Where's "Pinyo"??

[Anfanuts]

Back home, unpacking, storing, sorting 10 weeks of mail, and making lists of things that need repair around here after that absence.

We had a grand end-of trip visit with Roland and Liesbeth. What wonderful people. We just cannot thank Roland enough for all his help and work on this car and trip. Car inspections, patient explanations of car conditions, negotiations, payments and pickups, registration and insurance, car upgrades and PM maintenance work, trip prep assist, local hotel and driver arrangements, payment of some of our Spain housing bills by Euro wire, and more. And now shipping prep and shipping delivery. For strangers yet. And us driving it while in his "technical" ownership, registration and insurance! It would have just been impossible without this help. It is not possible to say thanks enough for making the trip of a lifetime possible. What a truly great Alfisti. We hope to see them, and Ben and/or John here someday soon!

No big dissertation on Europe or Spain here. It is both very different and yet similar. People trying to live happily and make ends meet. We had a wonderful time meeting new places, cultures, and people and re-visiting some familiar ones.

The highlight for us actually was seeing our son Scott and his wife Amanda play in the UF tournament in Prague. No doubt. A "short detour" from the plan as Peter says, and so right.

And, I certainly need to thank my patient, courageous and adventurous wife for taking this trip on-board. Most women like a bit more sense of security and actual comfort than afforded by a 35 year-old used foreign car without A/C being used in a long foreign trip in some hot weather. She was really a partner and never once complained even when things got hot, and/or bumpy. Of course Pinyo came through with the goods and that helped.

I personally cannot think of a better way to honor Alfa's 100th anniversary year but in getting out there and showing one off of them as it was intended to be used, and using the heck out of it, some 35 years after it was made. A working, living testimony to Alfa's legacy. I've always loved Corpus Christie Bill's signature - "Just Get Out There and Drive". And so we did.

[Anfanuts]

Thanks for your participation! Hope you enjoyed it! We sure did.

Characters, in order of appearance: one-driving-fool Bruce, Pinyo, navigator-wife Kristy, freeloader-comedian Bob.

[Anfanuts]

“On the Road Again”
by Willie Nelson

On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again.

On the road again
Going places that I’ve never been
Seeing things that I may never see again
I can’t wait to get on the road again.

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We’re the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way, and our way.

On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again.

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We’re the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way, and our way.

On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
And I can’t wait to get on the road again.

[dmericas]

Welcome home Bruce. We've all enjoyed the travelogue, and look forward to hearing more details over coffee or something stronger.

[Peter]

Welcome back Bruce...and what a wonderful trip, and wonderful thread you have created for the enjoyment of all of us!
And BTW, we did NOT have a July 4th party at the lake this year, so you really did not miss anything important here
Let's get together soon!

[Anfanuts]

Hey, hey, hey, just wait just a minute. This is MY thread, “Where is Pinyo?”. We’re not quite done here until you get a final word from me too!

Yea the owners are pretty much correct on much of the above but a few more points from me once you get through all the boring cultural, historical, archaeological stuff and the related pictures. Duh, this is a car forum and not Architectural Digest or Fine Food.

I lugged their a$$es a long way for an old car without much trouble at all. In human years, I am about 87 years old. Do you see many other 35 year old cars frolicking about like this? Heck, some even think a “millie miglia” or 1000 miles over a week is a lot for some old guys. That’s kids play! We did that in a day or two! Let ‘em try 8000 miles without a problem! That's 3+ trips across the US. I’d say a trip this long and demanding with this result deserves a bit of notice and more appreciation. Yea, yea, Alfa did good, and the PO and Roland did fine, but in the end, I had to belly up to the pump and take the load, day after day in all conditions but snow and sleet. Just take a look at my specs on reliability and oil and gas consumption and luggage space. I am the little “hoss”. The little Pinyo that could and did!

