mr. cob

Howdy Brad, I am sure you meant no offense, but how can I maintain my reputation of being a "Cob" if I don't call out such things. I am feeling better and getting stronger everyday, the climate change since leaving the Nor-Wet, has helped tremendously. Just got back from a great SxS ride, took a wrong turn and ended up exploring a valley I had not been in before all is well. Dave

Howdy Brad, First off in keeping with my nick name, of "Mr. Cob" I am a Crabby old bastard, NOT a Crabby old bald bastard. ONE "b" NOT two. ☹️ Now to your point, as a life long owner of British motorcycles, I still have in my stable a 1968 BSA Thunderbolt, I am well acquainted with "Lucas the prince of darkness" and the loss of the sacred smoke. I used to have as part of my Brit bike tool kit a bottle of genuine "Lucas replacement smoke". Alas someone who needed it more then I did must have stolen it as I haven't been able to find it for years and for the last ten years my BSA hasn't run as it has no spark at the plugs and I am to dim witted to figure it out and now that my replacement smoke has gone AWAL I doubt it will ever run again. 😥 Dave

Howdy All, Chad wired up the LED light bars on my CAN AM, he also finished up the solar install on Dave's trailer and then he figured out a work around so that the bunks go up and down in the garage of my toy hauler. To say that Chad has been busy the last couple of days is an understatement, THANK YOU Chad. So tomorrow, the 13th, we head to Bakersfield, where will over night in an RV Park, leave the morning of the 14th and arrive later that day at the La Posa South, LTVA a few miles south of Quartszite. Really looking forward to meeting up with old friends and making new ones under the Arizona SUNSHINE. Dave

Howdy All, We made it to Chad's home about 4:PM yesterday, spent the evening eating pizza, tossing cold ones and swapping tall tales. Got up this morning the sun was shining, lite overcast but the sun could still be seen. Went for a walk to loosen the knees up, pulled out my chair and sat alongside of the trailer with the sun shining on me, what a wonderful way to start the day. I suppose I'll wander up and see how Chad is coming with Dave's solar install, the "mini rally" is going well. Dave

Howdy ricky, Roger that, words of truth those are in deed. Dave

Howdy rpsinc, Your words are wise and well headed. I fully realize I am not 50 anymore, I have slowed down considerably compared to what I used to be. I don't have any problems driving the truck or cars, it's the motorcycles that may have to be retired sad as that is as they have been a major component of my life for over 60 years. I have even in my wilder days always considered the RISK to OTHERS not so much to myself but I have striven to never put others at risk when doing what ever it is that I enjoy doing. I have put up with a lot of grief from my Sport Bike friends especially back when I was in that mode as I wouldn't make some of the what in my mind were public endangering passes that they would make while riding on mountain roads. I would take risk for my pleasure not to endanger others, if I wasn't 100%+ sure that I could make a pass without scaring or endangering other I would NOT do it. There is fun and then there is stupidity, I have always enjoyed pushing the envelope but I couldn't have survived as long as I have doing what I have done if I had been stupid whilst doing it. That said, getting old and losing your edge is a hard thing to acknowledge and live within your new boundaries. Dave

Howdy Brad, Until the darn sciatic hit me real hard the knee recovery was coming along great. The back surgery went wonderfully, no back pain at all however it triggered the nerves that were cut during the knee replacements so now I am having occasional nerve pain that is quite sever and it has over all set back my walking ability, I am now using two canes but I am getting BETTER. I think getting out of this horrible damp-cold climate is going to do wonders for my over all condition. Glad to hear you enjoying yourself, I tried golf, ONCE, I was as successful at golf as I was when attempting to water ski but at least I didn't nearly drown. I was never any good at any sport that didn't involve burning tires, clutches and some sort of fuel. Air pressure is built up, Donna is putting the last of the bathroom stuff in the trailer, the Dogs are running around acting crazy I guess it's time to let that big yeller Kitty get to walking. Dave

Howdy Chad, good morning to you Sir. Sounds like you have been busy, took the tree out and put power in, pretty soon I'll be bugging you to adopt me. Dave

Howdy Cory, Maybe on the way home we can stop by your home, no promises depends on weather and finding a place to spend the night, they weren't real happy with me when I stayed at the Walmart a few miles from you the last time I stopped. Right now the "mission" is to escape and evade the Nor-Wet ASAP. Dave

Howdy Chad, Sounds like fun to me. Is there room for me to turn around up by your home and park down below like the first time I stayed at your home? Did you get that tree taken down to make the turn around easier for my ole long nose truck? Going to hit the hay in a bit, I don't know why, won't be able to sleep anyway, it's always this way when I am going someplace but especially now after being at home for so long. Dave

Howdy Tim, Well, your last post changes things, if you know Chad well and camp with him often you have probably heard rumors of my inability to drive 55mph. If that is true, I will have to plead the 5th Amendment, and say no more as I don't want to incriminate myself. Dave

Howdy Tim, I have the opposite problem, I can't tell you how many times people will walk up to me and start talking to me like we are life long friends, and I don't remember where or when I met them, going to a lot of different kinds of rallies over the years has that affect. I hope they remember me because of something good that I did not something dumb. I have an old truck, it meanders down the road, Chad, has the new rebuilt engine he's the one you have to keep in sight. Dave

Howdy ricky, "I" for one don't plan on going to the big tent, to crazy for me even if it weren't for the health risk. I am going down there to be like snake or a lizard and sun myself on the warm sand and rocks, these old bones are sick and tired of the damp cold where we live. Dave

