Gizmo's Odyssey Part One

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by Slicer Great shots, Giz! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of this beautiful country when I get back to the Atlantic, maybe the Boxwood Plant tour in your state!

I would love a tour of our very own Mecca. Thanks for originating that term for us, Slicer.

Originally Posted by mcurrier Awesome! Thanks.

Thanks, mcurrier. You just gotta take the time and get out on the road. Freedom!

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[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by SolWhat? Thanks for the tour, Giz. It reminds me that I'm overdue for a trip through our beautiful western states.

Originally Posted by Chemist Thanks, Giz! Karen and I are already planing future trips in Muirne. You've certainly given us lots of places to go! See you in April, Lord willing, in Lubbock!!

Hey, guys, be sure to check the regions where you plan to visit and try to be there for Solstice meets, makes the trip even better!

I originated my trip to coincide with the Lake Tahoe meet, which worked out great. I had hoped to make the Columbia River Gorge meet two weeks later, but I ran late, missed it by ONE day!

But I also met up with Solitud, Blasterd, and rlc222 along the way, missed whitefang because he was out of town. I'll plan better next time.

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[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by SWT-SKY Great pictures !!! By any chance were there any of you driving through Angels Camp on or around June 16th while heading up to Lake Tahoe ?? I think there were 5 or 6 of ya'll. If so, saw you guy's in a gas station in Angels Camp, I wanted to turn around and say Hi, but had a boat behind me and it would have been difficult to turn around. I was heading up to New Malones Lake where a bunch my friends and I were renting a houseboat for the week. Anyway,, just wondering if that could have been ya'll.

I came up from Sequoia National Park to Lake Tahoe, had to make it quick to arrive on time. So I didn't see Angels Camp, but I was there many many years ago.

You probably saw some of the southern California Forum members there. Check the Lake Tahoe meet thread.

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[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by SolsticeSJA Great Pics of many beautiful things-oh and that MariSol, she sure is a ham for the camera! Thanks for sharing

Glad you enjoyed the photos. Yeah, MARiSOL was ALWAYS jumping in front of the camera, no matter which way I aimed it.

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[DA 1234]

What a trip that must have been!! Great pictures. We all need to experience a trip like that sometime. By the way ,is that Druid-2 playing the bass drum at the Summer Solstice celebration ??? There is a strong resemblance. Thanks for sharing. D. Allen

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by Solstice62 Gizmo, I think that ALL of us here on the Forum just love your pictures. Your final, overall thoughts of your trip gave me the answers to the questions that I had jotted down during my trip through your trip. WATTA TRIP! Makes me want to get that agenda on my list of “Things To Do When I Retire”. Can’t believe that you went alone. Wasn’t it lonely sometime? Do you think you would have had more fun with a buddy? Also, I noticed that your ‘top’ was down when the snow was on the ground. Did you drive with the top down all the way? Or, was I just not paying attention to some of your pics that might have had the top up?? My head is spinning so I just can’t go back to your pictures right now to review them. Thanks for taking the time to show us how great and beautiful our Country is!! U.S.A.!!

Well, I did have my cousin Dan with me for five days, from Carson City, NV through Salt Lake City, Yellowstone, across Montana to Glacier National Park, down through Boise, ID, and back to CC. Let me tell you how special that was:

I had not seen Dan for about 50 years, we lost all communication. I got a call from him and his wife in Feb 2006 and flew out to visit in April. But those 5 days together in the Solstice were fanTAStic. Gave us time to share so many stories of ourselves. I'll always treasure those 5 days. Saw him again for Christmas, he'll be coming out to Texas later this year.

As for the Solstice top, if it is not raining and the temperature is at least 50 degrees, the top is DOWN! OK, I cheated for a few hours in southern Arizona. I put the top up and turned on the A/C.

I left Houston June 13 and did not see a drop of rain until July 1. How's that for good luck?

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[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by Aspenrose Fabulous pics, Love the Canadian Rockies, they're a whole different feel than the Colorado Rockies, or Wyoming, even Montana! Now I *have* to get out west this year, it's been far too long, you're making me go into withdrawal now!!!

I know you've been all over the west, you shared many of those photos with me. Now imagine doing all those miles, seeing all those places, in your Solstice? It just doesn't get any better than that!



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[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by RichSol What a terrific show, Giz. You really demonstrated what an "Original Sol" is all about...the road and what's on and around it. Perfect application of your tricked out pure american sports car.

Well, you live in the best state for cruising in that Solstice. If you haven't already, you gotta do that California 178 through Kern Canyon. For driving excitement, that was my Number One (especially with that WRXsi behind me, pushing me to my limits!)

Also check out the RAMP coming out of Death Valley to the west. It is straight as an arrow, no traffic of ANY kind, and drops 4000 feet of altitude in about 10 miles or so. I had my top up because it was SO hot, and my speed was in triple digits, and all of a sudden a jet buzzes me, maybe 100 feet above me!

I thought: Oh my God, the California Highway Patrol has jets now? Then he buzzed me again, so I figured out it must be a military jet having a little fun.

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[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by DA 1234 What a trip that must have been!! Great pictures. We all need to experience a trip like that sometime. By the way ,is that Druid-2 playing the bass drum at the Summer Solstice celebration ??? There is a strong resemblance. Thanks for sharing. D. Allen

Funny you should mention the drum player.

One of our Lake Tahoe meet founders, who also happens to be a moderator of the Solstice Forum, was also wearing a similar outfit. I had to go back to my car, forgot my camera, and by the time I got back, I couldn't find him for a photo shoot!

I remember that photo of druid-2, that was so special!

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[flaj]

Giz --- what can I say but SUREAL! That trip brought back some great memories of a 10,000-mile trip that my wife and I made in a Mustang a bunch of years ago. Thanks

[Mikenmass]

Giz, Wow and thanks!

Closest I'll get is the trip to Nashville this year. Stops in PA and WV along the way.

[popsintx]

Super pics Gizmo. You were truly fortunate and blessed to take that trip. Not a bad photo in the bunch. Love Crater Lake and the Canadian Rockies especially. Very

[Tigerman]

Great shots Giz. Yosemite is my favorite place,gotta get back soon. The Black Hills of South Dakota are great for sightseeing and driving.

[solli4me]

FANTASTIC pics, Gizmo! It was great to see Oregon and Yosemite again from your eyes. I felt like we traveled the very same roads!

Many times during my trip I also wished that I kept company with a "scientific" person who might be able to share my wonder for the geology of the earth. I had so many unanswered questions. America is truly magnificent and I just love your enthusiasm! Keep 'em coming.


love your new driver

[AverageJoe]

Wow, awesome pictures Gizmo. Looks like a great trip!! I was thinking about doing just about the same trip with my Solstice but had to scale back to the plans and just fly to Vegas and do a 3355 mile loop around the southwest. Highlight of the trip was doing 125mph on the bonneville salt flats right before we got stuck in the sald/mud -- don't worry, no solstices were used/harmed in trip

anthony