1 Guy, 1350 Miles and a new toy.

[14U2NV]

I just woke up after a very cool road trip. As some of you may know, I bought the '72 Blazer frame and tub from PETEM1957 (see thread Blazer Tub For Sale - New Mexico).

I had decided I wanted to try and make it for my house 20 miles south of Dallas to Pete's house in Albuquerque in one day. I tried to get a buddy to go along, any buddy, but had no such luck. Everybody was either busy or claimed they were busy after hearing my plan. Oh well, looks like I was going solo. So, Saturday morning at 4:15AM, with Tahoe loaded to the gills with "hauling" stuff and the trailer firmly attached, I took out of Midlothian, Tx and headed North on hwy 287. The only bad part of the trip was just after day break, somewhere in BFE west Texas. It seems some farmers prize bull had escaped onto the highway. Looked like a pickup truck which was hauling a small enclosed trailer had broad-sided the bull. If that wasn't bad enough, the 18 wheeler that was now on it's lid in the ditch and field, must have been right beside the truck vs. bull match. I don't know if the pickup hit the truck or not, but what was left over was a mangeled Dodge pickup and trailer. An 18 wheeler that will never see the road again. And a BIG Texas bull that was no more. I asked the guy that was flagging traffic if everyone was OK and he just shrugged his shoulders.

After that drama, it was smooth sailing all the way up hwy 287 to I-40 in Amarillo and I-40 on into Albuquerque. I arrived at Pete's house about 2:00PM my time, or 1PM mountain. Pete was there waiting on me with his wife and grandson. Great people. The first thing he asked was "where was my Navigator?". I told him I was flying solo. He looked at me like I was crazy and was most likely right. Luckly we had room to butt the trailers up end to end for the trailer transfer. I completely forgot my camera, so it didn't even cross my mind we should have been taking pictures for the site. However, just as we had completed the transfer and began to tie the Blazer down for it's ride, Pete said "we should have taken pictures for the site". I almost said we should put it back on his trailer and document the process. But, by this time I was sweating in places I didn't know I had and didn't want Pete to take my joke seriously. Pete then showed me his, in his words, "junk". You know, in Texas, we don't have too bad an issue with rust, but I could tell New Mexico was a whole different ball game. After saying our goodbys, I headed back east.

The trip was long but very enjoyable. I think heading up there, it was the anticipation of seeing for the first time something I'd committed to buying. I think heading back, it was the thoughts and planning everyone goes through with a new toy. So, the breakdown on the trip goes something like this.

1 Guy
1350 miles
Started at 4am Saturday July 11th and returned at 2am Sunday July 12th


With all that, here's the only picture I took and it was this morning at 8.



Chad

[Longhorn Man]

why do people think its crazy going it solo?
sounds like you had a good trip though.
So neither of you even have a cell phone with a camera on it?

[14U2NV]

Funny you mention that. I actually work for the cell phone company so you know I had mine. Oh well, just caught up in the moment and wanted to keep on schedule like Clark Griswold.

Chad

[Skirkpat]

On long hauls I go it on my own almost all the time....my so called buddys can't hack 12 hour drives one way I guess? They always have "things" to do...LOL I almost prefer the Solo rides, I listen to the radio, no one nagging, nobody asking me silly questions .... VERY peaceful and relaxing.

[tcb-1]

sounds like my kind of trip. solo and non stop!

[Hart_Rod]

Ya gotta love NM "rust". You got a great project. Can't wait to see progress pictures.

[my67chevytruck]

congrats chad, need to check out ur projects soon

[PETEM1957]

Chad, Glad you had a great trip!

Wish we had more to shoot the Bull. OOP"S he's dead allready.

Good luck & post some pics of your progress.

Again I wish we had taken & posted some pics of that trailer on trailer action!!!!!!

[67ChevyRedneck]

Nice lookin' tub!

Navigator? What's that? I've logged thousands and thousands of miles solo. Clemson, SC to my home in NY was 725 miles each way. I normally made 3 to 4 trips home and back in a year, for 5 years straight. All by myself. No cell phone back then either. I now only average one trip there a year. I also normally do parts runs, car shows, swap meets, etc all by myself, my wife and none of my friends are car people, it sucks. That's why I like coming to see y'all at our little board meets. I get to be "normal" for a few hours and bore y'all with months of pent up truck chat

[Beatcoaster]

"But dad I want to play basketball!!!" hehe!!

[14U2NV]

Originally Posted by Beatcoaster

"But dad I want to play basketball!!!" hehe!!

LOL, it's funny you say that. As soon as I got the trailer backed in there, the boys were trying to slam dunk by getting on the trailer fender. I could see a bloody nogin coming from that real quick. I really didn't have time to get the tub off the trailer this weekend, but will next weekend. Then the real work can begin. It's going in the shop, so the B-Ball court will be back in full action. They've been having to play "away" games at the neighbors since Sunday, HAHA.

Chad

[14U2NV]

Originally Posted by PETEM1957

Chad, Glad you had a great trip!

Wish we had more to shoot the Bull. OOP"S he's dead allready.

Good luck & post some pics of your progress.

Again I wish we had taken & posted some pics of that trailer on trailer action!!!!!!

Pete, thanks again. Guys, if ever Pete has something you need for sale, he's a good guy to get it from. And yeah, that bull got "Rammed", Dodge Rammed that is.

Chad

[monte0185]

Nothing wrong with flying Solo. Every once in awhile i get someone to ride shotgun but very seldom. Especially when i make my semi anual trip to nebraska to visit my step mom. Usually most of the time even if i have a navigator i do all the driving. What can i say i like to drive. My last big trip I made was from memphis to prescott AZ straight thru. All my navigators and backup drivers were to busy sleeping to drive any decent amount I ended up driving 22 of the 24 hours it took.

Anyway congrats on the great purchase cant wait to see its progress.