I got to work and it started snowing like it was the dead of winter. The snow quickly started to cover the ground and we all feared that this might actually accumulate into something. Luckily after only about an hour it stopped snowing and started to clear up. By noon it was actually a very nice day but very cold.
I had driven the Mercedes to work and it got caught in the snow storm, so I needed to wash it and put it back in the garage. It was sunny and 37 degrees at 6pm. I washed the car quickly and nearly froze my hands off and got it put away as fast as I could. I was ready to go in and stay in.
Since I had the garden hose out, I let the water run for several hours to fill the pond. Over the winter the water level had really dropped and the fish needed a little attention.
Back inside I called on a Packard engine that was listed on Craigslist and it sounds like it would be perfect for my 120 convertible. I'm hoping to replace the engine that is in my car with a correct engine and add the overdrive transmission that I bought at the Portland Swap meet. Tomorrow I need to call a shipping company and see how expensive it might be have it shipped to Redmond, it might be cost prohibitive.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Day 246, Tuesday and workout
Tuesday morning was deceivingly nice, but there was still a crisp bite in the air. At work we still has Christmas lights up in the trees at work and my co-worker and decided it was time they come down. It was a little cool, but the sun was nice and we got them down in no time.
My workout was at 4:30pm and it had been a week since my last visit. I did run a bit last week at the swap meet but I had a feeling I was really going to suffer. We went for a 20 minute run to get started and it felt great. Back at the gym we did a lot of stretching to help my back and to keep my calf from cramping up.
After working out I went to see the trailer guy and check on his progress with the 48 Westcraft. His crew had been working on it for weeks and was really starting to look great. His shop was full of projects and I was hoping there would be a chance that my trailer could get squeezed in at some point. He said he would come get it next week and they would start taking it part, so they can see what needs to be done. If the damage isn't too extensive and the price to repair it isn't cost prohibitive, I'd like to have he trailer done before June. He thought that might be possible, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
My workout was at 4:30pm and it had been a week since my last visit. I did run a bit last week at the swap meet but I had a feeling I was really going to suffer. We went for a 20 minute run to get started and it felt great. Back at the gym we did a lot of stretching to help my back and to keep my calf from cramping up.
After working out I went to see the trailer guy and check on his progress with the 48 Westcraft. His crew had been working on it for weeks and was really starting to look great. His shop was full of projects and I was hoping there would be a chance that my trailer could get squeezed in at some point. He said he would come get it next week and they would start taking it part, so they can see what needs to be done. If the damage isn't too extensive and the price to repair it isn't cost prohibitive, I'd like to have he trailer done before June. He thought that might be possible, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Day 245, Monday April 4
After getting up early the last 4 days, it was awesome to get to sleep until 7am. I woke up feeling refreshed, but still feeling like I needed a day of rest.
Work was very busy and it was a good day. I came home to let the chickens out at noon and collected 4 eggs and then it was back to work.
The rest of the day flew by and I was home by 5:30pm. The first thing I needed to do was lay down! I took a 20 minute nap and then was ready to do a few things around the house. I also needed to run up to my brothers house and deliver a birthday card to my Nephew for his 13th birthday.
Work was very busy and it was a good day. I came home to let the chickens out at noon and collected 4 eggs and then it was back to work.
The rest of the day flew by and I was home by 5:30pm. The first thing I needed to do was lay down! I took a 20 minute nap and then was ready to do a few things around the house. I also needed to run up to my brothers house and deliver a birthday card to my Nephew for his 13th birthday.
Day 244, Sunday, last day of the meet and time to head home.
The Swap Meet opens an hour later today, so I got sleep in until 5:30am, YEAA. We all checked out at the front desk and we all took advantage of the hotel's continental breakfast.
The gates opened at 7am and this time we drove our over, so we could hook out trucks and haul everything home when the event was over at 1pm.
I had to walk every inch one last time just in case something showed that I hadn't seen before. I love this event every year and I was sad to see it come to an end once again. It's amazing how fast time flies and before I knew it was 1pm and we hooked up and hauling the 1966 Buick Skylark GS home to Redmond.
After dropping the car off and unloading all the unsold parts, Jon took me home at 5pm. I unpacked and started doing laundry. The lawn has started to turn green so I decided it was time to start up the sprinkler system. I also thought I should saw down one of the junipers that I had tied up after the snow flattened them.
