I have read GBs posts over the last several years and yesterday I finally had the chance to meet in person. It is always interesting to see if someone you have only communicated with via forum is the way you picture them in your head.
My wife and I got up at 0430 and drove 2 hours to the 1st ferry ride from Port Townsend to Coupeville. We then raced up Whidbey Island to catch the Anacortes to Orcas Island ferry. If you ever get the chance to take Washington State ferries you should do it. The scenery is spectacular and the ferries and well coordinated and clean.
When we arrived on Orcas Island I called GB to let him know I was on the way. Orcas Island is beautiful and mostly rural. GB takes rural to another level. He lives out on the backside of nowhere. He met us in his 1959 at the turn off to the goat trail he calls a road and we traveled the mile or so up the hill to his home and shop.
GB is exactly as imagined from his posts and pictures. He is the real deal. We spent several hours getting chatting and looking over this shop and trucks. I now know why it is had to find parts in Western Washington. GB has them all. We had a great time looking through his collection of trucks and parts. I have to say that the high point of my day was seeing his "Woody" in person. It is truly a work of art. GB is a true craftsman. The detail in his work is 1st rate.
I thought about stealing one of his trucks but considered that I would still have to make it off the island with him chasing me
So I settled for buying his second best fender(made from unobtainium) made my way back the ferry. Back to Anacortes, race down Whidbey to Coupeville. We barely made the ferry to Port Townsend and then drove back to Olympia.
We arrived home @ 2230 having spent 17 1/2 hours on the road. It was a heck of a day, spending the entire day with my lovely wife and meeting a true gem in GB. And to top it off, getting a needed fender. Mission accomplished.g
We took our 1946 1/2 ton and it drove like a champ the entire way. I did discover that I will need to do some suspension modifications since it became a real kidney pounder particularly on the dirt and gravel roads we traveled to find GB.
I wrote this account to encourage others in the forum to meet when possible. I am not the most social person and have hesitated at times to venture out. But over the years I have found that car people tend to be genuine and trustworthy. When you narrow the field down to someone involved with our old trucks they are almost universally terrific people.

Bruce

 

I too made the trek to visit Gary a few years ago. I'll ditto all of Bruce's observations. And have made many friends here. Honestly more like brothers from different mothers....and fathers. Stu

 

Yup, I have met close to a dozen FTE members personally, including Gary......all are good people.

We should organize some sort of PNW get together

 

 

No cameras are allowed at the unobtanium site? Man, security protocols are ridiculous these days...

 

Just got in from friday night having dinner at the tavern with my wife after work. I am honored to have made the friends on this site. The fellowship and comraderie has been mutual. Bruce, you and Deb rock. You all do!

 

Bruce, I lived in Pt. Hadlock and worked on Whidbey for a winter, took the PT ferry 4 days a week. The 2 they were using then, the Klikitat and the Quinault were both leftovers from San Francisco before the bay bridge. Still using the 1923 GE electric motors. Got to see a Trident pass in front of us one day.