2013 proved to be a wild ride!

2013 was by far the best year for eWillys yet. In March we embarked on our trip through the Southwest, which included the 2013 FC Roundup, camping, offroading and exploring. We followed that up with a trip to the East Coast and back, also full of rewarding experiences, festivals, and adventures. Especially important, we got to meet so many people with whom I’ve only known virtually. Everyone was kind and wonderful; I especially appreciated how welcome you made Ann feel. So, thanks to everyone!

The CJ-2Apage forum regulars got together for a group photo at the 2013 Willys Reunion.

For 2014, we plan to do a trip in March through California on our way to the FC Roundup. From there, depending on funds, time and my kids’ schedules, we may head only as far as New Mexico OR we’ll head deep into Texas. Either way, we’ll likely be doing another trip through rarely traveled areas of Utah and Idaho on our way back north.

Our side trip off the Burr Trail in Utah – March 2013

Part of the California trip is designed to help inspire me with my third book, tentatively titled October Gold. It’s named after a painting completed by my Aunt Emma and display at an art show in 1915 in New York City. The title was so perfect for my subject (Pacific WWII gold) that it seemed tailor made for my book. In the book, the characters travel part of California, so we need to trace some of the characters intended travels (trying not to pay spoiler here).  The book’s a long way from being finished — I’m currently enjoying the research (my favorite part of writing).

I currently anticipate no big upcoming changes to the website. You probably noticed I finally placed a good adsense box at the top of the website, something I was forced to do because of the change by eBay in the way they calculate revenue.

I expect to have Biscuit back on the road by early summer. I haven’t seen any reason to endure the cold garage temperatures at the moment (it’s a better time for reading and book research).

I don’t know if 2014 can top 2013, but I can’t wait to find out. Happy New Year everyone!

My wife sure is a good sport . . . even when I put her in ‘jail’. I expect there will be plenty of photos in 2014, too.

Paul discovered this article from 2012 about the discovery of a DUKW near Mussolini’s lakeside home on Lake Garda, Italy. The article calls the vehicle an amphibious jeep, but it better resembles a DUKW.

Short Excerpt from article:
A 67-year-search for the final resting place of 24 U.S. Servicemen lost in a tragic accident storming Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s refuge during the last days of the Second World War may have finally been discovered.

New video footage released yesterday by the Voluntary Association of Lake Garda shows what appears to be the wreck of an amphibious U.S truck which sunk 600-feet to the bottom of the picturesque lake on April 30th 1945 during the operation.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2246784/Wreckage-US-amphibious-jeep-sank-WWII-discovered-67-years.html

John forwarded this article that highlights a new Jeep button titled ‘LAUNCH’

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/what-does-this-insanely-awesome-button-do–204659286.html

Here’s part of the article:
The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is home to perhaps one of the most appropriate buttons we’ve encountered in the What Does This Button Do? series. Mysterious buttons are rarely spelled out as clearly as the Jeep SRT8’s, or as fun to use.

By spelled out, we mean the whole word, “Launch,” appears on the button to designate the 470-horsepower, all-wheel-drive Jeep SRT8’s Launch Mode. There are no acronyms or guessing with this button. What the button does is also made clearer by the awesome depiction of a drag strip’s starting-line lights, aka a “Christmas tree.”