Our Model A Adventure

Following our Adventure

2009-11-13T20:57:00.003-06:00

It has now been three months since we completed our grand adventure, and we continue to re-live the trip. We are amazed at the number of people who continue to stumble on our blog even now!

The number one question we have been getting is "What was the best part?" It is hard to pick just one...but I think the answer is "The Smiles!" By this, we mean the smiles we brought to the faces of people who simply watched us drive by, the smiles of the kids when they were allowed to climb in the car and honk the horn, and the smiles we have when we think of all the wonderful people we met on the trip.

Last month we gave a slide show of a fraction of the pictures we took to our club members who were interested in seeing more. We've also submitted an article to the MAFCA Restorer magazine, for you Model A folks...we'll see if it ever makes the cut!

Our next "Big" adventure--Model A style--will be to travel up to Vancouver, BC next summer for the 2010 MAFCA International Meet. We have yet to decide just how we will get there! Maybe we'll meet some of you there!

If you are new to blog following...please understand that the blog is posted with the newest entry displaying at the top of the page. If you plan to read about our entire adventure, make sure you start on the May 4th entry, and work backward. You will find a link to each page in the archive dates on the left hand side of the page.

We hope you enjoy our adventure as much as we did.

Aa-oo-gha!

A Capitol Homecoming!

2009-08-10T00:02:00.011-05:00

9 August 2009 Oroville, CA to Sacramento, CA 90 miles

Homeward Bound…Our last day was short, and somewhat emotional. The plan was that some of our club members from the Capitol A’s were going to drive out to meet us just south of Olivehurst and caravan back to the steps of our State Capitol where we had started this adventure.

We left Oroville and worked our way south toward Marysville on the back roads so we were not battling the traffic on Highway 70. Some of the roads we were on might as well have been dirt ones they were that bumpy! As we neared our meeting spot, Dave and I both commented how excited we were to be seeing everyone…and boy did we have a surprise…

As we crested the rise over Highway 65 at Forty Mile Road, we were greeted by two lone cars, Pat and Paul Menz in their 1930 Roadster, and Jerry Bengel in his 1931 Sport Coupe. Hmmm…so much for the big welcome…Oh well, we thought…it’s Sunday…it was short notice…It sure was good to see them!

After hugs and a few stretches, we got back in the car and headed down Forty Mile Road. Much to our surprise, other club members had parked their cars along the way about every ¼ mile, and they joined the caravan home…Bob Smith, Chris Globis and Linda Dressel, Alfred and Donna Dukeshire, Wayne Rogers, and Don McCulloch. I have to admit…as we picked up each A, with a wave and an aah-oo-gha, I got a bit teary-eyed.

We continued south until Dave noticed we had lost half of our group, so we pulled over to wait…it turns out that Wayne’s radiator cap had vibrated off. It was a lucky thing that we had a parts car with us…Unable to find it, they caught back up to us and Dave and I quickly unloaded our gear to get to the spare cap that Dave had carried with us for this trip. Bob had a gallon of water so we were back in business!

Continuing south, we eventually made our way into downtown Sacramento. As we turned onto Capitol Mall, I got all emotional… again,…especially when we saw the other half of our welcoming committee with their A’s parked along the curb by the rose garden. What a welcome we had! Naturally, hugs and handshakes were given, and many, many photos taken. We truly did feel like celebrities! After pictures, those of us who didn’t have any immediate plans headed off to Susie Burger for lunch and a time of visiting. Boy did we miss you guys! But…all good things must come to an end, and we were anxious to get home…

From the State Capitol, we made the short journey to our home in West Sacramento where we had a happy reunion with our German Shepherd, Maggie. The house was quiet when we entered, and we almost felt like strangers in someone else’s home. It was kind of eerie. It has been over three months since we left home…I’m sure it will take a week or two to get completely unpacked, caught up, and used to living in a real house again.

I know you’ve been waiting for them…so here they are…

Our Model A Adventure Stats

Miles Driven: 10,995

Gallons of Gasoline: 613.55
Average Miles per Gallon: 17.9 (This number went down after we lost the overdrive.)

Number of Travel Days: 98
Hotels: 27
Camping: 38
Friends and Family: 32
Home Sweet Home: 1

Number of states we touched: 30

CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, AL, FL, GA, NC, VA, WV, MD, PA, CT, MA, NH, ME, VT, NY, OH, IN, IL, IA, NE, SD, WY, ID, MT, WA, OR

This trip has truly been an adventure of a lifetime, and one, I’m sure, we will talk about as one of the highlights of our lives. However, it would not have been possible to embark on this journey alone…

Special thanks to…

Dana, our daughter, who willingly gave up 3 months or more of her life to take care of our home and dog.

Sacramento Capitol A’s for their moral support, incredible send off, prayers, and the wonderful welcome home.

The Hornby Island/San Salvador gang who kept an eye on things around home.

Pat and Paul Menz for the behind the scene organization and support.

Bob Felkins for his 11:00 am status reports.

M.A.F.C.A. for publishing a member directory and contacts in each state…just in case there is a problem.

Our Pit Crew…

Paul Menz, our mechanical/technical hot line for support services.

Rick Black of El Paso, Texas, MAFCA Webmaster, for supplying us with the tubes we needed when we realized all of ours were rotted.

Dave Casey, master mechanic, and Yates Smith, supervisor, of San Angelo, Texas, for parts, shop time, and mechanical expertise when we blew a head gasket, and Dave knew that our trip was over…

Mike Butcher, of Mike’s “A” FORD-able Parts in Maysville, GA, who had every part we needed and new tires for Baby in stock.

Benny Bohanan and crew, of Bentley’s Antique Auto Restoration of Maysville, GA, and his ace engine man, Scott, for providing shop space and manpower to get us back on the road.

Gordon Eanes, of Days Inn in Commerce, GA, for his generous hospitality and the use of his car while ours was out of commission and in the shop.

Dave and Becky Krolak, of Nostalgia Works in Sharpsbug, MD, for rescuing us from Antietam Battlefield when our overdrive died, and for shuttling us back and forth to the hotel…not to mention his mechanical expertise.

Ron Meyer, of Meyer’s Ford Model A Parts of Williamsport, MD, who had a spare drive shaft and torque tube he was willing to sell us.

Our Bed and Breakfast Support…

Kristina Gill, San Luis Obispo, CA
Laura Quiroz, Mission Viejo, CA
Joan Putnam, Coronado, CA
Joe and Karen Maggio, Coronado, CA
Marie Gill, Pomona, CA
Wade and Somer Little, Palm Desert, CA
Dave and Lynn Casey, San Angelo, TX
Mike and Holly Madrid, Adkins, TX
Jackie Hidalgo and Family, Sugarland, TX
Joe and Sandra Green, Mobile, AL
Randy and Linda Rydbom, Tipton, PA
Bruce Marshall and Cookie Smith, Haverhill, MA
David and Michelle Strelneck and the Lambert Family, Bath, Maine
Brad and Joie Gill, Eden, NY
Marvin and Carol Manske, Kelly, Iowa
Merrill and Betty King, Wallowa, OR
Chuck and Lydia Coiner, Alturas, CA

Into and Out Of the Sierra Nevada

2009-08-08T19:30:00.015-05:00

Pictures L to R: Peggy and her dad and step-mother; Heading down Highway 395; Campsite in the NFS between Lake Almanor and Quincy; East Branch of the North Fork of the Feather River at the Campground; Railroad and tunnel near Keedie; Railroad bridge along the Feather River.

7 August 2009 Alturas, CA to Twain, CA 195 miles

We’re heading over the Sierra’s today—or at least part of them. Once again, forest fires are dictating our route. We had originally planned on heading south through Lassen National Park, but fires near Burney and the Lassen Park area had these roads closed. So instead, we’ll head south and cross the mountains near Lake Almanor.

It was actually a bit chilly today—much more so than yesterday. We headed out after a quick breakfast and were soon heading south on Highway 395. David was a good boy scout this morning--about 30 miles from Alturas, a lady was stopped along side the road with a flat tire, and she was trying to manhandle her spare out of the trunk. We stopped and Dave changed it for her and got her on her way.

Our goal for today was about 15 miles west of Susanville. The drive was nice—a lot of high desert, with the mountains raising in the background, and then occasionally we would climb in elevation and we’d be in the pines for a bit before dropping back down to the sagebrush. We reached Susanville around noon and stopped for lunch before heading toward Lake Almanor. This was a pretty drive as we began climbing in elevation again, but traffic was stop and go. The roads to Lassen were closed, so traffic was being detoured through Susanville, and CalTrans was doing road maintenance along Highway 36 and had the road closed to one lane for most of the drive, having pilot cars leading groups through.

As we neared Lake Almanor, we noticed the clouds were building—and we were hearing thunder rumble. We really shouldn’t be surprised at this point—it is almost becoming comical. Many of the campgrounds around the lake were full (not to mentioned way over crowded)—so we kept driving.

We’ve finally landed at a National Forest Service campground along the East Branch of the North Fork of the Feather River between Lake Almanor and Quincy.

Pictures L to R: Feather River; Feather River near Tobin Bridge; Tobin Bridge with a train crossing--where Dave nearly gave Peggy a heart attack; Coming into the Paradise Valley.

8 August 2009 Into Quincy and then onto Oroville, CA with a detour through Chico 136 miles

We had virtually no cell service at this NFS campground, and no electricity to charge the batteries. Last night when we got here, we walked around the short trails and down to the river, before building a campfire for the evening.

We decided to drive into Quincy before heading into Oroville today. The drive was beautiful, along the East Branch of the North Fork of the Feather River. We also passed Keedie, a small town named for a pioneer surveyor who engineered the route for the railroad along the Feather River in 1905. This rail bed is pretty impressive to see, as it is often about 60 feet above the river bed, on a small ledge in the cliff side. We spent the morning walking around Quincy, and then went into the Plumas County Museum. I love these small museums because they have such an eclectic mix of items on display. This museum really had some great displays highlighting their county’s history.

Back at the campsite, it was with happy sad feelings today as we broke camp—last night was the last night we will be sleeping in the tent for a while. However, I must admit...It will be nice to be in our own bed again! We headed south-southwest along this branch of the Feather River, winding with the curve of the river. Surprisingly, most of this route was downhill, which was nice, and also surprising to us...all along this branch of the river, PG & E has installed hydro-electric stations. David gave me a scare when he climbed up on a cement wall next to one of the bridges—the drop was straight down to the river about 200 feet below. I was not happy—even if I’d have been a rich widow if he had fallen!

It wasn’t until we came to the cutoff to Pulga that we had our last climb of our journey—albeit, a very small climb, before dropping down into the Lake Oroville area. The temperature was actually nice for this area in August—I don’t think it was even 85 degrees. We decided to head a little bit north to Chico/Durham area since we have time to kill, and we could do some antiquing before heading into Oroville.

We’ve checked into a hotel room for our last night…primarily so we can shower and look somewhat human for our homecoming. Plus, it is very hard to get a campsite on a Saturday night.

A Surprise in Alturas, California

2009-08-06T20:12:00.010-05:00

Signal is sketchy here, and our battery is low...I'll add more pictues when we are in a better cell reception area.

Pictures: Locomobile; 1921 Marmot.

4 August 2009 Lakeview, OR to Alturas, CA 54 miles

Three months on the road! Wow! However, I actually thought we’d be a whole lot longer getting to this point. It will be a short drive today to Alturas, to visit with Peggy's dad for a few days. We are much later in leaving the campground this morning (10:30) because he has plans for this morning.

The drive was pretty quiet as we passed small ranches/homesteads in the high desert. We were surprised to see how low Goose Lake water levels were. They were so low that we could barely see the water’s edge—most of what we saw was the white lake bottom. We found out later that this lake has an average depth of only eight feet—its deepest point is about 20 feet, but that is on the western shore of the lake, and we were traveling down the eastern shore. We only had one small climb today, up into the pines near the Pit River XL Ranch Indian Reservation. After this small climb we dropped down into Alturas, CA, which sits at 4,372 feet. Dave was pleasantly surprised…no ecstatically excited…at what he found in Alturas…

Each year, for the past 31 years, a local rancher by the name of Mr. Flournoy (who is a big Pierce Arrow collector) sponsors the Modoc Tour. The Modoc Tour is an invitation only tour for pre-1921 luxury touring cars. Their homebase and starting point is in Alturas, CA, (where they book all available hotel rooms in town) and on Tuesday, everyone arrives and they do a short 30 mile drive around a local reservoir, before a big dinner at the ranch. On Wednesday and Thursday they tour to different places, including Crater Lake and Kalamath Falls, OR.

We stopped to look at the cars, and had some people ask if we were there for the tour…it was intriguing to think we could join them, but after talking to some of the owners, it was mentioned that the only A’s on the tour were very, very, good friends of the Flournoy family. We didn’t quite fit in, either age-wise, or in horsepower…Pierce Arrows, an early Cadillac, a Hispana Suiza, a Marmot, and many others that were not off the trailers yet. It was nice to see that these cars were being driven! One of the couples, who trailered their Pierce Arrow all the way from Minnesota asked us if we had been up in Burns, OR a few days ago. I guess they had seen the car, but never did manage to catch us to talk. We also met Vince Bakich, the owner of the 1921 Marmot, along with his wife Sandy, and 5-year old son, Pierce—obviously, a big car fanatic.

We also got a new idea for a tour for our club…One gentleman mentioned that he also had an A, and had just gotten back from a tour in Hilo, Hawaii. I guess they put the cars on a transport, and then had a week long tour on the Island. Could be fun…

5/6 August 2009 Alturas, CA 16 miles

We spent the morning visiting, and then got our laundry done while my Dad and Lydia delivered their newspapers, something they do once a month. This gave us a chance to get the car cleaned up, pictures transferred and labeled on the computer, and my journaling caught up.

This afternoon, we are heading out to some pond, “up the hill” to see where my dad does most of his fishing, and then later this evening, Dave and I are going to Doc Martin’s for dinner. Doc is a retired Riverside Sherriffs Lieutenant, who Dave knew from Palm Desert days.

Dad’s fishing pond is about a 45 minute drive from his house—it is up in the “high” country—more pines and mountain than high desert sagebrush. It was a nice drive, and I think my dad and Lydia are enjoying showing us around their area.

California Here We Come!!

2009-08-03T17:39:00.010-05:00

Pictures L to R: All four...highway scenes along Highway 395.

3 August 2009 Burns, OR to the State Line just south of Lakeview, OR 154 miles

Boy did it rain last night! We had decided on a hotel because of the heat, but really lucked out. We had a pretty hard rain, and over the mountains through Divine Pass where we almost camped was a solid wall of black clouds, rain, and lightening. God was certainly watching out for us! Again!

We had a nice drive today in the high desert…and were fortunate to see a real cattle drive…cowboys on horseback herding the cattle down to ?? somewhere other than where they were. Not a whole lot to see in this area of sagebrush and cattle, in fact, this was probably one of the more isolated stretches on this trip.

We were just kind of watching the world go by and were surprised to come upon a lake—suddenly the topography of this Oregon desert changed. Now, the lakes are pretty darn shallow, especially this time of year, but the reflection of the canyon walls on them were sure pretty. Most of them are simply low spots in the topography, and fill when there is rain. As we came into Lakeview, OR, we passed another cattle drive…this one was by two 18-wheelers cruising down the highway.

It looks like Dave will try his hand at painting when we get home...We have had a couple of gasoline accidents on the cowl, and it is looking pretty sad. On the plus side, this will force him to get that spare gas tank that has been sitting at home prepped and sealed. And who knows...maybe it will lead to a bottom up restoration some day. After all...he is going to need something to occupy his time.

We stopped for the night at Goose Lake, which straddles the California and Oregon border. We probably could have made it to my dad’s in Alturas, but were kind of tired of driving. Thunderheads are building again…I have a hunch we’ll get hammered with rain later this evening. The campground host said they got some good-sized hail yesterday. Tomorrow we will cross back into California…three months after leaving Sacramento. After spending a few days with my (Peggy's) dad for a long overdue visit, we will work our way south for the last few legs of our journey.

Doe--A Deer, and the Great Train Robbery!

2009-08-02T19:13:00.010-05:00

Pictures L to R: Henry on the train; The Great Train Robbery; Pond left by the Sumpter Valley Dredge.

1 August 2009 Union Creek Campground near Philips Lake, Baker City OR

Our campground neighbors were talking this morning about a local steam train that they were going to go on so David went over to ask them about it. As a result, Dave, Henry and I spent the morning and a good part of the afternoon riding the railroad.

Sumpter Valley Railway was one of the most colorful and longest-lived narrow gauge railroads in the nation. It began in 1890 as a train to haul lumber, and eventually expanded to haul timber, mining supplies and equipment, and passengers. During its 57-year history, the SVRy was vital to the settlement and development of the eastern Oregon region it served. Today, this railroad is a narrow gauge steam train that runs from McEwen, OR to Sumpter, OR on weekends. Brought back to life by a group of volunteers who have rebuilt over six miles of rail line and fully restored two original engines, this train travels through the forests and gold dredge tailings of the Sumpter Valley.

It was a beautiful ride through the pines, following part of the Powder River and passing many, many ponds left over from the Sumpter Valley Dredge operation which ended in 1954. Henry was excited when the engineers told him he could come up into the engine and blow the whistle. However, he was not real excited when the train was raided halfway up the mountain by the bandits on horseback.

Not long after we returned to camp, Dave serviced the car to get it ready for our last week of traveling. While he was doing that, I was busy putting stuff away, as a huge thunderhead was building in the west, and appeared to be heading our way. The rain never did fall on us, but it sure got cloudy, a bit breezy, and the thunder was booming. We did have a number of people stop by to visit and ask about the car—something we are always happy talk about.

2 August 2009 Baker City, OR to Burns, OR 138 miles

Pictures L to R: Heading down into the valley; Deer Crossing; Climbing Divine Pass.

The Day of the Deer

We got started early today, as we heard that the temperature was going to be in the nineties and we were heading into the high desert region of eastern Oregon. The drive was pretty uneventful as we made our way over to Highway 395. We started at an elevation of about 3600 feet and by the end of the day had climbed two different passes that topped out at over 5,150 feet.

We saw our first buck of the trip—a young one; called a "spike buck" according to Dave, his antlers were only one point, and they were still fuzzy looking—ran right in front of us as we were heading up the first of the three climbs we had today. Then, after stopping for a grocery re-supply in John Day, OR, as we were heading back toward the highway, three deer stood at the intersection, looking almost as though they were waiting for traffic to clear. They safely crossed right in front of us--in the crosswalk!--to the other side of the roadway, walked across a parking lot and into some trees bordering the lot. A short time later, a doe and her fawn stood frozen where they were trying to make it up a steep incline right next to the highway as we were passing by—I don’t think this was their normal crossing place, as the fawn seemed to be having difficulty getting up the slope.

We drove across the high desert for a while before dropping into Divine Canyon as we neared Burns, OR. There were thousands of butterflies around—we passed a patch of bright yellow flowers that looked like they had white booms on them—those blooms were white butterflies.

Two Kings and Seven Devils!

2009-07-31T18:00:00.013-05:00

Pictures L to R: The switchbacks...if you look closely. The upside was just as bad; The Big One; Way in the background are the Seven Devils in Idaho; Us on top of Mt. Howard; Wallowa Mountain View; Wallowa Lake and Valley; Betty and Merrill King--our hosts.

30 July 2009 Clarkston, WA to Wallowa, OR 141 miles

We got up very early today…Dave had spoken with Betty King, from the Capitol A’s, and we are meeting her and Merrill in Enterprise, OR between 10 and 11. Enterprise is about 90 miles away.

The drive was b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! With the early morning light the colors were golden toned as we followed the Snake River for the first 5 miles or so…then we turn inland and upward. Dave didn’t mind the inland so much, but he was not real happy about the upward—three separate climbs up and two down the side of canyon walls. The first one was not quite so bad, and as we reached the top, we were actually surprised to see the flat plateau. We felt like we were on top of the world, as the road curved along the cliff walls before turning further inland. Down in the valley, along the river, was the north end of Hells Canyon National Park. Up on this plateau is farmland—for cattle feed, I think. The golden hay was slowly waving and off in the distance we saw a coyote trotting through the field. Further along, we saw a doe and her two fawns along side the highway. One of the fawns was on the highway side of the fence, and started looking a little panicked when mama moved away as we drove by. I sure hope she figured out how to get back on the field side of the fence…

We slowly climbed in elevation until we were once again surrounded by pine forests. This was where Dave got a bit grumpy…when he saw the switchbacks heading down. However, with nowhere to go but forward, we continued on. It really was pretty…but also incredibly steep off the edge of the roadway…like almost vertical! We’ve decided that those three switchbacks were probably the worst climbs we’ve done on this trip.

