Event Coverage My annual road trip to Wisconsin----come along for the ride....

Ahh yes----Summer has arrived and that means one thing for sure. I get to go on my annual working vacation to Iola, WI swap meet. This is the highlight of my summer and I am excited! It all got started early this morning as I left home soon after 1 am for the 700 mile trip alone to meet my favorite brother in law Lawrence who was already in WI for a few days. In the dark I p***ed thru the Flinthills of Kansas and thru the Kansas City area of Missouri and then headed north to Iowa. By then it was daylight and I was able to see the rolling fertile hills of the Hawkeye State with it's tidy farms and rows of corn that never become boring to me. I kept the hammer down and sadly even p***ed by a Cracker Barrel and my favorite Iowa Machine Shed eating places without even slowing down. I was a man on a mission.....
The miles flew by as I finally reached the far Eastern border of the state right along the mighty Mississippi to the town of Le Clair, IA. Yes---today's mission was to find the lovely damsel Dannielle from the American Picker's TV show who is the dream woman of my bodyguard G***erlouie of Lincoln, Nebraksa. If I could only get her autograph or have her touch a t shirt that I could purchase for the love stricken Cornhusker it would mean SO MUCH to him.....Sadly, she was not at the store today. I did take some photos while there. Sorry old buddy----I tried my best.....

 

Upon leaving I crossed the river bridge and was welcomed to the Land of Lincoln....aka Illinois. Turning northeast and driving about an hour or so led me to Dixon,IL the hometown of my good buddy "Rustyrods" (Larry) on the Hamb. Larry and his wife Mary have hosted me several times and is a favorite place of mine to visit. What a beautiful farm they have----and after sitting on the front porch drinking some lemonade Mary served us it was time to go look at some of Larry's toys in the big barn. I was lucky enough to hitch a ride in his Model A highboy and boy it was fun. We cruised the blacktop county road that curves along the hills at 50 mph or so with ease thanks to the Mitchell overdrive and rebuilt banger engine. I just love the car. Larry brought his old Indian bike out too and I took the oppurtunity to take some photos.

 

My favorite brother in law Lawrence joined up with me at Dixon and I got this photo of him and Larry in deep discussion.

 

I really think this Indian suits me----and I sat on it and dreamed of the open road ---you know I could start a gang and ride all over the country and make a TV show and call it-- "Grandsons of Anarchy"

 

Time p***ed by quickly and it was soon time to head north and east even further and it wasn't long before we were in the Badger state and my second home-----Jefferson, WI----home of Top Notch Pre Owned Vehicles ---and my pal Bobwop. We found bigwop and his sidekick Nick working on a very cool 50 Chevy slantback sedan that was the newest arrival.

 

They had also been tinkering on this 57 Chevy sedan with a brand new interior.

 

The big man will be competing in the county fair tractor pull tomorrow and had his rig ready to go. Think "Turbo" ---

 

C ya soon!

 

I got this photo of Bob and Lawrence sharing a laugh----

 

Well, isn't that special!! I doubt you'll have a dull day. Enjoy. Gary

 

Then I strolled around and saw some of the inventory. I counted 3 former Kansas vehicles in the group. He must have sold some of our other formerly owned "Sunflower Specials."

 

After going to see his indoor collection of special vehicles it was time to head to the country home of Bob and his lovely girlfriend Carla who are nice enough to let us stay the night.

 

As luck would have it Carla fed us a huge meal----and I took photos to show my pal Paperdog from MN who likes to eat almost as much as I do.....grilled chicken, pork ribs, farm fresh corn on the cob, new potatoes, creamed green peas, rolls, and lots of it-----OMG!

 

These photos are for my pal G***erlouie who wanted to come with us but had some floormats to replace on a truck or some lame excuse like that----

 

Oh My that spread look tasty. Especially the creamed peas! Havent had them in a while.

 

And just when I thought the evening couldn't get any better----it DID! Carla walked in with or plate of heaven----also known as homemade ****erscotch cookies. Now I am a professional cookie taster and I want to make a bold statement and annouce that these are perhaps the best cookies I have ever eaten.....yum----

 

Thanks for taking time to read about my day in the road----tomorrow we head north to Iola for set up day. Swap meet thread to follow in a couple days.

 

Hey..if ya swing through Omaha on the way home gimmee a call and we'll get together..
Rocky

 

Your a lucky man Paul!

 

Creamed peas, ribs, corn on the cob. I wasn't hungry.

Have fun and see if you can find some banger speed parts.

 

Thats a purdy one

 

/\ /\ /\ x2

 

K Rocky maybe we can---

 

Yep, see you up north Mark--

 

Ahhhh...the beginning of another interesting story. Looking forward to more pictures and narratives of your travels and adventures.

 

all loaded up and ready to go
i have some of those banger speed parts waiting for you
tk

 

Cool---I didn't know I was looking for them until BCR told me I was. I ***ume he is trying to help my Model A go faster so he can lose our bet. Sounds good to me!

 

Another shot of the "open air" thoroughbreds ready to run----

 

Heck, I'm feeling like I'm along for the ride with you. that spread of food sure looked tasty, but it's low calorie this way. That A roadster sure is a sweet little ride. Have a great trip.

 

Thanks old buddy for looking for Danielle for me, although my taste (no pun intended) in women has shifted. After tasteing Carlas cooking, and seeing what she prepared for you this time, I now have a new love. The meal she prepared was devine, but the creamed peas were the deal maker, only my beloved grandma ever made those for me and they were like heaven on earth! Looks like you are having another wonderful trip, enjoy it. Thanks for all the texts and thread on here to keep me ALMOST like im with you on your latest adventure. If you come back with a truck load of anything metalflaked or any Mel Tillis parts to give me, it will complete my almost being there!!! If BOBWOP and L need help with guarding you, Im only a call away. I only live 2 blocks from a skymed helecopter and could be there in a couple hours, IF I could fly the damn thing!! Have fun my three amigos...Povertyflats, Bobwop and Lawrence