Cross country travel post-log

[ventura ace]

Arriving in Charlotte, NC in time to meet up with Denise for the Moonshine Ralley on May 2, we hope! Looking forward to seeing any of you there that can make it.

Then, Maureen and I will be in Gottingen, Germany visiting our daughter from May 5 – 14. We will likely venture into Belgium (hello Tappy!), France, and maybe Holland. Had hoped to see Spiddy in southern Spain, but that’s a little too far for the short time we’ll be there. Any Fiat spider enthusiasts in those regions, I’d welcome a chance to meet you. Contact me if interested.

May 15 – 20, we’ll be in the Carolina’s again before heading home to CA. Will be glad to tinker and drive anyone’s Fiat in the western Carolina area!

Please call me or e-mail, as I won't have much time to check the Forum before we leave.
Alvon cell: 805-338-1767
Alvon and Maureen home: 805-659-1636
ventura_ace@juno.com

[pope]

OK, so we cant get olive oil shipped from Spain...can we get moonshine shipped from North Carolina?

[mdrburchette]

Is that still considered a flammable liquid?
Alvon, I'll have a meal with you along the way. Just let me know when you're an hour from your daughter's house! I've got the X19 ready for ya!

[ventura ace]

Hot dog! I'll be honored to drive your X19, and looking forward to seeing y'all again. Meal, it's a deal!

Alvon

[htchevyii]

Where are you now & what are you doing? Have a great trip!

[mdrburchette]

Alvon may be packed up and getting ready for his flight to Germany. It was great seeing him and Maureen again. I sure hope they enjoyed the Moonshine Rally!

Tappy, when you get Alvon, make sure you treat him to some of that beer!

[ventura ace]

We are having a great time here at our daughter's place in NC, spoiling our little granddaughter of course. The cross country drive went well -- zipped from CA to NC in 2 days, including a 2 hour tour of the Lane Auto Museum in Nashville, TN, where the new Fiat 500 from last year's fame ended up after its double cross country travels.

Saturday at the Moonshine Ralley was a real treat! We arrived at Denise's place early in the morning, to see a shiney X1-9 parked in the front lawn waiting for us. Denise (and her navigotor Robert McNabb) in her Maroon 71 spider, and we (Maureen was my navigator) in the X caravanned over to Elkin, NC to meet about 110 other cars for the Rally. I think there were about 7 or 8 Fiats represented. The drive was astounding -- I think the best drive I've ever been on. Nice twisty roads, springtime all around with all the dogwood and azaleas still blooming, hilly roads, mountain roads, farmland and farm animals galore. Scenic vistas from thousands of feet up. We came around one corner to see a wild turkey running down the road and take flight as we neared, and another curve had a beaver crossing the road with his big flat tail waving in the air. All the cars ended up at a winery, secluded in the mountain foothills, and there we had our choice of eats and wine tasting while they tallied the results.

Denise was ecstatic when they announce her 8th place finish, which she promptly showed her big rivals Robert and Tracy McNabb. Lordy, she had to eat crow a few minutes later when Robert and Tracy were announced to have bagged the 1st place trophy! Maureen and I were 61st, mainly because D had prerigged our speedometer to read 8 mph too high (just kidding )

It was a super day. I can't thank Denise enough for setting it up for us. We've got to plan a Rally drive for So Cal one of these days!

OK, headed to Germany in a few hours to visit our other daughter, and expecting to see Philip over in Belgium this weekend. Philip, please be sure to send your contact directions to Ashley, so we can find you!

A