After a brief rest, we continued on into Enterprise. Along the way we saw a herd of long-horned cattle, and a bison ranch. We met up with Betty and Merrill, and followed them into the town of Joseph (also named for the Chief) where we stopped for a root beer float before walking around the town. This town was neat to visit…somewhat of an artist’s colony…and when the logging and lumber mills closed, the space was converted to bronze foundries. The town has bronze sculptures along the main street—some incredible work. We stopped in one of the galleries and were just amazed at what we saw. Unfortunately, the pieces we liked were a bit beyond our budget.

We continued up into the canyon to Wallowa Lake, stopping at the gravesite of Old Chief Joseph (Chief Joseph’s father). This is definitely somewhere we will come back to visit. They have a campground at the end of the lake, and then the rest is hike-in trails and campgrounds up into the backcountry. We did take the tram up to the top of Mt. Howard, elevation 8,150 feet, and walked around the trails up there for a bit. Looking to the north, you can see the lake and the Wallowa Valley, and Washington state off in the distance; To the east, a view of the Idaho side of the Snake River and Seven Devils, the mountain peaks forming the east side of Hells Gate. To the south were the magnificent mountain peaks of the Wallowa Mountains, still spotted with snow, and waterfalls falling nearly to the lake level. To the west was Chief Joseph Mountain. Certainly well worth the cost of the tram ride!

We eventually made it back to Betty and Merrill’s home in Wallowa, which is the town where Betty grew up, and had a nice visit with them. Dave and Merrill eventually made it out to the cars (Merrill had his A up there) and they worked on a carburetor problem on his 1931 Victoria.

31 July 2009 Wallowa, OR to about 15 miles south of Baker City, OR 123 miles

Merrill mentioned that Betty has always wanted to open a Bed and Breakfast, and given the way we were treated, I think she would be a success. After a good night’s rest, we had a gourmet breakfast before leaving their home and continuing our way south.

The drive through the canyon leaving the Wallowa Valley was beautiful. Meandering along the riverside, the cliffs and mountain sides towered over us. Once outside the valley, we turned toward LaGrand, Oregon, a huge farming community. Merrill and Betty had mentioned that the crops grown here are hay, alfalfa, sugar beet, and mint. We also saw some fields of sunflowers. As we passed the mint, it was being watered, and the aroma was wonderful driving by.

Skirting the base of the mountains , we were soon driving through high desert scrub brush before dropping into Baker City. We stopped to stretch our legs and walk around before refueling. Our initial goal was to reach John Day, Oregon, which is near Highway 395—the highway that will take us nearly all the way home. However, when we headed back up into a mountainous area along the way and happened to pass by a beautiful lake and saw a campground we decided to check it out. Union Creek Campground on Philips Lake almost has it all...Pine trees…shade…water…no showers...and it is Friday noon—once late afternoon hits, we have found that it is nearly impossible to find a campsite if the weather is good. We decided to stop and stay—it will be a two day stay, because finding a site on a Saturday is even harder.

“Camp” is set, and Dave is sitting reading while I finish up the last two days of journaling. We may go take a dip in the lake a little later…

Turning Left for the Last Time!

2009-07-28T21:52:00.008-05:00

Pictures L to R: Near Lolo Pass on Hwy 12; Lochsa River; Clearwater Creek; Clearwater River near Kooskia, Idaho; Welcome to Washington--Our 4th Corner!; Henry in air-conditioned comfort.

28 July 2009 Lolo, MT through Idaho to Clarkston, WA 206 miles

Today was probably the most beautiful drive of our trip. Not surprising…we had had three different people tell us that this route was one of the prettiest they have ever traveled on. Heading west on Highway 12, we gradually made the climb up to Lolo Pass following alongside the Lolo River, and from then on it was downhill into Idaho and across the panhandle. This route not only continues along the Lewis and Clark Trail, but also the Nez Perce Trail—I believe they are one and the same at this point in the journey, although there might be some slight variations between the two. After crossing the pass at an eleveation of 5,235, our trek downhill, for the first 80 miles or so, began following the Lochsa River. Surprise, surprise…we traveled through some light sprinkles on and off. Mostly downhill, this route had some gradual hills, but was winding with the course of the river between the canyon walls. It was absolutely beautiful. The hillsides were covered with pine and other trees, and we were lucky enough to see a large female Elk standing near the water’s edge on the other side of the river. We also saw another Bald Eagle, and some wild turkey (I saw them, not Dave).

Once we got to Kooskia, Idaho, where we stopped for lunch and visited for a while with a local resident who has a 1931 Coupe, we continued our downhill trek until we were traveling through golden colored hillsides. The river’s banks changed from rocky ledges, to grassy slopes. I believe it was right around Kooskia that the Lochsa River merged with the Clearwater Creek, and then into the Clearwater River. We can understand how this river got its name…the water was crystal clear. So clear, in fact, you could see the different colors of the rock across the entire riverbed. This part of the drive was on the Nez Perce Reservation, and as we traveled west we continued to drop in elevation. Not surprising, we could feel the outside temperature rising—it might have also had something to do with the heat from the A, and the fact that it was 2:00 in the afternoon.

As we neared Lewiston, Idaho, we were surprised to see such an industrial community. Named for Meriwether Lewis, Lewiston sits at the confluence of the Clearwater River and the Snake River. Across the Snake River sits Clarkston, Washington, named for William Clark. Boy were we surprised when we passed a digital temperature sign reading 103 degrees. So…because it was so hot…and the fact that we have hit our fourth corner of this great adventure, we’re celebrating and checked into the Quality Inn in Clarkston, with a room overlooking the Snake River, for a two day break from driving before heading south into Oregon. Looking back in our records, we realized today that we have been traveling every day since New York. This two-day break will be nice to say the least.

The Bitterroot Valley Isn't so Bitter!

2009-07-27T20:09:00.007-05:00

Pictures L to R: Climbing up to Chief Joseph Pass; Mountain fog; Down hill all the way to the valley floor; The Bitterroot Valley; Peggy answering questions about the car and trip.

27 July 2009 Wisdom, MT to Lolo, MT 143 miles

Last night we went to the Big Hole Crossings Restaurant for dinner, and it was so good, we returned for breakfast this morning before heading out. We had had some pretty good thunderstorms during the night, or early morning, and it was still a little bit drizzly this morning.

After filling up the tank, ice chest, and water bottles, we headed west on Highway 43. About 12 miles outside of Wisdom, we stopped at the Nez Perce Historical Battlefield and explored the battlefield site for a while. The park service has a nice video that explains the plight of the Nez Perce and their flight through Montana.

Back in Baby, we headed up the grade. The climb was a long and continuous up hill until we crossed the Continental Divide, again, at Chief Joseph Pass with an elevation of 7,264 feet. Baby just purred...From the top of this pass, it was pretty much down hill into the Bitterroot Valley, which sits between 3,500-4,500 feet. At the junction of Hwy 43 and 93, we were in no-mans land for a bit. Stopping at the intersection for the traffic light, to the left of us was Welcome to Idaho sign, and to the right of us was the Montana sign. I'm sure the border is somewhere in the middle. Turning north, we continued down the hill past the grassy ski slopes of Montana.

The drive through the valley was beautiful, and we just enjoyed the passing scenery. The highway often followed the river, and the road was winding, but no big climbs. The one big glitch in our day was that the camera I have been using for blog pictures went on the fritz. If the lens would even open, as soon as I went to snap a picture, the shutter would close down and I’d miss the opportune picture. I was so frustrated that we finally drove fifteen miles past our turn into Missoula, MT to get a new one.

We stopped for the day about three miles west of Lolo, MT, at a small RV park that someone in Missoula had told us about. Way in the back, away from all the rigs and right next to the Lolo Creek is a tent area. We’re the only ones here…but we’ve had many visitors “going for a walk” stop by to see the car and visit.

We may be getting home sooner than we planned...Our plans for visiting friends in Walla Walla have fallen through, so now it looks like we will barely touch the corner of Washington State and then head south into Oregon to visit with Merrill and Betty King, some fellow Capitol A'ers who summer in Oregon. I think Dave is really anxious to get home...

Cowboy Country and Cody, WY

2009-07-26T21:20:00.007-05:00

Pictures L to R: Highway into Cody; The cherry wood bar at the Irma Hotel in Cody; Part of the Buffalo Bill Reservoir near Wapiti, WY; Green Creek Inn and RV Park.

24 July 2009 Cody, WY to Wapiti, WY

For most of the trip to Cody we sat in silence, just watching the scenery go by. Most of the drive between Thermopolis and Cody was very windy, so Dave was constantly fighting either a head wind or crosswind. He is guessing it was blowing at about 30 mph. As we neared Cody, we had to follow a pilot car for about a five mile stretch, and were amazed at the stupidity of the drivers ahead of us…trying to pass each other as we were being led!

We found Cody much to our liking. Yes, it is very touristy, particularly so because of all the Buffalo Bill hoopla and hype, but charming nonetheless, especially if you like the cowboy and Indian lore. We decided to stop and walk around town, but will save the world-class western museums for another trip. At one “Antique and Gun Shop” we stopped at, there in the corner was a gentleman, J. O’Ryan, working with leather. He primarily works on gun leather, horse tack, saddles, bags, and virtually anything you can think of that is made of leather. In fact, O’Ryan’s Custom Leather’s motto is “You name it, I make it!” Dave was very excited when he said he could make us new straps for our trunk—and that it would only take about an hour. The straps are perfect—high quality workmanship at a reasonable price.

We had lunch at the Irma Hotel, which was built by Buffalo Bill Cody back in 1906. Inside the restaurant is the original cherry wood bar that he had built, and it has just stunning workmanship on the woodwork. The ambiance is very “western” “big game” turn of the century, and the food and service was great.

Since the weather was iffy—possible rain, but still very windy, we made our way to Wapiti, WY, which is about 20 miles west of Cody, heading toward the east entrance of Yellowstone. We found a wonderful owner operated inn, Green Creek Inn & RV Park. It is small, but very clean and very well equipped, and much more reasonably priced than what we were finding in Cody. They have, I believe, 12 units, and a couple cabins, as well as RV hook-ups for maybe 10 rigs. Their facility also has on-site laundry facilities, grills and picnic tables, and stunning views. It is within walking distance to the Shoshone River. Jeff and Carolyn Rogowsky welcomed us with friendly smiles upon check-in; I’m sure we’ll find our way back someday.

Yellowstone and Old Faithful

2009-07-26T20:53:00.012-05:00

Pictures L to R: Shoshone River on the highway into Yellowstone; Sylvan Pass, 8, 541 feet; Geothermal activity along Yellowstone Lake; Kepler Cascades; Old Faithful (not the best pic--my camera was acting up again!); Heading out of the park near West Yellowstone, MT.

25 July 2009 Wapita, WY to West Yellowstone, MT 135 miles

We were excited to be heading into Yellowstone, and after a quick cleanup, we were on our way. The drive up from Wapiti was beautiful, as it passed through the Shoshone River Gorge. The wildflowers along side the roadway were incredible, and it was surprising to see so many different kinds and colors together in one place, especially at this elevation.

David was a little nervous about how Baby would do on these mountain passes, and when we left Green Creek Inn, we were sitting at 5500 feet elevation. Once we were in Yellowstone the highway continued to climb until we hit our highest elevation today of 8,657 feet. Baby did fine, and I think Dave is feeling pretty good about that.

We stopped along Yellowstone Lake to take some pictures of the geothermal activity along the shoreline and were amazed at the plant life that continues to grow in this environment. When we stopped to take some pictures at Kepler Cascades, we ran into a young couple from Germany who were fascinated with the car and the trip. So much so, that they asked if they could sit in it and get a picture taken. Kepler Cascades is a must-see at the park. The park service has built a viewing platform out over the cliff face, so that you are basically standing directly over the water about 50 feet below. It was so high, and with the water rushing past, I have to admit that I experienced a bit of vertigo.

From the falls, we crossed the Continental Divide (twice in fact, because it made a horseshoe path along the ridge line) on our way to Old Faithful. Although Old Faithful was impressive to see, the wait had heightened the anticipation of everyone around, and as the appointed time (give or take 20 minutes) drew near, it was almost comical to hear kids and adults alike talking to the geyser: “Come On!” “Just do it already.” “You can’t hurry nature.” These were just a few of the comments we heard.

Old Faithful was truly a sight to behold, and knowing that it was not man-made made it even more impressive. We were so occupied during the first eruption of Old Faithful taking pictures that we missed much of the beauty of just watching and experiencing this event. So we spent the next 90 minutes until the next eruption walking around and eating lunch—a surprisingly good meal—at the lodge cafeteria. Unfortunately, while we were waiting, the clouds started rolling in…it seems to be our life story on this trip! We were soon sitting in a sprinkling of very large raindrops. About the time Old Faithful finished doing her thing, the clouds let loose and we were in a downright downpour. We were both pretty wet by the time we made it back to the car.

We headed north around the loop, stopping occasionally, once the rain passed for pictures and although we saw signs telling us there was “wildlife” crossing the road, the only wildlife we saw were the two legged idiots who stopped in the middle of the highway to take pictures. We never did see any bison, and only saw two elk way off in the distance—perhaps we were in the wrong part of the park. Maybe they only hang out at the higher passes and elevations. However, we didn’t want to tax Baby on the 10,000+ foot passes, since we still want to make it home. Maybe we’ll have better luck next time…when we return in a modern car!

The rain cleared as we hit West Yellowstone, Montana, just outside the park gates. Boy is this a touristy town—souvenir shops galore, food booths offering all kinds of stuff, and motels everywhere. Looking to the clouds building in the west, and the way the wind was blowing, we decided to get a hotel room; but much to our dismay, every place we checked was booked for the night. Hoping that the “big” rain was over, we headed out of town in search of a campground…
We camped about 10 miles out of town at Lions Head Campground. We got set up and dinner done when the sky opened up and it began raining again in earnest. We jumped into the tent to sit it out, and finally it stopped about 7:30, but once the rain stopped, the Montana-sized mosquitoes came out. We headed back into the tent for the night just to escape them.

Hail on Badger Pass

2009-07-26T20:41:00.007-05:00

Pictures L to R: Near Henry Lake in Idaho; An RV Pioneer; Montana highway; Beaverhead Rock State Monument.

26 July 2009 West Yellowstone, MT to Wisdom, MT 203 miles

We were told by many, many people that the route we mapped out was a beautiful drive, and boy were they right! Within about seven miles of leaving camp, we crossed into Idaho for about ten miles, driving along the shore of Henry Lake. The mountain peaks to the right of us were just stunning, and you could see that the Madison River follows a fault line. Being a Sunday, there were many people out in the middle of the river fly fishing. We also saw something we’ve never seen before…an RV’er traveling by covered wagon.

When we reached the town of Ennis, MT, we stopped to do some grocery shopping and walk around town for a bit. We ultimately landed at Corral Creek Coffee Company where we had lunch, transferred pictures to the computer, and charged the camera battery since it had died, and I refused to continue until we could take pictures! This was a great coffee shop, as they had all the specialty drinks (lattes, mochas, etc) as well as salads, sandwiches, soups, and a wide variety of cookies, muffins, bars, scones, and other wonderfully fattening desserts—all homemade! (They were also kind enough to let us take up a table for as long as we needed.)

From Ennis, we headed around the Tobacco Root Mountains to the Ruby Valley. What an awesome drive. The road goes through Virginia City, an old time western town that offers visitors a peek of a time gone-by with living history events every weekend. This highway we were on were gently winding roads that followed the base of the mountain ranges. Once we turned south on 41, we were once again traveling along the Lewis and Clark Trail, and stopped at the Beaverhead Rock State Monument, named for the huge rock that resembles the head of a beaver. This beautiful valley, traversed by the Beaverhead River, was the summer gathering site for the Shoshone Nation, and one that Sacajawea, the Indian guide to the Lewis and Clark expedition recognized and told Merriweather Lewis that they would find her people there and that they could help them restock their supplies.

From Dillon, we followed route 278 around Pioneer Mountains and into the Big Hole Valley. I can understand why Lewis and Clark chose this route, as it follows rivers or creeks for most of the way, and the passes were gradual climbs This route took us from 5,500 feet elevation, up over two passes, the highest (Big Hole Pass) being 7,360, and then back down into the valley to 6,000 feet. Going over Badger Pass, the first one, we encountered our first hail-storm of the trip. Fortunately, the hail was only pea-sized and quickly dissipated as we dropped in elevation. The valley floor is a huge cattle ranching community and we were amazed at the gigantic bales of hay we were seeing. It turns out that during the summer, they grow the hay and alfalfa for the cattle to eat during the winter, and leave the 20 ton, 30 ft high haystacks out in the fields were the cattle will be corralled during the winter snows.

Thunder storms are surrounding us on all sides, and the nearest campground is 27 miles away…so when we rolled into Wisdom, MT, Population: 150, and saw the Nez Perce Motel, we opted for a hotel. It is clean and neat, and across the street from a great place to eat—the Big Hole Crossing Restaurant.

And Miles to Go Before We Sleep...

2009-07-24T11:54:00.010-05:00

Pictures: Baby and the Pines Motel, Newcastle, WY; Thunder Basin National Grasslands; Coal Cars; Baby dropping her oil at Express Lube; Wind River Scenic Highway (2 pics)

23 July 2009 Newcastle, WY to Shoshoni, WY 311 miles

There is a whole lot of land in Wyoming! It didn’t help that we traveled about sixty miles west across the top third of the state, then turned south for about seventy miles to Douglas before turning west again. We decided on this route because it was the only one that we could bypass all the interstate highways.

The drive from Newcastle to Douglas was beautiful. We went through the Thunder Basin National Grasslands, which was the epitome of the wide-open spaces I’ve always pictured Wyoming to be. Rolling hills, and sometime plateaus of grassland. We saw many, many antelope (Dave said they were Pronghorns) along side the road, and oftentimes they were intermixed side by side with cattle on the ranches.

Just before we turned south on Highway 59, off in the distance we could discern a haze in the sky. It turns out that this part of Wyoming is home to Thunder Basin Mining Company, which is the largest surface coal mine in North America. The mining site utilized those huge monster-sized dump trucks. This operation was massive. On the opposite side of the highway from the mine, a six-track railroad yard was busy filling rail cars with the coal. Over the next 80 miles of driving, we probably saw at least 10 trains hauling coal to whatever power plant they were headed for. This obviously led to a discussion about coal mining…we were estimating that each car probably held about 196 cubic feet of coal, (this number may be way off, as I have no idea how big a train car is) and the trains were at least 100 cars long. That is a lot of coal!

This part of Wyoming is also dotted with oil pumping rigs. We made an observation that there are many similarities here with West Texas…

We still felt pretty good when we hit Douglas, so we stopped for lunch and decided to go another 45 miles to Casper. So from Douglas, we headed west once more along highway 20. We thought we were taking a side road which would lead us to another road that would bypass a 40 mile stretch of the interstate, but much to my chagrin, the side road we were aiming for must have a secret entrance. Instead, this roadway merged onto the interstate, along with three other “highways.” There was no choice for the frontage road, and not a single exit for 23 miles, and there was no way to make a u-turn. We were stuck on the interstate until we hit Glenrock where we were able to take a side road into Casper.

