What did you see on the road today?

[drball]

Don't forget that the joys of living in southern California includes drought, wildfires, mudslides, and earthquakes too. I loved it the first time I visited California and had an excellent chance to move out here back in the 70's. Glad I passed up the opportunity for several reasons other than what I had already mentioned.

I was in San Clemente this past weekend. Despite everything you stated which is true- I would move there in a heart beat if I could afford it.

[Rob Hall]

I was in San Clemente this past weekend. Despite everything you stated which is true- I would move there in a heart beat if I could afford it.

I do love going over there..probably will head over to San Diego and LA a few times this summer. I love the coastal parts of California..the problem is the real estate cost..anything nice is very expensive, even w/ my income I'd be stuck in something pretty small in the nicer areas. I've had job offers in California in the past, San Jose a couple times and San Diego. I probably should have moved to San Francisco or San Jose when I was in my 20s and renting, since Silicon Valley is still overall the best place in the US career-wise for software engineers..

[Pete J.]

Don't forget that the joys of living in southern California includes drought, wildfires, mudslides, and earthquakes too. I loved it the first time I visited California and had an excellent chance to move out here back in the 70's. Glad I passed up the opportunity for several reasons other than what I had already mentioned.

Yup, we got that. We also have 800 miles of gorgeous Pacific coast line and stunning beaches, the redwoods of Yosemite, the west side of the Rockies. Fish Tacos. The best weather in the world. Fish Tacos. No tornados, or hurricanes and all blizzards are restricted to the mountains. Any kind of entertainment you can imagine be it Hollywood, Disneyland, Legoland, etc. Fish Tacos. Sports of all kind. You can surf in the morning, hang glide for lunch and snow board for the afternoon. Fish tacos. We have 3 NFL teams, 5 MLB teams and 3 NHL teams and 5 MLB teams. Oh and lets not forget the people that the Beachboys made famous, the California girls. But other than that, I can't think of a reason to live here.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Pete J.

[1930fordpickup]

I am starting to think that Pete likes Fish Tacos and professional sports teams.

If I was a sun lover or could even get a tan it would be nice but I like the great Lakes area , we have water and 4 seasons of weather. We know how to eat fish, and it is not in a taco shell. LOL

[Pete J.]

I lived in Oscoda,Michigan from 1973 to 1977. It just didn't suit me. Got tired of snow and cold and Michigan has plenty of that but frankly not much else. The year I left the high for the month of February was -17.

I'm not going to bag on Michigan, because like everywhere it is home to many that love it, but I've lived there and for me, I'll take California with all it's perceived faults(San Andreas and others) any day.

By the way the danger of earthquakes are grossly exaggerated. There have been less than 130 deaths related to earthquakes in the California in the last 30 years. There are an average of 140 deaths each year from blizzards and extreme winter weather. I'll take my chances with in an earthquake any time to a blizzard.

Oh, one last thought, I could care less about professional sports. Give me a good college football game any day. By the way I am a devout fan of one team in the Big 10. There are three local watering holes here who show this teams games exclusively every Saturday and the places are packed.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Pete J.

[Joe Handley]

That's a whole lot better than the ladies outhouse I've passed over a dozen times already, not as entertaining once I realized that I had actually seen that though!

[Darren B]

I lived in Oscoda,Michigan from 1973 to 1977. It just didn't suit me. Got tired of snow and cold and Michigan has plenty of that but frankly not much else. The year I left the high for the month of February was -17.

I'm not going to bag on Michigan, because like everywhere it is home to many that love it, but I've lived there and for me, I'll take California with all it's perceived faults(San Andreas and others) any day.

By the way the danger of earthquakes are grossly exaggerated. There have been less than 130 deaths related to earthquakes in the California in the last 30 years. There are an average of 140 deaths each year from blizzards and extreme winter weather. I'll take my chances with in an earthquake any time to a blizzard.

Oh, one last thought, I could care less about professional sports. Give me a good college football game any day. By the way I am a devout fan of one team in the Big 10. There are three local watering holes here who show this teams games exclusively every Saturday and the places are packed.

I was born and lived in Benton Harbor Michigan from 1967 to 1980 and Ill tell you that they could give me the state and I would not go back there to claim it, I remember as a kid being able to walk up on top of the roof from snow drifts!!! Yuck I love California and San Diego has paradise weather, was there in 2012 for a weeks vacation and would move there if I had the cash. Beautiful place yes it has its draw backs but every state does. Especially where I am living now.

