world since then. We like to travel. We’ve put ourselves in situations that nobody can communicate via speaking. We ate a 4 course meal at a restaurant once in Germany in pitch black, with blind wait staff and no English used. English, German, Dutch, Mexican, I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU SPEAK. Treat me well, I’ll treat you well too. I’ve learned also a good point over the years. If you can’t understand a person in YOUR language, that does not mean they are dumb. That means that they know what they are trying to say, but are trying to help you understand it. Now, to the point. The part I started this thread for. The beloved Norman our 6 speed gear jamming diesel eating tractor show camping hauling machine has a blown head gasket or maybe cracked head(s) even. He came from Oklahoma. My wife and I started a search from the Virginias to Florida, to Texas. I found in Dallas, TX metro a Norman Jr. It’s an extended cab automatic diesel with a blown transmission. The kicker. The owner doesn’t speak English. I told him that I’ll do my bets to use Google Translate to communicate with him. He didn’t believe I’d come from MI to TX to get a truck that won’t move. I told him I would for the right truck, I’ve gotten one from OK before. HE BELIEVED ME! After some checking around, we figured out we have a 2nd and 3rd cousin in the area. They volunteered to look at it. Here’s another kicker. We’ve met Nik once before at our Great Grandmother’s funeral, some 8-ish years ago. He doesn’t have a bank that will accept wire transfers. He’s recently engaged and his fiancé GAVE US her bank account number, address, all the credentials to her account... so we could transfer a good sum to them to buy this truck. Another trusting leap of faith. Would you send thousands to someone you’ve never met and hope they come through with their end of the deal? They did. THEY ALL DID! Jose could have sold the truck to someone while the money transfer was happening. The cousins could have told us a bogus story that something went wrong and the money didn’t come through. Who knows what bad could’ve happened? Now, I’ve got a car dolly, an awesome wife who is willing to road trip it with me and the girls, and we’re leaving Sunday to TX to pick up a truck I asked someone to buy for me. Norman, Buddy... let’s go see the world! 3 4 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bc.gold 3,403 #2 Posted July 2, 2020 Works for me, the Petter PJ 15 kw generator I wired half the funds, did the same from my Allis Chalmers 720 paying the balance once I had possession of my purchases. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,619 #3 Posted July 2, 2020 (edited) Kev, You never cease to amaze me.The things you come up with and the way you look at life are refreshing.From the first time you introduced yourself at the 2019 show I have been a fan.The smile,positive slant you have on life and your family are reassuring to an old man like me.You are a Bow Tie fan and I am Blue Oval guy for many years but hey thats why they paint cars different colors.You have the right idea,lets get in the truck and see the world. Edited July 2, 2020 by JAinVA 5 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickwhitt 4,584 #4 Posted July 2, 2020 How far a road trip.is this Kevin? We British tend to think a trip into town is quite a run lol. Some pics of the pull start family road trip will be great. Mick 3 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractorhead 9,064 #5 Posted July 2, 2020 Great to have such persons aside where you can deal with even on long distance. 👍 have a lot of Fun at the Roadtrip Buddy. 😎🇺🇸👍😂 Ah, forgot - ya know nothing is happen without Pict‘s 👍👍👍 have a good and safe Trip. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,268 #6 Posted July 2, 2020 I'm in. @Mickwhitt Trina and I both travel about an hour each way to work. People look at us like we're an alien life form. @pullstart Be safe. Have fun. See the scenery. Take and share lots of pictures. Southbound and down and keep the rubber on the road. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,069 #7 Posted July 2, 2020 9 hours ago, pullstart said: I’ve got a car dolly, an awesome wife who is willing to road trip it with me and the girls, and we’re leaving Sunday to TX to pick up a truck Safe travels Kevin and crew. It would appear that everyone in this circle of strangers has read and understood Matthew 7:12 in a variety of languages. 