Greeting from the road

[Normspeed]

Hi guys, having a great trip to Fla. Later this week I'll be taking the opportunity to camp and fish at a privately owned 35 acre lake nearby. A friend of Grandadeo's bought it years ago, it was dug up as a gravel pit when Interstate 75 was built years ago, and the contractor let it go for taxes after the project ended. It is TEEMING with fish.

Here are a few travel photos. The first is Stone Mountain park in Atlanta before the snow started. Then one of the Atlanta roads when the white stuff started coming down. Next is a tiny town in Fla called Micanopy, mentioned in a Tom Petty song. Then, the backyard shop of a good friend in Melbourne Fla, Gary Moore. Last, a nice shot of the P24 enjoying the warm Florida sun.

Hope to hook up with Greg G and Olddaddy tomorrow, and stop at a local cruise night in Melbourne, then off to see a night space shuttle launch on the coast.

See ya..

[moparjack44]

I'm jealous !!

I have to ask, what was that you had strapped on the roof ?

Jackie

[Normspeed]

That's a Porta Bote, a 12 foot folding boat. Has a 6 hp 4 stroke Nissan outboard motor. I've owned a lot of small boats and this is remarkably seaworthy. I've been using it for about 5 years.

[randroid]

Norm,

Nice to hear from you. Please keep the pictures coming.

-Randy

[radioguy7]

Norm,

Cool trailer!! I'm also a vintage trailer nut myself. Glad to see someone actually out and about and using their trailer as it was meant to be used.

Jeff

[RobertKB]

Norm, glad you made it to Florida safely. Looks like the car ran well and is enjoying the warm Florida weather as much as you are. Right now where I live it is about -25C (-10F), windy, and snowing. I am tired of winter and enjoy seeing your pictures of somewhere warm. Keep them coming!

[Joe Flanagan]

Hey Norm, do you have a picture of the inside of your trailer? Glad your trip went well and the old P24 hummed right along.

[1940plymouth]

Norm,

Glad to hear that they got there safe and sound and that the Plymouth motored right along.

Would it be possible for you to take some photos of tonights space shuttle lift off and post them?

Thanks,

Bob

[Normspeed]

I'll sure give it a shot, pun intended. I just got a new camera and it will be a good test. Joe, I'll be glad to round up some interior shots. Meanwhile this is the best I have locally, taken at Stone Mtn when it was 22 F outside. As you can see I have some canine heating units on hand.

[steveplym]

So if it was 22 degrees outside what was the temp inside? How much heat do those canine heating units produce?

[P15Mike]

I bet those canine's will help you with your fishing also ... Have fun

Mike

[Terry in Bozrah]

Norm

Some great pictures of the trip and a beautify ride.

You are truely blessed and sounds like you're having quite the adventure to remember.

Hope you're using some Ulta Light tackle? Fun Fun Fun!!!

TK

[greg g]

Norm, just called Charlie, perhaps he has called you by know. Told me he is working a heavy schedule and tomorrow may not be good for traveling to his place however, he seemed real interested in the possibility of viewing the Shuttle launch. He said he would call me at lunch time to confirm the visit situation.

So we will keep our fingers crossed for things to work out. So I will give you a call after I hear form Charilie.

Great pics of the car and the trip. Wish I could soaak some worms with you.

[Joe Flanagan]

I love it. What do you use for heat in that thing besides the dogs? Looks real cozy.

[Normspeed]

Greg, no problem, just let me know. If we did get together with Charlie, early afternoon would be best. If not, there is still the Melbourne cruise night and the shuttle which could be viewed from nearby Melbourne Beach. We'll wait to hear from ya.

Cruise is at corner of Wickham Rd and NASA Blvd. Good food.

[48Dodger]

That is way cool Norm! Oh yea....K-9 heaters are the best for camping.

48D

[billwillard]

Watching the shuttle leave gives you an eary feeling. Wishing you could be on it. Been there done that. Have fun guys.

Bill

[Plymouthy Adams]

never seen a blastoff...been to the cape though, nice museum..had to drive down once and do a voyage repair on a submarine tied up at Port Canaveral..

[moparjack44]

That's a Porta Bote, I've been using it for about 5 years.

Anything like a Porta Potty .

Jackie

[Plymouthy Adams]

let one of these big ole female alligators tending a nest full of young come at him and it will quickly become a porta-potty..I got rammed once by a mother gator..I was lucky enough to see her hit the water from the bank and though my small motor was not fast..the leading angle got me a bit further from her side of the bank and her immediate burst of speed..my bud Richard froze and turned white as a ghost..I think that was the last time he went fishing with me..

[Tony Cipponeri]

Mopar Jack, I am answering for Norm. The two are pretty close to the same, except the porta potty isn't quite as sea worthy. The 6HP motor, the porta potty out performs the Porta Bote. Tony C

[Norm's Coupe]

Norm,

Sounds like you are having way too much fun in your retirement. You'll have to return home immediately and start work again.

We were at the Cape in 2,000 for the full tour. Was interesting. Like Tim, there was no blast off at the time. Did go in a shuttle bay though.

I don't think I would enjoy fishing in Florida of all places. You may have one of these come out of the water and take a bite out of you, if not careful.

Actually, I don't fish much up here either. But........I'm an expert fisherman if I do say so myself. I always come home with as much fish and the exact kind of fish I want every time I go fishing. You just have to have the right kind of bate.

[Dennis Hemingway]

I guess that they will not be happy tonight, as the launch was postponed due to a leak associated with the gaseous hydrogen venting system outside the external fuel tank. The system is used to carry excess hydrogen safely away from the launch pad. At 2:37 p.m., managers officially scrubbed the launch for at least 24 hours.

Dennis:mad:

[John Mulders]

Hi Norm, thanks for sharing, great pictures.

I like the contrast of the interior and the modern GPS on the windshield!

John

[Grandadeo]

Yeah the launch was cancelled. But we did hook up with Greg at the cruise night. Only problem was most of the cars blew out of the cruise early and there wasn't much left for Greg to see. I'm sure Norm will fill in the blanks for you tomorrow and provide more pics. He's got a new camera.

Lee