[tcb] Re: Bulli Bragade trip report-the back side
- From: Brian Denning <i_am_cool_fred@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:34:31 -0600
i had to get the scoop on kim and christi so i asked chad...to funny.
From: sukchew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tcb] Bulli Bragade trip report-the back side
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:58:35 -0600
Sunday: Drove to Ark. so I could ride to Tampa with
Denis and Murray.
Day one, Monday.
We got an early start after replacing a
brake cylinder on murray.we left Denis' early 9:30 ish. a tire check by me, the
load master left front tire was low.That was no problem just stop by the tire
shop put in a little air and be on our way.NOT! a big nail was in the shoulder
of the tire so the spare tire was mounted on his fancy wheels a used spare was
installed and we were on our way about 11:30. an early start for Denis.We had
an
uneventfull drive to Birmingham where I spent the night after having Pizza
in at about 10:30.I spent the night in Birmingham Denis must have gone on
to Montgomery without me.
Day two.Tuesday
After ariving in Montgomery Denis decided a
slight detour was in order.We took I 65 toward Mobile and to Gulf Shores where
we took the senic route along the coast of the forgotten part of
Florida.Stopped
fpr lunch at Gulf Shores where we met George a "wild" Heron that had stayed at
the restaurant for four years.
Apalachicola was the next scheduled stop. we
went to Sea Side a Doll town where
everything is scaled down to about 3/4 size including the streets.If you wanted
to park off of the main street a parking permit was required.We made it thru
without scraping anything off the trailer or tearing up there doll town.Arrived
in Apalach about 8:30 sat at the Bar and ate fresh oysters drank beer and
visted
with the locals before crashing for the night.
Day three Wednesday
We had breakfast at the local Apalach
internet cafe. It was close when we arrived but someone unlocked for us and
indicade that the cook/owner would be back soon. This was the second time that
Denis arrived there and they opened up for him. The first time was on his trip
of a lifetime on a Sunday morning.
We took some early morning pics and hit the
road Because we were a day early we decided to stay on the coastal route where
the is nothing but swamp and pine trees untill we reached the Nuke plant at
Inglis.It was lunch time so we decided to eat at the local spot which was very
crowded and had really good food.( what would you expect from a place called
Gobblers) it was all you could eat chicken wednesday.So you can imagine what
kind of gobbler we came up with.
We arrived at Kip's shop in the late
afternoon where we managed to look at the Rare and Unique vehicles which were
parked in and around his shop. ( Rare and Unique is the shop name)We hung out
for the first event of the weekend which started wed. with a Tequila and
bull shit party for mostly locals and very early arrivals,Us.We survived the
evening with very little damage.
Day four. Thursday
We ran arround and picked up supplies for
the" Murray display"which never happen. went to a full service car wash and had
most of Lilly's hair removed from the truck in anticapation of Jans arrival
from
Ark.They tried but Lilly's hair was still in the truck. We picked Jan up and
went to the gathering at the Sonic.There were lots of VWs at the sonic
Splits,Bays, Bugs,Ghias.Fredlins, High tops.and misc. others.
Bed time!
Day five. Friday
Party day.Yeah,Big day for Denis to clean and
polish Murray.The load master had to escort Jan to a local outlet
Mall>#^%@87)(@#$1?+_8&5.Damn.
I survived until late afternoon when we made
it back to Kip's.There were two giant grills maned by four people grilling
chicken tenders.iles of chicken being processed for the party.I had not had
anything to eat so it was a perfect time to start on the beer.The party didn't
start till six and I wanted to be ready,I was.Cars of all types started
arriving
around 4:00 and didn't stop untill I left for the evening.I had to take Jan
back
to the hotel about mid evening I think that probably saved my life.I had to
drive because I was just about to have trouble walking.I left Denis to
represent me which he did quit well as is evidenced by his morning after
photo.There were 300-350 VWs jammed into a less then two acre
space.everyone was there to party and I think everyone did it well.Three bands
,not enough food but who cared there was lots of beer on the beer truck.The
party ran out of food twice but not beer and other stuff.900 tickets were sold
for the party but not one Porta Pottie in sight however the was one working
rest
room on the other side of the building.Its a goooooood thing there were lots of
bushes.
Jan discribed the happening as VWs version
of woodstock.It was a happening worth the trip but it must be experienced to be
believed.
I thought the party was only for splitties,Boy was
I wrong. There were VWs there that I didn't even know existed and can't spell
the names.Lots of slammed rat bugs, Big engine fire breathing Goth rod complete
with spiked bumpers.Volrods,buses and bugs of every discription.There was a
splittie tilt bed wrecker complete with a tricked out Ghia on board.The
mans name was Lowell Snow who I had met at a Scirocco gathering in Cincy in
2002.where he had a double cab Rabbit pickup.Damn it's a small
world.
