It's the "humes" Honey.

It is Hot...  How hot?  According to the lovely TV weather girl it is 98degrees but feels like 113 due to humidity. I have felt 113 and trust me this is hotter.  Some you  Model Aers remember my 120 degree thermometer story,  well it is so hot here that the ink in my ball point pen melted out the bottom.

Today we arrived in Gretna, just south of Omaha!!  Grueling drive.  Sadly not only heat but the sky is a shade of grey due to the smoke from Colorado fires. 
But a few final stories of the MAFCA meet.

PARADE OF PARADES

 

On our next to last evening of the Model A convention, 160 Model A Cars lined up in Ishpeming and led by the 20 millionth Model A paraded thru the towns of Ispeming, Neguanee, and other small towns to throngs of local residents lining the streets, smiling waving, sharing beers and having a great time.  Small towns are the best!

Following the parade we were treated to a pig roast!

and a concert by the local community band. 

Not the high school band as evidenced by the AARP cards

carried by the majorettes.  Still great fun.

Now on to St. Ignace ( pronounced in the UP Ignes)

Just in case seeing 300 Model A cars weren't enough ...

As we left Marquette, we dropped down to St. Ignace and the first day

of the Great American Race.  Oh joy 80 plus more cars to see.

The venue was great at the Marina looking over

to Mackinac Island ( pronounced Mackinaw)

Then on to Gaylord, MI..  If you ever get there be sure to eat at the

Sugarbowl and stop in the Chocolat Haus next door for

 chocolate covered potato chips and bacon ( chocolate covered). 

Now on to South Bend

Now I know what you are thinking... that Carol is a saint.
Look she even went to the Studebake museum in South Bend, IN.

I went for the PIZZA, oh yuks who serves pizza without beer.

The very gracious and fun friends in the Hoosier A's

Did you know the Studebaker plant was in South Bend? 

Did you know they started making wheelbarrow, then wagons

then carriages, up to cars and even fire trucks.

this was my favorite. 

While in South Bend we did visit Notre Dame campus

and had lunch at "The Legends".

Now on to Gilmore....  for guess what....

A car museum under construction............ 

MAFFI is building a Model A museum to  house

one or more of every Model A, plus a research library

containing original drawings and specifications.

AND look another parade but sadly  no cars.

Oh be still my beating heart, a parade of antique tractors.

( Is there a status above sainthood?)

Seriously, the museums at Gillmore are worth the trip. 

Packards, Cadillacs, every antique/classic car imaginable.

Leaving Dearborn, and driving thru south side of Chicago to Moline

Traffic was harrowing though the picture is sideways,

please note Little Red truck sticking its nose between

two very large, very fast semi trucks. 

They passed us constantly on both sides.

I now have a story to top the drive to Orange County.

We chose to get off the Interstate and find a local road.

And stared at this for the next two days so far.  More tomorrow
through Nebraska to North Platte.  For the non-farmers, this is
a cornfield.  They are on both sides for as far as you can see.
Charlie gives detailed descriptions of their status at each gas stop.

Could be a short blog tomorrow.

FINALLY MAFCA CONVENTION

For those that haven't received my emails of dispair re: dilema of not being able to send emails thru WiFi hook-ups, I also couldn't get onto the correct blog to post new blogs.  Patience being a virtue and knowing how virtuous I am, it took several attempts but I finally have done it.  Just hope I can do it again. 

So due to time and millions of pictures I will even further condense this dialog.  For those interested a 6 session detailed lecture series will be offered upon return to Thousand Oaks.  ( Model A Club has no choice it will be the program at many future meetings.

ARRIVED AT MAFCA CONVENTION

Welcomed by Ishpeming, Marquette, Neqaunee etc

Cut outs of various Model A  models were hung about town.

No matter where we went the folks were welcoming and curious.

 Even police escorts !!!

                          Things we've seen

 Ford Bungalow home

Ford bought up most of the upper Peninsula to obtain

the source for timber and iron ore to manufacture his cars.

Today we call it vertical integration.  He mastered it.

This home was used by the Ford Family when in the area. 

Imagine sitting in the white rockers on the porch and

looking out at a beautiful lake.Today it is privately owned.

 Available to rent by the week - sleeps 16, some "bungalow".

         

        Steam Fire Engine

(sorry Dan I didn't note the year, 1900?)

Located in small town of Lake Michigamme

     

 The Steam Fire engine was first pulled by horses

(very large strong ones) till town purchased or Ford

gave them this 1928 Model AA truck.  This truck is totally

unrestored ( duh for the non collectors )  Sold by the town

for money many years ago along with an the Steam engine for $1000.

Bought back on E-bay a few years ago for $180,000.

Gigantic water pump used ore mining

Iron Mountain, Ford replaced all the mining operations

in the area with modern plants, built power plants, etc. 

modernized the area and the economy.  Eventually

most all closed down.

WWII Glider plane

Google "gliders during WWII" for the full story of their use. 