We started looking for camping possibilities, but we’re not coming up with a lot—there were some for RV’s, but not tent camping. We decided to go into town and ask someone, and also, if possible, see if we could find somewhere where Dave could change the oil in the car. He has been wanting to do this before we started pulling the elevation gains. When the first few places he called to see if they would be able to dispose of his oil for him told him no, we headed for AutoZone. Right next to AutoZone was a Lube Express, so Dave thought, “It can’t hurt to ask!” He pulled in, and when he explained that he just needed them to drain the old oil, and that he had everything else he needed, they said, “No problem!” They were not busy at all…in fact they were just standing around. When all was said and done, they wouldn’t take any money from us, and the oil change only took about five minutes—Dave says, “Almost like a NASCAR pit stop.” While this was happening, Dave did notice that water was draining out of the radiator hose. We thanked the Express Lube crew (after they were done taking pictures, of course) and went in search of some shade to replace the hose. Once again, the parts are under the back seat, so we had to unload the car to get this job done. Once fixed and filled with water, we took out the map…

It was decision time…go back, and north 15 miles to the nearest campground, get a hotel, or push on. It was only 2:00, and neither one of us are into retracing our miles, and we were in a hotel last night, so we opted to push on to Shoshoni, WY, a long, desolate stretch of high desert—94 miles of it—to the west. This was far and away the longest stretch for us…probably because it was coming after already completing close to 200 miles, it was at the end of the day, and also, Central and Eastern Wyoming are experiencing a heat wave…and temps are about 10 degrees above normal—I think we hit 90 or so. Unfortunately, the heater in the A was working at optimum capacity. We restocked our water supply and a few snacks, with the idea that we might stop for ice cream at one of the three or four towns along the way. This didn’t happen, because those “towns” consisted of a sign with the elevation, and maybe two or three run down buildings.

We made it to and through Shoshoni, and headed northwest to Boysen Reservoir State Park, which is a reservoir along route 20 as it heads toward Thermopolis, WY. We are stopped, on the lake, which looks and feels an awful lot like Lake Havasu, on the Colorado River. So after nine hours of driving, and over three hundred miles, we are crashing. Our only consolation is that tomorrow’s drive will be shorter.

24 July 2009 About 5 miles north of Shoshoni, WY to Cody, WY

Once the mosquitoes started attacking last night we quickly brushed our teeth and climbed into the tent. It was a beautiful night. I woke up a couple of times torn between sleeping and forcing my eyes to stay open to watch the stars…sleep won out! (David said he did the same thing!)

We woke up this morning before sunrise and decided to pack up and head into Thermopolis to try and find a laundromat and breakfast before it got too warm (or the weekend laundry crowds hit). The drive between Shoshoni and Thermopolis is probably one of the most scenic drives we’ve seen on this trip. Traveling along the Wind River, (much of this area is part of the Wind River Reservation) between two towering cliffs, we felt like we were driving on the valley floor of the Grand Canyon. Absolutely stunning. With the river traveling down the center, the railroad went along the base of the cliffs on the west, and the highway on the east. We picked a perfect time to travel…not only was traffic light, but the early morning light hitting the canyon walls was spectacular. Supposedly, bighorn sheep and antelope are prevalent in this area but we did not see any this time.

After breakfast and laundry, we continued on our journey toward Cody, WY. We are planning on staying at a forest service campground which means no electricity for a few days...

South Dakota Badlands and Mt. Rushmore

2009-07-22T19:03:00.013-05:00

Pictures L to R: Dave and Henry in Cornhusk; Henry waiting for breakfast; Highway in South Dakota; Wildflowers along the highway, SD; Henry and his new friend; Badlands National Park (2 pics); Mt. Rushmore; Baby and Mt. Rushmore.

21 July 2009 Spencer, NE to Interior, SD (Near Badlands National Park) 253 miles

OK. Before I start on today, I need to backtrack to last night. Dave and I were sitting reading when the thunder began rolling in the distance. However, when we started smelling the rain we decided to move our “camp” under the small cabana. We got the tent moved and tied down to the table legs, just in case the wind came up. We did have a pretty good rain, along with a lightening show to the north of us. During the night the wind picked up and it rained on and off…it was a good thing we were tied down. The temperature dropped down a little bit as well.

We’re starting our blue-sky day count again. Today is day one! It has been beautiful all day long. We made it to Cornhusk, NE today and I got pictures of Dave and Henry near the signpost.

Shortly after Cornhusk, we crossed the border into South Dakota near Fairfax. This is beautiful country through rolling farm and ranch land. We saw a number of pheasants along the highway—just walking—or sitting on bales of hay. We stopped to stretch our legs a couple of times, and went shopping at the local thrift store in Burke—for jackets. My little windbreaker didn’t keep me warm enough last night. After Burke, we stopped again in Winner and had lunch because we were not sure what we would find ahead of us, as much of our route would be traveling through Indian Reservation land. Rolling hills, cattle, grazing land, bison, alfalfa, hay, and corn were our sights for most of the day. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any fuel stations…By the time we made it to Martin, SD, Baby was running on fumes…when we got gas, she took 10.6 gallons! Pretty good for a 10-gallon tank!

We were also surprised to find that the nearest camping was 30 miles south in Nebraska—no showers or toilets, or 54 miles north near the Badlands National Park. We opted for heading north, because at least they had toilets. However, this made for a long driving day…253 miles. At least none of it was in stop and go traffic.

We did resort to playing the Alphabet game…however it took two days to get through to Z, due to the lack of signs in this part of the country. I also entertained Dave with some songs…Oh Susana…Down In the Valley…I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad…you get the idea; he did join in.

We’ve crossed another time zone today into Mountain Time, so we are now only an hour’s difference from our family and friends in California.

22 July 2009 Interior, SD to Newcastle, WY 165 Miles

Last night after we closed down the computer we went for a walk around the campground. Just as we were getting back to our site, David noticed a huge green caterpillar—I can’t even imagine what kind of moth or butterfly this turns into! Henry immediately wanted to play with it, and they were soon best friends.

For whatever reason, we woke up early today (5:15)…it may be that we are moving back into our own time zone, and our bodies are still on the California clock. It was so quiet, we had first dibs on the showers and decided to eat a quick breakfast and get on the road…hoping to get to Mt. Rushmore before many of the other tourist we were sure were heading up there today. Besides, it takes us twice as long to get there…we’re figuring about three hours.

So under blue skies again (Day 2) we headed west. Our route would take us along the southern end of the main part of the Badlands National Park. What we were seeing was breathtaking…especially with the sun still somewhat low in the sky, and it was not the “main” event! I coerced a promise out of Dave that we would return someday to do the main areas of the Badlands, and not just drive through them.

On the advice of other travelers, we skirted around Rapid City, SD and headed toward Mt. Rushmore. The scenery almost immediately changed from grassland to pine covered mountains. The drive up to the National Monument was beautiful; it even smelled good! However we were surprised at all the tacky tourist traps along the way…Rushmore Waterslide, petting zoos, Bear Country USA--Driving Adventure, Reptile Gardens, Play Park Maze, Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show, Fred Flintstones Amusement Park, the Cosmo Mystery Spot, the Presidential Wax Museum, miniature golf, …and more. Just about any thing you could think of to separate you from your money. They just kept coming…up until about 3 miles from the park turn off.

We turned the corner, and there it was…Mt. Rushmore! What an amazing feat! Majestic…Awe-inspiring…Amazing…Mind-boggling! After paying our $10 parking fee we made our way to the top viewing area for some great pictures, and then went downstairs to the interpretive center see the movie of how Mt. Rushmore was created by Gutzom Borglum, his son Lincoln, and the crew of workmen. This monument is well worth the drive from wherever you live!

After leaving Mt. Rushmore, we headed down toward Custer. Along the way we saw the work in progress of Crazy Horse, which is being completed by Borglum’s son, Lincoln.

We made our way out from Custer, just enjoying the scenery along the way. Our plan was to camp in Newcastle, WY, but the lone campground they offer is not something neither Dave nor I felt comfortable with. We stopped by the local forest service office, as well as the BLM office to see if there was any other camping nearby. There isn’t…So instead, we found Pines Motel, in Newcastle, WY, a small, family owned and operated motel tucked up in the hills surrounding the town. It is very secluded and quiet, with very comfortable rooms and reasonable prices. It just seems a shame to hotel it when it is not raining.

We're In Cornhusk Country...

2009-07-20T16:41:00.008-05:00

Pictures L to R: Toll into Nebraska?; Nebraska highway; We're actually passing another vehicle!; Spencer, NE Campground.

20 July 2009 Osawa, IA to Spencer, NE 173 miles

Let’s see…it must be day three…yes, gray skies and thunder booming to the west. Well, at least we had two beautiful days of blue skies!

We got up and headed straight to the bathhouse for showers, and by the time Dave got out it had begun sprinkling; by the time I had my hair dry, Dave had the tent down, and car packed and idling to warm up. Maybe we are bringing the rain with us…and it just takes two days for the thunderstorms to figure out which way we’ve gone!

The rain wasn’t bad for most of the morning. After a quick Egg McMuffin at the Golden Arches in Osawa (one of the only places open for breakfast) we headed west for our first glimpse of the Missouri River and Nebraska. Imagine our surprise when we got to the center of the bridge and there at the other end was a big sign that said, “TOLL $.75” and a second one that said, “Welcome to Nebraska.” And here I thought that the admittance to each state was free! (Actually, the toll was for the bridge but this was too good not to comment on it.)

By the way...we are off the Lincoln Highway, since we've decided to head further north along the north edge of Nebraska and the southern end of South Dakota so we can add Mt. Rushmore to our trip. (I talked him into it Bob!)

We turned north just past the Missouri River and have been following the Lewis and Clark Trail through this part of Nebraska—beautiful doesn’t describe it! Rolling hills of fields, and the forested areas really makes it possible to imagine just what Lewis and Clark saw on their journey. This route takes you through the Winnebago Indian Reservation where we saw some buffalo—with their babies. Once again, we were surprised to discover that not all of Nebraska is flat…much of our drive today was quite hilly.

Just as we turned north northwest on Highway 12, just west of South Sioux City, Dave started concentrating intently on the car—he said it felt like it was suddenly vibrating more. We stopped along the highway where he checked the motor, but everything seemed fine. He ultimately decided that it must have been a combination of the roadway, the way the wind was hitting the car from the back, and the fact that he wasn’t using much acceleration…once we headed up hill accelerating more, he relaxed and said the car felt fine.

It began raining as we left Crofton where we had stopped to walk around the town for a bit. As we neared Niobrara, NE, we began seeing less corn fields, and more hilly cattle-looking country. With the rain continuing to fall, we stopped for lunch to sit out the rain and asked our server at the diner about any nearby hotels…the rain is supposed to continue…but she said that there was one 30 miles south in O’Neill or, she thought two in Spencer 40 miles to the west. After Spencer...nothing to her knowledge as it was all cattle country.

We decided to drive to Spencer, and once we got there, the rain had passed so we stopped and were looking again at the map for the nearest campground. One of the local ministers stopped by to visit (we were parked across from his church) and mentioned that the city had a small campground near the pool. We drove by and decided to stay here instead of driving another 20 miles or so to the next campground on the map. This city campground is right next to their county fair grounds, and is basically just a flat grassy space. They do have showers and bathrooms, and the cost was too good to pass up--$8 for electric and water hookups, and $3 for dry camping. The view to the back is rolling hills dotted with cattle. We are guessing that the electric was put in for the carne’s trailers when the fair is on…which by the way will be next week.

We have see such neat stuff that I’ve finally resorted to making notes as we go so that I can remember all the witty things I’ve thought of for the journal. So here we go…

Yesterday as we were driving past the millions of acres of corn and soybeans, we kept passing Burma Shave signs. Obviously a farmer with a sense of humor! We finally decided to take a sequenced picture of the next one we came to, but unfortunately, that farmer’s acreage must have come to an end, because so did the Burma Shave signs!

Something else we’ve noticed…as we pass through many of these smaller towns—they all seem to have their own resident monument shop—for gravestones, that is. I have seen more of these along the Lincoln Highway than I think I have in my entire life.

Now that we have the tent set up, clouds are beginning to gather once again. According to the NOAH radio there may be another storm coming in tonight in this area…in fact it might have some high winds and could produce quarter-inch hail…luck of the draw, I guess…anyone for sleeping in the bathroom?

Found In Iowa: New Friends and a Great Uncle!

2009-07-19T17:35:00.007-05:00

Pictures L to R: Lincoln Highway Bridge in Tama, IA; Marvin and Carol Manske of Kelly, IA; Old Coca-Cola sign and Baby; Peggy and her Great-Uncle Don and cousin Jackie; Henry relaxing after a long drive at Blue Lake near Onawa, IA.

18 July 2009 Swisher, IA (Coralville Lake Campground) to Kelly, IA 151 miles

We had a quiet driving day and meandered our way through eastern Iowa. We made our way into Cedar Rapids…another big city…where we discovered a farmer’s market in process so we stopped and wandered around for a bit until the crowds got to us…it was almost a carnival-like atomsphere...and after all, we couldn’t buy any produce to cook since we don’t have any cooking implements except for a coffee pot. After the farmer’s market, we headed toward Marion and an Antique Mall where Dave found a Big Ben Clock…in nickel…something that he has been looking for a long time! It was nearing noon, and our tummies were grumbling so we stopped for what turned out to be a great Chicago style pizza at Zoey’s. With our appetites sated, we headed toward Ames taking various smaller farm roads in an effort to skirt Cedar Rapids.

I can’t imagine ever tiring of watching the scenery pass by. Yes, it is a lot of corn fields, but they are at differing stages of maturity so you see the varying shades of green and gold, and the colors of the wildflowers—periwinkle, white, golden yellow, and red--along the side of the roadways are just beautiful. We are passing by so many dirt roads that we finally asked someone about them. We learned that these dirt roads are called “farm to market roads,” and they are the shortcuts for the big trucks and farm equipment during planting and harvest time.

We eventually made it back down to the Lincoln Highway, and as we followed the signs into Tama, we happened to drive across one of the few remaining Lincoln Highway bridges where the guardrail spells out “Lincoln Highway.” Obviously, we had to stop for a photo op!

We made some new friends today...Marvin and Carol Manske of Kelly, Iowa. Marvin has been following our blog for quite a while, and had contacted us a month or so ago offering us a break from camping when we reached Iowa. We met them in Ames for dinner, and then we followed them through town as he pointed out parts of Iowa State University, and then continued on into Kelly and their farm. This farm has been in Carol’s family for, if I remember correctly, over 150 years. In fact, Carol has lived her entire life in this small community. Carol and Marvin are newlyweds, having only married a couple of years ago, and are both musicians—they both play in bands—she plays the piano, guitar, harp, and trombone; he plays the French horn. They graciously opened their home to us, and we had a nice visit with them before heading off to bed.

19 July 2009 Kelly, IA to Onawa, IA (near the Missouri River) 166 Miles

We woke early this morning so Dave would have time to service the car before heading out. After a nice breakfast, we loaded up the car and said of good-byes to Marvin and Carol as they were heading off to church and we headed back toward Ames. We took the smaller side roads today that veer off the Highway 30, because the original LH went through small towns that are now one to two miles north or south of the 30. We traveled through Boone, IA, the birthplace of Maime Eisenhower... and Dave was excited to find an old Coca-Cola advertisement on the side of a building.

From Boone we were suddenly transported from farm land to forest as we crossed the Des Moines River and the wilderness area there. Once again, Hollywood has given me the wrong impression of Iowa—it is not all flat—in fact today we’ve been driving through quite a bit of rolling hills. If you could take out all the corn and soybean fields and replace them with grape vineyards, it would look an awful lot like the Napa Valley in California. I guess it is the climate that dictates the crops…anyway, it was just beautiful.

We stopped in Carroll, IA, to have lunch with Peggy’s Great Uncle, Don Neil, and cousin Jackie and her husband, Mike. Don is Peggy’s grandfather’s younger brother. At lunch, we decided that the last time Peggy had seen them was when she was about 8 or 9 years old, since they had moved to Iowa in 1970.

After lunch we continue west until we nearly hit the Missouri River. We’re stopped for the night at Blue Lake KOA near Onawa. It is relaxing here—we have a lake side campsite and with the boats and jet skis on the lake, we are mentally transported to our all time favorite place, Lake Havasu, Arizona. We actually got here early enough that I can update our journal, blog, and pictures, and I’ll still have time to relax…

Record Cold Temps in the Midwest!

2009-07-17T19:52:00.005-05:00

Pictures: Laundry day in Shabbonna, IL; A Sunny Day in IL; Not all roads are paved!; Liquid Sunshine Blocking the Road in Iowa.

17 July 2009 Sabbonna, IL to Coralville Lake Resivoir, IA 167 miles

We woke up to absolutely clear blue skies this morning—not a cloud in site! Dressing in shorts and t-shirts in anticipation of the warm weather, and the even warmer floor heat in the car, we drove into Sabbonna and found probably the nicest laundry mat we have frequented on this trip. While our clothes were swirling in the machines, we went next door to the Kountry Kitchen for breakfast. By the time we got done with breakfast, the sky was filled with clouds… there was not one spot of blue sky to be seen. So with cloudy skies above and ahead of us, again, we turned west along route 30 and the Lincoln Highway.

Most of the drive today was uneventful. We got a few sprinkles along the way, but most of the big rain was to the south of us. Our gas mileage was not so good …we did have a pretty good head wind , and sometimes a crosswind, for much of the day—right around 24 mph or so. We crossed the Mississippi from Fulton, IN into Clinton, IA—it is interesting to see how the river changes from the south to the north. In an effort to bypass the busy divided highway along route 30 in Clinton, we tried to catch a smaller road just north of it, but for whatever reason, missed it completely. After heading north for about 10 miles, we took one of the westward dirt farm roads until we came to another paved road. It was actually kind of fun…and I must say, this dirt road was smoother than many of the highways we’ve traveled on in California!

When we stopped in De Witt, IA for a bit to stretch our legs, we nearly froze. “NO,” he tells me…”you won’t need a jacket…we’re going through the south and the Midwest in the middle of July!” It was a “cool” 59 degrees at 2:00 in the afternoon. Even David is admitting that he is cold. According to the newspapers, this area is experiencing record low temperatures for mid-July, the last one set in 1883 or something like that.

On the road again…we continued west and finally decided to stop for the day as we were just east of Cedar Rapids . Heading south on the way to the second campground (the first one was filled to capacity), Hannah routed us on a dirt road which ended up being washed out due to recent rains, and the fill level of the reservoir. Dave got me going when he put the car in first gear and made it look like he was going to go straight through the water—I admit, I freaked and started yelling. He did turn around, and as we made our way out the dirt road, a mom and her fawn—complete with white spots—ran across the road in front of us. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera in hand, as I was still yelling at David!

We are stopped for the night at a beautiful campground on Coralville Lake called Sandy Beach. Clean, spacious, with great level RV sites, as well as tent camping sites. They only had one tent site left available, but when they found out we were only needing it for one night, they gave us “their best site”; apparently it is the one that people are always fighting over because of the view--it is on the point, over looking the lake. Another nearby camper who was leaving offered us their wood, so we are pretty well set for the evening.

Severe Weather Near The Windy City

2009-07-16T20:55:00.007-05:00

Pictures L to R: Waiting on the train in Indiana; Traffic in the Chicago Suburbs makes for a grumpy Dave; Cornhusker--We're headed in the right direction!; Storm clouds over Lake Sabbonna, IL, where we're camped; Ricky Raccoon passing by our porch.

16 July 2009 Albion, IN to Sabbonna, IN 219 miles

Blame the high miles on the big cities…all we want to do is get through them. Indiana has some big critters—both the eight legged variety and something else, we’re not sure what it is—but it was on our tent—about one and one-half inches long, and ugly!

We stopped in Albion to gas up—and were surprised to see that our tank took 10.396 gallons! I guess we were running on fumes from the campground…After breakfast at the Harvest Café, we headed out in search of the Lincoln Highway. This has actually been more of a challenge than we thought it would be, especially when we came to the larger towns or villages. At one point we were driving along, following the signs, and suddenly we were headed in a completely different direction. This could be fun… at least until we neared Chicago.

Although the route we were taking was about 20 miles south of “The Windy City,” traffic was stop and go with multiple stop lights and stop signs, and the LH signs were often taking us through the not-so-good parts of town. We did pass by the Ford Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, and were stopped for a while by a cool looking draw bridge that was up in Joliet, IL, letting multiple strings of barges through that were carrying sand down the canal. Which canal…we have no idea!

