MrJim

I had a blast yesterday. Can't wait until next time...

Okay, what a great day today was!!! First, my Pathfinder looked and ran amazing. I was speechless when I saw it come into the parking lot and hear that familiar roar of its engine. I can't believe what a great job the guys did on it. The paint looked like new and so did the interior. The guys added a nice CB radio for the trail chatter, along with an antenna, as well as a PA speaker. They also installed a nice stereo too. They covered so many small details to make it just right and it was just right. It felt like home to climb into the drivers seat and I could not wait to get on the trails again. I confess that it took me an hour or so to feel comfortable enough in it again to start cutting loose a bit. The trail was really dry and we were all disappointed in that, but atleast it made the cleanup easier at the end of the day. We had a great time though and had our hands full with a number of challenging hill climbs. The Cherokee really gave us a run for our money all day long. Damn him. He set the bar high with his lifted, locked, winched Jeep, but he was also sure to rib us hourly (in fun) about how Jeeps are superior to our Pathfinders. We ribbed right back too though pointing out how his unibody "car" was not a real truck without a frame. We had lunch in the waterless mud pits posed on every high rock or mound we could find. The Jeep ended up going into a really severe rock pit hillside and he had a hell of a time getting out again. The whole Pathfinder crew helped by placing rocks under tires and spotting him until he was free. Gutsy move though with no sliders on his rig. It was a blast (water or not) and we got allot of photos and videos. I hope to see a few videos shot of my rig posted soon. I have lots of photos and footage to post, but probably won't get to all of it tonight. I will add some photos though. Hope you enjoy them. By the way, thank you everyone for this amazing gift. Words cannot say how deeply I am moved by the generosity and good will of all of you who helped to make today possible... Click here to see my photos from today

Looking forward to tomorrow... See you all in the morning... Jim

Hey! I can't wait until tomorrow... I need to know where to meet you guys? Email me at stillafloat@ymail.com with details. My daughter is coming for a little while too. I have not been offroad in so long that I am really excited and looking forward to hitting the trails with you all again... Jim

I am looking forward to it. My daughter has set aside that day to come with me also. Can't wait.

Yeah it's true. I am getting antsy. Its time to get back to my roots again.

I am completely guilty of this!!! Atleast I no longer have to worry about opening a hood and having a rattlesnake strike at me from on top of the engine. That happened to me in South Georgia about 20 years ago. I can spend a whole day in a good yard though.

remember to invite me... My email is stillafloat@ymail.com

I love going to Reiter. That place is close to me and allot of fun trails.. It has a little of everything. All I need is my Pathy back and I'd be happy to meet you all there whatever weekends you wanted to go...

Hey! I can't wait until Oct. 3rd. I am really siked about getting my baby back and hitting the trails with everyone. I hope allot of NPORA people can come. I have not been online much in last few weeks because I moved and have been feeling a little under the weather, but I will be there on Oct. 3rd ready to roll.... Jim

Hey Everyone! I wanted to let you know where I have been for last week. I sold my boat in Anacortes and moved back to land. I actually didn't expect it to sell as fast as it did and was literally without a place to live for a few days, but I had plenty of offers from good friends and family for somewhere to stay while I looked for a new home. I moved into a new place today and everything is looking good. I will miss being on the sea 24/7, but its nice to have some real space again with a washer/dryer, kitchen, and full bathroom. Funny how you take those things for granted until you have to do without them for awhile. Anyway, I am out looking for furniture today since you really don't have furniture when you live on a boat. Its all good. I am looking forward to getting my Pathy back and getting on the trails again too. Thats my update for today! Thanks to all my friends here at NPORA... MrJim

The "MY News" (thats what they call it) story that I posted a week or so ago at KOMO 4 News can be seen at http://www.komonews.com/younews/53043907.html. Thank again to everyone at NPORA. I hope you are all having a great weekend, but I bet its not as good as mine has been because of all of this! MrJim

