After years of visiting I thought I'd finally join.
Vancouver Washington is my home and the Cascades are my playground.
My pride and joy is a 1979 RN37 Red Sport Truck that I purchased new in June of that year.
When I got her I was 20 years old and too young to buy a beer.
Now I'm a grizzled 57.
Where did all the years go ?
I like to tell people that when I bought her John Wayne was still kicking, the Shah was running Iran, and Carter was president.
Some pics, then and now...
Here we are watching Mount St Helens erupt in summer 1980, after the big one...
![](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7122961/Pics%20For%20Marlin%20Crawler/St%20Helens%20Eruption%201980.jpg)
Here's my pal Matt in Astronaut Mode on a 200 mile night ride from Vancouver Washington to Bend Oregon for water skiing.
That's him way back at the tailgate lowered to 45 degrees.
No room up front for three big guys.
![](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7122961/Pics%20For%20Marlin%20Crawler/Astronaut%20Mode.jpg)
He and My German Shepherd Sunni fought over what little room there was back there. July 1981.
![](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7122961/Pics%20For%20Marlin%20Crawler/Sunni%20%26%20Matt.jpg)
Back then the Toy hauled me and my pals all over creation...
![](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7122961/Pics%20For%20Marlin%20Crawler/Swimmin'%20Hole.jpg)
I've slowed down quit a bit since then but my Toy is still going strong.
Took this pic today.
![](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7122961/Pics%20For%20Marlin%20Crawler/Toy%20May%202016.JPG)
In my entire life I've had three new vehicles.
A 75 Toyota Celica.
A 78 Land Cruiser...
![](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7122961/Pics%20For%20Marlin%20Crawler/78%20Cruiser.jpg)
And my 79 Mini.
It took me three tries but I finally got it right.
Look forward to learning many things here at this fine site.
Hopefully I'll be able to contribute something too.