On the Road Again with Merle

[Rookie82]

Here we are visiting the new Riverside Brewing restaurant for a late lunch.



My wife had a seafood platter, and I had a very nice cut of prime rib.

(images removed due to BF Attachment limits)

 

[Rookie82]

With that my tour of northwestern Pennsylvania is through. Thanks again to Barrett btb01 for organizing this adventure. I’m sure you can tell I enjoyed hosting Merle, as it also gave my wife and I a reason to take some time off and spend time together sightseeing around our own neck of the woods. I hope you all enjoyed the info and photos I shared during his time here. And I look forward to where the wind blows Merle to next.

 

[Horsewright]

Sure does...I'll wash the bus...that always makes the La Nina cry.

I'll buy the beer if ya got the bus. A crying El Nina hopefully will turn into a sobbing El Nino!

Just a great visit Carl!!

 

[SVTFreak]

Well, young old Merle showed up here today, yall. Now I ain’t even gonna try to lie or sugar coat it. I ain’t kept up with this thread in awhile. My knife hobby slowed a bit while my car hobby consumed more of my funds. But I’m gonna do some catching up this weekend. With Merle, of course. Too bad it was not a few days earlier, he coulda went to the gt500 racing school with me! Lol.

Before I get started, other than the obvious don’t abuse him, any rules? Can I touch him up a bit?

 

[SVTFreak]

Muscadine harvest is coming to an end but there’s a few left to get. My hybrids are done but still grabbing a handful of wild ones from 4 vines twice a day. Sucks. Last year I got 9 gallons of grapes. This year, I’m struggling to fill the 3rd. Glad I got leftover jelly from last year!

 

[SVTFreak]

I’ve finally read through all that I’ve missed. No way I can take Merle on adventures that can compare to y’all’s. Especially Alaska, Britain, Scotland and Pennsylvania. Loved reading about those parts. But I’ll do something with him! Gonna leave New Orleans to Wurrwolf. Starting out, I have to work a little extra this weekend so this week won’t leave a lot of time. Today, it’s work. But I have some reading time so working on some self improvement! Here’s merle with a few things he’s sharing my pocket with today.

 

[mbkr]

I’ve finally read through all that I’ve missed. No way I can take Merle on adventures that can compare to y’all’s. Especially Alaska, Britain, Scotland and Pennsylvania. Loved reading about those parts. But I’ll do something with him! Gonna leave New Orleans to Wurrwolf. Starting out, I have to work a little extra this weekend so this week won’t leave a lot of time. Today, it’s work. But I have some reading time so working on some self improvement! Here’s merle with a few things he’s sharing my pocket with today.
View attachment 1920178

Carl's a hard act to follow

 

[Rookie82]

He's got the color to match your other items. He fits right in.

 

[SVTFreak]

He's got the color to match your other items. He fits right in.

Yes. Yes he does. Which is unintended but the whole reason I took the photo lol! I left out my big flashlight and laser which are both black.

 

[SVTFreak]

We’ll, I did a little testing in my car out in Mexico. I won’t say just what, but with 760hp on tap, let’s just say things are exciting when the manifold pressure rises lol. Young old Merle came and rode along. I don’t try to video or take pics when driving, especially when a little, well, aggressive. So a post ride pic will have to work. Pretty sure it’s the fastest Merle has gone short of the flights he’s been boxed up for. This time, he had a front row seat. Excuse the dirt. The Shelby is a dirty girl at the moment. The downside of daily driving a toy in rainy south Louisiana lol.

Better pic of the Shelby.

 

[JM2]

I’ve finally read through all that I’ve missed. No way I can take Merle on adventures that can compare to y’all’s. Especially Alaska, Britain, Scotland and Pennsylvania. Loved reading about those parts. But I’ll do something with him! Gonna leave New Orleans to Wurrwolf. Starting out, I have to work a little extra this weekend so this week won’t leave a lot of time. Today, it’s work. But I have some reading time so working on some self improvement! Here’s merle with a few things he’s sharing my pocket with today.
View attachment 1920178

How do ya like that book? Looks interesting.

 

[SVTFreak]

How do ya like that book? Looks interesting.

So far, I like it a lot. It has really good explanations of why men are the way they are and why women are, and what boys need that many fathers don’t give them. I was recommended to recommend it to a young man I’m helping counsel at church, but I wanted to read it first. I’m glad I did. I won’t sit and say it’ll fix every man’s problems but I can say it is providing an interesting and eye opening angle.