No Problem there.... Try to stop me... MrJim

I would love for NPORA to get some recognition over this. It an amazing inspiring story that is much better than 90% of the stuff you usually see on the news. This is not just a local story of something nice happening. It is a story of people around the globe bound only by good intentions all coming together to do something amazing for someone they do not even know. I am so overwhelmed by it all that I do not even know what to say. Life has not been easy for me in the last few years, but I have always kept going forward knowing that life is a journey of ups and downs. When things are down, you just have to look forward to the great things that are surely ahead of you. The folks at the salvage yard wanted to invite me to come back and show them "mrJim" again when it was officially back on the road. Even they felt proud to be a part of such a huge effort of seeing people at their very best. This is a global undertaking and I can tell you that when you hold this up in comparison to the negative things I have undergone -- this outshines it all by far and I can only feel good about everything overall. Thank you all for your part in this incredible act of kindness. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I do want to send a special thanks to Scott, Derek, and Shane for being on the road at daybreak to drive all the way up to get the Pathfinder so they could take it back to Derek's to be gone over. I was really happy to have had the opportunity to meet them personally. Thank you NPORA!!!!! MrJim

Well I will add my 2 cents here. Of course I love the mid 90's Pathfinders. I agree that the 94 and 95 have a nicer dash. Be sure to watch out for the manifold issue. Nearly all the Pathfinders back then had problems with the bolts breaking off in the engine block and then manifolds would then warp and even crack if left untended to. I personally liked the fact that the 95 and older Pathfinders had a real frame and not the unibody stuff that came around in 96'. Its more rugged for offroad use and you can add body lifts, sliders, winch bumpers, etc. I would ask for documentation about the manifold and when the last time that the timing belt was replaced. Good luck and good choice, MrJim

Hello Everyone! I wanted to say again how amazing it is that you are trying to help me get my baby back. I have told this story a million times this past week. I just went to the pledge section and listed that I will add $500 to get it back myself. I wish I had more to contribute. I don't really have that much that is "extra" but I will put it together to make this happen. I am looking forward to getting back to my roots here with you all. I would love to do a NW event again soon to get us all together. It would be cool to setup something for a bunch of us to camp overnight here or something. I will think about some options for that. I have to run now for work, but I wanted to thank you all again and say HI this morning... Jim

Thanks and I am glad NPORA has been a home for you like so many others. Its good people that make it such a great thing to be a part of. MrJim

Thanks... It wil happen if it was meant to happen.

Yeah I know.... Your truck is looking good these days. Not as stock as I remembered it. Thanks for the support! MrJim

That would be my favorite decal too. MrJim

I just wanted to say that I appreciate your posts. Thanks, Jim

Thanks for the supportive words. Its all good now... Jim

Hi there! Glad you found NPORA. Thanks for the kind words. There are trails around here. My island is connected by a bridge so its not like I am really cut off from civlization unless I literally take my boat out to the smaller islands for the night or the the weekend. They have a huge motorcycle run here in Anacortes, WA every year called Oyster Run that you can Google. Jim

Yes, I kept the weight off and got rid of her too. They managed to squirm out of the malpractice suit with high power attorneys. Its okay though. I am so far removed from all that now that it is not even a factor for me now. I had a few more surgeries before things really got to be okay with my system, but I am happy to report that I have been 100% healthy for well over a year now. Its all good... Here are a couple of pics of me now. Its a little different than my days at 350 lbs.... Thanks for the kind words! MrJim

Hi, Thanks... I appreciate the positive affirmations. I am really healthy and feeling fit. I have been able to get a pretty good tan this year too. I am still maintaining my weight at just over 200 lbs which is far less than I was about 5 years ago. I just eat healthy, stay active, and avoid sugar these days. It all adds up. Here is a photo of a Sea Otter that comes onto the dock beside my boat all the time. Its pretty amazing living here. Thanks again, Mr Jim