Howdy Tim, Please forgive me, I have met so many people over the years I can't keep names straight but I am pretty good remembering faces and vehicles when I see them again. It will be fun to add you to our little convoy, I'll do my best to keep up. Safe travels to you. Dave

Howdy noteven, Will do. I am going to miss visiting with many of my Canadian friends again this winter, missed all ya all not being able to make the WCR. Hoping some sanity will soon prevail in your country, I have pretty much given up on mine. Dave

Howdy All, It's finally happening, getting the heck out of the Nor-Wet GLOOM, trailer is loaded, truck has been checked out, new wiper blades installed, fuel tanks are full, leaving at O:dark 30 in the AM. First stop will be over-night at Walmart in Grants Pass, next mooch-docking at Chad's home to get some LED light bars wired on the CAN AM, hopefully get the electric bunks to go up and down in the trailer then we will convoy to Quartszite where we will meet up with HDT friends and do some quality camping and lie swapping. This last year has been a rough one, recovering from having both knees replaced, then the house arrest ever since we got home in April, and just recently having spinal surgery to clear out the cartilage that had been pressing on my sciatic nerve causing all kinds of misery, we NEED a break. I hope others are getting away or soon will be to enjoy yourselves other then being cooped up and locked down. Safe travels to all, catch ya on the flip flop, 10-4 Dave, Donna, Newt and Willy

Howdy All, This must be an Australian truck, note the huge fuel tank and the stone-debris guard near the bottom of the windshield. This was common on all the Road Train tractors I saw whilst down under. Dave

All the best to everyone in the coming year. Dave, Donna, Newt and Willy

Howdy All, If I started to make a list of all the dumb stuff I have done, I wouldn't have time to make any more mistakes I'd be to busy writing. Dave

Howdy noteven, Your a man after my own heart for sure, however I doubt the Allison would last long coupled with the 650 horse power Cat, if you get tired of shifting install the 18 speed Road Ranger Eaton Auto-Shift with clutch as is in my "motor home", then you would have the best of both worlds, eh. The KW in the video is a sweetheart but I think it would look a lot nicer with the long Hood, and tandems, just my opinion. Singling such a truck to me, really ruins the look and lets be honest when using such a truck as an RV hauler, "the look" is the big draw. Dave

Howdy Cory, I am so glad to hear your getting it all together. When I first saw your truck and the lean it had on the front corner I was concerned that you had some sort of major structural damage, so happy for you that you got it fixed and it's now ready to start putting the "lip stick" on. Dave

Howdy Brad, It was a short lived event as is usual for this part of the country, this is the first time in three years we have had snow in my neighborhood, but I can look out my window and see snow year round in the mountains. Right where we live is what's know as a weather anomaly, we get 89 inches of precipitation a year, go 10 miles west, north or south and the annual rate is 36 inches, go east up the Robe Valley, which we sit at the mouth of, the further east you go the higher the precipitation up to 160 inches per year. This was a downed tree that caused the power outage, when we do get snow it's wet and HEAVY snapping trees, collapsing old roofs or tarp type car shelters is very common. The power was back on in a few hours each year they put more and more of the communication and power distribution under ground to protect it from falling trees and idiot drivers who so rarely drive on snow they aren't safe to themselves and especially others. Go about 20 miles west from our home and your on I-5, most folks out here have some type of all wheel drive vehicle, why I don't know but it seems you can't buy a mini van nowadays that doesn't have it, anyway just because these idiots can get moving they think they can drive like its dry pavement; when we do get a snow storm its usually bad and the sides of the roads and ditches are stuffed with cars that have run off the road when it turns or when they try to stop before rear ending the car in front of them. If you want to waste your life laughing go to youtube, and type in something like "seattle drivers in the snow", and make sure your stocked up on popcorn and beer as you will be truly entertained for many hours if not days. Dave

Howdy NamMedevac 70, Will, To this day the whap whap whap of a Huey sends chill up my spine, good when it was Gun Ships lending support, sadness when it was a Dust Off. Funny thing about my Dust Off experience, I say I was Dusted Off twice which is true but it happened because of one wounding. The Dust Off ship landed, we were loaded on board, we took off and then got shot down, "Auto Rotation" and the landing when the skids flatten out and the ship bounces a few times as that is repeated is NOT something I ever want to go through again. Those of us who could formed a perimeter about a hundred meters from the downed craft and awaited the next Chopper, oh yeah just another day in the Nam. Should our trails ever cross I would enjoy tossing a few cold ones back with you. Dave

Howdy NamMedevac 70, First off thanks for your service, I had the misfortune of being medevaced twice during my time there, June 67 - February 69. Our yard, is 90 feet by 130, my rig is 72 feet long, I built a parking area along side of the driveway that is where the rig is now parked, I have a very understanding neighbor with whom I share the driveway he lives behind our home, about 10 feet of the rear of the toy hauler hangs over the property line into his yard. As to camp grounds, the only thing I can't use are campsites in the older State Parks or older RV campgrounds who don't have long enough spaces, I really haven't had a problem finding a place I'll fit into, I do a LOT of boondocking so its easy to find a site. As to weight, the truck with Smart Car, on the deck is around 22,000 pounds, less then MANY of the big motor homes, the toy hauler depending on what toys are in the box goes anywhere from 19,000 to 22,000 pounds again about the same as the large car hauler trailers towed behind big motor homes so weight has not been a problem. Dave

Howdy All, First snow of the season and as usual the power is out probably someone slid off the road and took out a power pole, happens every year. So I fired up the furnace in the Toy Hauler, turned on the lights and we are cooking dinner, the rest of the neighborhood is DARK. Sure is nice to have a backup home. Dave