Nice looking rig! Wish they were rated to tow more!!!

Glad y'all like my little home, the art makes it feel more home like for me. There are a few other pieces that come out when sitting in one place for a while. Do try to avoid clutter tho.

Sid the smaller classic motorhomes could be a candidate for upgrading to do more towing. The 28 and 31 footers have less complicated frame extensions more suitable for setting for towing, and are carrying less weight , also have a single rear axel.

There are guys on the forum that do tow large trailers. Would require some more up grades tho.

You really should look at the 36' diesel pushers from the mid 90s. They are the holy Grail of airstream motorhomes. The last with aluminum bodies.
Here is a link to a thread on them.
How many Classic Diesel Pushers on the forum? - Airstream Forums

They run 3 to 5 times the cost of these older gas pullers. And have higher potential repair costs. But since cost is no object to you, have a look :eek:
Very similar interiors, better windows, built on a Spartan chassis.
Not the same towing limitations. There have been two sold for bargain prices in the last six months. In the southwest.
I tried for one of them, but another guy on the forum got there before me.
Funny, he said he needed another one like a hole in the head. So I tried to enlist him as my agent, cause he just had to go take a look. He bought it on the spot. And is well on his way to having it sorted out now. Dang!!

Still mine is in hand and does have a nice interior, and is a known entity by now. Im happy with it.

Cheers Richard

Richard - PNW tips as promised. Brief due to traveling on MC with just a tablet:
WA coast, you will see very little of the ocean. Long Beach and Ocean Shores are worth a look. Past Forks take hwy 113 near Sappho. Then 112 along the water to Port Angeles. Unhitch and drive SC to Hurricane ridge. Good campground is Sequim Bay State Park. Next is PT Townsend where I grew up. Camp on the water at PT Wilson right in town. Have a beer/meal at Sirens for the water view. Next, Ft Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island. Right on the shipping lanes. Nordland store for coffee. Valley Tavern in Hadlock to talk to locals ( if you call it PT Hadlock, you are not an old timer). Then to Quilcene and south on hwy 101 along Hood Canal. Better road/views than the ocean side. Take Hwy 106 thru Union and stay at Twanoh St Park

I be back late the 23rd. Meetings in Wenatchee 24 and 25. My cabin overlooking the lake is yours to use. Safe travels. Bob

I've looked at the pushers, and Ya they are nice but the price! :eek: I guess when the time comes I will have to go look at one in person and compare to something newer. I just hate how cheaply made most RVs are, hopefully the airstream is better. The older Diesel engines and truck components domy scare me, grew up working on the slobbering old diesels in the crane trucks!


Thuy says hi! When do you plan to be back in az?

Thanks Bob, that right there is some local knowledge and useful tips.
Some of those Ill follow to the letter!
And thanks too for the kind invite to your cabin. Is there a flatish spot there for my coach, perhaps we could meet up there for a weekend or something. Looks like there could be some good driving roads that way.

My heading more northward is on hold for a bit. I did a drive from a Cannon Bch south to check out Tilamook bay and wow what a nice area. I had decided to head that way with the coach for a few days

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437055331.jpg

Then this rig rolls into the park here in a Cannon Bch.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437055482.jpg
The same model as mine a few years older, with karminguia for a toad, too funny!

They told me that the Oregon airstream club is having a rally in a state park in the area I was head to check out.

Also this old classic beauty, just restored by its two women owners is near by in my current location. They really can polish up nicely.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437055836.jpg

Then I rode my bike to the south end of town to meet friend there on the Bch.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437056152.jpg

Sights on the ride


And on the miles long hard packed Bch great for the little three wheeled recumbent bikes they rent for riding the Bch.

More of the bike ride. This a good way to get around a small area at a pace that let's me look around and enjoy.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437056638.jpg

Then I headed out on the Bch with the bike and could ride for miles on the Bch.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437056759.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437056788.jpg

Great tide pooling at low tide
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437056841.jpg
My friends and there trikes
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437056898.jpg

I think I'm in love with this part of Oregon in good weather.

And my adventure rolls on gathering momentum of its own. SmileWavy

Sid say aloha to Tweeze for me! May get back to Az near the end of Sept.
Could loop eastward and down thru Colorado on the way back. I've never seen Idaho or Montana. So if the temps allow. May head that way after Seattle area. Or??

great looking R V.

Well I thought it might be time for an update on the wanderings northward.
I really enjoyed the coasts of Oregon and Washington.
I'd had no idea of the extent of long sandy beaches on these coasts, rugged mostly empty of people but miles of sand beaches. In Oregon there are many beaches backed by extensive sand dunes, often quite wind sculpted dunes
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437967407.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437969535.jpg
The coast of Washington seems lined with drift wood, logs of all sizes, really amazing amounts of wood piled on these remote beaches.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437969807.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437969869.jpg

You can see by my clothes that a cool breeze was blowing in from the fog bank just off shore, but the grey powder sand was warm and soft to the bare feet. Delightful!

As I traveled up the coast of wash. I stumbled across a couple of surprising boat building companies located in the backwaters of estuaries in small towns. Places one just would not expect to see luxury yachts being built

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437970541.jpg
This 60'+ cat had an interesting unstayed rig with fixed booms for the jib and mainsail.
It's set up so the whole rig is rotated to trim the sails. Interesting what epoxy and carbon fiber has allowed in design innovation.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437970920.jpg
The hull design is quite narrow at the waterline for good sailing, yet nicely flaired above the waterline for good living space in the interior. sweet!

