On the Parkway

This year is the 50th Anniversary of the MGB. On Sunday June 3rd, Oscar and Diana Gonzales, Roger and Shirley Goebbert, Ann, and I met at the Lincoln Oasis before 7AM to drive to MG 2012 in Dillard, Ga. Our route included a drive to Waynesboro, VA to the north end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped at the end of the first day in Portsmouth, Ohio. We found a great MG road east of Cincinnati. Ohio SR 125 would be a favorite if we lived closer! Monday was Ann and my 40th anniversary. It was nice to spend it with our MG friends.

Mabry Mill

Tuesday we drove south on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenery is incredible. We really were on the ridge and you could see for miles on both sides of the parkway. We drove three hundred miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Ann and I picked up carryout pizza and we had some Yuengling lager with our dinner. We woke up just off the parkway to rain and mist. I and my more than able traveling companions could not get the car started. We spent the better part of the morning trying to discover the problem. I finally had it towed to Jack Austin's shop in Blowing Rock, NC. Fortunately, Roger had received his 2012 Mutual Aid Directory from NAMGBR before we left! My Pertronix module had died. We put my original point distributor in and we were back in business. This was the day we needed to be in Dillard and we finally made it, but later than planned.

NAMGBR Show field

On Thursday we drove to Helen, GA to visit a winery and had a good German dinner. It is like a piece of Bavaria in Georgia. It was a beautiful day and we had a great top down drive. We even stopped to look at some handmade pottery. Our room at the Dillard House was really nice. Ann and I really enjoyed sitting on the veranda after some very good meals from the hosts take out menu.

Two more things - yes Rick we traveled a little more than 7 hours. US 221 in the fog for nearly 30 miles should have me ready for the Dragon. We will see what tomorrow brings!

On Saturday, there were over 300 cars on the show field. I enjoyed walking the show and voting for my favorites. The awards banquet was excellent. The food was as abundant and delicious as everybody said it would be. We had a great dinner. The crowning touch was Oscar and Diana being awarded NAMGBR’s Thornley Award. can't think of two people who deserve it more. They are very active in promoting everything MG. Congratulations to them both.

In all, we traveled about 2,100 miles. We had a great trip, but as usual it is good to be home! Next year it’s off to Corvallis, Oregon. We are already talking about that trip.