The Lone Bilgemeister gets all domesticated

[Mike Echemann]

Bill:
Two thoughts: For one I feel a slight sense of loss as the last few years I
sort of felt like you carried the Amphi Flag high for all of us with your
semi cross country trips. A feat many of us might not even consider let
alone embark on yearly. You reminded me the Amphi WAS capable of land
transport AND can finish the journey. I salute you for this.

Second: I did feel bad for you each time you drove into Celina looking a
bit burnt orange and needing a cold beer oh sooo badly. Somehow I knew your
excursion was worth the effort in your mind. That said, having four kids of
my own I say "it's about time" to give your amphi a break and give it a
lift. She might complain at first but she'll get use to it.

Regarding your vacation: I remember Salt Fork State Park in Ohio to be nice
but it's been years since I've been there. I'd point towards Wild and
Wonderful West Virgina if I were you.

Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Connelly" <billiam@erols.com>
To: <amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 1:00 AM
Subject: [amphicar-lovers] The Lone Bilgemeister gets all domesticated


> Every year since 1995 I've piloted my Amphicar north under its own steam
on
> "solo missions" from my place just outside of Washington, D.C. to all of
the
> various Swim-Ins, first in upstate New York and later to Celina. That was
> all well and good when all of life was a "solo mission", but nowadays,
with
> even our second kid now taking her first steps, it's really time to start
> thinking about putting the whole annual lone hejira thing to bed and
seeking
> out a more gracious segue from the Swim-In into a proper "Family
Vacation."
>
> I've managed to get together a suitable tow vehicle in a 1976 Dodge Van
with
> a "big enough" 318 V8, and so now I'm on the lookout for likely lakeside
> cottages or other suitable digs to hole up the wee clan for a week or two
> before, during or after Celina (July 25-28th). So if anyone has any tips
> for any such places anywhere roughly east of Celina and north of North
> Carolina where a family of four could settle in for a couple of weeks
around
> the end of July-beginning of August, we'd love to hear about it. Please
> contact me off-list at "bilgemeister AT amphicar.net" with any
suggestions.
>
> Thanx!
> ~Bilgemeister~
>
>
>
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[Bill Connelly]

Every year since 1995 I've piloted my Amphicar north under its own steam on
"solo missions" from my place just outside of Washington, D.C. to all of the
various Swim-Ins, first in upstate New York and later to Celina. That was
all well and good when all of life was a "solo mission", but nowadays, with
even our second kid now taking her first steps, it's really time to start
thinking about putting the whole annual lone hejira thing to bed and seeking
out a more gracious segue from the Swim-In into a proper "Family Vacation."

I've managed to get together a suitable tow vehicle in a 1976 Dodge Van with
a "big enough" 318 V8, and so now I'm on the lookout for likely lakeside
cottages or other suitable digs to hole up the wee clan for a week or two
before, during or after Celina (July 25-28th). So if anyone has any tips
for any such places anywhere roughly east of Celina and north of North
Carolina where a family of four could settle in for a couple of weeks around
the end of July-beginning of August, we'd love to hear about it. Please
contact me off-list at "bilgemeister AT amphicar.net" with any suggestions.

Thanx!
~Bilgemeister~

 

[Bill Connelly]

[...] You reminded me the Amphi WAS capable of land transport AND can finish
the journey.

===========

As I've often said, I really believe that one of the reasons my Amphi runs
so happily and generally "limber" on the tarmac is that at least once a year
it always got a chance to really stretch its legs and blow out the cobwebs.
Using AMSOIL stem-to-stern also helps. After about 50 to 100 miles you can
really feel the whole "organism" limbering up: the tappet clatter of the
engine evens out and the suspension eases from "jerky-bounce" to
"supple-stroke" mode. I've driven a lot of different Amphis, and lots of
them felt sort of "sore and sullen"...like they'd always been dunked and
then hung up wet. Mine will still get its chance for at least one long haul
a year, to Billy & Randy's super-shindig in New Jersey over Labor Day
weekend. Last year my son Victor rode shotgun and loved it all. A
guaranteed good time that really should be on every Amphicar owner's dance
card who lives east of the Mississippi.

Anyhow, thanks for the vacation spot tips, and keep 'em coming folks!

~Bilgemeister~