2 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,786 #8 Posted July 2, 2020 Our travels will be just over 1000 miles each way @Mickwhitt. It says 16 hour drive time, we’ll see! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickwhitt 4,584 #10 Posted July 2, 2020 Good gravy! Its 603 miles from tip to tip on our country, and that takes three weeks by mail coach! Couldn't imagine a road trip like yours. Plus our roads are completely pants. Driving is not a pleasure. And the price of petrol, it would cost...wait a minute... 10 million pounds to go that far! Good luck pullstart family 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sergeant 291 #11 Posted July 2, 2020 3 hours ago, Mickwhitt said: Good gravy! Its 603 miles from tip to tip on our country, and that takes three weeks by mail coach! Couldn't imagine a road trip like yours. Plus our roads are completely pants. Driving is not a pleasure. And the price of petrol, it would cost...wait a minute... 10 million pounds to go that far! Good luck pullstart family Problem with England to Many speed Cameras That's why I let the wife Or My Youngest son drive there now when we go to Visit My cousins near Newcastle 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,302 #12 Posted July 2, 2020 3 hours ago, Mickwhitt said: Good gravy! Its 603 miles from tip to tip on our country, and that takes three weeks by mail coach! Couldn't imagine a road trip like yours. Plus our roads are completely pants. Driving is not a pleasure. And the price of petrol, it would cost...wait a minute... 10 million pounds to go that far! And then there is the total rebuild of the car since it wasn't meant for such grueling service. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #13 Posted July 2, 2020 3 hours ago, Mickwhitt said: Good gravy! Its 603 miles from tip to tip on our country, 874 John O'Groats to Lands End, Mick. 367 Carlisle to Brighton. But your right about the roads. (Plus the traffic) Once took me 12hrs from home to near Hastings on a Friday. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #14 Posted July 2, 2020 (edited) 15 minutes ago, lynnmor said: And then there is the total rebuild of the car since it wasn't meant for such grueling service. I could answer that. But I'm too polite. Edited July 2, 2020 by Stormin 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,786 #15 Posted July 2, 2020 18 minutes ago, Stormin said: 874 John O'Groats to Lands End, Mick. 367 Carlisle to Brighton. But your right about the roads. (Plus the traffic) Once took me 12hrs from home to near Hastings on a Friday. Hastings is just 15-20 minutes away for me... I didn’t realize we are so close! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickwhitt 4,584 #16 Posted July 2, 2020 874 on the roads, 603 as the crow flies. Forget the car needing a rebuild, the poor old driver will need some serious therapy. Lol 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractorhead 9,064 #17 Posted July 3, 2020 I just heared about Traffic, Last week we visited my middle daughter with her future Husband about 600Km far. The distance wasn‘t the problem, just the speed restrictions about covid. most on that trip you are only allowed 80-100Km/h instead of free. That’s hard to ride for me with a Car that run’s easily 260-270 Km/h in Topspeed. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickwhitt 4,584 #18 Posted July 3, 2020 Why on earth would your government li it speed on the roads? Only thing I can think is to reduce the number of road casualties putting pressure on hospitals. Covid has a lot to answer for. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCW 1,292 #19 Posted July 3, 2020 Respect science Respect nature Respect Each Other. If only - life would be even better. Enjoy your trip. 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCW 1,292 #20 Posted July 3, 2020 18 hours ago, Mickwhitt said: Good gravy! Its 603 miles from tip to tip on our country, and that takes three weeks by mail coach! Couldn't imagine a road trip like yours. Plus our roads are completely pants. Driving is not a pleasure. And the price of petrol, it would cost...wait a minute... 10 million pounds to go that far! Good luck pullstart family My son in Germany tells me that Americans do not understand how old Europe is and Europeans do not understand how big the U.S.A. is. 