Hurricane Harvey

[KHornet]

Bill,
Wanted to hit Russia, but with the wives conditions that
is out of the question. She has been in 26 countries, and
I believe I Have been in about 34. I feel sorry for those
who have not been fortunate enough to be able to travel.
I had hoped to hit 50, but will be gragful for what I have
under the belt.

Paul

 

[Pistolero]

I had business dealings in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Georgia over a decade or
so. Got to cities from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg, and all in between, small cities
to big, lots in Siberia. Very interesting, but certainly not tourist places, other than
St. Pete.
I lived in Italy a couple of times for a few years when I was a kid, and we have traveled
in Europe since the early 70s, really enjoy the art, architecture and history there. I spent
a few weeks in India, and the wife worked there for a few months, all extremely interesting.

I have enjoyed traveling and will keep it up as long as my health holds out. There are a lot
of interesting and beautiful places in the world, and I have only seen a small portion of it.
I have visited all 50 states, many for many, many times. This is an amazing country, full of
interesting people, too.

You have got me on country count, by a bunch. Mine is about 15, IIRC.

Bill

 

[KHornet]

I long ago visited all 50 states and lived in 9 of them. One of our
more interesting trips was a river cruse from Bukarest (sp) to Budapest.
It was a learning trip for me covering 5 countries, that had all been under
communist control. All the statues are big black ugly things. At one place
in Romania I noticed an appreciable amount of graffiti, when I asked the
guide what it said he replied , it says "Bring back Tito". Every morning
when we got on a bus in a different country, our guide (a Romanian) made
it a point of telling us how lucky we were to be Americans. As I said, it
was very much a learning trip for us. Food was good in all of the
countries, but I most enjoyed it in Hungry.

Paul

 

[Bret4207]

Ah yes, Tito! "The benevolent Dictator". I think that's an oxymoron...

 

[KHornet]

Yep!

Paul

 

[freebullet]

I've been to 2 countries. Quite honestly, I didn't see any reason to leave the US again.

My wife loves to travel, but it's lost on me. I won't even go to or through the commie states. I know where it's good, & ain't leaving again.

 

[Brad]

Nope. I'm more likely to travel and see the world than stay home. Some places I won't go and many I have no desire to visit.
Lots to see in the world and I plan to cross stuff off the bucket List.
Hell, I would even travel to Texas to meet Ian. And his father, my wife would like him.

 

[RBHarter]

Only been in 2 other countries .
I didn't get to spend any time poking around in Baja . Made 4-5 trips . El Polamar was nice . La Pinta was polished marble opulence . Old Mill was historically interesting . Built in 176? by the Britt's to mill flour . All the wood and iron was long gone but the foundations and red brick buildings told quite a story .

The trip to Calgary was low and fast . Just a stop in Nanton to see the Lancaster . We did stay over and have a LaBatts (SP) in the fight bar as seen in Cool Runnings .

19 states . Been to Bloomfield In home of the High Lift Jack and down to French Lick .
I drove the Lake front drive in Chicago IL ,while I was seeing my daughter graduate at Great Lakes boot . I didn't even think to go to the Plank Road Brewery ......

Been clear to SFO all the way to Bufford Wy on I80 .
I've run all of US 50 except a little short stretch into St Louis and Joplin on to Wichita .
Took a picture under the Back to the Future Jct US 6 / US 395 sign where it really is .
Been to the Cadillac Ranch and cruised the Wynn collection of paintings by the masters . About 20% of the Burning Man traffic passes by my backyard .
We hit several old west hide out towns in Kanasas . Virginia City Mt and Round Up . Been to 2-3 Manhattan's ,mostly ghost towns never NYC . Been several times to what I would claim to be the largest gathering of classic cars , restorations and streeted blown rods in the states . Reno's Hot August Nights .
Drug my paws over the fender of Clyde Barrows last car .
I didn't get over to the world's biggest ball of string .