 

[JM2]

So far, I like it a lot. It has really good explanations of why men are the way they are and why women are, and what boys need that many fathers don’t give them. I was recommended to recommend it to a young man I’m helping counsel at church, but I wanted to read it first. I’m glad I did. I won’t sit and say it’ll fix every man’s problems but I can say it is providing an interesting and eye opening angle.

Thanks. Sounds like it’s be beneficial to a man with a toddler. I’ll have to pick up a copy.

I read James Dobsons’s Bringing up Boys recently and it was quite informative. It expressed in words what I’ve noticed in the culture about a war against masculinity, and how that has left boys without good male role models. And it offers many insights into how to effectively turn a boy into a godly man.

 

[SVTFreak]

Thanks. Sounds like it’s be beneficial to a man with a toddler. I’ll have to pick up a copy.

I read James Dobsons’s Bringing up Boys recently and it was quite informative. It expressed in words what I’ve noticed in the culture about a war against masculinity, and how that has left boys without good male role models. And it offers many insights into how to effectively turn a boy into a godly man.

Sounds like that book and this one quite parallel each other. I’ll have to read that one also. It definitely changed how i am going to respond to my 5 year old son. And my 11 year old daughter really. Thanks for the tip!

 

[btb01]

With that my tour of northwestern Pennsylvania is through. Thanks again to Barrett btb01 for organizing this adventure. I’m sure you can tell I enjoyed hosting Merle, as it also gave my wife and I a reason to take some time off and spend time together sightseeing around our own neck of the woods. I hope you all enjoyed the info and photos I shared during his time here. And I look forward to where the wind blows Merle to next.

Carl, thanks again for showing Merle such a great time! And I’m glad you enjoyed yourself!

SVTFreak I’m glad to see Merle made it down your way!

Before I get started, other than the obvious don’t abuse him, any rules? Can I touch him up a bit?

Just the few rules covered in my initial post (which are mostly about qualifications, how long to hang on to him, etc.). I believe I asked in a post later on that anyone reach out to me if Merle looked like he needed to be sharpened. I’m not necessarily opposed to someone else sharpening him, but I also figured things could get a little iffy if every other host were giving the edge a touch up. I’ll shoot you a PM, Joey.

I’ve finally read through all that I’ve missed. No way I can take Merle on adventures that can compare to y’all’s. Especially Alaska, Britain, Scotland and Pennsylvania. Loved reading about those parts. But I’ll do something with him! Gonna leave New Orleans to Wurrwolf. Starting out, I have to work a little extra this weekend so this week won’t leave a lot of time. Today, it’s work. But I have some reading time so working on some self improvement! Here’s merle with a few things he’s sharing my pocket with today.
View attachment 1920178

I hope no one participating worries about comparing themselves to those who have gone already. The variety of locales and experiences is the best part of this whole thing.

We’ll, I did a little testing in my car out in Mexico. I won’t say just what, but with 760hp on tap, let’s just say things are exciting when the manifold pressure rises lol. Young old Merle came and rode along. I don’t try to video or take pics when driving, especially when a little, well, aggressive. So a post ride pic will have to work. Pretty sure it’s the fastest Merle has gone short of the flights he’s been boxed up for. This time, he had a front row seat. Excuse the dirt. The Shelby is a dirty girl at the moment. The downside of daily driving a toy in rainy south Louisiana lol.
View attachment 1921026
Better pic of the Shelby.
View attachment 1921030

Sounds like a ton of fun! Beautiful car!

 

[SVTFreak]

y’all don’t worry. Merle is sleeping in a nice comfy place right along with the rest of my current favorites.

 

[btb01]

y’all don’t worry. Merle is sleeping in a nice comfy place right along with the rest of my current favorites.

View attachment 1922058

Is that a Millennium Falcon pocket dump tray?

 

[SVTFreak]

Technically, it is a millinium falcon hoer d’hourves serving tray that my wife got me from a Disney cast member who was lay’d off during the pandemic. He hand made it as a side job while unemployed. But, it makes a better pocket dump tray!

 

[SVTFreak]

Is that a Millennium Falcon pocket dump tray?

Forgot to quote you above lol. Sorry.

 

[SVTFreak]

Today was hot rod building time with Merle. Well, hot rod unbuilding time. I’m currently taking the 33 ford apart to paint it. It’s quite a process untangling all the crap that’s been changed and added/modified. If I ever find the guy who built this, I’m gonna kick his behind….. (hint, it’s me lol). Anyway, Merle opened a few bags and boxes, cut a couple wire ties, and generally kept me company along with some hair band 80’s rock. We did take a photo op with the cobra, that is FILTHY as it’s been raining every day so no reason to clean her up for a ride. Hopefully fall dries out a bit.