It was nice to be home, but I missed my friends and the smell of car parts.
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| 1966 Buick Skylark GS, in primer ready for paint |
I had to walk every inch one last time just in case something showed that I hadn't seen before. I love this event every year and I was sad to see it come to an end once again. It's amazing how fast time flies and before I knew it was 1pm and we hooked up and hauling the 1966 Buick Skylark GS home to Redmond.
After dropping the car off and unloading all the unsold parts, Jon took me home at 5pm. I unpacked and started doing laundry. The lawn has started to turn green so I decided it was time to start up the sprinkler system. I also thought I should saw down one of the junipers that I had tied up after the snow flattened them.
It was nice to be home, but I missed my friends and the smell of car parts.
Day 243, Saturday and more car parts
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| Large trailer at P.I.R. |
The weather was cool and spitting rain. The forecast has was for showers all day but the sun did manage to show up every now and then.
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| Gretchen and Me |
The Swap meet closed at 5pm and we went back to the hotel. We had dinner reservations for 13 at 6:30pm which gave us time to clean up and rest a bit. I sat next to my friends Gretchen and Todd - awesome people! This is a great group of people and I enjoy seeing them all together once a year. This was my 18th Swap Meet!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Day 242, Friday at the Swap Meet
Today was the first full day at the swap meet and the weather was a little cool and overcast, but it was not raining. My alarm went off at 4:45am and I met Jon and Richard at 5am to go for breakfast. Following breakfast we caught a bus to the Expo C enter where Venders were let in at 6am. After setting up the booth with the parts that Jon brought, I was off to walk around and see what was at the meet.
There were a number of cars that caught my eye, including two 1950 Plymouth's, 2 door coupes, and a very unusual 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Town Sedan. The car needs a complete restoration but it is so unusual and rare that its worth restoring and it would look amazing pulling the Traveleze trailer.
Another car that really caught my eye was a complete restoration project and a car that looked like a total mess for $25,000, but it was a 1947 Cadillac Convertible. This car would take $50,000 to restore yet it would be worth over $100,000.
It was a long day of looking at cars and parts and the swap meet was open until 7pm. After closing down our booths we headed back to our hotel and 13 of us all went out to dinner
Tomorrow is another early morning, so bed time came early.
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| 1950 Plymouth |
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| 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan |
I walked around for about 3 hours and coverd a portion of the outside lots. I really didn't see many cars that would work for pulling the Traveleze trailer. I've been told that I really need a car with an 8 cylinder engine, to have the strength to pull the trailer. If I can find a 50's car with a modern engine and suspention would be the best, but I like original cars.
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| A huge project in a 1947 Cadillac convertible |
It was a long day of looking at cars and parts and the swap meet was open until 7pm. After closing down our booths we headed back to our hotel and 13 of us all went out to dinner
Tomorrow is another early morning, so bed time came early.
Day 241, Thursday and the start of the Portland Swap Meet
I think I look forward to the Portland Swap Meet more than Christmas. There is something about looking at endless cars and parts for four days. I have been going to this event for 18 years now and I never get tired of it. I'm hoping to that I might find a great car to buy that would I be able to pull the Traveleze with.
There is always a buzz of excitement getting to the swap meet and I can't wait to go see what's there. The meet covers acres and acres and thousands of cars and parts. My first run around turned up s few nice cars but nothing I thought I had to have.
By 6pm most of the venders had showed up but tomorrow will be the official opening of the event and lots more cars will arrive.
Our group went to Chinese for dinner and we had a great time. I was in bed by 9pm and the alarm was set for 4:15am.
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| 1966 Buick Skylark GS |
My friend Jon picked me up at 7:15am and we were on our way to Portland. We had several stopped before we were ready to hit the road. After getting a tire fixed on the car trailer and getting gas we finally heading to Portland. Jon was taking a 1966 Buick Skylark Gran Sport to sell and a bunch of parts. We arrived in Portland at 11:30am a minute before our friends from Eugene and Prineville showed up. By 12 noon we were heading to the swap meet to set up booths.
By 6pm most of the venders had showed up but tomorrow will be the official opening of the event and lots more cars will arrive.
Our group went to Chinese for dinner and we had a great time. I was in bed by 9pm and the alarm was set for 4:15am.
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