After passing through Plainfield, IL, (which has a neat downtown historic district), we were literally driving through fields of soybean and corn, and brand new houses that were planted—much like Roseville or Natomas—in what used to be fields. I guess this area is the suburbs of Chicago. We were heading west, toward a state campground, when we noticed the dark thunder-clouds building. After a discussion about tornadoes, I have to admit I was a bit frightened…then…

For the first time on this trip, our NOAH weather radio went off with its severe weather warning—for the storm that we were headed for. No town in sight and the closest motel about 20 miles away, we continued on to the campground. Just before we got to the campground, it started raining. The campground host mentioned that they had one rustic cabin available for tonight if we were interested—no bathroom or kitchen—just mattresses and a table and chairs. The cost? $25 more than the tent site. Obviously, the answer was YES! So now that the rain has passed by, here we are, sitting on the porch watching the fisherman on Lake Shabbonna, the raccoons walk by looking for food of any kind, the fireflies flit around the bushes, and hearing the bullfrogs croak their mating call. There is just something about that Gill luck…

More Than Just One Treasure in Van Wert, Ohio!

2009-07-16T12:16:00.007-05:00

Pictures: The Lincoln Highway in Gomer, OH; Downtown Delphos, OH; Balyeat's Coffee Shop in Van Wert, OH; ACD Showroom floor at the museum; Patch Road--our name not theirs near the campground.

15 July 2009 Oceola, OH to Albion, Indiana 175 miles

A raccoon visited again last night…he got away with the not-so-appetizing chicken sandwich we got at the snack bar…it was so good that I opted not to eat it for dinner last night. I sure hope he (the raccoon) isn’t laying in the forest complaining of stomach cramps.

We left Sunset Springs early this morning, about 8:30, and headed west along the Lincoln Highway (330 at this point) into Upper Sandusky. Shortly past this town, we had to detour off the LH due to road maintenance. Not wanting to take the 4-lane divided highway, we headed north on a small farm road—we have no idea of the name or number—until we found another road heading west. Ultimately, we ended up in Beaverdam, OH, which was one of the towns on the original Lincoln Highway. We continued to follow this road through Cairo, Gomer, Delphos, and on into Van Wert.

Needing to stretch our legs...as well as other parts of our bodies...we stopped along Main Street in Downtown Van Wert. Except for much of the roadway being closed due to water-main work, this town offered a wonderful walking break, and a few surprises as well. We stopped at one “antique” shop—more of a thrift store, really—where Dave found a drill bit. Now what does he need a drill bit for? To fix the trunk, of course! It doesn’t much matter to him that he doesn’t have a drill…Down the street, we perused another antique store where he found an old, rusted hand drill, and I found a pair of shoes which, I believe (not positive), are from our Model A era. The shoes fit and are wearable!

Not to say that we are eating our way across the country, but...On the suggestion of the clerk at the antique store, we headed to a small diner down the street, Balyeat’s Coffee Shop, which has been in business since 1922. This means that this restaurant was serving meals to the first pioneers who traveled the Lincoln Highway! How cool...I don't think the decor has changed much... From the outside, it looks dark and narrow—do we dare eat there? The place was packed! On one side was the “kitchen” and the counter, on the left were tables. I believe we got the last table available at that time. Only visitors bother with a menu—everything available is posted on a piece of paper and tacked up above the counter—however, today’s specials were liver and onions, baked chicken, and fried giblets. I actually heard a number of people order the liver and onions--can you imagine? Dave opted for BBQ ribs and I had the baked chicken. Both came with mashed or scalloped potatoes, and a choice of vegetable. According to our server, everything is cooked fresh daily, not frozen or canned. Both of our meals were so good—we just had to try the homemade pie! While we were eating, Dale Davies, the owner of 45 years came over an introduced himself. Dale was so cute…about 70 years old, working behind the counter filling the orders, wearing a white dress shirt, white pants, a bow tie, and an apron. We were told by our server that he used to work for the previous owner when he was in high school. He shared with us that although his paperwork from purchasing the diner says it was opened in 1922, he found a post card with a picture of it dated 1919. He also had a customer, years ago, mention that a restaurant had been on that corner since the 1890’s but he doesn’t have anything to back that up with. Anyway, he was interested to know that we were driving the A along the Lincoln Highway, and gave us some great information on places to stop and see, one of which was off the Lincoln Highway in Auburn, Indiana.

Back in the car we looked at the map and decided to detour again off the LH, mostly because Dave really doesn’t like going through the big cities and our next stop on the highway was Fort Wayne, IN. So instead, we headed north along some smaller farm roads through Antwerp and Hicksville, Ohio, then continued on into Indiana and the ACD Museum.

The ACD Museum is housed in the original showroom for the Auburn Motor Company in Auburn, Indiana. For the next two hours or so, Dave drooled over some of the nicest Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs from the late 20’s through the 30’s. And boy, there were some beauties…the cars were very nice, but I was busy drooling over the Art Deco décor of the showroom floor as well. On a side note for you car trivia buffs…according to Dave…Did you know that the phrase “Isn’t she a doozy?” comes from the classic WOW you get when you look at some of these period Duesenbergs?

From Auburn, we zig-zagged a little south, and west through farm country to Chain O’ Lakes State Park, near Albion, IN. This is a huge recreation area for boating, fishing, hiking, and camping. Its name comes from the eleven lakes in the park, eight of which are connected. The lakes are glacier lakes, and are estimated to have formed over 10,000 years ago. The campground is nice…not too full, but busy enough. A great place for families…or two crazy Californians traveling across the country in their Model A.

Scavenger Hunt for the Lincoln Highway

2009-07-16T11:57:00.009-05:00

Pictures L to R: Canal Fulton, OH; Neat historic building in Wooster, OH; Takin' it down the middle--not the best speciman, but the raccoons all seem to be on the side of the road!; Baby, Henry, and an original Lincoln Highway sign post.

14 July 2009 Newbury, OH to Oceola, OH 158.3 miles

Wow! The second day in a row that we have woken to blue skies—what a great day for a drive in the A! Thank you, Angelina! (And Carl, of course!) We left Punderson around 9:00 after a backpackers breakfast—a handful of nuts, some dried fruit, and hot tea (or juice in my case)—and kind of zig-zagged our way past the big city centers of Akron and Canton, down to the Lincoln Highway.

Trunk trouble…At some point this morning, near Shalersville, OH, a gentleman following us flagged us down to let us know that the strap on our trunk had snapped, and the trunk was bouncing around pretty good. Thank goodness for Gorilla Tape. Temporarily patched together until we can find a tack and harness shop, we are back on the road.

This is some beautiful country. I’ve decided that in this part of the US, the Adirondacks: the Sierra Nevadas::Northern California foothills: North Eastern Ohio. I’d like to be back here someday in the fall, or early winter to see it covered in snow…I’m sure it is much different, especially for someone who has lived in the lowlands of California her whole life. Didn’t you know that snow is that pretty white stuff on the mountain tops that we go play in on the weekends?

People keep asking us if we’ve found any part of the country we like better than home…we’ve decided that in this great land called the United States of America, there is not any one place that is better than another, they are just different. I have yet to tire of watching the scenery pass by… A friend of my mothers has been traveling around the country for over thirty years, meeting the local people and immersing himself in whatever geographic region he happens to be in. I guess I can really understand why Randy enjoys it so much.

We finally met up with the Lincoln Highway, just west of Canton, and soon found ourselves embroiled in a scavenger hunt. While for the most part we are easily able to follow the highway signs, there are points were multiple signs led us to differing directions. Some of the signs differentiate between the "Lincoln Highway 1913," “Lincoln Highway 1915-1921,” “Lincoln Highway 1926 to present,” or just the “Historical Route.” It should be a fun adventure…

We stopped for the night at Sunset Springs Campground in Oceola, OH. Judy, the manager, told us that this used to be a rock/sand quarry. One of the lakes is spring fed, and the campground has a swimming beach, snack bar area set up. Many of the campers here are full time residents in RV style sites.

All in all, it was a great travel day…

Hello o-HI-o!

2009-07-13T17:10:00.009-05:00

13 July 2009 Eden, NY to Newbury, OH 183.5 miles

Pictures L to R: Lake Erie and NY Vineyards; Welcome to Ohio; Baby on the shore of Lake Erie.

We followed Brad to his office to see if a package I was waiting for had arrived, and had a chance to meet Ryan one of his employees who has been following our journey. While we were waiting, Brad’s neighbor came shuffling across the street. He and Dave poked around the car for a while…Skeets (the neighbor) said he had a 1929 that he drove all through high school. Dave offered to let him drive it around the block, or go for a ride, but he declined…he said it would make him cry.

After saying our goodbye to Brad, we were soon on our way. What a perfect day to travel in an A! Blue, blue sky and not a cloud to be seen! We followed route 20, which basically followed along Lake Erie’s coastline, but not right on the coast, so we were only catching glimpses of the lake. It wasn’t until we crossed into Ohio that I felt like I got my real look at this incredible body of water. We turned off Route 20 onto 531 which went right along the shore—a bit like driving along Pacific Coast Highway in California. Along the way, we stopped at a public park, which turned out to be the stopping place for beach access; they also happened to have an ice cream stand so we each got a cone and walked along the boardwalk. It was a bit breezy—enough that I was chilled and I needed my sweatshirt—but I guess for these folks up here in Ohio and Pennsylvania, summer is here and it was bathing suits for all. I think it was only about 70 degrees, but there was a cool breeze off the water. I guess when you are used to the cold of winter, this was a very warm day.

Continuing on our way, we drove through Geneva-on-the-Lake. This, we’ve decided, must be the destination hot spot for this corner of the world. It had a slightly carnival-like atmosphere with giant slides, ferris-wheels, putt-putt golf, water slides, many, many, many motels, food stands, and video arcades. Needless to say, we quickly made our way through to quieter surroundings.

After stopping to stock up on groceries and drinks, we headed south toward Newbury, OH, and set up camp at Punderson State Park. This is a pretty big park, and has many campsites and activities available. From the looks of the map though, I think they are busier in the winter for cross-country skiing and snow mobiling.

Tomorrows travels should get us back on the Lincoln Highway.

A New Look for Dave and Peg

2009-07-12T11:11:00.014-05:00

Niagara Falls, NY to Eden, NY 51 miles

Pictures: Us with cousins Brad and Joie in New York; The Niagara River above the falls; Peg in the water at Three Sisters Islands

You gotta love Hannah! Normally the route she takes us on is fine…mostly through out of the way places, but today her route left much to be desired…

As we were leaving the hotel, we saw the sign for Goat Island, which is the big island on the river between the American and Horseshoe Falls. We headed that way and drove around the island (we were too cheap to pay $10 for parking), and then stopped for a bit to walk over the bridge to three sisters, another grouping of very small islands, between Goat Island and Horseshoe Falls. From this point, you could actually walk down among the rocks to the shoreline—you just want to be careful not to fall in…The water was actually pretty warm, but it was still moving very fast.

Back in Baby, we headed south along the Niagara River and stopped at a river side park for a picnic lunch. This was nice…the air temp was nice, and there was a cool breeze blowing off the water. A lot of ski boats on the river. We were speculating on whether or not there is any kind of barrier down river before the fall and rapids got going to fast…we never did see one.

Hannah continued directing us south, and we were soon in Buffalo…or should I say driving through, because we didn’t stop at this point…the route she had us on took us through the old, downtown “grittier” part of town (as my cousin David would say)…it felt much like the downtown getto area of Los Angeles. The white lane lines were gone from the highway, and it was difficult to tell for sure if it was a two lane road, or one lane, because other drivers kept weaving in and out depending on other cars turning left, or parked along the right side—in “no standing” zones, or sometimes even taking up the middle. Once we made it past the railroad yards, the lines were once again present, and we were feeling much more comfortable.

Just as we came into Hamburg, NY, a neat, busy village, we passed another Model A—a beautiful cream colored 30 or 31 pickup. We ah-oo-ghad at each other, but didn’t stop to talk as we were maneuvering through this town’s main street round-abouts. We finally made it to Brad and Joie’s in Eden and visited for a bit, until talk rolled around to Brad’s “collection” of Harley Davidson motorcycles. (This collection “sickness” must be genetic with the Gill’s!) We have noticed that motorcycle riding is big here in the northeast, especially New York. Maybe the terrain is just more conducive to it…or we’re just traveling on the same back roads in the A! Anyway, in borrowed jackets and helmets, we rode the bikes to dinner (Dave driving, me on the back—and yes, Dave does have a license to drive!) where we had some fabulous Buffalo Wings (did you know they were first “invented” at The Anchor Bar here in Buffalo?) and a Beef on Weck sandwich—both very good…then for ice cream before taking a short ride through the countryside in this part of NY. It was exhilarating…especially going faster than 45 mph for the first time in a long time! It was actually a lot of fun, and I can understand why there is such a big Harley following…but I will be blaming Brad and Joie if Dave takes up a new hobby…

11 July 2009 Eden, NY

Caught in a Thunderstorm

Rain was predicted today, but not until later in the afternoon. Aunt Ruth came over for breakfast—homemade breakfast burritos—with homemade flour tortillas, yummmm...and shortly after that we went for a hike. Out in back of Brad and Joie’s 2 acre property, is a corn field, and beyond the corn field is open land. This land is forested, and the creek that goes by their home cuts through a deep gorge. This area is stunning, and we felt like we were out in the middle of nowhere. Someone has tied a knotted rope down the gorge (about 80 feet down), "The Gill Grand Canyon" and we made our way to the bottom, going backwards, holding on hand over hand…not quite repelling, but close, with a lot of slippage. Just about the time we all got down, the thunder started rolling in. We were soon being drenched in the rain, as the lightening and thunder boomed around us. We were contemplating whether or not to try and go back up the rope, or continue on the long way home—neither direction was a good choice, but staying out in this weather wasn’t either. We sloshed our way along the bottom of the gorge—with the idea that the gorge was at least low ground in case of lightening, (the whole time I’m thinking…not a good place to be for a flash flood!) and made our way eventually up to higher ground. With the rain continuing to fall, we did eventually make it back to the house where we had to peel our wet—not just damp, but drippy—clothes directly into the washer.

After we were clean and dry, we found that this area is under severe storm watch for lightening, rain, thunder, flash floods. It continued to rain for about another 2 hours or so, and some areas even lost power. Dave always says God watches out for idiots and small children, and we are certainly not small children…

We went to visit with Aunt Ruth, and later in the evening when to Falletta’s for dinner—Carl (Dave’s previous boss from ABC) had assured us we would not be disappointed with his family’s establishment, and he was SOooo right! Carl (from California) is a native of Buffalo, and this is his family’s restaurant, currently run by his uncle, Carl. Falletta’s is located at 8255 Clarence Center Road, in East Amherst, NY. This restaurant is nestled in what looks like a residential area. At first, we were thinking we had the wrong address—the ambiance is casual elegance, the service first class, and the food better than some four-star restaurants we’ve eaten at. Everything is prepared fresh on site, including the salad dressings and desserts. We had eggplant parmigana, the best we’ve ever tasted; our cousins had the lasagna, and Joie is still raving about it. If you go, save room for dessert…the cannoli was amazing. Unfortunately, we had gotten one to share, which in retrospect, was very fortunate because I would have eaten the whole thing. Overall, an amazing meal. It was kind of nice to show the locals (our cousins) somewhere new in their town! Thanks for the tip Carl…

12 July 2009

Just hangin' out at Brad and Joie's.

Erie Canal and the American side of Niagara Falls

2009-07-10T11:06:00.004-05:00

Pictures L to R: Henry playing with the NY wildlife; Erie Canal at Hostoric Lock 35 in Lockport, NY; Dave and Peggy on the Maid of the Mist; The Falls

8 July 2009 Hamilton, NY to Farmington, NY 115 miles

The day started out much like the last few…foggy and rainy…but the farther west we went, the clearer it became. Supposedly, they were having record lows…go figure! We stopped periodically to take in the views, stretch our legs, or just walk around, but this was limited because of the weather.

Dave was convinced that the rain was over, so we ultimately made our way to the only campground in the area—a KOA. These are usually nice, but very busy, and very commercial. We set up camp, did a bit of exploring before heading off to bed. Surprisingly, we both slept very well, and Dave was right…no rain. We were able to get our laundry done though, and we met a nice couple from the Netherlands. As we were taking down the tent, we did discover that these NY woods do have some good sized slugs in them…slugs that like to crawl up the tent sides, under the ground cloth, and I’m sure other places if we had left anything out!

9 July 2009 Farmington, NY to Niagara Falls, NY 122 Miles

Since we had come up a bit north off the 20, we decided to head further north to Hwy 31 and go to Niagara Falls on our way to our cousin’s home. With all the rain we’ve been having, and forced hotel stays along the way, we’ve earned enough points to get a free room. Bruce Marshall and Cookie Smith from Massachusetts and a few of their Model A club members were heading this way, and we will try and meet up with them.

We woke to sunny skies for the first time in a week. Henry fell in love today…We spent a few hours this morning browsing through the Ontario Antique Mall in Farmington, NY. At one point, we had to drag Henry away from a cute she-bear…Henry was upset with us for most of the day because we told him she couldn’t travel with us that he quit talking for awhile…her mom said she was too young to date…

Anyway.. This is one of the nicest malls we’ve seen, and they have a great selection of high-quality antiques. We were also told that they are the largest in NY. They have a huge number of dealers who have Model A era jewelry and purses (some are a bit pricey, but very nice!). If you are in the area, this is a must stop if you are into antiquing.

The drive today was simply beautiful with no rain. It entailed more city driving at quite a few points, especially getting around Rochester, NY. Dave and I did have a bit of a discussion over the “highway” we were on…and the definition of “highway” and “freeway.” I don’t quite understand what he meant when he said I was “radiating my displeasure” about the route today...Hmmmm....

A surprise for us was that we ended up going almost to the shore of Lake Ontario—and we traveled along the Erie Canal for a good portion of the drive. We both realized that we’re not too up on the history of NY when we couldn’t remember details of the Erie Canal and the way it traversed this part of NY. Something we’ll need to remedy.

We made it into Niagara Falls and checked into the Comfort Inn at The Point. We are literally across the street from the Niagara Falls State Park—walking distance to any viewing, the Maid of the Mist, the park lands, and the Canadian border. After dinner, we decided to head out and see what we could from the park. We ended up taking the Maid of the Mist boat ride, at about 7:30, on a boat that was virtually empty. What an awe-inspiring ride. The falls are incredible…the quantity and power of the water, the view, the rainbows rising in the mist, and the sheer magnificence and splendor feeling the spray and the boat being pushed by the moving water…it’s indescribable.

Tomorrow we are going to meet the Massachusetts group over on the Canadian side for breakfast, and explore the falls from there…something we’ve been told we shouldn’t miss.

Niagara Falls, Canada, and new friends from the Massachuetts Minuteman Model A Club

2009-07-10T10:53:00.009-05:00

Pictures L to R: Dave and Peggy in front of Horseshoe Falls, Canadian side; Breakfast Bunch with some of the Massachuetts Minuteman Model A Club; The Massachuetts cars; The Falls

10 July 2009 Niagara Falls, NY and Canada 11:30 AM

We left the car in the hotel parking lot and walked to Canada this morning. Not surprising, we had the Rainbow Bridge to ourselves…I guess this is what happens when you are up and going at 7:00 AM. We were told that we shouldn’t miss the view from Canada, and this is the absolute truth! It is not necessarily better, just a different prospective.

We met up with the Minuteman group at the Sheraton…they had much fancier digs than we did, with a 10th floor view of both the American and Horseshoe Falls, a fireplace in the room—which I can see would be especially nice in the winter—and a TV in the bathroom! After breakfast in the hotel, with a view of the falls, we said our good-byes as they headed off toward Deerborn, MI and the Henry Ford Museum through Canada (check out their blog at http://thelma-michigan.blogspot.com/) and we headed out to view the falls. We were given a blanket and a pin from their 51st Annual New England Meet, and yes, we do have room in the car...Thanks guys, it was great to meet you!

Coming back into the US, we were surprised to be confronted with turn-styles requiring a 50 cent fee to get home. I guess it is true that nothing in life is free…We made it through customs with no problem, and I will say, this is the way to go. Where there was a multi-lane line across the bridge, once again we were the only ones crossing the bridge—and no lines going through customs.

We’re heading south along the shore of Lake Erie to visit family for the weekend…

Waitin’ On the Thunder

2009-07-07T19:08:00.009-05:00

7 July 2009 Wilmington, NY through the Adirondack Mountains to Hamilton, NY 195 miles

Pictures L to R: Highway through the Adirondack Mtns.; Olympic Stadium at Lake Placid, NY; Bare Bottomed Trees; Storm Pictures of Tupper Lake-these last three pics were taken within a two minute time frame--if you look closely at the last one, you can see the rain hit the pavement.

It’s official…We’ve been in our first “severe” thunder storm of the trip. Compared to this one, all the others were just light rain, or the mere fringes of bad weather.

All was going well as we traveled through the beautiful Adirondack Mountains with the numerous lakes and rivers. Something odd we noticed, and our picture does not show the whole extent of it, but many of the trees along the highway appear to be stripped bare on the lower trunks. We are guessing that maybe the force of the snow blowers removing the snow off the highways does this…? If we have a NY follower out there, maybe you can let us know!

We drove through the upscale resort town of Lake Placid where the 1980 Winter Olympics were held, and were soon getting sprinkled…no, actual rain…on and off for the next 10 miles or so. This was unfortunate, since it derailed any plans to stop and shop…or just walk around the town. Just after passing through Tupper Lake, out of nowhere we were in hard, solid rain. We are usually pretty vigilant watching the weather forming, but this one came from behind us, and the mountains obscured the dark mass. Within minutes the lightening was flashing above us as the thunder boomed. Our poor little wiper just couldn’t keep up! We ultimately pulled over and waited out the driving rain (about 15 minutes). After this first storm cell of the day passed, we were hit by four others on and off… medium to heavy rain—not the center of the storm—until we were out of the mountains and more into the foothills. We finally stopped for dinner and got a hotel room in Hamilton, NY, home of Colgate University founded in 1819, were we could watch the next few storms move through the area from the comfort of the room.

The Adirondack Mountains are absolutely beautiful, and New York State has numerous campgrounds available…we’ll just have to come back another year to see what a summer day is really like. I think it got up to the mid 60’s today…and Dave told me we wouldn’t need a jacket!

No Moose Is Good Moose...

2009-07-07T06:45:00.009-05:00

Pictures L to R: Mt. Washington, NH; Moose sign...we never did see one; Vermont Countryside; Lake Champlain Ferry; Storm over Lake Champlain; Henry on the Playground

6 July 2009 Hanover, ME to Wilmington, NY 194 miles

Two things we’ve noticed about New England…summer time is THE time for road maintenance, but I imagine with all the snow they get, it is necessary; and ice cream…it seems that nearly every town we drive through has at least one, if not two, small “homemade” ice cream stands. However, with all the rain, ice cream just doesn’t sound as good as it does when it is nice and warm. Bruce and Cookie from Massachusetts did mention that New Englanders do love their ice cream…and donuts. There also seems to be a Dunkin’ Donuts on every corner, much like there are Starbucks in California.

We woke to sunshine early, but within the hour it was clouding over…again. Our drive was pretty uneventful, but the scenery was beautiful as we made our way back into New Hampshire. The sun came out, and it was beautiful for pretty much the rest of the day.

We stopped to change places, so I could practice my driving . Dave keeps telling me to relax, but I find myself gripping the steering wheel so tight, my arms start aching. We passed Mt. Washington, which Dave (with all the trivia stuffed in his brain) mentioned is the highest peak in the northeastern US, and has the highest recorded wind speed (231 MPH) and the most severe weather on the planet! Back to the road..This area is mountainous and curvy, and the roads we are on often follow a river...these felt like rolling hills, but were actually the mountains--but we were only at about 680 feet elevation...which is so different from California. Anyway… I drove through most of New Hampshire until I spied a maple syrup barn up the road. I quickly pulled into the driveway, and we were soon inside Christie’s sampling a variety of maple syrup and maple goodies—we even bought some to send home, and then continued on into Vermont.

We stopped in Montpelier, VT, the capitol of Vermont for lunch…Dave tried deep-fried guacamole and it wasn't to his liking...more details to follow...so we left in search of one of those ever present ice cream stands…wouldn’t you believe it…we didn’t find a single one the rest of the day!

We made it to Burlington, VT, and got in line to cross Lake Champlain on the ferry. While we waited for the ferry, we watched as the clouds gathered over the lake. By the time we were out of the harbor there were white caps on the lake, and it was soon raining…the rain and very light hail continued for the entire trip, finally slowing down some once we were in New York, but it is supposed to continue later tonight. We found a clean, quaint, roadside motel called Grandview Motel in Wilmington, NY, just east of Lake Placid. Henry enjoyed playing on the “kids only” playground.

Maine Lobster and more...but no camera!

2009-07-07T06:20:00.006-05:00

Pictures L to R: Dave on the boat in Maine; Lobster dinner; Calm waters on Back River; Our campsite at Stoneybrook in Hanover, ME.

5 July 2009 Bath, ME to Hanover, ME 93 miles

We’ve now seen and experienced the real Maine…at least according to my cousin David! We woke to sunny skies, and sparkling water for the first time in many days. After that weekly obligatory chore of doing laundry, and for Dave, lubing the car joints, we headed over to Peggy's cousins David’s where we were soon headed for the river.

Donning our PFD’s (life vests for you non-boaters) we headed south on the waterway at Bath. Wouldn't you believe it...about 10 minutes from the dock, I realized we left the camera in the car! Too far to go back, we opted to use our phone cameras...the pictures are not the best. I cannot begin to say how upset I was about this...I guess we'll need to rely on our memories.

Out on the water, David gave us a guided tour of the local area and wildlife. When we left Bath, the tide was nearing its high water mark. We spent two hours or so exploring some of the most beautiful coastline in Maine. The coastline varied between granite outcroppings and water hugging forests to marshy grasslands. Along the way we saw numerous osprey—some busy fishing, and some in their nests, bald eagles--both adult and juveniles—(the juveniles don’t have a white head yet), seals, deer, and a few blue herons…and the obligatory seagulls and terns that are often present along the coastline. During parts of the ride, we were one of many boats on the water, dodging the ever-present lobster buoys; at other times, we were the only boat in sight, and the water was glassy smooth.

We eventually made it to an area called Five Islands, in sight of the Atlantic Ocean and had probably the best lobster dinner right there at the dock. It was absolutely scrumptious—messy, but scrumptious! We topped off the dinner with a stop at the ice cream shack for some incredible homemade ice cream. (Mr. Phinney...this would make a great tour stop!) Honestly…how much better does it get…an ocean view…sunny skies…fresh lobster, potatoes, and corn on the cob…and homemade ice cream!

As the afternoon wore on, we headed back to the boat for the return ride to Bath. By this time, the tide was on its way out, and there was a stark contrast against the coastline, where the seaweed now lay exposed, dangling from the granite rocks looking like long beards on the old sea captains. With the tide going out, and the river current running, the water took on a whole different character from the trip down as well. The swirling eddies and foaming waters in much narrower channels sent spray flying in our faces and chills down our backs as we passed through what was called “lower hells gate” and “upper hells gate” because the water was so choppy.

This day of boating was the absolutely perfect ending for our third-corner weekend, and will be something we will always remember…the enchanted forest at Brightwater and the boating on Morning Star.

After saying good-bye to our cousins, we turned Baby with her radiator to the west and headed out toward the forth corner of our journey. We’re staying in Hanover, ME, just east of the Maine/New Hampshire border at Stonybrook Campground.

New Friends...the Atlantic Ocean...and Maine

2009-07-04T13:40:00.013-05:00

2 July 2009 Westfield, MA to Haverhill, MA via New Hampshire 130.2 miles

We met some new friends today…Bruce Marshall and Cookie Smith of Haverhill, MA. Bruce and Cookie are members of the Massachusetts Minutemen Model A Club, and own three A’s: a 1930 slant windshield Cabriolet, a 1930 Coupe, and a 1930 station wagon, which he is in the process of restoring…almost complete. Bruce has been following our blog for a while, and when he realized we were headed their way on the way to Maine, they offered us a place to stay and a shared meal. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

What a wet, dreary day! We left Westfield with a drizzling mist, and it continued to rain or mist almost all day long. I don’t think we had any sunshine at all. We continued north northeast through forested hills, state forests, and small towns…sometimes the town consisted of 2-3 houses grouped together…until we hit the New Hampshire border about 45 miles into the trip. This was not our initial plan to go this far north, but this is the route that Hannah (our GPS) directed us on when we plugged in least use of freeways, and route around big cities. We desperately wanted to see Boston—we were told there is a BIG celebration for the 4th—but we didn’t want to try it in the A with holiday traffic. We will definitely put it on our list of places to come back to…

We stopped along the way periodically to stretch our legs as we traveled through the towns of Jaffery and Peterburough, and finally for lunch in Wilton, NH. We had quite the conversation with people sitting at 3 other tables, and the waitress (who pulled the cook out from the back and told the other patrons about the old car out front)! By the time we left, I think everyone in the restaurant knew about our journey…you know how Dave’s voice carries…

Bruce met us in Milford, NH, and led our mini caravan back to Haverhill, MA, in the Merrimack Valley. We had a great visit with Bruce and Cookie over a wonderful dinner and made plans to head up to Maine tomorrow. After dinner, we took a short ride in the station wagon. This was only the 2nd wagon I've seen...Bruce said they have 9 or 10 in their club.

3 July 2009 Haverhill, MA to Bath, Maine 144 miles

We got an early start today, mostly because we were not sure what the traffic would be like heading up the coast the day before the holiday…we figured early morning was better than late afternoon. Bruce and Cookie joined us for a short two-car tour up to Kittery, Maine, (Cookie’s hometown) since they knew the back roads and the way to some amazing scenic spots along the way.

We crossed the Merrimack River numerous times on our way to the coast, where it dumps into the Atlantic Ocean near Newburyport. We made a left turn…no view of the Atlantic yet…and headed north a bit before we actually got to see the ocean. I felt myself getting a little emotional here, first, because this was my (and Dave’s) first glimpse of the Atlantic—ever!—and second, because we actually made it coast to coast. We traveled along Hwy 1, then turned off onto, I think, 1B, which Bruce told us was the “old” Highway 1, and drove right along the coast, with great views of the ocean, glimpses of some grandiose homes near Rye, NH, and plenty of photo ops. And…something we haven’t seen in the last few days…a few rays of sunshine!

We crossed into Maine at Kittery, across a great NH Memorial Bridge (for WWI soldiers) and traveled through the old waterfront until we got to a good stopping place for both cars. It was here that we said our good-byes to Bruce and Cookie…Thank you for the wonderful hospitality and a great tour today!…and continued on our solo journey north.

A surprise offer…

We had made reservations at Hermit Island Campground, which is just south of Bath, Maine, with the hopes that the weather would clear for the weekend. We were hoping to see my cousin David and his wife Michelle and family who, by the way, live in Bath in a sea captains house built in 1844-- but didn’t want to disrupt their plans for the weekend…it just didn’t make sense to travel all the way to Maine, at not say hi.

David called on Thursday night to offer us an alternative to camping. Michelle’s family owns a cabin that her Great Grandfather built in 1926 on the Maine coast. It sits on five acres, on a penninsula, ocean front, and is very secluded—a dirt road in. Family members decided at the last minute to spend the weekend in Boston, so Michelle cleared it with them and offered us the use of it!

Brightwater is a cabin in an enchanted forest…I’m not sure how else to describe it: Loamy earth along the pathway in, ferns growing on the forest underground, mossy pathways. The pictures can probably show it better than my words.

What a treat…we will use this time to relax and gear up for the journey home. We’re meeting David and daughter Isabelle tomorrow, if the weather is nice enough, to take the boat out to “the best lobster around.” David said it is about an hour boat ride, and then we dock where the lobstermen pull in and their wives have steaming pots ready to cook the fresh caught lobster for you. I can’t wait! Michelle, and 10-week old Rose will go by car and meet us there.

Happy 4th of July!

4 July 2009 Brightwater ---The enchanted cabin on the Maine coast...

We've been sitting on the porch, watching a thunderstorm build and approach from across the bay. The temperature dropped, the wind picked up, and then the rain hit...not a mere sprinkle, but a downpour. It didn't last long...the sky is lighter now, and the rain has moved on...the thunder is rumbling in the east. All is well for now...

We're at our third corner turning point, so we'll begin heading west tomorrow!

Four States and More Rain

2009-07-02T06:35:00.008-05:00

1 July 2009 Stroudsburg, PA to Westfield, MA 205 miles

Pictures L to R: Baby on the Delaware River (PA); Port Jervis NY; Newburgh, NY--the closest we'll get to NYC; Crossing the Hudson River; Farmland scene.

The weather seems to be dictating both our direction of travel, and the number of miles we are doing this week. We have camping reservations for the weekend of the 4th in Maine, so our mileage is a little higher again...the rain is supposed to taper off for the weekend--we'll see!

After a wonderful breakfast at the Stroudsmoor, we woke to gray foggy skies again and headed north up the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area. Once we were through the town, this became a smooth, green beltway following the Delaware River. We crossed into New York at Port Jervis…surprised that we were unable to find any sign posting stating "welcome to NY." (I know for a fact that there are a few New Yorkers looking forward to our visit!) We continued along Highway 209 through rolling hills of dairy farmland, and lots of beautiful scenery. We continued east until we made it to Newburgh, NY, the closest we will be to NYC--we are just not big city folks--and made a left turn to follow the Hudson River north to Poughkeepsie, where we could cross the Hudson without being on the interstate. I was surprised at how wide the Hudson River was at this point—as wide, if not wider than the Mississippi. Once east of the Hudson, the terrain became rolling hills, dotted with horse farms. I’m not sure if this area is considered upstate NY, it may be mid-state, but it sure is beautiful. We stopped in Millerton, NY, just west of the CT border to stretch our legs and ended up walking down their rails-to-trails pathway for a short distance.

Shortly after crossing into Connecticut we stopped for groceries…still hoping to camp…in Canaan. We spent about a half hour talking with people in the parking lot. One gentleman, we learned, was 90 years old, had a 1932 two-door that he has had for over 40 years. He is the second owner, and the car is un-restored! He also has a 1971 GTO Judge that he takes to car shows. As we were talking, another gentleman walked up and the first man said, “This is my neighbor…he is the old guy around here.” The second gentleman was 95 years old, a retired deputy--still active as a reserve! I guess Canaan is a great place to live a long life.

Just about the time we were leaving the parking lot, the rain started in earnest. This part of Connecticut is windy mountain roads, much like the foothills in the California Sierra Nevada’s, but forested. It was simply beautiful. Since it seems to be our MO lately, we began looking for somewhere to eat and wait out the biggest part of the rainstorm. What we found was a gem of an Italian restaurant in Winsted, CT, that had a great pesto pizza! Ummm…only problem was we’ve been leaching garlic all day now.

The towns we were going through didn’t have much in the line of hotels that we could see, and since the weather looked worse to the south of us, we turned north at Granby, CT, and made our way in Massachusetts, along route 10/202. The sun was shining above us, but storm clouds surrounded the area. We got a hotel room in Westfield, just west of Springfield, MA, and it was a good thing…we woke up to a solid rain shower that is supposed to continue for much of the morning.

Coal Country and Rain...

2009-07-01T20:56:00.006-05:00

30 June 2009 Tipton, PA to Stroudsburg, PA 205 miles

Pictures L to R: Central PA farm land; Sharing the road with the horse and buggies; Lilies growing wild in the forests...something I've never seen before; The town of Jim Thorpe, PA, named for one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.

We woke to gray, rainy skies as we packed the car. We were hoping that the sky would clear, and we would be able to camp tonight, but the rain continued to follow us most of the day, and then got much worse the further east we went...

We headed up old highway 220 from our cousins house, then picked up Highway 45 toward Lewisburg. The drive was beautiful, through forest and farmland along the way. At one point on the highway, we were sharing the road with horse and buggies. We crossed the West Branch of the Susquehanna River at Lewisburg, and then the Susquehanna shortly after that in Sunbury PA. This town had a wall built along the river, we think as flood protection. They had stairways going up one side of the wall, and down the other spaced out along the river front. Good for flood protection, but it sure did mess up the view of the river. The town of Sunbury was all decked out in red, white, and blue for the 4th, as were most of the small main street towns we traveled through.

I am amazed at the variety of towns and neighborhoods we are passing through…In trying to work our way down to Highway 209, we traveled through what we were told was “coal” country, and really hit some of the back roads of Pennsylvania. It was actually an eye opener for both David and I to see the mountains of coal being mined, the dark gray dust gathering and settling on virtually every surface, and some of the small, small towns still surviving…barely. In some areas, the roads got narrower and much more twisty; the houses were jammed so close together and built up so tall between rock faces of the hillsides that we were beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic. I was actually surprised to see that abject poverty level and disrepair in this day and age—so many churches sponsor mission trip to other countries, and there is a huge need here in our own backyards. I was so busy looking around, that I forgot to take some pictures...or grabbed the camera too late!

As the afternoon progressed, the weather worsened and we were soon in rain again. Another severe thunder storm watch was in effect for this area…so camping is out…we decided to continue driving and try to reach Stroudsburg, PA, a town on the Penna and New Jersey border on the fringes of the Poconos. We had discovered this thriving town with neat shops and cafes about three years ago when we were back here for a side-trip to see the Statue of Liberty. We ended up staying at the Stroudsmoor Country Inn, (www.stroudsmoor.com) up on the hill from the main town. If you need a fabulous place for a weekend get-away—or a wedding—and are headed toward eastern PA, this should be your destination! The main building and the old mill were built in the early to mid-1800’s, although they have expanded over the years to include cabins, a day spa, meeting rooms, a bridal suite, and an outdoor pool, as well as a nadatorium—indoor pool. This inn is family owned and operated, and they have wonderful dining room attached with the most fabulous food and service. The price of the room included a full breakfast—made to order, with fresh fruit, juice, coffee, pastries, and more! Yumm...

In Search of Princess Pine

2009-06-29T20:16:00.005-05:00

Pictures L to R: Princess Pine; Dave and the first generation cousins (minus 3--I think); Peggy, Dave, and his sister Joan.

20 June 2009 to 29 June 2009

Vacation at the Rydbom's! It has been a great week for us relaxing and gearing up for the next leg of our journey. We had a roof over our head, and for the first visit to PA in June ever, 4 consecutive days without any humidity or rain! Unfortunately, Randy and Linda had to work during the day, but it gave us a chance to just vege, read, cook, and relax...oh yeah...and Dave had time to mow the grass-almost an acre of it--for his cousin.

Our reunion day was great...clear skies, no to low humidity, and 53 family members in attendance at Parker Dam State Park...it sure was good to see everyone. Dave gave rides in the A to those who wanted one, and got a kick out of his aunts who wanted him to keep honking the horn so they could wave at people!

We are leaving Tipton/Tyrone PA tomorrow morning early, heading toward New England and Maine. It will be good to be back in the Model A, seeing the sights.

PS: Princess Pine grows here in PA, and is actually protected from picking (according to Dave's cousins). Dave and his sister, Joan, have a vivid recollection from childhood, before moving to California, of going out in the forest collecting this plant in pillow cases to sell for extra money, but didn't remember what it was, or what it looked like. Randy found some for them during the reunion. The memory is fuzzy for what use they sold it for; one person remembers that they used it to make wreaths, and another thought "they" made dye with it. We may never know...

Trip Statistics as of June 20th...

2009-06-22T10:44:00.003-05:00

Total Miles driven: 5,266.1

Total Days on the road: 48

Total Gallons of Gasoline: 285 gallons

Total Spent in gasoline: $777.62

Nights Camping: 20

Nights in a hotel: 15

Nights with friends and family: 13

Central PA--Home to amazing food, antique cars, and family!

2009-06-22T10:16:00.007-05:00

21 June 2009 Chambersburg, PA to Tyrone, PA Miles: 109

Happy Fathers Day!

We woke to sunny skies above us… however, dark clouds surrounded our little spot of sunlight. It had rained during the night, but not the huge storm that was anticipated. What did happen though, is the temperature has dropped some. It was hovering at about 62 for most of the day—a bit cool for the first day of summer!

We continued our drive along Route 30, stopping along the way here and there until we hit the exit for Hwy 522, turning north. Along this route, near Shady Gap, we stopped at another antique store, to browse and inquire if there was anywhere to eat close by. We were directed to the only place close by, Sunny Ridge Station Family Restaurant, but were told we may not get in because it is always crowded on Sunday—especially at this time of day (1:30 PM), and especially for Father’s day. Fortunately for us, we only had two in our group, and didn’t mind sitting in a booth. We were seated immediately, and had one of the best meals we’ve had on this trip—and the most incredible homemade pie….coconut cream for Dave, cherry crumb for me. The service was outstanding as well. To our Pennsylvania followers…if you are headed toward Harrisburg from Hwy 30, this is a must stop.

After dinner, we continued on our journey and happened to pass through Huntingdon, PA, home to the Swigart Auto Museum. Not only did this museum have some incredible automobiles, but the collection includes era clothing, antique bicycles, toy fire trucks, toys, license plates, car emblems, engine components (like spark plugs and such), and more! This would be a great day tour destination for any car clubs around here! We were told by the volunteer staffing the museum that the display was only about one-third of the collection.

Dave found his car, even though we haven’t hit Cornhusk yet…unfortunately, it is not for sale…In the Swigart collection is an un-restored 1931 slant-window Fordor…it was purchased by the museum in 1969 from the original owner’s widow with less than 12,000 miles on it. After her husband’s death, she had stored it in a shed, up on jacks, and it was never driven again. Keep dreaming Dave…

We made it to Dave’s cousin's home in Tyrone, PA in the early evening. We will spend some downtime here for the week, (or until Randy and Linda get tired of us) before the Gill Family Reunion in Clearfield on Saturday, visiting a number of relatives in Coalport, PA.

Our goal this week is to get the camping gear and car cleaned and aired out after all the rain we’ve been hitting. I'll be taking a break from blogging until after the reunion as well...

Slight Change in our Direction toward Maine

2009-06-20T16:17:00.002-05:00

For those of you anticipating our arrival in New England....We feel like we’re spinning our wheels here a little. There was not enough time to head up the east coast, without causing us to rush through New England and Maine (which neither one of us has ever seen before) and still make it to the reunion in central PA next weekend. We’ve been thinking of re-routing our loop to Maine, since we’re traveling along this part of the Lincoln Hwy now, and are very familiar with Eastern Pennsylvania already. After the reunion, we’ll probably head east along the northern edge of PA, then go up through New England on our way to Maine, returning west toward Buffalo and Niagara Falls before dropping back down to Hwy 30 west of Pittsburg.

Washington DC and the Threat of Severe Weather

2009-06-20T15:41:00.010-05:00

19 June 2009 Clarksburg MD – to Shady Grove Metro Station – Clarksburg MD
Miles: 26

Pictures L to R: Our good friends, Mike, Laura, and Sophie; The Capitol; WWII Memorial; Washington Monument taken from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

We got up early, drove to the Shady Grove Metro Station and were soon headed south into DC. Our plan was to meet Mike and Co. at the Metro Center Station. What a great day! Not only did we get to spend some time with good friends, but the weather cooperated as well. The day had scattered clouds above, which kept the temps a little cooler and not as humid, and in the afternoon a breeze kicked in.

Once we got into DC, we made our way to view the Capitol, then began the long trek down the mall. We were walking the whole way…Dave suggested taking one of the tours because Laura had never been to DC and hadn't seen any of the monuments and there is just so much to see, but he was outvoted…so off we went. We headed down toward the Smithsonian, Air and Space, because we knew there was a food court there, and everyone was hungry. After eating, and walking around the museum a bit (a very little bit!), we headed back out to the mall and walked the length of it to see the Washington Monument, then detoured to go to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving—no more tickets available, but we went to the visitors center and looked around. Back to the mall, and down along the path to the WWII Memorial, along the pond to the Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, then over to the White House before heading back to the metro station. These memorials are so incredibly moving...even when you've seen them before. Thank you to all of you who have served in the Armed Forces! It was a day of reflection for all of us. Needless to say, we were beat by the time we got on the metro to head out of DC.

We said goodbye to the Wieters family and headed back to our campground. When we hit Germantown, we decided to stop and eat. Tucked away in a small strip mall along Highway 355 with a few other restaurants and a grocery store, we made an incredible discovery—India Palace. Dave and I are both fond of Indian food, and were very pleased with both the food and the service. This is a true gem of a restaurant—a must if you are ever in Germantown, MD!

We called it an early night—as we were exhausted after all the walking we did down in DC today!

20 June 2009 Clarksburg, MD to Chambersburg, PA Miles 80.5

Pictures L to R: Early morning rain--it was either drive or sit in a very small tent; Mason-Dixon Line Post Marker on the Maryland/Pennsylvania border; Site of the start of the battle at Gettysburg at the RR Cut.

It rained in the night…not a lot, but enough to cool things down. We woke up early—just before 6—and by the time we got back from the bath house, thunder was rumbling to the north/east. Dave had gotten one sleeping bag rolled, and our duffle bags stowed away just as the first drops started falling. Closing the car doors and windows, we crawled back into the tent to wait out the storm. While waiting, we debated on whether we should stay put, or go for it...After about ten minutes, the rain let up-- slightly--so we took a chance and quickly dismantled the tent and loaded the car. We’ll get breakfast on the road…or so we thought.

Less than five miles from the campground, the rain began coming down in earnest. The small towns we were passing through didn’t have much—or anything that we could see—in the line of diners. It wasn’t until we hit Gettysburg, PA that we found any kind of restaurant, so we sat out what remained of the storm there.

We’ve been to Gettysburg multiple times, so we decided to forgo the battlefield tour in the rain. If it wasn’t raining…and supposed to rain for the next few days…we would have stayed there until Monday or so, but hotel prices are so high in this area. We did wander through the center of downtown Gettysburg for most of the morning, and then hopped back into the car and headed west along Highway 30, The Lincoln Highway. By the time we hit Chambersburg, severe thunderstorms were heading our way—supposedly with winds to 40 mph, and heavy rain around 4:00 PM. We’ve opted for a hotel tonight, as the rain is supposed to continue to fall.

Grey Skies...But No Rain!

2009-06-18T17:18:00.007-05:00

Pictures: Little Bennett Campground near Clarksburg, MD; Best Farm--we just thought it looked cool!

18 June 2009 Hagerstown, MD to Clarksburg, MD 54 miles

We're beginning to feel like Eeyore...we've got this little black rain cloud hanging over our head--or it seems that way--ever since Texas. The rain has stopped for now, so we are taking a chance that the scattered showers will scatter around us and not on us, so we're camping at Little Bennett Campground near Clarksburg, MD. I think we're maybe one of three people in the entire place!

We spent the morning antiquing...some late 20's era fashion informational pamplets, some jewelry--still checking about it, but the price was right, and it looks good, and a pair of cool shoe clips. This is a dangerous place to be if you are into antiquing...and yes, Dave has found stuff too--Civil War era glasses, drooling over a couple of long rifles (civil war era) and cars. His stuff is just more expensive than mine!

About the car...it seems to be running great--quiet and smooth. Dave is estatic! He even said he may like it better without the overdrive...we'll see how he feels once we hit the plains.

Since Henry seems to showing some signs of maturity...at least since the Pepsi incident, we're going to let him stay at the campground alone tomorrow when we take the metro into DC to meet our good friends, Mike Wieters (and family), who are out here from Orange County (CA) for a long weekend. Henry has promised to behave himself while we're gone.

Back to Basics at NOSTALGIA WORKS

2009-06-17T09:16:00.006-05:00

Pictures L to R: The rear end out and apart; parts and pieces; Dave and Becky Krolak of Nostalgia Works

16 June 2009 Shepherdstown, WV to Hagerstown, MD 53 miles (including yesterday from Brunswick, MD)

Dave Krolak picked us up this morning from the hotel and we (I include myself (Peggy) with the “we” because I got greasy holding, turning, or grabbing parts and pieces!) got started on changing out the differential, etc. Dave K. did not have the tool that removes the pinion bearing and races as a unit. But in retrospect, that was a blessing in disguise. Without the tool, the guys had to remove the axels and ring-gear assembly. When they went to replace the rear hubs, the threads on the passenger side axel stripped. Lucky for us, the used rear end we got from Meyer's included the parts that we needed to get going again. We ended up replacing the axel and the carrier bearing. By 4:00 or so, we were going for a test drive—hooray! We are back in business, and on the road with a stock drivetrain.

Many thanks to Dave and Becky of Nostalgia Works! They are a well-matched team, with a great sense of humor and big hearts. Although Dave and Becky run an antique and classic car restoration and maintenance business, they certainly have and live by the attitude that you help people in need and do the right thing. Something that all humankind should strive for!

For tonight, though, it is a hot shower and a soft bed—we’re bushed. Unfortunately, it looks like rain again…and is supposedly a 70% chance tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers—We are firmly convinced that it is your constant prayers that lead us to just the right towns before we break down!

17 June 2009 AM Update: We are staying put today due to rain...100%...so we'll sit tight and do laundry and all that good stuff...

Over-and-out for the overdrive!

2009-06-15T20:24:00.009-05:00

Pictures L to R: Harper's Ferry from the bridge over the Potomoc; Civil War canon; Burnside Bridge at Antietam.

14 June 2009 Endinburg, VA to Brunswick, MD 90.3 miles
West Virginia for a brief moment…The campground we have landed in is maybe not one of our better choices. It's on the Maryland side of the Potomoc. The campground is city owned and operated, and the campground is nice, but the tent area is a bit swampy, so we’ve snuck into an RV site. Some of the people, who I think are “full time residents” are interesting, to say the least. Even the hosts in the office are a bit iffy.

It’s Sunday, so David did his lube thing while I set up camp. Hopefully we’ll still be alive tomorrow.

15 June 2009 Brunswick, MD to Shepherdstown, WV miles? will update later

We got up early this morning, and packed the car in record time (30 minutes!) (We didn’t really want to stay at this campground any longer than necessary.) We headed into Harper’s Ferry, and had the town to ourselves as we walked around. It was actually kind of nice being there in the quiet dawn. After walking through the town, we headed toward Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland. Dave had been here before, but never got to see the Burnside Bridge, which is the location of the last engagement in this battle. We spent about and hour or so at the visitor’s center watching the video, and listening to the ranger presentation on the battle, then began the auto tour.

This is a beautiful area, and it looks like either the park service leases out the land for farming, or they plant the fields for looks. The auto tour went well…until stop #9, the Burnside Bridge. As we crested the hill to the parking lot, the car made “a snapping, popping, grinding” sound. At that, Dave proclaimed, “This is as far as we are going today!” We coasted backward, down the hill (no turn around space), and stopped along the road—thankfully it was a wide, shady spot. (Actually a disabled persons parking area for the bridge.) Next step…MAFCA Roster Directory.

We located a MAFCA member in Hagerstown, MD who put us in touch with Ron Meyer, owner of Meyer’s Model A Ford Parts in Williamsport, MD. Ron was able to hook us up with Dave and Becky Krolak, in Sharpsburg, MD. Dave owns Nostalgia Works, an antique and classic automotive maintenance, repair, and restoration shop. Turns out, Dave’s shop was about six miles from where we were stranded. He came to our rescue with his transport trailer in tow.

We are saddened to announce the demise of Borge-Warner, our much beloved overdrive. With no other overdrive available locally, Dave decided to replace ours with a stock drive shaft and torque tube—so we can finish our trip, albeit at a much slower pace. Ron Meyer was able to supply us with a used differential, drive shaft, torque tube and gasket set. Dave Krolak and Dave (Gill!) are working on changing them out. As night fell, Dave K. drove us to the nearest hotel—in Shepherdstown, WV. So Baby is having her first sleepover in an out-of-state (from us) garage. Henry is staying with her so she doesn’t get homesick.

Dodging Raindrops in Search of Coiner Gold!

2009-06-14T08:11:00.006-05:00

13 June 2009 Waynesboro, VA to Endinburg, VA 68 miles

Rain, rain, rain…not constant, but off and on all day. We spent the morning at the Waynesboro Public Library—with the hope of doing a little bit of Coiner research. Instead we found a gold mine! At the library, we found a couple of books, one printed in 1893 that delineates the Keinadt family history and genealogy that covers their history in Germany, and in America up to 1893. Inside the front cover was a contact name and phone number for reprint information. David called the number, was told that the person to speak to was a Mr. Lewis Coiner. With the information on where he lived and how to reach him in hand, we located Lewis Coiner--who is distantly related to Peggy; he invited us into his home so we spent the afternoon visiting and talking about the Coiner line. He is 90 years old, and I would hazard to guess that he is the Coiner expert in this part of the country.

Finally, around 4:00, we hopped in the car and headed north. We worked our way back to Hwy 11, and ended up in Endinburg, VA. We found a small campground called Creekside Campground, just on the other side of the creek from town and took a chance that most of the rain had passed us by for the day. By the way..we were wrong--oh well... This is a small family run campground…with nice RV pads, and a great tent area along the creek. In fact, it looks like it could be their backyard. The people here are very friendly...a nice touch...they have a new “coffee and ice cream” trailer and offer homemade ice cream and iced coffee drinks and socialization around a big fire. Coffee is also available in the morning. I’m sure we’ll be back someday.

Henry enjoyed the creek side campfire and the ducks!

Staunton, Virginia and a Scavenger Hunt!

2009-06-12T19:01:00.008-05:00

11 June 2009 Greenville, VA to Staunton, VA 69 miles
and surrounding areas including Crimora

We entered the town of Staunton, Virginia in the early morning. What a neat town—especially the historical downtown district. Staunton is also home to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. We stopped at Beverly’s Café in the old historic district, then spent the morning walking around, exploring many of the shops. We were also in search of the local historical society because we are on a mission here in Augusta County Virginia.
Somewhere in Augusta County is a small cemetery that contains a monument to the Keinadts—Michael and Margaret—ancestor’s of Peggy’s. The only information we have is that this monument is in the cemetery of the Old Trinity Lutheran Church “about 14 miles east of Staunton and 2 miles north of the Crimora Station on the Shenandoah Valley RR.

While searching for the historical society, we happened upon Bruce Elder’s Antique and Classic Automobiles. Unable to pass by almost any antique vehicle, Dave detoured to take a look at some of the cars he had—most, but not all of them are for sale. Dave was very excited to see the American LaFrance Speedster and an original 1929 Model AA Special Delivery pickup.

Back to our scavenger hunt....With the help of Betty from the Augusta County Historical Society, we were directed to the area and we went in search of the church. After traveling along some incredible rolling hills through the Virginia countryside, getting lost, and redirected by the local postman, we finally stopped in what we thought was Crimora. An older gentleman at the gas station knew the exact church that we were looking for and gave us precise directions. We had driven past it twice—I don’t know how we had missed it!

The monument was there, and the cemetery was filled with descendents of Michael and Margaret Keinadt. Peggy’s maiden name is Coiner, and she is a descendant of Philip Coiner, Jr. who is the grandson of Michael Keinadt. (Spellings were changed and Coiner is just one of the many spellings/Americanization of Keinadt.) What was especially interesting to note that Keinadt descendants have been documented to fight in every war here since the American Revolution.

The rain started coming down in earnest so we headed back into town and checked into a hotel for the night. It is supposed to rain for the next few days, so we may stay here and just do some short explorations/family research around this area before heading north.

12 June 2009 Staunton, VA to Waynesboro, VA 35 miles

We went to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library this morning, and then walked through a few other antique stores in Staunton, before heading to Verona, VA (another antique mall) and then on to the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery again, to get some other pictures. By then, the rain started in again. We made our way to Waynesboro, VA, checked into a hotel and went in search of dinner. On the way, we passed by the Fishbourne Military Academy—one of the places Peggy stayed the night at when she was on that bicycle trip in 1976. We ate at Scotto’s Italian Restaurant—and had a very, very nice meal.

By the way...have you figured out that if you double click on the picture, you can get a larger view? Check out Dave in the American LaFrance!

Treasures along the '76 BikeCentennial Trail

2009-06-10T19:40:00.011-05:00

9 June 2009 Blowing Rock, NC to Dublin, VA (Claytor Lake State Park) 133 miles

Pictures L to R: Christmas Trees in NC and Virginia; Henry wants a "pop"!; Peggy doing her computer thing...disregard the bad hair...this is after showers and no hair dryer!

We left the Blue Ridge Parkway today…actually we didn’t have a choice because there was road repair/construction on the parkway itself. The detour took us down into Boone, NC, home of ASU- Appalachian State University. The detour took us through some beautiful countryside…rolling hills…hills filled with Christmas trees. We’ve decided that Northwest North Carolina and Southwest Virginia must be the Christmas tree supplier for the southeastern seaboard like Oregon and Washington is for California. We passed acres and acres of Christmas trees! Most of the day detoured off the parkway, and we decided since we were off of it, and it was supposed to rain in the mountains the rest of the week, we would stay off of it and make our way up into Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.

We stopped at the visitors center in Wytheville, VA and picked up some great information for Virginia. As we headed out of town, we picked up the old highway that goes from Florida to Pennsylvania. It is also part of the Transamerica Bike Trail that Peggy and her mom rode on during their bicycle trip across Virginia—30 some years ago. We ultimately made our way to Claytor Lake State Park for the night where we virtually had the campground loop to ourselves…I guess that is what happens when there is a 40% chance of rain. We set up camp, ate leftovers for dinner, and before we knew it, it was bedtime! Henry did take some time to play around…he was not happy that we wouldn’t let him have and soda before bed!

10 June 2009 Dublin, VA to Greenville, VA 153 miles

Pictures L to R: Claytor Lake Campground; Downtown Lexington, VA; Washington and Lee Univerisity in Lexington, VA; The Bikecentennial Trail sign

Another quiet day of driving…working our way up the valley…stopping at antique malls on and off as we passed them. We did find an original 1920’s era marcasite necklace and screw back earrings—stamped sterling—at what we think was a great price. Once again we found ourselves following the bike trail on and off, through some of the actual cities Peg had ridden—Radford, Christiansburg, Troutville, Buchanan, and Lexington. When we reached Lexington, we stopped and visited the museum and chapel at Washington and Lee University, which is where General Robert E. Lee and his family are buried, as well as his horse Traveler, which carried him through countless battles throughout the Civil War.

Civil War Trivia…Did you know…?

…that George Washington and Robert E. Lee were related? Robert E. Lee married a descendent of George Washington’s step-granddaughter.

…that President Lincoln offered Robert E. Lee full command of the Army of the Potomoc at the beginning of the Civil War? However, Lee’s loyalties were to the State of Virginia first, and he declined that command, and instead assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia.

We are testing providence that we will have a fourth night without rain…even though there are thunderstorms around us…and are camped at Stoney Creek Campground in Greenville, VA, just off Highway 11 (just south of Staunton, VA). We’ve had a few sprinkles, but so far our luck has held out.

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway--North Carolina

2009-06-10T18:25:00.006-05:00

8 June 2009 Asheville, NC to Blowing Rock, NC 129.9 miles

Pictures L to R: The Viaduct near Linn Cove; Baby dressed for the weather!

We went into Asheville to fuel up (there are no gas stations on the parkway itself—at least not is this area), and to try and find a NAPA to buy a replacement bearing. We found NAPA, but they don’t have this bearing in their system like Dave thought.

We also found out that Asheville is where the Vanderbilts built their “Biltmore Estate in 1895. We drove up to the welcome center and watched their short video, but decided to save the tour for another visit when we had more time. We had seen the mansion, “America’s Largest Home” (some 200+ rooms) from one of the overlooks on the Parkway.

We made our way back to the BR Parkway for today’s drive. Every turn in the road is a visionary delight. The water is dripping through the rock along the roadway, creating miniature waterfalls. The Flame Azaela’s are in full boom at this point on the parkway, and the rodedendrans are just beginning to bloom. Apparently, depending on the elevation, these plants boom anywhere from late May throughout June. The mountain laurel is also beginning their springtime show.

