Sam's in So Cal!

[rlux4]

I was kinda wondering the same thing Trey. But then I figured it couldn't be me. I ran out of Viagra. Hardened criminal? No such luck.
Ron

[ventura ace]

Ron dropped by Sunday afternoon on his commute through Ventura, to lend me a hand with swapping out the master cylinder on my spider. We worked great together, as we usually do -- me doing all the work, Ron sitting in the lawn chair drinking the beer -- no, just kidding. Ron is a great help. It's always more fun wrenching when there's someone else around.

It wasn't until we were finished that I learned that Sam had been in Ron's truck the whole time napping, and keeping his furry little paws clean! Seems like he has learned a lot from Ron after all!

So, we went over to Ron's home away from home, out in a nice quiet remote area near Ojai, and took a few pictures with my wife Maureen and I with Sam, using Ron's camera. Ron won't be back to where he can plug in his camera and computer until Friday, so you'll just have to wait. But I can say that Sam is still doing great. He's got souvenirs from Canada, Georgia, and everywhere he's been it seems. He was looking forward to hitting the beach in the next few days, but if he did so today, he's getting a rare look at a Pacific storm right now!

Stay tuned.

[mdrburchette]

Did Sam recognize you, Alvon? I noticed he was anxious to help everyone else on their Fiats. Has Ron spoiled him now?

[rlux4]

Well, Sam has quite a week out here in sunny California. Sunny except for the first of the week, we were stuck in the 5th wheel watching movies because you can't do replacement windows in the rain. Poor guy, he was getting cabin fever. But then we had visitors! As Alvon said, we went over to his and Maureen's house to see them, and help Ace bleed his new master cylinder. (Sam saw he'd get his paws dirty, and begged off. He's such a priss.)
Afterwards, Ace and Maureen came down to where I'm staying in our trailer for a little visit and took us out to dinner.
At first Ace grabbed up the fur ball:



Maureen was screaming "You're suffocating him! Get over here and take a nice picture."



Yesterday it cleared up and by today the weather was gorgeous again, so Sam insisted I take him down to the beach for some surfing. He never did take his board in though. I'm pretty sure he just wanted to go down to check out the babes. If you look close, you can see surfers in the background. I thought after he watched them a while he'd want to try it for sure. But he never did go for it.



I think he's getting itchy feet. On Fridays I get to come home, and as soon as we got here, he started packing. Man, he sure does like to get around.
Ron

[htchevyii]

Where's the furball headed now?

[rlux4]

I'll have to ask him where he wants to go next, just to see if he says "HOME!" Denise, if he doesn't want to come home quite yet, don't be mad at him, he's really enjoying this tour. The smile never leaves his face.
Ron

[ventura ace]

I've got a mountain bike ride lined up for Sunday morning, and we have sailboat racing that afternoon. Sam is welcome to join in if he's up for the adventure. Did he bring his bike helmet and his life vest?

If his travels bring him back to the LA area at the end the month, he will have a chance to see lots of Fiats at the Best of France and Italy show, and maybe even meet Jay Leno.

A

[mdrburchette]

Keep an eye on Sam with Leno around. He may try to take off with the dude just to get in that famous garage of his.

[ventura ace]

Sam's been invited to go sailing Thursday evening -- including a ride to the harbor, sitting on the famous Ron Luxmore cup holder / armrest / little bear seat in a '70 124 Fiat Spider. As for the boating adventure, we're teaching Sam a new word: chum. He's about the right size, and the shark fishing is pretty good this time of year. Da dumm. Da dumm.

This will be the first time that either Sam or Ron have been on a sailboat, and they're both pretty excited. Ron was cautioned that he shouldn't wear his big clod-hopper construction boots on the nice deck of the boat, and his reply was, "I'm no Imelda Marcos, but between me and my twin brother Don, we should be able to come up with something fitting to wear on deck."

Pictures to follow, naturally.

Alvon

[jimincalif]

If his travels bring him back to the LA area at the end the month, he will have a chance to see lots of Fiats at the Best of France and Italy show, and maybe even meet Jay Leno.

Hi Alvon,

Are you going to this show? Is anyone else going? Mark had mentioned it to me but I haven't seen anything here. I see the entry deadline is Friday.

Jim

[ventura ace]

If his travels bring him back to the LA area at the end the month, he will have a chance to see lots of Fiats at the Best of France and Italy show, and maybe even meet Jay Leno.

Hi Alvon,

Are you going to this show? Is anyone else going? Mark had mentioned it to me but I haven't seen anything here. I see the entry deadline is Friday.

Jim

Yes, I'll be at the show, and you should expect to see a lot of Fiat 124 spiders, as well as a variety of other Fiats and other Italian and French cars -- typically more than 500 cars. Sam, the bear, said that he would give up his busy tour schedule to hang with us for a few days. The usual group of Fiat enthusiasts that get together for drives occasionally in the LA area will likely be there. I'm working out plans for a Friday afternoon drive (Oct 30) to meet up with a group from Fiat America, and stay at some lodging in the south end of the Sequoia forest on Friday night, and scenic drive on backroads, winding down into the LA area on Saturday, show on Sunday (Nov 1), then another scenic drive on Monday through the mountains above Ventura, Ojai, Frazier Park area. I'll put out a separate post with more info shortly. Anybody interested is welcome to join any portion of it.

Alvon

[ventura ace]

We had a welcome surprise Thursday evening when I got home from work. Ron and Sam were planning to join a few friends of ours for an evening sail off the coast of Ventura. Sam surprised us by escaping (yes, he does that) to Lancaster earlier in the afternoon to fetch Ron's wife Krissy, and bring her along for the fun as well. Heading to the harbor, Sam insisted on riding in the spider, and promptly made himself at home on the Ron Luxmore bear holder:


We piled into Mike Raider's Beneteau 36, and headed out of the harbor. Ron had never been on a sailboat before, so Sam took it on himself to show Ron the 'ropes'. Here he is with a paw on the jib sheets, giving Ron a lesson on how to use the wench:


Now, showing Krissy how to haul in the main sheet. Oops!


Here's Sam showing of his Titanic move:




Not far from shore, Sam spotted some seals sunning themselves on a warning bouy, and grabbed the helm from Mike to steer us over for a closer look:




By now, the sun was waning down, and Sam took a spot on the rail to help balance out the boat with Ilia and Bobby, while gazing off at the horizon


He also ran up the mast to get a better look from there. I guess bears like to climb. I was too dumbfounded to get a picture, but I think Krissy may have.
Sam hammed it up for a couple of pics with with the sun's last rays for the day:

With Ron & Krissy:

. . . and then he disappeared. We searched the cabin and learned that Sam had a good nose for the beer refrigerator!


Seems that the rolling swells and beer didn't sit too well in his stomach:


Didn't take him long to get over it, though. By the time we put the boat away, Sam was ready to party -- here he is putting the moves on Emily and Ilia at dinner. I don't know where he came up with the flowers and wine, but he sure puts on the charm for the ladies:


When I grow up, I want to be like Sam!

Alvon

[jimincalif]

Looks like Sam is ready for the Ensenada race! Or at least the party at the Bahia after.

Jim

[racydave]

Glad to see all having such a good time. When he parties he's an animal!

[mdrburchette]

Serves him right for drinking that domestic beer. When will he ever learn?