[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Accursed vs the Damned ??

Came here for the MT VS DCT discussion. Disappointed.

M3 Adjuster,

Very good!

As for manual versus dual-clutch transmissions, I suppose the racing world has settled that issue so far as ultimate performance goes. But there's still great fun in shifting for yourself. My 335i doesn't have either type, just a regular old 6-speed automatic. But my Aston Martin has a manual 6 speed.

My brother and I learned to drive in a 1951 Dodge, with a 4-speed, fluid-drive, semi-automatic transmission. It had a clutch pedal, but it was only needed some of the time. Very strange, even by 1951 automotive standards!

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by LemonOne

I love history, especially with a BMW here and there.
Thank you for the post

LemonOne,

You're quite welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

There's no better way to track down history than with a beautiful, fast, great-handling automobile.

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by JV973

Awesome and brilliant, love history. I enjoy all of your posts, keep it up.

JV,

Thanks much! And I'll certainly keep them coming--there's always another interesting place to discover, just around the corner…

Rick

[BayAreaBimmers]

Originally Posted by Rick F.

BAB,

Ha ha--I hear you!

Ironically, I cared little about history in high school, and I took exactly zero history courses in college. Now I find myself fascinated by history, whether it's writ large or writ small.

Part of the fascination is the ability to visit historic places in person, especially when it involves a BMW trip!

Rick

Just finished reading Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre - if you're at all into WWII history, it was terrific.

I'm flying off-topic, so I'll add: lovely hardtop. I'm disappointed to hear they're discontinuing hardtops next year. Our 440 has been one of our favorite cars

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

So refreshing to see some people still know that commas go inside quotations.

e90yyc,

Grammar and punctuation: Where would we be without them?

I have a good friend who is one of the very best editors in the whole country. I don't burden her with requests to edit my trip reports--but I do hear her voice when I'm writing, reminding me of such things as "You should never verb a noun!" and when to use "which" versus "that," etc.

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by SharkM3

beautiful pictures.

SharkM3,

Merci beaucoup!

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

It's a forum, it's really not as serious as you make it.

Maybe try to relax slightly more.

You'll be glad you did.

///M TOWN,

Good point. Unless, of course, faulty punctuation causes agitation or anxiety…

Dang, there's always something to worry about!

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by Cadillac

Thank you sir from down under.
Having lived in the US for 8 years for work and taking every opportunity to explore the many great places, this brings back great memories.
Really appreciate your posts...my wife and I are back in November for another 3 week road trip, you give us great food for thought.
Thanks

Cadillac,

You're very welcome, and I hope you have a great visit in November.

I still haven't made it to Oz, but I'm hoping to one of these years.

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by kdbryce

Haven't seen one from you in a while, Rick! Great photos and write up.

I haven't been to Princeton since looking at colleges way back when. And I ended up going to school in New Haven (long family tradition at Yale), so I spent a ton of time around Connecticut.

Hi Denton!

Always good to hear from you, and I'm glad you enjoyed the latest report.

I've been far too busy in the last couple of years with post-retirement consulting work. My priorities have clearly gotten all out of whack!

Connecticut is a great state (if you ignore the tax rates, opioid problems, and Interstate 95…) Seriously, it's a historic and fascinating place to tour. I'll have work Yale into the mix one of these times.

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by 440iGCCB

I remember reading one of your older posts, beautifully done and well kept E93. I'm 10 minutes down the road from Princeton and didn't know all the history lol.

440iGCCB,

Thanks!

As for being close to a place without knowing lots about its history, I keep thinking that I need to do a historical tour of Catonsville, Maryland on foot. There are a ton of interesting places within a mile or two radius of my house, but I've never investigated them. Probably because it's much more fun to drive somewhere than to walk!

Rick

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by Rick F.

///M TOWN,

Good point. Unless, of course, faulty punctuation causes agitation or anxiety…

Dang, there's always something to worry about!

Rick

Only those with heavy OCD.

I love all you posts Rick, thanks for having so much passion.

[adc]

And this is how it’s done.

Many thanks for sharing your voyages with us, my entire family has enjoyed this one. Wonderful travel storytelling...

[Bobby_Drake]

Thank you for your post. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

Another epic read. Love reading about your adventures. Thanks for posting.

2kaccordocoupe,

So glad you enjoyed it!

And I think "epic" is the right word, at least insofar as its length… It really was an adventure. But I've got to go back and visit the New Old-Gate Prison during visiting hours and see what the underground cells looked like.

As for the Lindley Street house, there's no way that I'd go in there!

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

Thanks for sharing... but holy HDR!!!!... need to take it easy on the processing, HDR is really not pleasing to look at unless it is a big wide-open landscape.

dakine_surf,

I go through cycles on the HDR photos, from getting totally carried away to dialing it back to nothing. I'm sure there must be a happy balance in there somewhere… While most people seem to like the results pretty well, I'll keep searching for the perfect adjustment!

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

Well we are kind of damned in CT with unreal taxes and shitty winter roads. . That said, pretty nice place to live. I actually learned quite a bit from the write up. So thank you! I take my M on Litchfield drives all the time. Preferably to Lime Rock. Stop by Lakeville next time! Nice job.

DgjoX6M2016,

Thanks!

Our Maryland roads seem pretty awful year-round. Between the M-Sport suspension and low-profile run-flats on my E93, I can feel every one of the bumps. I can usually dodge the potholes during the day, but it's tough at night, and I've chalked up 3 bent wheels in the 5 years I've owned it.

As for Connecticut, I enjoy visiting there--including trips to Lakeville (where I had a great visit with John Fitch, years ago) and Lime Rock. Check out In Search of Lavender, Sam, and Alice and Vintage Cars, Vintage Memories when you have a chance!

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by mckman

Great trip report as always.

Especially enjoyed the story about the man buried in the rum barrel.

mckman,

Glad you enjoyed the report!

As for the ill-fated Capt. Sluman Gray and his rum-barrel coffin, that's not the sort of story you run across every day. After reading about him, I had to find his grave. Moreover, I had no idea that there were Confederate sailors in the Pacific Ocean, hunting for Union whaling and other ships in an effort to disrupt the northern economy during the Civil War.

There are a lot of great stories out there. I'd better get busy and plan my next trip!

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by ando

Another great road trip, write up and pictures. Thanks for sharing this with the forum.

ando,

My pleasure--I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by MSCD

Thanks Rick, another great read. The one mini mansion reminded me on my childhood home (my mum still lives there) - a Georgian style house!

Mark,

It's great that (i) your Mom's doing well and (ii) you can go back and visit your childhood home.

I'd love to visit the house where I grew up in Frederick, MD and see how my memories stack up against the real thing, but it's been owned by other families for decades now. I drive by once in a while, just to make sure it's still standing.

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by Nick Daffern

Thanks for another wonderful post. Always interesting and thoughtful!

Nick,

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

It's great to branch out from my usual Mid-Atlantic area from time to time. Other than driving through NYC, it was a superb trip.

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by themnmd

Great pictures fantastic story. Thank you for not letting us forget our History

themnmd,

Thanks, and you're quite welcome! History is always a good thing to keep in mind--and to learn from. And it's even scenic, more often than not!

Rick

[Rick F.]

Originally Posted by KingpinRCR

Wow, nice read and nice roadtrip. It made me want to go on my own trip.

KingpinRCR,

Thanks!

The trip was definitely a lot of fun, and I suspect that you can find many equally interesting places to see in Belgium. The closest I've ever gotten to your country was a lap around the nearby Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. I'll visit one of these years. In the meantime, you can make some trips there and write them up for us!

Rick