We stopped today after 129.9 miles and 6 ½ hours of driving and set up camp at Julian Price Memorial Park. Around 5 PM, the thunder started rolling in. We covered the car, made sure everything was stowed away and got set for a rain shower. After an hour, we’ve had a few drops but no downpour…maybe we’ll get lucky!

We may move off the BRP tomorrow, and try to work our way down the west side so we can take the Shenandoah Valley up through Virginia.

Mike's 'A' FORD-able and Grandfather's Day

2009-06-10T17:50:00.018-05:00

6 June 2009 Maysville, GA to Mountain City, GA 98 miles

Pictures L to R: Mike's 'A' FORD-able Parts (logo on his deluxe delivery); parking lot shot--still more cars to show up!; tow-truck; Ramblin' Reck from Georgia Tech; 1929 fire truck

GRANDFATHER'S DAY CELEBRATION

What a day! We went to the Grandfather’s Day Celebration at Mike’s ‘A’ FORD-able Parts in Maysville, GA. Mike, of Mike’s ‘A’ FORD-able Parts has been putting this event on for the past 6 years, ever since he moved to Maysville, GA. Apparently Mike’s business grew from a restoration project he started years ago. According to Benny, of Bentley’s Antique Auto Service, Inc., Mike, while working on his project car bought the parts he needed in bulk to get the better price. He was soon selling the extras that he didn’t need to his local club members. This became so successful that over the years he has expanded to an entire warehouse. Mike’s ‘A’ FORD-able Parts is the shop that supplied us with all the parts and pieces we needed for our engine “tune-up” over at Bentleys. After the BBQ event, Mike gave Dave and me a “tour” of his stock room. For you Model A enthusiasts, it is a sight to behold! Mike told us that he strives to have virtually everything you need when placing an order, and that realistically, he has a 97% success rate. (For us, that number was 100%!) Quite an amazing feat!

Back to Grandfather’s Day…We got there shortly before 10 AM—we were the 41st A to come in. Cars began arriving from all over Georgia, as well as from South Carolina and Alabama. I’m sure there are some other states that I missed. The Ramblin’ Reck from Georgia Tech was there, as was rival Old Miss from Mississippi. A retired fireman from Oxford, Alabama brought his 1929 Model A Fire Truck (which was a personal favorite of mine!) We also saw a 1931 Deluxe Pickup. These are just a few…there were over 130 amazing A’s at this event—everything from original rusted “found in the barn” project cars to high point show cars. I’m not sure, but I think we got the prize for the most miles traveled!

Bobby, from Bentleys’ Antique Auto Service, Inc. had made arrangements for a reporter to come talk to Dave and me about our trip. We had the opportunity to feel famous for 10 minutes or so, with all the cameras clicking. Our very own Paparazzi! Dave even took Katie (the reporter) for a quick ride in our car, since she had never ridden in one.

After the interview, we spoke with many of the other Model A’ers in attendance. The most common comment/question was, “You trailered that from California, right?” Surprisingly, we met many who are planning, or are thinking of planning a similar adventure of their own. In fact, one couple, from South Carolina were just finishing up a month-long tour to NYC, Canada, and down through Michigan. So you see…we are not the only crazy adventurers! We were surprised when Gerald Grizzard, the owner of the fire truck, presented us with a trunk tray that he had made for us after discovering our blog last week. We also received a “Touring Passport” from Tom Smith of Minford, Alabama. This looks like a US Passport, but with the Model A on the cover and a place for car and owner information inside.

SHIELDS-ETHERIDGE HERITAGE FARM (car tour)

Pictures L to R: Bobby and his parents, Darrell and Susan Chaisson--the owners of the family farm; Two of the three cotton gins; Front of the general store

After the BBQ, about 30 cars headed out on a short tour to the Shield-Ethridge Heritage Farm for a “homemade” ice-cream social. This farm is owned by Bobby’s family, and has been in their family since 1792! A registered historical landmark, they have restored many of the original building to their original locations and looks. These include a working grist mill, a general store, the tractor barn with a 10hp hit-and-miss engine, the school teachers house, the school house, and a building which houses three original cotton gins. They even have the original last bale of cotton that was ginned here! I’m sure there is more that I have missed. This site is a true treasure to Early American history. You can visit their website at: shieldsethridgefarm.org.

After a quick tour of the farm, Dave and I headed out, hoping to make at least 30 miles north into the Georgia mountains before dark. When we reached the campground we were aiming for, there was “no room at the inn,” so we continued on until we found a place to pitch our tent. Overall, it was a very busy, but great day. Dave got his Model A fix for awhile. Something we’ve noticed here in the south…where in California we refer to our car as a “Model A,” here they say “A Model,” or “T Model.”

7 June 2009 Mountain City, GA to Ashville, NC 133 miles

NC and the Start of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Pictures L to R: View of the Smokey Mtns from the Blue Ridge Parkway; Us at the high-point on the parkway.

We broke camp early, and continued our journey north. Since David was not in an oatmeal mood, we had decided to eat out. When we reached Dillard, GA, we stopped for gas, and then went to a flea market (swap meet) for a bit. We didn’t find anything we couldn’t live without, but we did run into another Model A’er who was with two other cars from South Carolina—one of them broken down. He was looking for a front outer wheel bearing and race. Never to leave another Model A’er stranded, we unpacked our car to get our spare out from under the back seat—yes, under all our gear!

After breakfast at a small café in Dillard, we soon crossed into North Carolina. Our goal was Cherokee, NC, which is on the Cherokee Reservation—part of the Smokey Mountains National Park—and is home to the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles long—or there abouts. As we headed north on the parkway, we passed by and stopped at many incredible vistas of the Smokey Mountains. Unfortunately, the climb from this end is pretty steep in places, and much of today’s mileage was at 25 mph. After 133 miles, traveling most of the day, we stopped at Lake Powhatan National Forest Campground, which is near Asheville, NC. Our average speed today, according to Hannah, our GPS, was 19 mph.

Temporary Recharge Needed...of the electronics!

2009-06-09T09:06:00.003-05:00

Hi All...We have about 5 minutes of battery power left on the computer--We've been camping in the non-electric campgrounds along the Blue Ridge Parkway for the last few days, so computer time is limited! There is a detour off the parkway due to road maintenance so we'll be heading down the hill soon. Cell service is sketchy as well. As soon as we find an electric outlet, I'll be updating our adventures including the Grandfather's Day Celebration.

We hope you are enjoying our travels....Dave and Peggy

Bentley's Antique Auto Service, Inc. to the Rescue!

2009-06-05T20:13:00.006-05:00

4 June 2009 to 5 June 2009 Maysville, Georgia and surrounding area

I spent the day Thursday in the hotel relaxing—reading, organizing the pictures, and catching up on my journaling. Friday morning I finished my book, and quickly was at loose ends since I didn’t have access to a car. Benny (owner of Bentley’s) offered to come pick me up so I could go to lunch with the crew, and after that, I just hung out at the shop—making a pest of myself and asking questions. It was really kind of interesting, because they had a number of cars in various stages of restoration and I was able to see how these are put together.

David spent Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday and Friday at Bentley’s shop working on the car. Initially, we stopped by Mike’s 'A' Ford-able Parts to get the new tires for the car. Benny said he had the mounting and balancing tools to put the new tires on the wheels. (By the way…David is SOOoooo excited about finally having black-walls!) From there, David asked them if they could possibly give the car a quick listen-to/look-over. Benny and his crew are amazing! What started as a quick tune-up turned into a 2 ½ day overhaul of the entire engine.

On their recommendation, we decided to have the bearing clearances checked and adjusted. While checking this, they discovered that the rod bearings were fractured and needed replacing. Benny’s staff dropped other projects and in the 2 ½ days that the car was in their shop, new tires were mounted, the engine had new connecting rod bearings, new rings, and a complete tune-up. Benny’s response to Dave’s anxious questions was always, “Relax, Dave, we can fix anything!” Scott, Benny’s engine man, has the car sounding and running better than it ever has! If you’re ever within 1,000 miles of Bentley’s Antique Auto Service in Maysville, GA, we highly recommend them for anything from minor maintenance to stunning high-point restorations. These men are true professionals!

Baby's Got A New Pair of Shoes!

2009-06-05T19:59:00.003-05:00

3 June 2009 High Falls, GA to Maysville/Commerce GA 108 miles

The drive was nice—cool temps this early in the day, and through two-lane winding roads. One reason we headed to Maysville is because Benny Bohanan and his lovely wife Pam had invited us to the Grandfather’s Day Celebration, sponsored by Mike’s A-Ford-able Parts.
We made it to Maysville by noon, so David stopped by Benny Bohanan’s restoration shop, Bentley’s Antique Auto Service, Inc., and introduced himself. Bentley’s is a complete Model A restoration shop—body and paint—as well as a full engine shop—doing minor repairs to complete new engine building. The cars they have in the shop which are in progress are incredible—the paint and interiors are stunning! Clearly top quality work.

It is supposed to rain here Thursday and Friday, so we decided to get a hotel room for the next few days—so David can work on the car, and we can have a “vacation” from setting up the tent each day. We are staying at The Days Inn in Commerce, GA, just 5 miles away from Mike’s A-Ford-able Parts and Bentley’s Antique Auto Service, Inc. Gordon Eanes, the General Manager/Owner of this hotel is a true gentleman! In true southern style, when he found out that our car was in the shop and we were without transportation, he offered us the use of his “service” car that he keeps at the hotel for running errands during the day. He also made it a point to let his staff know that if we needed the keys for the car at anytime, we had his permission to use it. Thank you Gordon!

We've Got Georgia on our Mind!

2009-06-03T16:31:00.007-05:00

Pictures L to R: Welcome to Georgia; Andersonville National Cemetery; High Falls State Park

Eufaula, AL to High Falls State Park, GA 198.6 miles

My, oh my! What a long day of driving. We had this many miles because the first campground we started looking at in Andersonville, GA (at mile 88) and the next 5 we could find were just not something we’d want to stay at. Nothing against our RV family and friends, but camping on solid concrete, next to the interstate, and surrounded by RV’s that are blocking any hint of wind there might be did not seem enticing. A friendly Georgian finally told us about High Falls and it is much more to our liking…but it did entail another 95 miles or so—which equated to about another 2 ½ hours. All in all we had 5 ½ hours of driving time today, 9 ½ hours trip duration—including the stop at Andersonville National POW Museum and National Cemetery.

We left Eufaula this morning early and crossed the lake into Georgia. We found a small restaurant, Michelle’s, where we stopped for breakfast in Georgetown, GA. The drive was quiet as we headed north toward Plains, GA, the hometown of President Jimmy Carter. We stopped to stretch our legs and wandered through the museum and the town of Plains. They have turned Plains High School, where both Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter attended both grammar and high school into a museum which highlights President Carter’s life and career.

From Plains, we continued on to Andersonville, Georgia where the National POW Museum and Andersonville National Cemetery is located. This is an amazing museum, honoring all of the American POW’s from all wars--from the Revolutionary War to present. They have an incredible display of artifacts and information about POW’s. It was very moving and gave pause for reflection. We also stopped at the Civil War Cemetery to take pictures of Peggy's Great, Great, Great, Great ? Grandpa Monthy’s gravestone. Grandpa Monthy was a Union soldier during the Civil War, and was imprisoned at Andersonville where he died in captivity.

From Andersonville, we continued our journey north, and finally landed at High Falls State Park, GA. It was nice to finally stop, and set up our tent so we could relax. It isn’t nearly as warm here as Eufaula, AL was last night. We felt like we were camping in the mountains, surrounded by pines and sycamores. It was fun watching as the squirrels cavorted through the trees. The falls are a natural rock stream bed, that ultimately falls about 100 feet.

Since we drove so far today, we'll probably head directly into Maysville, GA tomorrow. It is supposed to rain Thursday and Friday, so we will live in the comfort of a hotel for a couple of days. Dave is antsy about some minor car issues--sounds he is hearing, general maintenance, and tires---and he is hoping to have another set of Model A ears listen to it.

Caution...Alligators Present!

2009-06-03T16:17:00.004-05:00

Pictures L to R: Danger sign; Allie

1 June 2009

David and I went for a walk around the campground after it started to cool down some. We walked toward this beautiful lake—the water was smooth as glass, and you could see the trees and grasses reflecting on it. As we approached the area where boats could be launched, we noticed a sign:

DANGER
Caution
Alligators present

No kidding! Even so, earlier in the day we had seen some children playing on the banks of the lake. Anyway, we began walking along the lake's edge, and started talking about this. Why, I wondered, would anyone swim, or water ski in a lake that was known to have alligators? Just then, we noticed a “log” in the water, floating out of the reeds. Turns out, it wasn’t a log, but our first “wild” alligator sighting—the first for us other than at the zoo that is. We watched this gator, about 5 feet long—maybe 6, swim along the shore about 20 feet away. He would stop periodically and sink a little so that just his eyes were showing, and then he would start swimming along again. We also saw what looked like another kind of animal in the water—I think they were snakes, based on the S shape path they were making across the water. David thinks that maybe they were just water bugs...it doesn't matter who is right, because we're not going swimming! NO, HENRY...neither are you!

We're Headed North!

2009-06-01T17:34:00.006-05:00

Pictures from top to bottom: A Catfish Farm in AL; The Piggly Wiggly and car for sale; Our Camp Site at Lake Eufaula State Park (notice Henry doing his job as permit holder)

1 June 2009 Andalusia, AL to Eufaula, AL 126 miles

Boy is it hot and muggy! Thundershowers are in the forecast beginning Wednesday, so it looks like we will be dodging rain again. The drive today was pretty—we went through so many small towns, that we had some trouble finding a place open for lunch.

As we were driving along, I was watching the scenery change—rolling hills of pine forests to cleared fields for farming and cattle. This is really beautiful country. I’ve decided that Hollywood has done a disservice to the American people. My whole perception of the geography of the South is based on movies and television shows—this is not something that is taught in California public schools. As we are traveling through these different geographical regions, I realize just how great our country is with it’s diversity of flora, fauna, and dialects. Woody Guthries poem/song “This Land is Your Land,” keeps popping into my head. We really are fortunate to live here.

Things I’ve discovered since being in the South:

Crawfish is the proper name for these little critters, not crawdads!
I never knew that this area (Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama), is covered with pine forests. (There are other trees mixed in.)
Not all of Louisiana is swampy bayous.
Alabama is hilly—constant rolling hills!
Alligators, it seems, have a dormant period—not really hibernating, but not real active. (They are just now beginning to get active.)
There are a myriad of poisonous snakes in the south, and they go in the water—I’m so used to just worrying about the diamond back rattlesnakes of California and Arizona—I’m amazed that anyone goes swimming here!

The Piggly Wiggly is actually a market here, not just a fictional store in literature!

I’m sure I’ll discover more things about this great country as we head north.

Photos of Pensacola and Alabama, Again!

2009-05-31T20:33:00.011-05:00

31 May 2009 Pensacola, FL to Andalusia, AL 140 miles

I've included the pictures from Pensacola that I wrote about yesterday now that I'm powered back up. Pictures Left to Right: Dauphin Island; Henry finally gets to Florida; Fort Pickins Campground--notice the trees, this is the devastation still visible from Katrina in 2005; White Sands of the beach; Peggy as a Blue Angel. We spent the morning at the Museum of Naval Aviation on NAS Pensacola. With his love of anything to do with airplanes, as well as being a military history fanatic, Dave was going absolutely ga-ga over the displays of planes. This is a must do if you ever make it to Pensacola--and it is free!

We had a quiet and uneventful drive this afternoon and once we hit Andalusia, AL, decided to get a hotel room so we could charge everything that needs charging since the campground at Fort Pickens did not have any electric power--besides, it is the first of the month and I have bills to pay and banking to do before we can continue on our travels.

For those of you following our trip, thank you for your kind comments. To BT Marshall, we should hit New England sometime in mid-to-late July--we think--but our route and timetable is not set in stone.

Tomorrow we will continue our journey toward Andersonville, GA, and then onto Maysville, GA.

White Sands and Ghost Crabs

2009-05-30T15:14:00.003-05:00

29 May 2009 Mobile, AL to Pensacola, FL 122.8 miles

We left Mobile just after lunchtime, after browsing through numerous antique stores. From Mobile, we headed south to Dauphin Island to take the ferry across the mouth of Mobile Bay to Fort Morgan. This is where, during the Civil War, Admiral Faurigot (spelling may be incorrect) breached the Southern defenses to enter Mobile Bay with his command of “Damn the torpedo’s, full speed ahead!” The ferry ride was a 40-minute trip with cool breezes and sightings of a few dolphins thrown in.

Unfortunately, we ended up driving through downtown Pensacola in the late afternoon again in order to reach our next stop over—Fort Pickens—which is part of the Gulf Islands National Park. This island is long and narrow, and apparently used to be covered with Pine and Oak, but Hurricane Ike wiped most of it out in 2005 (I think). The campground just opened last week for the first time since then. However…no showers or flush toilets—just the coveted “Pot O’ Gold” porta-potties.

We were serenaded last night with a symphony of sounds—a variety of birds, as well as a chorus of frogs and other nightlife in the bushes. It was the first night we’ve had without cloud cover—the stars were stunning. This morning, we went for a walk on the beach…fine, white sands. Our “walk” turned into a 2 ½ hour hike—we’re guessing about 7 miles with the route we took, down to the beach, to the fort, and back along the nature trail. We actually saw a shark swimming along the shoreline about 20 feet offshore, along with a stingray and numerous blue crabs. We learned that the “gopher” holes in the sand actually belong to the ghost crabs.

We will be staying here another night. Tomorrow we will be going to the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, before turning north toward Georgia. I am very low on power, and nowhere to plug in here, and there are not any pictures yet because of camera difficulities...sorry...so it may be a couple of days before you hear from us again.

How do YOU spell Mississippi?

2009-05-30T14:55:00.005-05:00

F-R-I-E-N-D-L-Y!

27 May 2009 Baton Rouge, LA to Ocean Springs, Mississippi 177 miles

We have met some of the nicest people at the campground we were at. People offering us stuff to drink, helping us with electrical issues at the camp site, heating our food in their microwaves, to making coffee in the morning and hunting us down when a sudden downpour came. Truly, nice, nice people! Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the car is an automatic draw--especially when people find out we have traveled from California. I'm getting ahead of myself...

I am amazed how quickly our driving time flies—David says it is because of his outstanding personality and witty conversation. From Baton Rouge we drove east on Hwy 190 through Livingston, Hammond, and Covington, before skirting the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. We landed in Slidell, LA right around lunch time and found a small café in the old historic district called Ali Baba’s—great food! We also took some time to wander through some of the local antique stores. From Slidell, we followed Hwy 90 into Mississippi along the Gulf Coast. Wow! This area has some beautiful, beautiful white beaches. There is still a lot of rebuilding being done since Katrina.

We got some great pictures of the Louisiana countryside, and then our camera started going on the fritz. Most of our pictures from today are on the big SLR, and now we are having trouble getting the pictures transferred. I’m not sure what we are going to do about that.

We are staying in Mississippi tonight at the Gulf Islands National Park just outside of Ocean Springs. Nice campground, and very friendly people. The temp is only about 85; it is a bit muggy though.

28 May 2009 Rain, Rain, go away!

We woke up and as usual, went and showered and then began packing up. We had just finished rolling up the tent and storing it in the car, and were in the process of loading the last 4-5 things when the sky opened up and within seconds, literally, it was pouring rain. The rain only lasted about 15-20 minutes, so we were able to get the car re-arranged since we had just thrown everything in before the rain started again. We waited out the storm in the ranger’s office gathering some great information on roadways and the ferry to Gulf Island and Pensacola. No oatmeal today…we headed out to find a restaurant to sit out the rest of the shower. Unfortunately, this volume of water showed us that our roof does in fact still leak, so today’s agenda includes finding the right type of goo to seal the roof.

On the road again…

Ocean Springs, Mississippi to Mobile, AL 67 miles

From Ocean Springs and the Davis Bayou Campground we headed east toward Mobile, Alabama. We had plans to meet up with Joe and Sandra Green, the brother of fellow Capitol A’er Ken Green, later that evening. It was a short mileage day for us, which was kind of nice.