The other yacht I just caught a glimpse of, look to be 60/70 luxury motor yacht, being built in a town so small you would be surprised to find a nice cabinet shop let alone the skill to build these sorts of boats.

Thanks go out to Bob S. ( lake Cle Elum ). For some good tips for the north peninsula area. The drive up to Hurricane Ridge was beautiful, on the day I drove the S C up that way the clouds followed close behind me.
Nice view of the Cascades mountains some with glaciers to be seen from the visitor center till the clouds close in.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437971868.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437971957.jpg
Same spot about ten minuets after the first pic.

Bob also suggested some roads that would keep me on the coast more on the drive along the Straights of Juan de Fuca. With Canada on the north side of the straights.

Taking this route meant missing seeing Lake Crescent, which I heard was worth seeing so I back tracked in the SC to check it out, boy am I glad I did. The drive along the lake with the big mountains in the background was wonderful.
While at the lake a nice back road along the lake but heading toward the coast proved to be one of the outstanding drives of the trip.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1437972984.jpg

Richard - Great Pic's and date. I'm in Sequim and Port Townsend today I Pm U my #.

Thanks again for the local knowledge Bob. I've been in weak cell areas so couldn't respond to your PM.
I'm now at a friends place on Whidbey Island. If you are returning this way it may not be far off your track Ill P M you the details. We may meet up yet.

The short ferry ride from Fort Townsend did cause me a bit of concern about the on and off transition for my rig, but it turns out that they have nice ramps that allow for the changes in tide and make for smooth boardings.

I and another larger motorhome were loaded first so we ended up having front row seats with great views out the front of the ferry. So I slid over to the pass seat, so we could chat from cab to cab.
This was the first time that I have been able to enjoy one of the advantages of travel in a motorhome, that is being in your abode while traveling. Making it possible to hop up and grab a drink and snack while underway. Since traveling solo, Normally I'm at the wheel.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1438000113.jpg

When I hopped out to snap a pic I realized that all the other passengers had left their cars to head upstairs to the upper deck. We were enjoying our front row seats in the comfort of our coaches.

Once I have a chance to get the new starter installed in the SC, It came from Pelican and caught up with me here at my friends place and He has a lift in his shop. This will be the first time that I've had a chance to use a lift to work on the car in 8 years that I've had it.
I may get spoiled.
The next leg of the trip should see me at the swap meet that John Walker puts on for Porsche folks in Seattle. Looking forward to meeting some of the PNW pelicans at that get together.
Keep an eye out for my silver bullet there.

Cheers Richard

Richard, it looks like you are having a great time. The RV is phenomenal and I love seeing the 911 as a Toad :-) I'm glad to hear the Portland Historics were a good visit. I am a SOVREN member and recognized Tony Garmey's Ferrari rig. He maintains race cars for a few of my friends and is a super nice guy. Enjoy Whidbey Island, I know it well. Safe and fun travels!

Richard, I'll be back in Wenatchee/Yakima, etc. imaging Apple Orchards, other produce and infrastructure starting on the 17th of August. If you get close, let me know, We will be there for at least a week.

Looks like fun Richard! I've never been to Idaho or Montana but they look beautiful. Check out Wyoming and the Black hills of SD while you are over that way!

What a spectacular trip - thank you very much for sharing it with us!

ps Where's the shot out the front of the coach???

I'm glad you guys are enjoying riding along on this trip.
Jerry, there were some formula Vees at the Portland meet which brought to mind your cool going to the races rig, complete with vintage BMW motorbike.
Are you still going to events ? I heard there is a vintage race near Seattle coming up in the next couple of weeks. But can't find details, do you know of it?

Sid those north western states are calling to me, but the Aug. temps in the area do give me pause. This trip has follow my loose plan so far, and I've so enjoyed the coast , rivers , and magnificent forests that it's hard to leave for hot dry territory inland.
But the next fixed date is to meet up with my Brother and his family in Colo Springs
In early Sept for my nephews graduation from basic at the Air Force academy. So the inland route makes sense.
But then there is Monterey week in the open time period to consider, humm?

For now being in the islands of Puget Sound is great. I got the new starter installed yesterday. Had to kick my buddies bad azz 56 Chevy off its place on the lift while we used it for the SC.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1438092192.jpg
After building a couple of mid 50s ford trucks, and now the Chevy, He is out of shelf space for trophies.
You may notice the name of the car is Heretic, that's because of the ford double overhead cam V8 under the hood.
We stopped in at his painters shop to check on a new hood being painted for the Chevy
And saw this gem , originally built in the 50s
http://forums.pelican parts.com/uplo...1438092925.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1438093047.jpg

daepp. Sorry I missed that shot.

Paul, if I'm still in the area at that time I'll give you a shout.

I'll check in after the swap meet in Seattle with an update.

Cheers Richard

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1438093731.jpg

I loved the rear end of the Duce
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1438094190.jpg

Had a fun afternoon, pulling the engine and trans form my friends side project.

An old Morris Minor. Turns out he installed the wrong clutch and pressure plate set for this transmission . It was binding on the bell housing.

Sure is nice working in such a nice well equipped shop.

I'm going to suggest he go ahead and do the paint while waiting for the parts to arrive, and the engine is out . I'll even stick around a couple of days to help with the prep.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1438135133.jpg
Cheers Richard