2009 Father-Son Road Trip: Day 7

Out of the frying pan and into the E-type.

Nicholas has joined me now for the northbound leg and I handed him my little Nikon Coolpix compact camera to document the trip from his perspective. Most of the photos you’ll see from now on will be taken by Nick.

Nicholas has now joined me for the northbound journey.


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(I’m fairly certain the above map approximates our route)

Also joining us for the first two days or so of the northbound journey are our host Larry Wade, and a family friend from Norway, named Øyvind Aamodt. Larry owns an early Series 1 E-type.

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2009 Father-Son Road Trip Day 5: Arrival in LA

Morning came after a great night’s sleep. Christopher & I packed the car and ate a quick bite of our leftover “camp food” and then fed the Jaguar its second favorite breakfast:

Feeding the Cat.


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Today’s route, complete with navigational errors!

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2009 Father-Son Road Trip: Day 6, Art Center Car Show

Today was the “Kid Travel Day” of the trip. Christopher’s leg of the event is over and he flies back to Seattle. Nicholas’ leg begins today as he is flying to LA to join me for the drive home. To keep things simple for Sue I arranged the flights so that she only has to make one trip to the Seattle-Tacoma airport. Chris’ flight left Burbank this morning and I’ll pick up Nick in a few hours. Between those two events Larry Wade & I went to the Art Center School of Design’s annual Car Show.
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2009 Father-Son Road Trip: Day 4 (Central California Coast)

After sleeping better than your average hibernating grizzly bear, we awoke to an amazing home cooked southern breakfast at Chez Mouton. Eggs, bacon, and home-made biscuits by Jerry & Kate. It was mmm, mmmm good! Tres Bon!

Jerry then hopped in his 1964 E-type coupe and took us for a wild ride through the mountains to Ray Livingston’s house above Santa Cruz. I know Jerry and Ray via participation on Jag-Lovers.org, via their E-type forum/mailing-list. It is a great group of enthusiasts who really help and support each other. My E-type would have literally killed me long ago if it were not for guys found there online. They provide not only support but years and years of collective, practical experience of maintaining E-types.

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Quick Update from the Road.

Chris & I are in Ventura, CA, having a lunch by the beach in a funky surf-shack sort of place.

My Internet access over the past two days was either very spotty, or I was too tired to write, so I have not been able to sit down and provide you with updates on our progress, sorry!

It has been a great trip so far though and I’ve just uploaded some photos on this open wireless network I found. Here’s a few teasers to hold you over until I can write up the tale:

Camping on the Oregon Coast in the world's smallest RV

Summertime on the North Pacific Coast!

Among the Redwoods

Following Jerry Mouton through the Palo Alto Hills

Elephant Seals on the Central California Coast

Casting a shadow as the sun sets in the California hills.

See you again soon!

2009 Father-Son Road Trip: Day Two


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Day Two started with the Evergreen Air Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. While we’re blessed with proximity to Boeing’s Museum of Flight in Seattle this museum, literally centered on the Hughes Flying Boat aka “The Spruce Goose” is amazing in its own right. Chris & I ended up spending the entire morning there.

The Spruce Goose.

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