trinacriabob

sophomore (slump)

Here are some photos of the area from somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas, about 5 to 7 years ago ... Lincoln City - possibly that lake, on the inboard side of US 101 from that beach with the big parking lot and the seagulls that love people ... and it's easy to figure out why they love people: Depoe Bay area:

I did not know that. And I once lived there. (One or two communities over from you!) Any idea when this law was enacted ... more or less? Not a good idea to be driving up and down a stop and go I-5 or I-405 with flip flops, sandals, or the like.

Yes. Please don't drive in them. At the most, 2 or 3 blocks at lower speeds to pick up some groceries at the market. Some countries, and possibly some states, have laws about driving while wearing footwear that is not held in place with a strap. Not completely sure. And, if they don't, these sorts of laws might be a good idea, though hard to enforce. Not at all a "don't tread on me" issue but a public safety issue.

I saw another one a few days ago. I'm liking this car. The mid-engine look is interesting and makes it look "balanced." Some article was released and it was considered one of the best 10 cars of 2020. They went as far as to say that, in base form, it's a bargain for what it is. I know the base engine is a 6.2 L V8. I've seen that engine on specs every now and then. I believe it's about 368 c.i. I'm wondering why they couldn't have kept the venerable 5.7 L. Maybe the 5.7 label is too long in the tooth and signals no innovation. - - - - - During the first week of August, I was at a gas station in FL and saw an immaculate mid-90s Cutlass Supreme (SL trim) coupe in white with burgundy buckets and alloy wheels. As the guy was gassing up, I learned it was a '95 (which I had guessed), it had a 3.1 V6 (which I had guessed), and had about 160,000 miles. He couldn't believe I knew so much about it. The guy was originally from England (looked like he could have been related to Australian Paul Hogan) and said he loved the car - its reliability, comfort, and mostly how economical it was in using fuel. This car was 25 years old and it must have been tight! Would have taken a photo but the situation just wasn't right for that. It's like being put into a time tunnel when you see something with burgundy cloth bucket seats.

Mostly, I get a kick of this newer vernacular of soccer slides and white socks. You can't be a white person and pull it off. When I was growing up, you wore white socks ... and maybe - BIG maybe - white ankle socks with tennis shoes, most of which were mainly white. If you wore dark socks with tennis shoes, you were out of style, nerdy, or possibly a German or Scandinavian tourist. Now, and especially in Europe, you wear dark socks with tennis shoes, which tend to be of many colors, and that includes dark ankle socks. I wish I could "get the memo" on these things on a timely basis. Therefore, it's easier to wear flip flops and avoid socks altogether when the weather is good. You won't be making any "mistakes" that way.

Here's an early August sighting in the subtropics. He knew I took this photo. He told me it was a 2005 with about 160,000 original miles. Those tires and wheels are a MUST. LOL.

One of my childhood friends has a sister who shares a profile with Chief Pontiac. She ultimately grew into it.

If it can carry the space shuttle, then it can carry this

I saw one of these and thought I could use one: You don't want one, eh? Graduate of Wazza Matta U?

The new Elantra is just around the bend and it stylistically follows in the footsteps of the new Sonata. That's a thumbs down. It looks like they're trying to reinvent their design vocabulary and niche. The exterior views are consistent but the interior views are not. I've seen two renditions of their interiors and dashboards. One is better than the other. I see the Accent going away. Too bad. The Accent is being discontinued for the Canadian market. I'm not sure if we (the U.S.A.) are included in this. There are very few of them on the lots, while Elantras, the current one, are plentiful. I surprisingly enjoyed how nicely two rentals drove and sipped fuel. The only heartburn I have is that it went from a 6-speed automatic to a CVT. Yep, CVTs and "laptop left open" infotainment centers give me heartburn.