 

[KHornet]

To each his/her own, and every one is welcome to it. Folks like
Bill and I just have or in my case had wander lust, and I am thankful
for it. Every place in the world and in this country that we have
been I have learned something.

Paul

 

[Hawk]

Finally heard back from my friend in Refugio. Couldn't have been anymore of a direct bulls eye for the storm.

He did not evacuate and rode the storm out.

Said everyone was okay, but hadn't had power for 11 days and it's still not on. He's got a generator and they just run it long enough for the fridge to get down to the proper temp and shut it off. I'm going to take him some supplies and gas. just worried about getting in and out without running out of gas myself and being stranded.

Said the house was a little more crooked that it was before but was still standing and they didn't flood like Houston.

Trees were all down and he'll spend months cleaning up the mess.

 

[Pistolero]

Sounds like your friend was ready and had a high ground location, solidly built home. Good
luck going in and out, I wonder how many roads are still messed up? Is there any web
page to show what roads are open and which are closed?

One wonderful thing about travelling the world is the education, but another (and one
reason I recommend Americans travel) is to solidify, with first person verified facts, not
something read in a book, seen on TV, or claimed by somebody else, that this is truly
the best possible place to live on this whole planet.

Bill

 

[Bret4207]

If I was young and single, travel would be fun. Being married with kids and responsibilities...not so much. In a way I envy those that can just pick up and go. I guess it depends on your goals in life. I've seen the Orient and Mexico and what true poverty is. Why I'd want to see more hungry, oppressed people I don't get. Maybe one of those fancy cruises would be nice, where you get waited on hand and foot...

 

[Rick]

I've often thought one of those cruises would be a great experience. Then I think about 5,000 people packed into a shoe box with nowhere to escape and conclude with . . . maybe not.

 

[Hawk]

My friend was probably sitting on the porch with a beer when the storm hit!
He's pretty laid back, but tough as nails.
I pity the person who tries to loot from him.

 

[Rick]

Friend of mine in TX says he appreciates looters, that they provide a worthwhile service. Says they make great target practice.

 

[KHornet]

You couldn't get me on a big cruse ship. We have done 7 or 8 river cruses, small
ship, maybe 100 people, frequent stops & bus tours, food great etc. Saw lots,
learned lots, regret that circumstances now prohibit continuing to travel.

Paul

 

[Bret4207]

I've often thought one of those cruises would be a great experience. Then I think about 5,000 people packed into a shoe box with nowhere to escape and conclude with . . . maybe not.

Yeah, I've known several people that took cruises that wound up in the news. Hurricanes, hit rocks, food poisoning and I think one had a major on board fire. Maybe I'll just visit the Henry Ford museum. Detroit is a nice, safe place...right?

 

[fiver]

I think that is in Dearborn
so your like 20' away from Detroit and should be just fine.
or not.

I have been out of the country a few times and got to see a few different places, they all sucked, it was either real humid and dark, or bright and sunshine with 100' of boot sucking sand that turned into a quagmire when it wouldn't stop raining, or the bath tub was 300' deep and had sharks or worse ice burghs.
it always seemed like someone was always trying to kill me or the person I dropped in to visit too.

I was happy to get back to the USA permanently, and I'm staying put.

 

[popper]

Wife's sister just moved from DFW to north of Daytona Beach this spring, headed to Atlanta today. If she makes it will probably go to Nashville to stay with other sister for a while. Wife was getting ready to mail some batteries to them when she got the call they decided to evacuate.
KC friend with pancreatic cancer is going to Romania via London next week. We had a good visit with her last month but she's emptying her bucket list. I've travelled all I really want, seen most of southern Europe, japan, Korea, time to stay put. Skipper drove around a couple hurricanes back then, sea can really get rough 45 deg. rolls in a cruiser is fun for a while.

 

[Bret4207]

Korea, whah! I thought I'd seen poor people in Mexico but there are some people in SK that make them look like middle class Americans.