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sergeant 291 #21 Posted July 3, 2020 8 hours ago, CCW said: My son in Germany tells me that Americans do not understand how old Europe is and Europeans do not understand how big the U.S.A. is. I take it he's in the service Kosovo In the Balkans Yesterday was 400 years ago People are still mad about something That some ancestor from there Next door Neighbor did to there ancestor 400 years ago and still treat that current Family as a enemy. Yet here in the US where Not still mad at the Japanese for Bombing Pearl Harbor I guess in the US we see yesterday as yesterday BTW 603 Miles is a 7.5hr trip In the US at 80mph or 10mph Over the speed Limit In Most states I use to to drive 725 Miles In one Day and that was a 10.5hr trip 6hrs thru Canada speed limit 100KMH (62MPH) CMP driving 100MPH passing me all the time I was doing 80MPH 4.5 to 5hrs thru the US a good Day was 10.5 hrs A Bad day was 14hrs From Porthcurno to Edinburgh 565 miles 9 h 52 min using the M6 and M5 and By train it's 14 hrs & 24min according to google Maps England is about the size of the State of Illinois The UK is Probably about the size of the States of Wisconsin, Illinois & Iowa combined together, I do know France is about the size of Texas excluding the Pan Handle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCW 1,292 #22 Posted July 4, 2020 13 hours ago, sergeant said: I take it he's in the service Kosovo In the Balkans Yesterday was 400 years ago People are still mad about something That some ancestor from there Next door Neighbor did to there ancestor 400 years ago and still treat that current Family as a enemy. Yet here in the US where Not still mad at the Japanese for Bombing Pearl Harbor I guess in the US we see yesterday as yesterday BTW 603 Miles is a 7.5hr trip In the US at 80mph or 10mph Over the speed Limit In Most states I use to to drive 725 Miles In one Day and that was a 10.5hr trip 6hrs thru Canada speed limit 100KMH (62MPH) CMP driving 100MPH passing me all the time I was doing 80MPH 4.5 to 5hrs thru the US a good Day was 10.5 hrs A Bad day was 14hrs From Porthcurno to Edinburgh 565 miles 9 h 52 min using the M6 and M5 and By train it's 14 hrs & 24min according to google Maps England is about the size of the State of Illinois The UK is Probably about the size of the States of Wisconsin, Illinois & Iowa combined together, I do know France is about the size of Texas excluding the Pan Handle Yes - he is an e6 stationed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Will be there another year. Sounds like you were / are a long haul trucker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ranger 1,746 #23 Posted July 4, 2020 On 7/2/2020 at 10:17 PM, Stormin said: 874 John O'Groats to Lands End, Mick. 367 Carlisle to Brighton. But your right about the roads. (Plus the traffic) Once took me 12hrs from home to near Hastings on a Friday. It once took me 7 1/2 hours to get from junction 22 to junction 22A on the M25 on my way to Heathrow airport, that was a Friday Norm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #24 Posted July 4, 2020 3 hours ago, ranger said: It once took me 7 1/2 hours to get from junction 22 to junction 22A on the M25 on my way to Heathrow airport, that was a Friday Norm. Oh yes! The biggest car park in Europe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sergeant 291 #25 Posted July 4, 2020 9 hours ago, CCW said: Yes - he is an e6 stationed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Will be there another year. Sounds like you were / are a long haul trucker. I retired after 21.5 years as a Master Sergeant spent My Career In either Light Infantry(regular Army Various Infantry Divisions ) or 10th Special forces & 1st SFOD My Last duty assignment In the Army was with the 10th Mountain Division(Fort Drum, NY) as a S-3 Operation Sergeant NCOIC & acting Battalion Sergeant Major.(Work as a Civilian Military advisor Currently Desk Bound & get to work from Home as I am Management Now) I am originally from Illinois so that 725 miles was the ride Home when the wife, Kids & I would go to visit My Folks In the Chicago area. Where the wife & I Live Currently. I couldn't be a long haul Trucker I hate to drive. The Farthest I will go for a Garden tractor Is 4hrs to the Place and 4Hrs Back Home If It Over that I can do without it. I think my 1992 WH416H was about 3hrs there & 3hrs Back as everyone around me Holds On to there Wheel Horses. If I want a Used Deere, Cub Cadet or Simplicity I can get One within 10 Miles from Me. But Used Wheel Horse's our few and far between. Back In the Day we Had a lot of Wheel horse dealers in this area. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites