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|Home | WikiLEC | Repairs | Upgrades | Gallery | Buy & Sell | Mountain Chips | Meets & Events | Contact
Moderators: theelanman, dapinky, clemo, Nige, Specky, Sy V, GeoffSmith, Dave Eds, DaveT, Elanlover, muley, Enright, algirdas, nitroman
Jon wrote:...don't suppose your German Shepherd knows how to muster up an S2 front hood seal???...
nicowalker1 wrote:Hey, recieved min today, they look great. Any tips removing the old ones? Mine have been bonded in and are just crumbling.
Jamie N wrote:Well I have been on this road before folks and some of you may remember me posting up the discovery of Renault 19 convertible seals a few years back. Well now we have another Elan and as usual it has awful pieces of water retaining sponge purporting to be "seals" ,therefore they had to be rectified so I duly removed them, at that point I did not know what I was going to replace them with but I was confident I would find something so out they came, (about half a cup of water was squeezed from them both combined!).
Then I went off round the yards to see what I could glean, I couldn't find anything on a car in any of the yards that looked ideal, however speaking to the owner of one of the yards he points me to one of the containers and says "have a look in there", well this was a bit daunting to say the least, crammed full of plastics and rubber door/boot seals and all manner of dusty stuff (probably Rats as well!) but I gave it a search and finally found these, 5 of them cable tied together, as soon as I checked the section of Elan seal I had with me it was obvious they were pretty close. Now the main problem here is I don't know what they are from and neither does the old guy!, there are no part numbers on them that I can see and nothing in the container to indicate what they might have come from, so does anyone recognise them possibly?, long shot but you never know somebody just might recognise them from a car they have or had.
So I get them back to the garage and cut a section from one and give it a test fit into the seal channel, I could never have imagined the fit would have been this close, it just pushed in there like it had been manufactured specifically for the Elan, However, not quite perfect as the top part had to be modified to fit the ledge where the roof closes down on it and a couple of studs holes made into the rubber (a tap with a piece of sharp 3mm pipe), the bottom part needed very little work, just a bit thinning on the back of the wide part where the studs go.
The glass closes perfectly on to them as does the mirror and the section below, but the best part is the look, its just so much cleaner and tidier, it really lifts the appearance, the pictures really don't do justice to how they look . The other bonus is......totally water sealed!, actually the first time I shut the door and looked at it I knew it was watertight but I tested it with a watering can and then yesterday it sat out in Scottish monsoon conditions and not a drip got past those seals.
They also fit so well in the channel there is no need for sealant, they don't budge at all and need a good pull to release them.
Profile test piece into the channel, note where the arrow points there is a channel there with the lip up inside it.
The modified part for the ledge.
Full seal showing the finishing part at the bottom, virtually perfect fit.
Glass closed onto seal with firm pressure, completely waterproof!.
2nd set I made with the other 2 seals.
Seal being push fitted into the channel
The ultimate aim is make it as waterproof as the wee French beast alongside it, a challenge for sure but think
it can be done, ive already done one side of the hood seals with rubber ones but that's another story for another day.
So in summary there is something out there that is a viable alternative to over priced sponges that have a limited life span,
these seals will outlast the car for sure, but what are they and more importantly are they available?.
I will certainly be going back to look for others and will be checking all the cars I can ,
I will know them instantly if and when I find them.
brian s wrote:did anyone manage to discover what car the rubber seal was originally fitted to ?
Return to Hood/Top, Bodywork and Fittings
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No Do Over In Washington
Repuglicans in Washington are stuck using torts to save their battle for the governorship:
Dealing a blow to Republicans seeking a revote for Washington governor, a Chelan County Superior Court judge has ruled that even if Republicans win their election challenge he can't order a new election.
"The court doesn't have that authority," Judge John E. Bridges told a rapt courtroom on Friday in this Eastern Washington city.
Though the judge dashed their hopes of a spring revote, Republicans said the courts still could nullify the election, forcing Gregoire to vacate the office until a new general election in November.
Rossi has repeatedly said he doesn't want to be anointed governor by the courts, and Lane reiterated that pledge on Friday.
"That's not the remedy we're seeking," she said.

subset: commoncrawl


text: The Nova Scotia Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (NSAMRT) represents over 500 members in Nova Scotia in various fields of medical radiation technology. Technologists and therapists are involved in total patient management, from diagnosis to treatment, and directly influence patient outcomes. Many members of the association are also involved in important research and in public education of many current health care issues. There are primarily four divisions within the field which include, Radiological Technologists, Radiation Therapists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists & Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists.


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October 24, 1943 Awakened at 4:00am to go on a mission. Supposed to be grounded, but some Pilot who should have gone couldn't go. I was angry because they had grounded me on some good lazy missions. Made me miss the opportunity of becoming Flight Commander and a Captain and now they ungrounded me to go up as Co-Pilot on a long mission to Weiner-Neustad near Vienna. We flew at 9,000 ft. over Italy. Picked up B-12's, B-25's and P-38's cover. About 500 planes in all. We were 2 groups of B-24's, 376th and 98th Bomb Groups. Our group had 3 sections of 9 ships each, 376th and 98th Bomb Groups, Take off at daylight - 6:00am. Was pretty flying over Italy and the Adriatic. The weather was good but Cumulus c1ouds underneath. Had to fly with flaps to keep from stalling out behind B-17's. Got to the target OK. It was 30 degrees below at 23,000 ft., but target closed in. Intense and well distributed ack-ack came through the c1ouds. Couldn't see the target so turned around and headed home, Some groups dropped bombs through the clouds. We were short on gas so dropped our bombs in the Adriatic and headed for Sicily. The country over Yugoslavia is very pretty. Wooded, green hills and valleys, streams. Flew over the boot of Italy. Pretty country too. Farm lands and then hills and wooded mountain slopes. Then over Sicily and Messina the first time low since the raid in April with Flavelle. Went down the coast looking at the country and little towns. Landed at Gerbini Airfield. We used to bomb this place. Got refue1ed and headed across the mountains of Sicily. The country is rugged and covered with small farms, farm houses and towns. Very barren looking but cultivated wherever possible. Passed a small lake and a stream. Out over the water and passed over Panteleria - Mussolini's stronghold that was. The sun set and we landed just at dusk. 12 hours. Had a good supper of American Roast beef. Now have to fly 50 missions but I have just about qualified the way they figure it. I have 50 missions. Wrote in diary and to bed 9:00pm.
At the 2017 reunion, the board approved the donation of our archives to the Briscoe Center for American History, located on the University of Texas - Austin campus.
Also, the board approved a $5,000 donation to add to Ed Clendenin's $20,000 donation in the memory of his father. Together, these funds begin an endowment for the preservation of the 376 archives.
Donate directly to the 376 Endowment
To read about other endowment donation options, click here.
DATES : Sep 13-16
CITY : Dayton, Ohio
HOTEL: Crowne Plaza
2018 reunion details
For Sale
Liberando: Reflections of a Reluctant Warrior
376th Bomb Group Mission History
Ten Men, A "Flying Boxcar," and A War


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Grace Brannan
elected to
Academy for Quality
CORE, OU-COM honored
by Brannan's
membership to
prestigious global
By Richard Heck
March 16, 2009
Brannan, Ph.D.,
research director
for the Centers for
Osteopathic Research
and Education
(CORE), was elected
associate member of
the International
Academy for Quality
(IAQ), a prestigious
global organization
dedicated to
examining and
promoting practices
of achieving quality
at individual,
organizational and
Brannan refers to
her membership as a
great honor. "This
affiliation helps
raise the profile of
the CORE and the
college," she said.
The CORE is the
statewide consortium
of teaching
hospitals affiliated
with Ohio University
College of
(OU-COM). Brannan
and her staff
members provide
research education
and assistance to
students, residents,
hospital program
directors and
hospital faculty
IAQ, an independent,
organization, brings
together academic
and business leaders
from around the
world to examine
global issues
related to
managerial and
quality, including
the sustainable use
of resources and
effective conflict
Each year, two or
three new members
are elected to IAQ.
Membership consists
of just 60 members
worldwide—20 members
from each of the
geographical areas:
The Americas;
Europe, Africa and
the Middle East; and
Asia, Australia,
India and the
After being
nominated by at
least three current
academy members, new
members must present
their work on
quality issues.
presentation, "Six
Sigma concepts in
the public sector:
osteopathic medical
research education
and training through
value creation," was
well-received at a
meeting last fall in
Manila, Philippines,
she said.
"Six Sigma" is a
business management
strategy that
identifies and
eliminates the
causes of errors in
organizations using
qualitative and
statistical methods.
discussed how she
uses the strategy to
promote research
within the CORE.
Brannan noted that
IAQ members
represent many
disciplines and
fields, allowing for
a rich exchange of
ideas. "Members in
private industry
have concepts of
quality practices
that are quite
different than those
in the public
sector," she said,
adding, "I can share
my perspective and
also draw on the
various expertise of
IAQ members to bring
fresh ideas back to
the CORE."
According to
Keith Watson, D.O.,
associate dean of
graduate medical
education at OU-COM,
the college and the
CORE benefit greatly
from Brannan's
involvement in this
prestigious academy.
"The CORE shares the
honor of Brannan's
election to
membership in this
Watson said.
"Through her
efforts, OU-COM and
the CORE are
highlighted as
premium examples of
quality graduate
medical education.


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The War Against Nudist Camps For Kids
Naturist Camps and Naturist Kids: America continues to be stunned lately by the dreadful allegations about child abuse at Penn State University. Scandals including sexual molestation of children have rocked many of our most revered institutions, like the Boy Scouts, the Catholic Church and in our schools. It's clear that http://nudismphotos.net/posts/we-treat-nudity-and-sexuality/ is a societal issue, not restricted to any particular organization or institution. Even the naturist public continues to be victimized by those who would exploit children for sexual purposes, although it is extremely uncommon.
Any individual or group intending naturist tasks must be aware of the present cultural climate, which will be becoming increasingly intolerant of any tasks involving kids who could be misconstrued as being unsuitable or dangerous. Naturists believe that people of all ages should be able to participate in unclothed recreation, that rejecting shame as it pertains to the human body is beneficial to physical, mental and sexual health. The existence of children is a necessary element of the doctrine, and to remove them from naturist activities would significantly redefine the modern movement which began in Germany in 1903.
Morley Schloss, board member of the Naturist Action Committee, runs a nudist youth camp at Sunsport Gardens in Florida, and debunks the view that children are somehow at risk in naturist settings. From what I read, children are safer at naturist resorts than in scout camps, church groups or malls. Most nudist resorts are gated communities. Members and guests are screened for criminal activity. Kids have many people looking out for them, adults and other children. Since naturist children are normally comfortable with their bodies, they'd not be hesitant to report any approaches to them with which they are uncomfortable. Hence, children are quite safe from abuse in naturist venues.
Naturist Kids
In January of 2010, acting on an anonymous complaint, The Florida State Department of Children and Families paid a visit to Sunsport Gardens. Mr. Schloss welcomed them in, showed them photographs of children having fun at the youth camp, and the officials left met that Sunsport offered a safe, caring environment.
However, overzealous politicians or prosecutors are always looking for "hot button" issues with which to awaken public sentiment in their favor, for example in 2003 when U. S. Representative Mark Foley (R) Florida read an article in the New York Times about an AANR nudist youth camp at Lake Como Nudist Resort in Land OLakes. Foley was running for Senator at the time and believed he wanted a family values issue to take focus far from rumors swirling around that he was homosexual, so he seized the opportunity to began a crusade against the youth camps, accusing http://rudenudist.com/tube/a-nudist-club-in-north-georgia/ of "exploiting nudity among minor kids to generate profits."
The story about the youth camps went national, with Foley appearing on Fox News, and Time Magazine running an article asking the question "are they any spot for kids?" The firestorm had begun.
In Florida, naturists took activity, meeting directly with Congressman Foley, and slowly the issue faded away, surely due in part to the political strength of the naturist inhabitants in Pasco County. Governor Jeb Bush's office released a statement saying that The rights of parents to impart their values inside their kids and raise their kids as they see fit are sacred."
Nudist Kids
At about the same time, since the Times article mentioned that a young naturist camp was also being held in Arizona and future camps were being planned in both Texas and Virginia, anti-camp bills were fast introduced in those state.
There were also ultimately no political outcomes in Arizona, but in February of 2004 the Virginia House of Delegates voted 98-1 to require parental supervision at camps for young naturists, later approved by the Senate 40-0. The single vote was against the act because the bill didn't go far enough. In 2005 a bill was introduced to change the language in the naturist camp legislation, which would have effectively prohibited children from all naturist and naturist venues, but that legislation was tabled for future thought.
The War Against Nudist Camps For Kids


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shop smart, save smart.
January 18, 2011
I went grocery shopping the other day….hungry. Going to the grocery store hungry is never a good idea because then all sorts of cravings start to pop up with each aisle you go down.
I was constantly having to remind myself about how irresponsible it is to waste money on food that my body doesn't need. I eat to give my body fuel and nutrients so it can run as optimally as possible. I encourage you to think twice, even three or four times, before you purchase that item at the grocery store. Not only will you be doing your body and health a favor, but your bank account, as well, buy not purchasing all those little extras.
"Our food should be our medicine and our medicine should be our food."
– Hippocrates
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text:
If redundancy teaches you one thing, it is that you cannot rely on anyone else. You have seen many examples of business owners making poor business and management decisions. You have most of the knowledge you need to do a better job yourself.
You understand the need to build your business around solving customers' urgent problems, and you have a service or product that will do that. Now it's just a matter of reaching out to people and making your pitch.
How Will You Help People?
Some needs are more important than others, as shown in the above image above Genius.com.
If your clients are businesses, then your service must help your customers increase their profits (The second tier on Maslow's pyramid.)
If you are serving consumers, then you have more flexibility. Apple and Porsche have built their business success around Maslow's self-esteem tier, but they have immense marketing budgets that you don't have.
How Will You Reach Your Clientele?
There are five main ways to reach clients:
Email is still the best form of business communication.
An infographic on spells out just how good email is.
You need to use your website to build an email list and then gradually build your credibility with your subscribers until they are ready to trust you with their money.
However, if you are in the B2B space, you have another problem. Business owners don't have the time to search and find you via Google or social media. They need your services, but you might as well not exist because you are invisible.
You need to target decision makers in those companies that could benefit from buying your services, but getting their email addresses is not simple. VoilaNorbert is one SaaS company that will help you find anyone's corporate email address.
You can test the Voilà Norbert service for free (and get 50 contacts/leads) and it integrates with Zapier to make the process even easier.
A website is a must; even a free single page site is better than none. However, you can use WordPress (free) and a free theme to build a complete site with About Us and Contact pages, as well as telling visitors about your service. This How to Start a Blog Guide from Neil Patel will walk you through the process.
Once you have a website, your chance of appearing in Google's search results increases. You will appear in the top results more often if you write frequent posts to your site and if you interlink your posts. Install the free a rel="nofollow" href="https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/"> Yoast SEO plugin to optimize your writing for Google.
Mobile App
You need an app to engage the ever-increasing number of mobile users. You can build your own app, or pay someone to develop one, but that is only one of the battle; you have to make it worthwhile and easy for people to download your app.
With the plethora of apps available, it's difficult to get people to download yours. Building a useful app with social media integrations will only take you so far. The biggest hurdle is getting downloads. Link Texting is one company that gives you a way to make downloading easier.
LinkTexting provides you with widgets, badges and prompts to encourage site users to ask for a text link to your app. The software detects the user's device and sends the link to the appropriate app store automatically.
Social Media
Use social media to start building relationships with prospects, but remember it is a social medium, not a pitching one. You need to give and keep on giving on any social channel to succeed. Have measurable goals for your Twitter and Facebook activity, including clicks through to your website or app downloads. You can use different tools to automate your twitter growth and reach new potential customers.
How Will You Pitch
Getting app downloads and website users is only the overture. The symphony is your pitch.
You need to work on your pitch so you can do it at a moment's notice whenever you have an interested client. Your primary drive should be focused on how the user will benefit, rather than on your product. You need to listen to learn what the individual needs and then pitch your service or product to meet those needs.
Yes, you need a written pitch on your site, but most sales will come as a result of pitching face-to-face or on the phone.
The Short Version
Unemployment can be a blessing if you have been thinking of founding your own business. The older you are, the more experience you have and the more suited you are to building your own business.
Build your company around your clients' needs and reach them by creating a website and communicating by email and through your app. You will always need to ask for the sale, so learn everything you can about your prospect and practice your pitch at every opportunity.


text:
|Professional Automotive Repair Technical Discussions for May 27, 2004
International Automotive Technicians' Network (iATN) - Members Only
|(Also Available: All, Asian, Chrysler, European, Ford, GM.)
|Vehicle Owners: If you are seeking an automotive repair professional to service your vehicle, visit the iATN Repair Shop Finder.
Open Help Requests for Chrysler
|Help Request
|2001 Chrysler Sebring LXi 2.7L No Start VIN: 1C3EL55U91
I could use some info to help me complete a diagnosis here without doing unnecessary disassembly. The car cranks but won't start. The plugs are wet with gas, and the tach needle doesn't flutter when cranking. Every once in while it seems to fire once. There i... Trouble codes: P0601 (internal controller failure)
|1994 Dodge Grand Caravan SE 3.3L Headlights, liftgate, door locks, cigarette lighte VIN: 1B4GH44R5R
Hello Top Guns, This is NOT a help request. I am posting this for iATN archives. Please feel free to add replies to this post that you feel may help others in the future while they are searching the archives for possible fixes to similar problems. The FIX to ...
|1996 Dodge Stratus 2.4L engine VIN: 1B3EJ46X7T
car is great 'till it hits operating temp,than develops a kind of rythmatic squeaking knocking noise.hard to explain but if you've ever heard a spun rod bearing how it gets that hard squeak before it lets go its similar to that,just not as loud or pronounced. ...
|2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Van 5.9L Hesitation, Surge VIN: 1B7HC13Z81
the truck has a very slight stumble or hesitation.left bank (1)oxygen sensors switching normally and go into closed loop.right bank (2)both sensors have a voltage reading of 4.98 volts.right bank will not go into closed loop.does not set any codes.we have scop...
|2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport 3.3L Electronic VIN: 2B4GP44361
Vehicle came in with complaint of speedo dropping out and vehicle jerking and shifting funny. Pulled codes had P0500 no VSS P1698 no CCD message and P1739 power-up at speed. Test drove and no problems so installed output speed sensor and cleared codes and deli...
|1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 5.2L axles VIN: 1J4GZ58YXC
both front axles have broken on this veh. it makes a clunking noise at slow speed when turning .additive has been added . no difference .no noise with front drive shaft out of veh. any ideas would be appreciated
|2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L Poor Idle Quality, Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1J4FF4852Y
Help!!! Dealer car, customer bought it and returned with jeep running rough and popping through the intake at idle. Check engine light on with above codes, cleared codes, only fan relay code is hard intill vehicle warms up. A/c inop. turn a/c on A/c code appea... Trouble codes: P1491, P0132, P0443, P0645
Fixes & Summaries for Chrysler
|1996 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9L gov solenoid VIN: 3B7MF33C0T
thanks to those that sent me emails with ideas,after checking & rechecking all wires & harnesses, a new pcm with flash update from chrysler finally fixed this truck.
|1996 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L Steering Pump VIN: 1FRO9087E6
Hello. Sorry the fix took so long but I had to make sure it worked.There is no seal for factory units,and the seal for rebuilts will not fit on factory unit.What we did was go to our o-ring assortment and find a seal that fit over shaft of power steering pump ...
|1998 Dodge Durango 5.2L heater core
thanks for the response it's not that bad if you can be left alone and just follow the book no 'tricks'. and thanks to dave [...] who said only use oem, he's right and the brand that jambs the blend door is F$#@ seasons . I called them on it and got the old' n...
|1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager SE 3.3L ac system VIN: 1P4GP44RCV
Well Thanks to the flood of people who responded on this one.WoW! Most said that the evaporator front unit was the culprit, and to check drain tubes front and rear.Couple said it could be the rear unit or the tubes going into the rear evap.We took everybodys a...


text:
Guest Reviews | Key West Hotel Reviews
We stayed here for a wedding and from the time we arrived until we left it was relaxing. I loved being able to step out of my room and be within steps of the pool, corn hole court and the Mojito bar! The scenery is phenomenal and feels as if you are in a remote paradise. The staff was more than helpful from the very beginning and assisted with every need that arose. I look forward to coming back here again in the near future!!By: Wilson Lieske on September 28, 2015
Hotel Reviewed: Lighthouse Court Hotel Reviews & Testimonials
5 / 5


text:
CreativeCent.com is created with the mission to share true and inspirational experiences with its audience. Creativity is the primary pre-requisite of this blog.
It's not Copy-Paste. We believe in sharing words that resonate with our audience. No plagiarism. The author loves writing for anyone willing to read.
Do show a little love if you like the posts, and don't forget to share them with your friends and family.
Thank you for reading. Happy Life. 🙂


text:
The Ring of Rocks is named in honour of the ancient agrarians who built stone circles in order to determine the changing of the seasons which in turn determined the crop cycles and their very way of life. A wine released only in exceptional vintages and in limited quantities, Boplaas's Family Reserve showcases the family's wine making diversity, heritage & exceptional vineyards of the Cape.
Due to vintage conditions and a desire to showcase the diversity of the Portuguese varieties, the 2013 Ring of Rocks marks a brief departure from the standard Touriga Nacional led blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with this wine now combining familiar Tinta Barocca with the extremely rare and scarce Touriga Francesa.
The hand harvested fruit for this wine originates from two different vineyard plots within close proximity to False Bay – the Touriga Francesa (Franca) from old gnarled bush vines planted on poor duplex soils rich in ferricrete (iron stone / koffieklip); while the Tinta Barocca originates from a decade old trellised vines planted on highly decomposed granitic soils.
Harvested in the cool pre-dawn hours, transported to Boplaas & fermented in temperature controlled open top cement ferementers – called kuipe in Afrikaans or lagars in Portugal – which manual punch downs to gently coax optimum flavour and colour extraction from the grape skins, while maintaining maximum aromatics and allowing unwanted phenols to blow-off. Blended prior to malo-lactic fermentation and matured in a combination of 300ℓ and 500ℓ, 1st and 2nd fill fine grained French oak barrels for 14 months prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered. The 2015 vintage yielded 2400L.
Tasting notes
Luminous maroon with purple centre, brimming with a combination of ripe black plums, red cherry, bramble jam, black and red hedgerow fruits, black olive tapenade, fynbos and undercurrents of crushed coco nib, mint thins and wood spice. The bouquet is slightly shy and tannins, although fine are as yet still grippy, indicating that a few years of careful cellaring or decanting in its youth is advisable.
Serving suggestions
A perfect partner to hearty country fare – roast rack of spring lamb with roast root vegetables, springbok pie, beef Wellington, char-grilled sirloin with Hollandaise, fine mature cheese and charcuterie or simply enjoyed in good company. In warmer climes this wine can be enjoyed lightly chilled & decanting is advised.


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In the immortal words of Tom Petty, "You belong somewhere you feel free." For the Duluth, Minnesota, sextet Trampled by Turtles, finding that freedom meant taking a risky approach.
Rather than continuing full speed ahead with a band that had successfully toured, wrote and recorded music together for the past 15 years, they pumped the breaks and brought the tour bus screeching to a halt.
By the time Trampled by Turtles announced their hiatus in the fall of 2016, the success they'd experienced as a band could only be described as a phenomenon. They'd had multiple albums climb the Billboard charts, with two reaching the No. 1 spot on the Bluegrass charts and one topping the Folk chart. They'd appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman" twice; and they'd performed at nearly every major festival in the U.S. and Canada, from Coachella to Bonnarroo, Lollapalooza, and the Newport Folk Festival, pulling in huge and adoring crowds with their breakneck string performances and heartfelt, sometimes gut-wrenching lyrics.
After all that time traveling together in close quarters and commanding festival and club stages around the country, the six musicians who make up Trampled by Turtles — lead singer and guitarist Dave Simonett, bassist Tim Saxhaug, banjo player Dave Carroll, mandolin player Erik Berry, fiddler Ryan Young, and cellist Eamonn McLain — went nearly a year without all being in the same room.