[Tom Geiger]

Now ya got me Jonesing for fish tacos! Last year we were in the historic waterfront Fells Point area of Baltimore and every sidewalk cafe was advertising fish tacos on their posted menu! So I had some... blackened Mahi fish tacos with cilantro... they were so good! And now I'm hungry!

[Daddyfink]

Don't forget that the joys of living in southern California includes drought, wildfires, mudslides, and earthquakes too. I loved it the first time I visited California and had an excellent chance to move out here back in the 70's. Glad I passed up the opportunity for several reasons other than what I had already mentioned.

So, where in the "Midwest" are you?

[Pete J.]

Now ya got me Jonesing for fish tacos! Last year we were in the historic waterfront Fells Point area of Baltimore and every sidewalk cafe was advertising fish tacos on their posted menu! So I had some... blackened Mahi fish tacos with cilantro... they were so good! And now I'm hungry!

Ah, the fish Taco and it's multitude of permutations. The true original fish taco is really street food. Street venders have carts by the fish market and buy a white fish direct from the boats. Bread it with a cerveza batter and fry it. Add some shredded cabbage, salsa, a few slices of pickled jalapenos and some white yogurt sauce and a flour tortilla. Probably not what they serve in Fells Point. Here it is kind of like a Coney Island hot dog or Philly cheese stake. It is best in its original form, but there are other great versions of it.

My wife is from Baltimore and my daughter and her husband are there while she works on her masters degree. I have spent many a happy hour in Baltimore. The east coast bakeries are just full of stuff you can't get here on the west coast. Fenwick on Harford road for sticky buns and butter cake is my favorite. And crab! Oh, the crab. Every neighborhood has its crab house and Maryland blues steamed Baltimore style are just unbeatable. Not to mention the crab cakes and crab soup. "Balemer" has crab houses just like California has Taco shops. It just isn't the same anywhere else. Oh, and Fishers popcorn and Tastykakes and Thresher's Fries.

Don't get me started on regional foods.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Pete J.

[High octane]

A LOT of people don't realize that when they're on vacation visiting different places or parts of the world that look great to them, that they are on vacation and not living there. I've been to California a few times and like it a lot just like the many other places I have visited. Visiting a special place and living there are two different things and are not to be confused with paradise.

I do wish that when I was much younger, like in the 60's that I had spent a couple months in California checkin' out their drag strips every week though.

[Pete J.]

A LOT of people don't realize that when they're on vacation visiting different places or parts of the world that look great to them, that they are on vacation and not living there. I've been to California a few times and like it a lot just like the many other places I have visited. Visiting a special place and living there are two different things and are not to be confused with paradise.

I do wish that when I was much younger, like in the 60's that I had spent a couple months in California checkin' out their drag strips every week though.

Very true but some of us have had the opportunity to live in a lot of places. In my case it has been Nebraska, Michigan, Texas, Washington(state) and California. I have spent time(more than a month) in Alabama, Mississippi, Vermont, Florida, Alaska, Ohio and Maryland and Montana(if you count the many, many weeks I have spent there visiting relatives). I have driven across every state but North Dakota and Wisconsin. I have been out of the US in Japan, Thailand, Guam(well not technically out of the US) the Philippines, the Bahamas and Diego Garcia. It doesn't make my opinion any more valid, but I can say that I have made an informed decision to live in California. It suits me well. I know it doesn't suit others but I love living here. I will save the others for visitation.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Pete J.

[Scale-Master]

After a while we take for granted all the cars we see on the road regularly "out here".

Then when a car enthusiast from another state visits us they seemed amazed at the amount of exotics, new and old, and just cool cars in general that are driven normally.

I haven't seen an i8 on the road before though, guess I need to walk down to the beach and watch the parade of cars on PCH...

[Tom Geiger]

A LOT of people don't realize that when they're on vacation visiting different places or parts of the world that look great to them, that they are on vacation and not living there. I've been to California a few times and like it a lot just like the many other places I have visited. Visiting a special place and living there are two different things and are not to be confused with paradise.

Agreed. When I go places I'm not big on the tourist stuff, I'd rather live with some of the local folks to see how their day to day living goes. My Aussie friends felt the same way, I have several that have spent up to a week with me, and wanted to do things like go to the grocery store with me, just to see how it differed from home.

