Nellie's Maiden Voyage....

Well the Dust (Mud) is starting to settle down on this whole project and was able to take "Nellie" on here maiden voyage.



Unlike the Titanic, she made it through with flying colors. I was just hanging on and opened my eyes occasionally....

I took "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly..." Pics. This was right near the Mossyrock Campout just east of Elbe, WA.

These things are awesome and the phrase "When in doubt, POWER out" repeatedly flashed though my mind and I learn the value of the 'Skid Plate' (metal plastic sheet protecting the bottom undercarriage, luckily)

There was one double rollover (note bent hood ornament), everyone was fine, buggy ran fine afterwards just to give you an idea. Mud, stumps, roots, rocks, hills and water were all there.


Gallery pics here

The GOOD...


The BAD (not really that bad for me anyway)


and the Ugly...


Fun trip and toy.. just wish I could take them both, "Le Droppe" & "Nellie"...
(working on the Decal, even as we speak)

 

Heheh, thanks Jenn....

Was it worth working AND retiring???

Well, the "Retiring" part certainly is, but the working part??? Nawh.... More like a PITA...

All jobs I liked and was good at went "Belly up".. Real Estate/Savings & Loans/Coml financing... so the rest were dead-end jobs.. so no, heheh, working wasn't worth it.. I could have retired at anytime but couldn't afford it.. sigh.. so trying to catch up now...

Now just trying to get in what I can till I can't...
Making Memories... about the only thing they can take from you... (aside from Alzheimer's that is...)

Hope all is well..

 

Wow Frank, I sure hope Nellie has an adventuring spirit. Looks like fun except for the rolling over part. Don't try that yourself if you can't help it.

 

Frank I guess the dirtier Nellie gets the more fun you had.

 

Pat:
thanks, they have the Roll cage and it's built for that situation. Just have to remember to keep arms/limbs INSIDE. The guy that rolled his 2 times, double roll, just got back from doc with an OK... muscles are sore, but that's it. Most have a 4 or 5 point harness (5 was a little too much for moi, I'm not trying to climb Mt Rainier). Doc didn't feel any X-rays were needed. 10 min after it happened and a systems check, all was well and he just pressed on like nothing ever happened.. heheh, amazing to say the least but a testament for the build structure... Not that I WANT to test it... I'll leave that for the "Young Whipper-Snappers) Their young and invincible... or so they think.

Anna:
heheh, Well yes and no... You gots to clean it all up ... not too much fun..., but with the self spray car washes, works out OK...

 

Now that looks like a LOT of fun, Frank!!!

 

Wait a minute... If I didn't know you better, I'd suspect hanky-panky with those photos! How come Nellie (my grandmother's name, by the way)is covered in gunk and that arm of your jacket is all nice and clean? Hhhhmmmm...... Let's see one of you after the rollover!

Actually, I really do trust you, I just want to see your big bright smile shining through the mud.

Sue

 

Dan, thanks, it is and it blows me away at the power of these things.. just point and gun it... amazing what it can do...

Sue, Actually that's not me nor Nellie, I was just trying to show how "messy" it can get... While I didn't really understand the high doors, now I do. They are high to keep arms inside and most mud, branches etc from coming into the area... His arm is clean as he kept arms inside and the mud only came up the about half way up the door... or he might have just taken off his outside jacket... Don't remember...
But I am picking up my lower doors tomorrow just for that reason..

We, got out of it fairly clean... 1st ride so not planting it in the mud just yet. the spray on mine is from the tires whirling around... it's a real mess to clean up, "Right nice and Purdy-like"

Moab in June? so it'll be less messy, more dusty...heheh, why bother eh?? you're gonna have to wash it anyway...

fun..

 

The first trip must have been a day trip as we didn't hear anything about camping and how the gear worked out. Have fun and take it easy on Nellie. I think it is smart to take your time at first. I see the young kids go out and tear up their machine the first thing trying to keep up with the experienced folks. Have fun and be safe.

 

Thanks Pat,
I hear that...

It was a day trip, like to "Work" into these things one step at a time. After a few more local day trips, then will do a local camp-out just to find out what I'm missing.. heheh

Keeping up to ruin? LOL.. not at this stage of life.. If I've learned nothing else, it's "KNOW" your limits... and are the consequences worth the inexperienced risk... Nope!!...

too old to try to impress anyone anyhow... I set the pace...

more to come... thanks..

 

Nellie needs nose art and a raccoon tail...

Or maybe a pirate flag.

Sue

 

Needs one of those swivel drink holders so the drink doesn't spill.

And maybe some flames painted on the hood.

 

Well, LOL, actually BOTH are on the way...

Victory Girl is working on the final sketch I made for her "Debut" Nose Art Pinup decal and the "Flying Tigers" teeth are coming with it...

I've just removed all the "Wraps" as they call it so right now it's just a flat matte black... about another month or se... will post it when it's on...
Stay tuned...

fun...

ps and the swivel drink holder, soft drinks that is... don't do beer till AFTER the ride back at the campsite... anyway, the holder would never survive the Rock'n and a Roll'n these things do... I'd have liquids on the roof...

Next trip, although just sand dunes, I'll have the GoPro set up for a quick vid...
stay tuned eh???