what part of Texas Hugh - my orginal owner lives there ---------- >From: "Hugh & Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx> >To: "Imperial Mailing List" <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: IML: Good weekend >Date: Sun, Feb 23, 2003, 11:52 PM > >Hi, all, especially those in the grip of frozen winter. I have just had a >lovely Imperial weekend. Yesterday I took the car out for a long drive in >the country. I belong to the class of owners who simply want to drive their >Imperial. There are others who like to tinker with them, and others who >like to show them off. Me, it's all about the driving. I get off the >beaten track as much as possible. Get the car on to some nice, twisty, hill >country roads. For the umpteenth time, I ran out of gas yesterday. I had >just noticed the gauge had been consistently reading just under one quarter >of a tank since I had left the house and decided to stop at a Chevron >station where the country road I was on met the freeway. I didn't make it >by just over a mile. I opened the hood and started walking. It was a >beautiful day and the roads around Bulverde are very pretty at this time of >year. The third vehicle that passed me stopped and I got a ride to the gas >station. A middle aged woman, a rancher, the kind with the big fore arms >who can pitch a hay bale like it was a soft ball. "Couldn't see you >walking, son, even on such a wonderful day." When we got to the station she >needed to fill her truck, too. A man already filling up called over to me, >"Hey, are the dude who was walking away from that big old car?" Before I >can say a word, my saviour turns around to him and snarled, "Yeah, doofus. >I know your daddy raised you better than to see someone walking away from a >car like that and not stop to help. Lord help us, but I know he did." >Some Texans take their community responsibilities seriously, and if than get >to beat up their little brother in public too, well that's just a bonus. >Carrying two brand new one gallon gas tanks, I set off back towards the car, >having assured the lady I was sure I would get another lift. I was right. >First pick up that passed. Two sedans breezed on by. But yet another lady >rancher, another hard working, strong woman, stopped, had me put the gas in >the back and took me to the car. "Nice car. reckon she'll start with the >gas?" I assured her it would and she took off, with a smile. Sure enough, >with a drop in the carburetor to prime it, the car purred back to life. The >whole thing must have taken less than fifteen minutes. > >Me, Treece and Jennifer went out today to Perdenales Falls, near Johnson >City today. To my surprise, Treece thought we should take the Imperial >which was conveniently parked on the street. She does not really trust it >but we were going with friends who were taking their car so maybe she >thought she wouldn't have to worry too much if the car did break down. >Also, she can lie straight across that big back seat and sleep, always a big >plus. I am delighted to report that Mrs. Blueberry did not let herself >down. She was about as flawless as possible. Just rolled right along. I >still am impressed that I can forget all those techniques I learned when I >drove anemic vehicles. No need to gain or conserve momentum in an Imperial. >Gotta love being able to accelerate up those long straight hills, passing >all kinds of cars like there were standing still. For some reason, >everywhere we stopped, folks were oohing and aahing over the car. We >encountered some biker chicks at a gas station, dressed to my surprise in >just tee shirts and jeans. They loved the car. Jenny pointed out the >obvious, sotto voce, once back in the car. "Won't they be cold?" I had to >agree. It was a nice day for a hike and clambering over the sheet rocks >that make up the falls but even we didn't have the windows open. Not that I >didn't get a sun burn, come to think of it, but not as much as the convoy of >slow moving, tricked out Jeeps we passed on the way home with their roofs >off and doors removed. They all tooted their horns and flashed their lights >as we thundered by, high stylin' by comparison. It seems just about >everyone can appreciate an Imperial. > >She is still burning and dripping way too much oil but the rear window on >the passenger side came back to life mysteriously today, so I have to count >that as a blessing. That door does not open, so gaining access to the motor >and wiring would not have been fun. I think I'd have to remove the door >from the post on the truncated B pillar, not something I have on my list of >things I am just itching to do. As I said before, for me, it's all about >the driving. > >Hugh >58 Imperial. Old, unique and, today, a real pleasure to have around. > > > >