We took the opportunity to do some sight seeing in the afternoon, a suggestion from Joe Green, and went to visit the Bellingrath Gardens and Home. This is a fabulous botanical garden and home of the Bellingrath family, who started the first and most successful Coca-Cola franchise in Alabama. The gardens are incredible, the home exquisite, and the cruise on the Fowl River refreshing. This was well worth the admission fee.

From there we headed into Mobile to Joe and Sandra’s home. We went to dinner with Joe and Sandra to The Original Oyster House, which had great food, and an even better view of the Mobile Delta and the bay. Sandra and Joe offered us a bed in their home for the night. Thank you Joe and Sandra—it was wonderful to meet you!

Crossing the Mighty Mississippi

2009-05-26T21:01:00.007-05:00

In case you didn't know, Model A enthusiasts are an amazing bunch of people! We are modifying our daily mileage goals, as well as our original planned route slightly to reach certain cities and events that we have been invited to. The first of these is in Maysville, GA. We've also heard from other "friends we haven't met yet" in Guilford, CT and Kelly, Iowa. For those "old" friends we may miss due to the changes in our plans, we'll catch you on one of our many other travels later when we pass through again. To our new friends, we'll be in touch as we get closer to your towns.

26 May 2009 Sulphur, LA to Baton Rouge, LA 168 miles

Being in Louisiana is a challenge for me--I don't know how to say the names of most everything I see...thank goodness for maps with the spellings on them...We drove into Lake Charles and stopped for some photo shots along the shore—this is a huge lake--simply beautiful! Opelousas, LA, gave me the first real feel of the bayou and what, in my imagination, I pictured Louisiana to look like. We crossed the Atchafalaya River and the National Wildlife area there. Just after we crossed the river, the highway passed by numerous groves in the swampy water, part of it over an old causeway. I’m not sure, but from the signs posted, I think a “bayou” is similar to how they use “slough” in Sacramento. Every bayou we passed looked just like the delta waterways.

Shortly before we hit the Mississippi region, there was some road construction along the highway. The crews had to lay down miles of 12x12 boards—David thinks they were about 30 feet long—just to drive the equipment on because the area was so swampy. We crossed the Mississippi, and inadvertently turned south—I think through an area we probably shouldn’t have been in. We were looking for somewhere to eat…when a local police officer turned around and started following us, we just kept going and ended up it a safer part of town. (I like to think the cop was making sure we got through ok.) Just by chance, we ended up back at the Mississippi River Frontage area, where the museum is, as well as the USS Kidd (ship and museum), and the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino is moored. We found a place to park and ate at a place with a view of the river and then walked down to tour the USS Kidd. While we were eating, the first of several rain showers hit.

Henry poolside in Baton Rouge, LA

More thunderstorms and a taste of Louisiana

2009-05-25T20:56:00.008-05:00

Sunday: We had some tremendous thunderstorms and heavy rain on and off throughout the afternoon over the weekend, which we enjoyed from the comfort of Jackie's living room, and the car was safe in the garage. Dave spent the morning re-tightening whatever it is he does on the car and checking fluids. We had a great visit with Peggy's sister and nephew. Thanks Jacks!

We subtotaled our mileage to date...2,824.8 miles so far!

Lake Houston, TX

Monday, 25 May 2009 Sugar Land, TX to Sulfur, LA 188.4 miles

Today, we left Jackie’s and headed north, then east, up and around Houston in a effort to bypass the downtown traffic. We passed Lake Houston, and settled back into our small town travels. Something we’re noticing…many of the side roads that go through the old historic towns follow along the railroad tracks…imagine that! We traveled along Highway 90, into Beaumont, TX, (which was deserted--must be because of the holiday), and then because we turned the wrong way, continued on into Louisiana. We did have to get on the interstate for just under a mile to cross the Sabine River, but then were able to catch the Old Highway 90, then criss-crossed on various side roads to miss the interstate. Because of this, our mileage was longer than we planned.

Downtown Beaumont, TX

Sabine River, LA

Ladies...driving tip: When you are driving, and are coming up on road kill in the center of the lane, and the "navigator" says, "take it down the middle" he means to center the car over the road kill--not to center the car down the middle of the road! (I did miss the critter!)

We ended our day in Sulfur, LA. We are holed up in a hotel again, due to severe thunderstorms. They sky is dark, and it is very humid. Lightening is flashing in the distance.

Crawfish--not crawdads--and the Alamo!

2009-05-22T19:31:00.009-05:00

We made it safely without any further mechanical trouble to Adkins, TX, and had a great visit with the Madrid family. Yesterday, we went into San Antonio to see the Alamo and later walked along the River Walk, enjoying the cooler temperatures and sights.

On the River Walk

On Friday we drove 197 miles from Adkins, TX to Sugar Land, TX. It was a lot of driving, but we wanted to reach Peggy's sister's before the holiday traffic picked up. We stopped in Gonzales, TX for breakfast at a small local café. Just about the time we finished eating, Joe the Barber stopped by our table to visit and ask about the car—we also talked a bit about California and other travels. As he left, Erwin, a long time Gonzales resident, sat down and reminisced about his coupe that he had had “many, many years ago.” I am just amazed at the friendliness of the people we have met, and how they stop and introduce themselves—not just the nod, or “hi” you would typically get in California. I guess in these smaller towns it is easy to recognize the visitors. We drove another hour or so, and then stopped in Eagle Lake, just to stretch our legs. We met an older couple there who own the local furniture store and visited for awhile on the sidewalk, talking about the car, our trip, and the community. Eagle Lake is a big rice growing community similar to the Sacramento rice community, as well as a big goose hunting region. Driving along the road, it felt an awful lot like driving down the levy roads south and west of West Sacramento.

On Saturday we drove down to Galveston to the Hidalgo beach house for a crawfish and crab boil, and deep fried catfish. This area is still showing some signs of Hurricane Ike damage from last fall, but there are some neat, neat, houses. These critters we were going to eat? We did learn that in the south, they are called crawfish—not crawdads. This was as fun to watch as it was good to eat! They heated this huge pot of water with seasonings, a bulb of garlic, a bunch of onions, then dumped in a bunch of crawfish, along with potatoes and corn on the cob. The tables were covered with newspaper, and the crawfish were dumped on the table tops. After lessons on how we were supposed to eat these critters, everyone just dug in! After two batches of crawfish were cooked, the crab were cooked. Delicious!

On the road again...with a little help from new friends!

2009-05-19T15:53:00.000-05:00

19 May 2009

After exploring numerous options, on Monday morning, (May 18th) we were able to get in touch with MAFCA member, David Casey in San Angelo, TX, who offered his Model A expertise and his garage to help get us back on the road. With the help of John, the local towing service, and AAA, we headed 83 miles south to San Angelo and David’s garage.

The two Davids spent the next two hours dismantling the engine, and once the head was off, discovered that the head gasket had blown between numbers 3 and 4 cylinders. After some discussion, they decided to replace the head gasket and put all the other parts back on to see if this was the problem. David C. was pretty confident this would fix the problem…David G. was pessimistically hopeful. Another two hours or so, and it was test drive time….HALLELUIA! This seemed to do the trick…we were back in business.

During this time, Henry was supervising from the cup-holder seat, and I was visiting with fellow Model A’er Dr. Yates Smith, who is a local club member with David C. We had the official supervisor chairs and occasionally offered our assistance.

Once the Davids cleaned up the work area, David Casey and his beautiful wife, Lynn, graciously invited us to stay for dinner and offered us a bed for the night. We had an enjoyable visit them, and this morning, they sent us on our way after a wonderful breakfast. David and Lynn, thank you, thank you, thank you! There are not enough words to describe our appreciation for your help and hospitality!

On the road again….We traveled 154 miles to Fredricksburg, TX through some beautiful country. The myth that Texas is flat is not true! In Fredricksburg, we had a wonderful German meal at one of the local eateries, toured through the National Museum of the Pacific Theater (where we learned that Fredricksburg is the birthplace of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz), and found a campsite at the local Ladybird Johnson Municipal Park.

Tomorrow we head to Adkins, TX, just southeast of San Antonio to visit with long time friends from Coronado days, Mike and Holly Madrid.

Trouble with a CAPITAL T!

2009-05-18T08:42:00.000-05:00

17 May 2009 266.7 miles
Carlsbad, NM-to the Caverns-back to Carlsbad then to Big Spring, TX

The day started out great, and ended with a capital T—Trouble finding camping and Trouble with the car!

We sat out a rain and high wind storm in Carlsbad, NM Saturday night, and woke to clear skies, so we headed to Carlsbad Caverns. Much like the Grand Canyon, pictures just don’t do it justice. We got there early in the day (and the week before the daily crowds begin) so we were virtually alone along the walk down through the natural entrance. Simply AWE-INSPIRING! This park is a MUST DO for your bucket list!

After the caverns, we headed east. In Hobbs, NM, the car started running hot, so we stopped to cool it down, added some water, and let Dave do his trouble-shooting; Dave thinks it was just a stuck thermostat, and we continued on our journey. We headed toward the next town, and a local county park that we were told has camping, but when we got there, it was RV’s only—no tents—so we continued on. About 15 miles west of the next town, and our stop for the night, something happened with the engine. At first, Dave thought it was the distributor, so we pulled into a hotel parking lot and he changed this out—didn’t work. He is now thinking it is a piston (#4 is not firing), so we are looking to trailer the car to my sister’s house in Houston (about 500 miles away) where he can pull the engine apart and see what is going on. This is kind of hard to do in a campground or hotel parking lot. We are currently weighing our options.

In the mean time, it turns out that a group of Texas Community College criminal justice instructors are starting a conference here (Big Spring, TX) on Monday. Through conversation about the car and other topics, they learned that Dave is recently retired from California ABC, and since they had one of their presenters cancel at the last minute, asked Dave to present on “something related to CABC.” For doing this, they have offered to pay for our hotel room for the night—which was very nice!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

2009-05-15T20:10:00.000-05:00

11 May 2009 Palm Desert to Parker, AZ 200 miles

The drive through the desert was like visiting an old friend…memories tumbled one after another as we drove across Rice Road toward the Colorado River. This was the route we normally took for family vacations and river trips most of my life. There were a few changes: the shoe tree is now a shoe fence; the old store in Rice is a pile of rubble; and the names along the RR tracks are still there.

12 May 2009 Parker, AZ to Mesa, AZ 207 miles

We got up at dawn—no alarms, but natural awakening—and broke camp by 6:00 AM. This was partly by design, in an effort to do most of our driving in the early morning to beat the heat.

Up until today, the roads we have traveled have been as familiar as our back yard. This was new territory for both of us. From Parker, we traveled southeast toward Wickenberg, then took Hwy 74 across the north end of Phoenix. This was a beautiful route, with hillsides covered with Saguaro, Palo Verde, Mesquite, and Cholla. We were trying to bypass the “big” cities by staying to the outside edges of town, but we still ended up in stop and go traffic. Temperature in Mesa today was 103. It is supposed to get cooler--only to 98 tomorrow.

13 May 2009 Mesa, AZ to Safford, AZ 174 miles

What a beautiful drive. The mountains east of Phoenix/Mesa into Globe, AZ are just stunning, and much of the flora was still blooming! We stopped for the night at Roper Lake State Park in Safford, AZ, and after setting up camp went into town to get some dinner. On our return trip, Dave got another shot at fixing flats...we couldn't believe we got another one. This time on the right rear tire! The tire pump we were carrying couldn't pump up the tire enough (or Dave just ran out of oomph!), but thankfully a neighboring camper had an air compressor on his jeep so he filled us up.

This lake is very similar in looks and feel to Lake Havasu, but on a micro scale. We were able to take a dip in the water to cool down and then spent the evening stargazing.

14 May 2009 Safford, AZ to Silver City, NM 180 miles

Does it seem like we are traveling more miles than intended? This is partly due to lack of camping accommodations between towns in this arid Southwest! We were strongly advised against traveling along the border by a friendly waitress whose husband was a deputy sheriff, so we headed for the hills--besides, the temperatures were cooler! Stopping to take a picture of the "Welcome to New Mexico," we noticed our water jug sitting on the running board of the car. We're amazed it didn't fall off on this 30 mile leg!

We camped for the night at "City of the Rocks State Park" just south of Silver City. This campground was amazing...very similar to Joshua Tree National Park in California, but smaller. Our campsite was surrounded by towering rocks, so it was nicely shaded. Once the sun started going down, much to our surprise, we discovered that we had a small bat cave within 10 feet of our tent site. We could hear them starting to wake up, and then got to see them fly out into the night. We tried diligently to get a picture of the bats flying out, but even on automatic, they were too fast for Dave's trigger finger. Once the bats came out, the bugs disappeared! Yeah!

15 May 2009 Silver City, NM to El Paso, TX 190 miles

We mapped our route for the day to travel from Deming, NM toward Hatch, which would allow us to follow the Rio Grande south. It was again beautiful...then....MORE TIRE TROUBLE! Just north of Las Cruces, NM, our third tire went flat...front passenger side this time. So, once again, in 98 degree temps, Dave practiced putting on the spare in record time along side the road. Using the MAFCA directory, we were able to get in touch with Rick Black in El Paso, looking for information on where to get Model A tubes in Texas. (Which, by the way, there is not a local parts store.) Rick was kind enough to meet us in his 1931 Deluxe Tudor--a beautiful, beautiful automobile--with his two spare tubes to get us on our way. Rick, it turns out, is the MAFCA Webmaster!

After changing both this tire, and checking the front driver's side, Dave decided to change it as well. Apparently, the stem was rotted on all the tubes, and he figured it was just a matter of time before the forth one died as well. Anyway, thanks to Rick, we now have all new tubes so hopefully we won't be changing any more flats. On the plus side, at the next gymkhana, if there is a tire-changing relay, we've got it covered!

We camped at Hueco Tanks State Park, just east of El Paso for the night, and are looking forward to another amazing star studded evening!

11 May 2009 We're Getting Warmer!

2009-05-11T09:54:00.000-05:00

It has been a few days since we wrote…mostly because Peggy has not been feeling well. Because of this, we shortened our stay and visits in Southern California as planned, and holed up with family so she could rest. For those of you we missed, we promise, we will return for an extended stay! This morning she woke up feeling 95% up to speed. Thank you for your prayers.

The reason there are not many pictures for this leg is because this area is so familiar to us, we have permanent pictures imbedded in our brain that we basically forgot to take pictures. San Diego (Coronado) was home to us for our early married years and most of our children’s childhood before we moved to Palm Desert (Palm Springs area). We spent Mother’s Day weekend with Dave’s mom in Pomona. Before leaving Pomona, Dave worked on the car—lubing parts and pieces, tightening bolts, and checking the fluids. We left Pomona and stopped for a coffee visit with Peggy’s uncle. From Uncle Jims, we heading along Route 66 through San Timotaeo Canyon to Yucaipa where we crashed a Mother’s Day lunch with Peggy’s sister Jeri and her family. While we were there, Dave worked on changing the transmission fluid since he “had over lubed the joints” whatever that means! Anyway, he said the car is shifting much better now.

We spent Sunday night with good friends Wade and Somer Little in Palm Desert, who live across the street from our old house. It was good to catch up and enjoy the wonderful desert evening. For our Sacramento friends…when we got here yesterday, it was a balmy 103 degrees. The passenger side air conditioner began malfunctioning so Dave dismanteled it to get it in top working order for our trip across the desert.

This morning (Monday) it is currently 75 and sunny at 7:30 AM. We’ll be leaving here soon, heading toward Parker, Arizona, hoping to beat most of the direct heat driving through the desert.

6 May 2009 SLO to Mission Viejo

2009-05-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

266 miles; 21.15 MPG

We left SLO and much to our dismay, the planned route through the mountains/high desert above Santa Barbara were closed due to the fire that was raging there. Our only options were to go back north and across the Mojave desert, or continue south on Highway 1/101. We headed south on Hwy 1, which paralled the 101 for most of the way, but were able to stop off at Pismo Beach for a photo shoot of the car on the beach.

We continued traveling south through Lompoc enjoying the sights of California agriculture at its best…yum…strawberry season. Eventually, Hwy 1 joined up again with 101—yes, a freeway—but no way around it—at Gaviota State Beach until we made it through Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Leaving Ventura, we continued south on Hwy 1 through Oxnard, and back to beach front coastline around Point Magu. I’ve always heard of this, but have never seen this part of Southern California. We hit Malibu, and then Santa Monica, with its roller coaster on the pier. Our original plan was to find a place to camp/stay in or around Santa Monica, but once we hit this area and the traffic issues we opted to exceed our 200 mile day maximum to take advantage of long time friend Laura and her boys in Mission Viejo. The trip through LA, in stop and go traffic was uneventual, but we did make it through LA without touching a freeway! Just 2 ½ hours to do it!

We eventually hit Huntington Beach, and traveled along the coast on our way to MV. Then our first mechanical mishap…about 5 miles from Laura’s, we had our first flat since we bought the car. We did learn that it was maybe not a good idea to store the jack under the back seat…we had to unpack the entire car to access it and get the tire changed!

Next stop: Backtrack to Fullerton to Moss’s to pick up a new spare tube, then we’re heading to San Diego.

5 May 2009 Big Sur to San Luis Obispo

2009-05-05T17:22:00.000-05:00

107 miles

Our trip from Big Sur to SLO was beautiful traveling along the California coastline. We stopped a number of times for the senic views, elephant seal beach, and Ragged Point. Just stunning! We had lunch on the picnic grounds of Harmony Wine Cellars, before making our way to our daughter’s in San Luis Obispo, CA.

2009-05-05T17:13:00.000-05:00

4 May 2009

Sacramento to Big Sur, CA

211 miles; Average 17MPG; no car problems :)

We left under cloudy skies from Sacramento and headed south, through the Sacramento Delta. Our first two lane highway challenge became apparent when we hit Livermore. How to get around the bay area without freeways? We actually found a little used highway (except for 5 cyclists and 3 cal-trans trucks) that skirted east around Freemont through hilly terrain along Calaveras Road—we felt like we were in the middle of the mountains—gorgeous views, happy “California” cows grazing, and nobody but us. San Jose was not real exciting…traffic and side streets until we hit the old mission road south, traveling through Morgan Hill to Hwy 152, east of Gilroy. We then headed west, through the enchanted forest between Gilroy and Watsonville. Finally we were able to pick up the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) to Monterey, where we had sea-side fish and chips at Fisherman’s Wharf. Continuing south, we traveled to Big Sur, with plans to camp…then the rain hit. At first just a drizzle, but when the campground host mentioned a guaranteed rain fall during the night, we opted to rent a small cabin at Riverside Campground and Cabins. And the rain did come down! RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!

Question: What do you get when you combine an 80-year old car, a childhood dream, and an accommodating wife?

2009-04-28T22:54:00.000-05:00

(Answer at the bottom!)

On May 4, 2009, Peggy and I, along with Henry, our Capitol-A TeddyBear whom we have adopted as our “son,” will begin our four-corner journey across America in our 1929 Model A Tudor. Leaving from the west side of the California State Capitol in Sacramento, California, and traveling west to the Pacific Ocean before heading south, our plan is to travel the two-lane highways through the often by-passed historic centers of small town America.

Once we hit San Diego California, we will head east until we arrive in Florida, then turn northward…our ultimate Northeast destination is Bath, Maine after a brief stop over for a family reunion in Coalport, PA. Do we dare take the car into NYC? We have not yet decided…but Times Square is where we begin the westward journey, following along the historic Lincoln Highway until we reach Wyoming when we head north to travel through the Grand Tetons, and then Yellowstone National Park for a glimpse of Old Faithful. From Yellowstone, we will again head west to Washington before turning south once again, and back home to Sacramento. Our goal is to accomplish this without touching a freeway!

Our itinerary is loosely woven to include friends and family along the way, or stopovers whenever something strikes our fancy, or time for those necessary roadside repairs. Traveling no more than 200 miles each day, we hope to be back sometime in September. We will be traveling solo, camping when the weather is fine, and availing ourselves of the local B and B’s or motels when it is not.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers…

Dave and Peggy

PS: Answer? The adventure of a lifetime!

2009-03-18T12:21:00.000-05:00

Ready...Set...Our target blast-off date is May 4th!

Please come back and visit again. Once we begin our journey, we will be posting every 3-4 days.