I'm part of the way with you on this. I do not get the appeal of Krispy Kreme at all. It's their glazing and slickness that I don't like. I only go during National Donut Day or if someone else really wants to go. I much prefer Dunkin Donuts because their donuts are "normal" in consistency, frosting, etc. So are the donuts of some indie shops. A good croissant does trump a donut, either filled with jam or turned into a small sandwich.

And Edsel made its own engines? What powered their cars - cylinders, c.i.? I don't know anything about them except that Kathleen Turner made a comment about an Edsel in one particular movie. So sad to see Pontiac shelved. With few exceptions, always the best styled of BOP + C(h). Compared to the rear of the '59 Impala, the '60 (and '58) almost pale. ... few tail lamp assemblies have been that uniquely and oddly styled.

Here are some classics don't fit into the monthly spotting threads ... all of them seen in California. Here's a Chevy wagon of some sort (year and model unknown) in a rest area along US 101 in the vicinity of Hearst Castle. Here's a real treat. I don't recall if and when I've seen one before. I kept looking at it in this shopping center parking lot, trying to figure out what is was, and it was an EDSEL! (rear light panel looks "slightly" old Impala like)

If it's that trashed outside, it's probably fairly scruffy inside. That looks like a '79. Probably a beautiful car in its day. I think I spot the little square emblem on the landau roof indicating it's a Brougham.

You guys were on this like flies on sh*t. I had edited it out quickly. My God. Next Monday, August 17, is National Vanilla Custard Day. If you have a Culver's near you, things with vanilla custard are half off. Check. And, raise your custard treat as a "cheers" to Robert DeNiro's birthday. I think it's on the 17th. I have a friend, a "paesano," with a b-day on the 18th who told me that.

Never mind. - - - - - Also, yes, riviera74, I agree. The Chinese president's car has an ominous Gotham City quality.

Money does not buy class. It's one tacky ride. Also, I see tattoos showing up by his sleeves. Many people, including many celebrities, are clueless and should be getting rid of them before age, and what it does to the skin, creeps up on them.

This sled has existed for a while but, today, I saw it on line for the very first time. I was trying to figure out if Mercedes or Bentley built it for the Chinese president and other VIPs. Turns out it's made by an expensive niche Chinese auto manufacturer and these cars cost about $ 1 M (US equivalent) each. It looks more like a butt ugly and expensive cross between an early '60s Rambler and a late '60s Toyota on steroids.

@oldshurst442 Two things: 1) That's exactly what I was thinking. If a great white shark can swim up to Maine (a very sad situation), there's nothing stopping it from swimming up to Nova Scotia (Halifax, etc.) 2) The could have been me in that photo except that my rented Alero was a coupe, burgundy, and on the Trans-Canada Highway in AB near the Continental Divide. The moose was also a lot farther ahead of the car ... thankfully. But who can forget that?

Nice exterior color, indeed. However, I've got to say that, for their trucks/SUVs/CUVs, GM seems to make more attractive instrument panels and interiors than other car makers ... nice lines, contours, etc. Enjoy!

That's a good price. You mean you actually consented to driving a Subaru? I recently was supposed to have an Hyundai Elantra or similar (mid-size) for 6 days and it was in the high $200s and I had to shop and shop for that. But the silver lining in the cloud was a NICE upgrade. I have found Costco to be good for renting cars. However, I don't think you can get frequent flyer points. (Or maybe you can if you give them the number at the rental counter.) Anymore, you just have to shop and shop.

Rental car rates seem to have gone way up. Probably to cover sanitizing the vehicles, lost revenue, etc. I am not even seeing weekly rates on most rental agencies' sites. They seem to price by the day. It used to be that 5 to 7 days were priced at the same rate, which helped out the 7 day folks.

"Fraternal twins" having a heart to heart conversation (on August 2) (IMO, the two best colors for either of these Mopars)

Woohoo. West Virginia plates. That's where the fictitious Clarice Starling from "Silence of the Lambs" hailed from. Hannibal tried to put her down for her lineage. These two like to park next to each other ... two generations of Dodge Charger, in black.