Sure they could have rented a nice air conditioned modern sedan, but would they have felt the warm wind in their faces and the sweet musty smell of the orange blossoms on the Spanish east coast near Valencia? Would they have smelled all the olive refineries and the pervasive smell of olives from Cordoba north through Jaen? Would they have smelled the sweet smell of summer rain and wildflowers and honeysuckle hedges. Nah. Would they have actually felt what it was like to take a grand tour in the pre-80’s like this car was designed and used for back then? Like hanging out the hall window with a beer in those old slower trains? Nah. And would they have let trust and a sense adventure take them over instead of having an Avis or Hertz support network at every turn. Nah. Or met all those cool people and made so many ordinary folks smile along the way, perhaps one last time? Nah. Now they know.

What an exciting bon voyage trip! I got to see many places and drive many roads that I’d never seen before. They got that Willie Nelson song right. Of course, my favorites were the twisty, turny smaller hilly roads with more fresh air, a lot of brake dust, lots of shifting, and bugs on my face and in my grinning grill! Sitting in dank garages was NOT fun. A nice travel partner was the sexy-voiced Jane TomTom, but the jury is still out on that freeloading cutup Bob Esponje. He was always making eyes at Jane and diverting attention from ME. I just fear he may be back someday . . .

One thing I will say is that in Alfa Romeo’s centennial year, they did get me out there and show me off widely. I remember downshifting and burbling into a small beachfront dead-end turnaround at the point at Moraira, Spain, with a bar/café on the beach with lots of happy, chatting, drinking and eating people that went nearly silent and just watched me, either in curiosity or rapture. A slight cheer even went up when I turned my cute backside and they read that I was an Alfa Romeo. What a feeling! And of the hundreds who almost snapped their neck either passing me or being passed by me (better yet) to get a better look back, and then beaming, and giving a thumbs up. What proud moments. Yea, they did me right on this in the Alfa centennial anniversary year. I personally am just not into the polo and chardonnay crowd. And towing me around in a trailer and buffing me until my paint wears thin is just not my thing. That’s as bad as being stored away in a dank dank or hot stuffy garage. That may be for some poor souls, but not me. I'll take the rock chips, road grime and bugs. In all fairness tough, it takes all kinds to make a community. But I just want to run free. Some of my favorite pictures are linked below.

So for all this, I truly appreciate my new owners and hope they continue this heritage. And for that I will forgive some of the harsh (but probably honest) words above. Thanks Bruce & Kristy, and Roland! A toast to you all! Just make sure it’s a quality 20/50w.

My best, Pinyo

2010-05-29 Spanish Coast North of Calpe in Alfa Romeo Super

2010-06-01 North of Calpe in Alfa Romeo Giulia Super

2010-06-12 Spain Tour of Pueblos Blancos

2010-05-20 Tour South of Foucalqier, France

[180OUT]

Welcome back guys! It looks like Pinyo performed with aplomb. (Sorry---couldn't resist). Now that you are comfortably back in Texas we can tell the truth: this trip was a crafty ploy to increrase the intrisic values of Supers on the world market. (Roland actually has hundreds of these, all in perfect condition, tucked away in a hidden wearhouse . . . somewhere).

Thanks to this adventure, the market value of my Super just went up 50%.

[Alfamante]

Great trip Bruce! We just returned to Austin last night after 21 days on the road in Europe. Noticed every Alfa along the way, but envy you getting to see the sights behind the wheel of one!

[Anfanuts]

Yea, that was generally nice JK, but at 104 deg F inside the cockpit for quite a few hours coming back from Prague to Lommel, and slightly lesser on two other long trips, a touch of modern A/C just might have been nice. On cooler days, it was the bomb! Nice to be back, just gorged on a big Mexican festival! Now it's time for a siesta! Welcome back! Now we all roast together here in TX!!!

[jerry Quinlisk]

dear mr. anfanuts,

I have not been on the bb as much this year and had not seen this thread. Read through page 6, and feel like I have been to alfa heaven on vacation.

Best thread I ever stumbled onto. That car is absolutely fabulous, your narrative and photos supurb, and your wife and you make a really cute couple.

Can't wait to read to the end. Congratulations.

