July 16, 2007 by Andy.

I know that Ryan just did a brillaint job of recapping our weekend, but I would like to put it in my own words.  We went to one of the best beaches in England, stayed for next to nothing, learned how to surf (something that I had never even thought of before), and took in a sunset that will rival any in the U.S.  We also sold our car, hung out with some amazingly awesome people, and took the senic drive back to Malmesbury from Devon…that means up and down hills with a 25% grade…good thing we have a 4×4 Suzuki.

Anyway after this brilliant weekend, we went to Malmesbury where we had to meet the people that were buying the pretend charriot of awesome.  We camped there for the night and then headed to Haslemere to meet up with Steve and pick up some parts for the SJ.  We accomplished basically everything that we set out to do, and we were staying with Steve for the night, so guess what…we had to go out and see the local night life of Liphook.  We ended up n a pub with an Irish bartender that goes by the name of Willie.  Now let me tell you…there was a period where there were two Texans, Two Englishmen, and an Irishman having a conversation.  Basically we were speaking 3 different languages, but we all managed to understand each other with relative ease.  This was the first true Irishman that I had ever met, and you know that you have met an Irishman when he repeatedly tells you that Guiness anywhere but in Ireland is “shite.”  This man was the type of person that before he told you something that he truly meant would spit on his hand and shake yours…hey, i guess he was telling the truth.  Nonetheless, he welcomed Ryan and I with open arms, and if we ever return to Liphook England, not only do we have a place to stay, but we have a pub to be welcomed at.  Here’s to Willie and the class establishment that he runs.

Tomorrow we are off to  put the finishing touches on the SJ and then headed to London to see the Queen and all of her majesty…if you are lucky I might come back an honorary member of the royal family.

Andy Out.

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July 16, 2007 by dunny.

Scenario…you’re driving down a two-lane road on the western coast of England in a pitch-black, fog-to-the-waist night in England…trying to keep up with a a van that’s doing 55 down said road, which by the way has replaced road shoulders with 8-foot bushes…your only beacon is the tail lights of the VW camper screaming around the turns and getting smaller as each bend passes…you’re driving on the wrong side of the road…you’ve lost all sense of direction long ago…and you only hours before learned you were going to DEVON not DOVER.  What do you do, my friend?

That’s right…you be awesome.  Steve Theobold sold us our SJ and happily took the role as our mechanic a little over a week ago.  He housed us.  He partied with us.  His lovely wife Liz has fed us.  Then he told us we were going to the beach with him and his mate Alan.

Let me tell you about the two new Ambassadors of Awesome.  You’ve heard tale of Steve and his Pops and their garage and lines of fantastic old steam cars.  You haven’t heard tale of his fantastic yellow camper van and laid-back, adventurous spirit that tops even the skiplizards.  And let’s not forget Master Alan.  For the Austin folks, he’s Arthur in about 20 years.  We go to the beach…he knows where to park free.  We hit the beach-town…he knows not only where and when to be, but is recognized by roughly 97% of the people there.  We surf…he doesn’t stress a lesson, just gives us a quick pointer and right quick we’re standing on the board in a huge wave.

Alright…events recap.  We followed these dudes to Woolacombe Beach in Devon on the southwestern coast of England.  Take any ski town in the States and multiply it by a factor or two of cool and you’re there (and I know exactly how bold that statement is).  We rolled up Friday night and ran through a couple bars, then the night-club and had a completely badass night, closing shop in Alan’s camper and taking turns drifting in and out of the spirit world.  Wake up call Saturday was to the people staring at me and Andy passed out sitting up in our SJ and off for a heavy English breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, baked beans, and tomatoes. 

Then we surfed.  Surfing rules all of awesome.  I’m hooked.  Andy’s bruised, sunburned, and hooked.  Wrap that up with a sunset so orange that Syracuse ducks down in shame and a nice little jam session in Steve’s camper and you got a hell of a day.  Nevermind the pub and birthday party we got to crash, or the locals we conversed with, or Steve and Alan introducing us around as the Texans who are here to drive to Mongolia…a night for the ages.

Should I mention we drove back to Malmesbury Sunday, sold our junk car, found out we had an article written about us in the local paper, camped, drove back down to Haslemere, worked more on the new SJ, then had a night with the local Irish bartender who is so awesome he deserves his own post?  Nah, I should leave Andy something to write about.

This is why you travel.  You meet people that appreciate your adventure and are truly interested in who you are and your reasons for living.  You meet people who aren’t afraid to open their house to you, to bring you boozing, to show you their beaches, to philosophize with you, to brag about you, to make an effort to know you.  You find kindred spirits in places you’d never even heard of before.  You make an ass of yourself as they do the same,  and suddenly you’ve got friends as close as you’ve ever known…and stories to make them look like idiots when you introduce them at your next meeting.

Oh, and they took us to Stonehenge.  You know, no big deal.  It was on the way.  People only plan entire vacations around it.  We stopped by and parked on the road for free and took in the scenery.  A Wonder of the World, just for the hell of it.

Just like SkipLizard.  A Wonder of the World.  But completely worth it.

Skip, out. (SkipLizard Homepage)

PS…quick note…there has been a slight level of concern expressed regarding our partying ways.  Let this be an official reassurance that any money donated to us has either been routed to the charity designated by the giver or put directly to our Rally expenses (car, fuel, visas, border-guard/bandit bribery funds, etc).  All extra-curricular expenses are out of our own pockets.  And livers.  We can’t be sorry for being awesome

PPS…we now accept anonymous comments.  If you aint got the minimums, do it that way.  Whatever.  Just start talking.  Send us all that positive energy and Texas spirit.  Props here for Andrew and Abra Telly and Shane and Tasha for being regulars…remind us we’re dumbasses so we don’t get too cocky on some Uzbeki border  when we get stopped for sand surfing off a tow rope on the car hood.

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