I have anticipated this day for many years – making it up to Washington State to visit my virtual friends of the PNW. This is where it all started as far as XWEB is concerned. “Mac”, as he is known on the forum, is the creator of the largest, most well-known X1/9 website on the planet and we had communicated for years; over email, chat room and discussion boards – but have never met in person. Today he made the trip down from Seattle and we finally shook hands. The day was filled with putting faces to names I have corresponded with on the forum; much in the same manner I met all the Oregon guys over the last 2 months.
Eric and I met in the hotel lobby for breakfast, then off to Chehalis we went. We spent the first hour or so trying to track down a car wash as we discovered my car got hit up pretty bad by some birds and that sh*t was starting the harden…so we took care of that, followed by a few rain showers on the way up north. I guess the rule is though, if you start a trip with the top off, it must remain off for the duration of the trip. So there we were, cruising the interstate in the rain, with no top on. This is not typically a problem in the X1/9, even in heavy rains, as long as you are continuously moving! When we finally arrived at Wayne’s, the weather cleared some, although it would start up again in the early afternoon. Not to be detered by a little rain, the event carried on as planned and people began arriving at various times.
We were the second ones there. Gregory Smith had already arrived and of course, Wayne was in full FIAT mode playing host. And a terrific host he is. Thank you to all who visited – it was truly my pleasure to have met you all.