Simonett, the band's lead singer and songwriter, released a critically acclaimed and highly personal album, "Furnace," with his band Dead Man Winter. Other members kept busy with their own side projects in the Twin Cities and their Minnesota hometown, allowing new musical ideas to grow.
By the time the six musicians arranged to get together at Carroll's cabin for a meeting in October 2017, there was a pressing question on everyone's minds: Would the magic that first united them around rapid-fire string music in the early 2000s still remain? Would they still feel like a band?
"Trampled's going to get together on a little retreat to see if we all still like each other," joked Berry, reflecting on that pivotal cabin weekend. "But I didn't want to build up the suspense and fear too much, because quite frankly it was really comfortable and enjoyable. We hung out and made meals together, had some beers together, played some cards, watched the Twins lose to the Yankees, and played some music."
The meeting at the cabin came at an unusually emotional time. It was the day that the country learned about the tragic mass shooting at a Las Vegas festival that injured hundreds of music fans, and the day that one of the group's shared musical heroes, Tom Petty, passed away.
"We started cracking beers and hanging out, and all of a sudden it was like, holy shit," Simonett recalls. "So we went down by the lake and brought a speaker and a bottle of whiskey, and just sat and listened to like six Tom Petty records straight. It felt good as a band to be sharing in that. Somebody we had all admired so much musically, that we could kind of bond over."
Within an hour of converging at the cabin, instrument cases were opened and ideas were passed around. By the second day of their retreat, Trampled went live on Facebook with a performance of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers," with the lyrics speaking poignantly to the time they'd spent apart. And by the end of the week, they were already workshopping a handful of new songs that Simonett had written, and firming up dates at Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, to record their next record.
"I think the little break was really good," Simonett says. "I started to miss the guys and playing music with them. I think everybody kind of felt that way after we got some space, so it was really healthy. We were like, hey, we should make a record — and the feeling was really casual and there was no pressure at all. We were able to do it in a way that kind of felt like 15 years ago."
The bluegrass and folk-rock band will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at Britt Pavilion, 350 S. First St., Jacksonville. Alt-rock band Deer Tick will open the show. Intuitive Compass will play at 6 p.m. in the Britt Performance Garden. Tickets are $42 for reserved seating, $39 for standing room only, $37 for lawn seating, and $27 for age 12 and younger. Tickets can be purchased at brittfest.org, at the box office, 216 W. Main St., Medford, or by calling 800-882-7488.
"Life is Good on the Open Road," was released May 4 on the band's independent Banjodad Records label.
Tracking for the new album was completed in just six days at Pachyderm and mixed the following week. The band produced the album themselves with the help of Pachyderm's house engineer, Nick Tveitbakk, recording everything live to tape.
"Life is Good on the Open Road" is the sound of freedom washing over the group like a sunrise, a new day rising. When discussing the album, both Simonett and Berry toyed with the phrase "return to form," suggesting that it captures something pure and essential about the Trampled by Turtles sound.
"Tim said something kind of interesting, he said, 'This is the most Trampled by Turtles record we've ever made,'" Berry says. "He's right."
The band weaves their instruments together like a seamless tapestry, laying down a bed that seems to float underneath Simonett's expressive voice. Each song seems to tell its own story, from tales of nights gone wrong to love that's been lost and dreams that need chasing, and the group shifts in unison from tender ballads to barn-burning hair-raisers, sometimes in the same song.
Simonett's lyrics, which have grown ever sharper over the years, occasionally rise up to shoot an arrow directly through the heart. "I've been moving logs just to keep the fire burning / My voice is gone but the band wants to play," he sighs on "Right Back Where We Started," while the title track offers pure poetry: "Run so fast through the fields in May / I forgot what I had to say / I've never been through a harder day / Than the one that left your ghost here."
Though none of the songs directly address the band's time apart, there are metaphors that speak to the experience of putting Trampled by Turtles to bed and waking it back up again. As the band prepares to swing back into action, perhaps there's no better line to summarize their return than on that title track, "Life is Good on the Open Road." "The light inside you comes and goes / But it never really goes out."
— All Eyes Media