Event Coverage Big Olds Big Cross Country Adventure 2009

Tuesday Aug 4th 4pm
Farmington Hills Michigan to Wayne Illinois

I worked thru lunch today, if you could call the day I leave for vacation work. I mean who can actually concentrate on work when your mind has already left on the road trip??

Anyway, I left work at 4pm


and headed west. It was a beautiful evening for a top down cruz
Purple Pickup lives not too far from this imfamous exit off I-94 in Michigan


It wasn't long before I was in Indiana,


then Illinois


Once I reached Eric AKA Ebert's place I was warmly greeted....


....by the whole family. I took Eric and youngest son Trace for a quick ride in Big Olds.


We then checked out one of the garages...






Then went up to the "Man Cave" above the garage. Eric's Dad owned Muncie Dragway back in the day.


This little racer was so cool!


We then went to the other garage to check out his wagon. Would ahve been cool to take this to the Salt Flats


Got a tour of the house which included all the cool race artifacts Eric has collected over the years.










After sitting around and chatting we called it a night. Trace gave up his hot rod inspired room for me to crash in. I was able to fall fast asleep with sweet race dreams.

 

Wed Aug 5th
Wayne, IL to Hastings, NE

Morning came quick. Once showered and downstairs, Eric made me a egg samwich.....it wasn't blueberry pancakes but it was just as yummy.



Thanks to Eric I'm going to be all ready to race on the Salt Flats. xoxoxo


Eric and his lovely sainted wife MaryBeth.


Many thanks to the whole family for their hospitality.


It was another beautiful day for a cruz.


The only bummer with driving in IL is the toll roads


It's funny, this is the second cropduster I've seen up close like this in just as many weeks.


It wasn't long and I was crossing the mighty Mississippi River. Megan keeps saying one of these days she's going to swim across it. I'll of course be there to snap photos


On the river is the Super8 that me and Megan usually stop at when we head west after leaving Michigan after work


Wasn't long and I was in Iowa


Megan's favorite fuel stop


Just as I was getting to the exit for my lunch stop at Cornfed and his lovely wife Lori, I ran up on George AKA PurplePickup who had left his hometown in Michigan at 5am that morning. We had plans to connect via a phone call just so happens we ran into each other right on the highway. He wasn't hungry so he just kept on going and I headed to Chris and Lori's.


Had an extremly yummy lunch and a tour of the garage....




...and the shop. Chris has got projects to last him his whole lifetime...AND his two son's lifetimes!


The frame for the above body

 

Lori's ragtop


Youngest son Jorgen's "project"


It's so cute, he gets in the car and "patches" the rust holes


another couple of patches


It was a wonderful opportunity to stop and visit with a couple of good pals. Thanks so much to Chris and Lori for inviting me over. You guys made a long day on the road so much more enjoyable. Thanks! xoxoxox

 

Wasn't much on the road between Chris and Lori's place in DesMoines and Omaha except this HUGE windmills


almost to Nick's AKA Malcolm's


When I got there he was packed and already parked in front of his house ready to roll!
Good thing I didn't need to pee as the house was all locked up too!


We headed to the local cruz night in Omaha for a quick look see


There were a few cool cars there


All it needs is a change of wheels


Been checking out steering wheels lately

 

We then decided it was time to hit the highway west. Our next stop was Nick's Dad Gary's place in Hastings




Took this one over my shoulder....got lucky






Met Nick's Dad at the local Bar & grill in Hastings, had a bite to eat then headed back to his place and crashed.

Thursday Aug 6th
Hastings, Nebraska to Evanston, Wyoming

Got up fairly early.....


gas up the cars and had a quick bite


then once again hit the highway westbound. Saw the first of what was to be many trains today


Nothing much happened.......watched my odometer turn alot today


Nick and Kenny Rog....I mean his Dad Gary


Lots of bugs, lots of road grime


We had plans to met George AKA Purple Pickup at the Cabelas a couple of hours west of Hastings




Where we had quick turkey and cheese samwiches....


....before hitting the road again.






You can kinda see the Wyoming sign on the left side of the photo. I tried so hard to nail this one.

 

Yep, lota train action....Megan would have been worn out


I have lots of entertainment with me


At this point we're hoping to miss this next storm, we've already gone thru one really bad one


But it wasn't to be




I lost count how many storms we hot, I mean really bad ones. I don't know what it is with August and Wyoming but we went thru this exact same type of weather last year on our way out to B'ville in this exact same area.

Then the next thing ya know it's blue sky and sunshine for another hour....


Then it'd be another storm


I'm one of those drivers that is aways aware of what's going on around me. BobK can't sneek up on me






BobK kept going but we stopped at the next exit for fuel and dinner. We then continued with our goal being Salt Lake City............


..............but we got to Evanston and decided to call it a night. We got a room at the Super8 out of the blue. Got the last room, has three beds and a bar in it.




Place looks like a media center at a car event!


All of a sudden we hear this familiar sounding car backing in......


...look who shows up after his bite to eat and shopping expedation in town...BobK and his pal Jeff. They got a room an hour or so before us at the same place.


We all chatted for awhile but now all the boys are asleep and I'm finishing up this thread. Will be up and out the door early as we plan to be on the Salt before lunch! Can't wait!

Stay tuned tomorrow

 

888888

 

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I don't know you Denise, but I read your threads, in particular this one, with respect and envy! Enjoy the rest of your trip, I hope it's safe, and keep posting pics.

 

Must be a Million miles for car events Between you, Malcom, and BobK!

My last speeding ticket involved an AG Plane....!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=729451&d=1249873473

I think I can read the whole internet faster than your posts... but it's not as fun as your posts and I know or can relate to your characters the most!

 

great thread and pics.. keep em comin!

 

thanks for the play by play denise i am enjoying your coverage and nicks

 

Awesome job as usual, Denise, thanks...I can't wait for your next installment!

 

Looking forward to your next set of pics and comments. Always a pleasure riding along with you on your hot rod trips. Big Olds looks good!

 

One of these years I'm hitching a ride with you out there....

 

Killer !!!! I envy you.

 

Yep, I'm jealous! Thank's for taking us along,

Ron

 

X2 .. I could only imagine what I would be like to co-pilot on one of your adventures. just for one trip. all those people and all the smiles. your living a dream. rock on!


Oh yea... please clean your windshield so we can see better.

 

safe travels Denise. Looking forward to the next installment

 

Thank you Denise,,for all the miles and smiles you put on the faces of us who are unable to be out on the road,,and introducing us to all the other members you meet on these adventures! HRP

 

Hope you have great day. I always enjoy your trips.

 

OMG! You had us ALL cracking up here!

We're up, showering, packing the cars back up and will hit the road for B'ville here shortly....and yes, I will clean the windshield before I leave this morning.

 

If there were more people like Denise, the motels would be out of business. It
would be a pleasure to host someone like you. Thanks for the trip post. As always be safe and look out for others. jim.

 

Glad somebody can get out on the road and see this country, thanks for taking us along.

 

Thanks Denise!!!! You seem to have the time of your life almost every day. Love your posts. Have fun and be safe. See you in a couple of weeks.
Later,
Dick

 

Are we there yet!? Are we there yet?? Are we there yet?????????? Are we there yet??????? Hurry up I gotta pee!!!!!

 

Thanks for the ride along.
Its a goal to go see B'ville one day, and in a hotrod!!?? You truly livin the dream.
You worked hard for it, I know, cuz the only thing thats free is nuthin.
Thanks again and God bless. Drive real safe, but fast.

 

Looks like lots of fun Denise be safe and see you at MoKan!

 

Thanks for the coverage!! Can I tag along next year??

 

Denise, what can I say, other than "THANK YOU" for giving us your most excellent road trip story. Be safe, my friend.