[Anfanuts]

Hey mr. jerry,

Thanks for the kind words. I follow your posts of art, poetry and prose, with great interest and respect, so your comments are highly valued. We're glad you enjoyed the vicarious voyeur's vacation!!

The car performed amazingly, far better than I had hoped for. I anticipated at least one moderate (several days) garage visit but we had none, over 8000 miles yet. In reading Brooklands "AR Giulia Berlinas 1962-1976" now, all the review comments are well validated, both the good and the bad. And by far most are good.

In hindsight now that we are home and settling back in, this was even a greater opportunity than we had recognized up front. It was "Alfa heaven" as you say. Beforehand there is so much thinking, planning, scheduling and arrangements to be made that the end-result is a bit vague. There was also the uncertainty on the performance of the car. It is now such that we half consider leaving the car there to do another trip again!! But there are more nice cars there, and perhaps Alfa will have a European delivery program like they did in the "old days". I keep trying to convince my wife that we are missing the white coupe to make the Italian Alfa trifecta. It a MiTo or Guilietta a coupe???

Here's to hoping that you can plan such a trip as well and taste Alfa heaven on earth. Now that Pinyo is consigned to coming here, we are already planning our first US voyages with her, both moderate and long.

So 9 pages, 204 pictures (of some 3000 shot), and 5 video clips later, the deed is done. We just await the car now. Will update later when she arrives.

Thanks again, Bruce

[Anfanuts]

As of a few days ago, Pinyo was spotted at the port in Zeebrugge, waiting for a cross-Atlantic journey. Roland and Randy (101/105guy) were kind enough to deliver her to the Wallenius facility there. Talked to Randy here in "the OC" yesterday and he said it was neat to see the place where his two beauties departed from. He reminded me that he was the first to do this via Roland. He did add that he missed the company of Sponge Bob and looked for him.

She departed Sept 5th and will be in Galveston about Sept 24th. With luck, she should be to her new home in the New World in time for the THCC fall tour to meet and play with her new Alfa friends. She looked all shiny and nice again compared to how I left her spattered with road grime and bugs. Thanks Roland, once again!! B

[101/105guy]

to add a small bit to this saga !!

I too followed the thread for weeks as others have, but with a little bit of nostalgia for my time with Roland hunting Giulias in Europe 4 years ago. Luckily, the Sportivo event happened at just the right time and I was able to have another fine memory added to the long list of Alfa adventures made possible by Roland ( and Liesbeth's !! ) hospitality.

I had already returned to California when my cars were at the docks, so it was very special to be there with another fine Alfa heading to the Colonies ;^)

See you soon, Bruce !

Randy

[Anfanuts]

The end of one journey, the start of many more!! Pinyo arrived in Galveston port about 10 days ago. But we were on another trip in the US and picked her up and brought her home yesterday. It was an uneventful trip from west of Austin (in the "boonies" Roland) to Galveston and back (286 miles back). Aside from being a bit dusty from being outside for 10 days, there was no damage or dings. We were excited to make the reunion but no where near as ecstatic as Sponge Bob who whooped with delight to see his travel buddy. As on the trip, she got 30.8 mpg with slightly small tires (60 vs. 65 profile, 24.0" dia vs 24.5" dia). She got several thumbs up from oldtimers and some gawks and photos taken by some young'uns. A few photos of the pickup here. More info and pics to follow.

For those of you thinking about doing this, shipping was Euro 1520 (exch. at about 1.3 for ~$1980) via Wallenius ro-ro from Zeebrugge to Galveston (different to elsewhere), plus a $85 WW admin fee here and $50 for the new TWIC port security escort here. Customs took about 30 minutes (prepare well in advance) and there was no customs duty. The pickup took about 1 hour and required an advance appointment with a TWIC security escort while on the port premises.

[180OUT]

I forgot to mention that you are supposed to get a special one-way license permit to legally drive a just imported car on Texas highways. Since the car was on Dutch plates, maybe the cops just thought you were Dutch. Surfers look Dutch, right?