I've done the tourist thing in places like St John and St Thomas. Great places to visit for a week, but you'd go nuts living there since there aren't a lot of the amenities we all are used to.

As an army brat I've lived in a few different states and countries. A lot different when you live there for a couple of years!

[espo]

No plates and your behind a Police car, makes you wonder what else is going on here.

[Daddyfink]

After a while we take for granted all the cars we see on the road regularly "out here".

Then when a car enthusiast from another state visits us they seemed amazed at the amount of exotics, new and old, and just cool cars in general that are driven normally.

I haven't seen an i8 on the road before though, guess I need to walk down to the beach and watch the parade of cars on PCH...

Yes, we are a bit jaded around here when it comes to cars. So much stuff is on the roads and I had no idea that this car was such hot stuff to watch out for! Heck, there is one that parks across the parking lot from here at work! Never really got excited about it! Guess I should!

Hey Pete, missed you at the meeting last night!

[PeeBee]

Saw an i8 parked on 69th and 1st in Manhattan the other day. Other interesting cars I see parked in the street, in that neighborhood, include a '66 Mustang GT fastback (clean); a '70 AMC Gremlin (a real beater); and a Jag XK120 roadster (good driver). All registered daily drivers.

I was out in Brooklyn not too long ago and came across a '70 440(?) 4-speed 'Cuda convertible parked on the street. I don't think there was one inch of straight steel on that car (it was really bent up!), but it was a registered driver.

[Pete J.]

Saw an i8 parked on 69th and 1st in Manhattan the other day. Other interesting cars I see parked in the street, in that neighborhood, include a '66 Mustang GT fastback (clean); a '70 AMC Gremlin (a real beater); and a Jag XK120 roadster (good driver). All registered daily drivers.

I was out in Brooklyn not too long ago and came across a '70 440(?) 4-speed 'Cuda convertible parked on the street. I don't think there was one inch of straight steel on that car (it was really bent up!), but it was a registered driver.

I remember when I moved here. Coming from Michigan and Washington, I was stunned by the number of old cars on the road here. In other states cars just don't last. They start rusting and then they are gone. Doesn't happen here in the warm and dry air. Throw in a really strong car culture and you get to see things on the road on a regular basis that just don't happen elsewhere. I would bet that on a drive up the I-5 I would see more classic, collectable, exotic, hot rod and other cars of interest than you would get at most shows elsewhere.

[landman]

Well, not on the road but next to it at our little weekly gathering. Some fine old iron, some of it not so old.

[wayne swayze]

That's a sweet Gran Torino...nice colour too!

[cobraman]

Love that Torino.

[cartpix]

The SoCal beach town, I grew up in, has become very affluent in the last 35 years. I'm an IT Professional for their school district. You can't drive through the city (all 4 square miles of it), without seeing 2 or 3 Teslas, 15 - 20 Mercedes (they're like Chevys there), a handful of Porsches, an Aston Martin or 2, a Maserati, & a Ferrari. I have seen an I8 & a couple Audi R8s, there, also. I've become pretty used to high end cars. What impresses me now, is bitchen street rods, customs, & street machines, at the Friday night cruise night, during the summer.

[Bucket T]

The driver was probably shaking the car down on the 15 or 5 and was passing thru San Marcos to head back down the freeway. Also, for those who think SD housing is pricey, try searching Pete's neck of the woods in North County in the +55 areas. You'd be surprised at prices, but the HOA fees are rather high.

[Tom Geiger]

Some things I saw on my recent trip to GSL in Salt Lake City. On Sunday, the awards brunch is over by noon, and that gives us an entire day to explore the area. One year we went to Bonneville and into Nevada. One year we went north up into Idaho and the resort town of Paris, and the last trip we decided to drive into Wyoming and stop in the first interesting town we came across. This time we pointed the car towards Provo, Utah and decided to see what we could see. We weren't interested in formal things like museums and the like. More interested in the local flavor, old towns and of course anything automotive....

Headed on the highway towards Provo we saw a town name of "American Fork, Utah" and figured that was good enough to detour onto the local roads. We were rewarded when we came across someone's 1:1 scale diorama of a Sinclair station, complete with a dozen or more old weathered vehicles.

Once past the station, we saw a road that went UP, and decided to take that one! See next post!

[Casey]

How 'bout a Pontiac Parisienne wearing Rally IIs.