A early good nightwas in order.
Day six. Saturday
Went to Skyway Jacks for a good breakfast
before going to Bulli Bragade.Dumy little place where menus were not only on
the
menu but also on the walls the amount of food was almost obscene but tasted
great.On to Bulli Bragade where there were about 130 splitties on display a
good
swap area where I was able to score a rear bumper for Blue bus.Trophys were
made
from the fresh air vent covers some one got them ,Not Denis.
A cruise after the show included 70 plus
splitties that tried to take over a rest stop on the freeway only to be
thwarted by the stereotype fat Southern rent a cop and his
tall skinney side kick.He didn't like the fact that one bug was across on
end of a handicap lane.There was no handicaps there.So after a
confrontation about that everyone was told to get the one wheel off the grass
or
he would call the real cops.Ass Hole mf er!.We moved on to the hotels were
they were taken over by the VW gang. lots more BS and that was the end of the
official Bulli Bragade.
In the meantime shopper Jan had the run of
the Tampa bay area and had found a BBQ rib cookoff in St Pete which was near
were all of the other activities were.Three bands a
carnival midway atmosphere. Lots of ribs and
people.We didn't eat any people.However the were a couple that I would have
beening willing to munch on.after all I had been away from home for seven
days.
I was forced to sleep in Murray so denis and Jan could have a
night without me being around.I got a good nights sleep and was ready for day
seven.
Day seven Sunday
We left Jan asleep went to Kipo's where we picked up the
trailer that by tis time had been parked unde the en of a flatbed trailer. we
had to jerk it sideways before we could hook up.Back to the hotel where Murry
was loaded picked up Jan and headed for Tampa international airport drove
thru dragging Murray on the trailer. Denis missed everthing with the trailer.we
dropped Jan off and headed for Dade City and the Bug Jam. we weren't
going to be long so found a parking place on the perminter so we could make an
early escape.on the way thru the parking place we discovered that Kup kake and
side kick had been thrown out of bug jam before they even got in.Denis can tell
that part.it was a giant car show that has in my opinion has reached it's level
of incompetence.I think they were overwhelmed and could not handle the issues
that came up.
We went thru the swap meet and Denis picked up a set of swaybars for
Murray and we saw lots of rare parts.We made a quick walkthru of some of Bug
Jam
and were on our way back to Ark.We drove to Quincy Fla.where we got lost and
had
to be rescued by Dan Star.We didn't listen to DanStar and got lost again. Dan
Star had had enough of our antics and hung up leaving us to fend for
ourselves.After a good nights sleep we decided to get an early start and do the
Cannon ball run straight thru to Springdale Ark.
Day eight Monday
After getting off of I 10 we headed north on 231 the most
direct route to Ark.We had gone 10 or so miles when denis got acall from steve
that the cke bus had puked an engine requiring a tow or an engine or a ? After
a
few phone calls we decided it was to far to be of much help.We were 150 plus
miles east of Pensacola headed north.After it was discussed we decided that we
would flip a coin.Steve and Sharon lost. As Dan pointed out after all it was
Steve and Sharon.Turned arround and headed to the rescue we had what they
needed,a tow vehicle and a trailer.Steve needed to be at work on
Tuseday.arrangements were made to leave the Coke bus for Denis and me.Denis
had mentioned several times on the first part of the trip that he would like to
drive Murray for a extended time,Little did he know that the extended trip
would be from Kiln Miss. to Athens tex.We made the pick up around 1:00 and
headed west Steve had made reservations in Lafayette for us.Denis was
spacing out in Murray listening to ? when he pulled a Paul Smith Murray ran out
of gas two that's 2 miles from our exit.The load master who by this time had
been promoted to coke bus hauler went ahead found the last gas can and
Managed to rescue Murray from the fate of vehicles left stripped on the
highway.Earlier we had seen a Neon hooked to a motor home that had the doors
and
tires stripped off.I don't think Denis was ready for Muarry to meet that
fate.Pizza and a early bed time completed day eight.
Day nine.Tuesday
An uneventful day except for me getting lost in Jasper Tex. of all
places.We arrived in Athens about 4:00 unloaded Coke bus and loaded Murray
ready
for the last leg.I got to sleep in my own bed after Nine days on the road.Sue
fed us steak and hot apple pie to prepare us for day Nine.
Day ten wednsday
We drove to Springdale unloaded Murray and crashed early. we
were thankful that the trip was over and that there had not been any
disasters only a bad bus marred the trip.
Day eleven Thursday
I drove back to Athens which was the completion of the trip.I
started pulling the engine out of the Coke bus which is mostly done.
I'm waiting for it to warm up and I'll finish jerking the engine out.
This is my detailed report and the back side of Bulli Bragade trip.
ole blue
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