Due to Ford efficiency, he underbid all others by

$10,000 each plane for the contract.  Built at $25,000each.

Used behind the lines, they were a one time use plane.

Things with Ford name 

Can anyone tell how Kingsford briquets came about?

Kingsford was Henry's cousin.  Apparently inherited the

"waste not, want not" gene and suggested they use the

left over burned wood chunks and sell them as

charcoal briquets.  (Kingsford Briquets)

Henry may have been an egomaniac also.  He put his name on

everything used.  This is silver ware from UP supervisors cafeteria.

But even the everyday workers cafeteria used monogramed

plates, bowls and flatware.

  We met the VP who today protects and authorizes

the use of Ford logo.

Ford Football team for kids ( note the ages)

no he did not make the football

A man way ahead of his time. 

 For my Rotarian friends !!! I did my make-up and traded banners.

AND for the Kiwanis... at the top of a hill in Neguanee, a hundred years ago,

The Kiwanis built the world's highest man-made wood ski jump.

They still hold one event a year.  ( anyone want to try)

see below

 Dave, John LaVoy , editor of Model A Times and

 organizer of our driving to and from MI.

Plus Justin, John's delightful10 year old grandson.

I think they are discussing who is going to climb up the ski jump.

ENOUGH for the day,  time for a snack or wine.



Day - Lost Count - I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

So much has happened since last blog that I'll have to portion it out over next several days.  You are spared any accounts of my class reunion "what happens in Shadyside stays in Shadyside.  We will remain focused on the Model A drive, sans Carol.  And oh by the way it was my 50th reunion not 59th as stated in last blog.  Thanks Pat Paulucci for pointing out the error of my ways.

Entering Rapid City Regional Airport at breakneck speed

 to drop ( literally) me off at the curb to catch my flight to Ohio.

My men had spotted an air museum next door to the airport at

 Ellis AFB

B-29

 B-52

 B-57  ( Captain Larry's airplane)

Rapid City break down - So much for sightseeing to

Mt. Rushmore or Crazy Horse.

 The repair begins of a broken right steering arm .

 Super specialist consultants

with liquid refreshments to sustain themselves.

 Look closely - 

 Model A car folks can you spot the problem?

Non-car folks that upper round bar should connect

over to the wheel - Best just to go straight and

don't turn anywhere or the left one may look the same.

Not a good thing.

 The little devil that broke !! Seems small and cute.

Perhaps it should have a longer stem.

Next Day!!  Drive to Mitchell, SD

                                      

 And my honey in front of the Mitchell Corn Palace!

Appears to be a bit down sized from its glory days in 1921.

(Oops just reread this I mean the Palace not Dave.)

Now an activity center dedicated to youth.

 But Cornelius Corn is a happy greeting.

( perhaps my daughter could tell me how to rotate

this picture?  I rotated in the picture file but it

turns around on the blog???  

 Just turn your computer on its side.

 The REAL Cornelius Corn

Corney mail box. 

Dave ordered one for our Nebraska corn farmer friend.

Okay, guys enough for the day.  I must prepare for the

Ishpeming parade and Pig Roast.  What does one wear

to a pig roast?   Perhaps they'll have a lovely Syrah or

Pinot Noir to complement the pig.



Day 8 Buffalo Bill's defunct

The title is misleading because here in Wyoming, Buffalo Bill is alive and well.  ( some of you can probably recite the rest of that poem, if not ask Dave, he has shared it with me during our drive .)

On arrival to Cody yesterday we spent 4 or 5 hours in the largest most phenomenal museum this side of the Mississippi and maybe the world. Below the pictures display a few things we saw.

A Firearm display starting with guns from 1500's or earlier through today.

  Over 10,000 square feet of guns.  embellished guns,

5 feet long rifles, guns used in movies, etc.  Can't begin to capture.

Drill presses and machines used to manufacture guns. 

Dave was eyeing them but fortunately we have no room

in the truck and Fed-ex won't ship.

 A mosaic tile floor of the entire area.  beautiful.  See Cody?

Gillette is on the east side over the next mountain.



Museum also had phenomenal western art displays,

Remingtons, Moran etc.  A geological exhibit of Yellowstone

and of course many square feet devoted to Buffalo Bill.

Day 8 and on to Gillette

I have not yet learned the origin of the town name. 

But don't worry Denny Gillette I will find out.

Sometimes we think Thousand Oaks could be renamed.



Remember on the tile mosaic above I mentioned the mountain range.

We climbed it to 9033 elevation. 

Little Red is the engine that can!!! 

Didn't loose any water and still got 15mpg.

 The canyon ranged from hillsides so filled with trees

it was a carpet of green.......

 to striking red rock and mountain sides to......

 a carpet of yellow .  Again America the Beautiful.

AND now to

BUFFALO BILL HIMSELF.

In Sheridan, WY half way between Cody and Gillette

we found a delightful historic Inn, restaurant and Bill.

A note to all readers.  I leave this road trip tomorrow

to fly to Ohio for my 59th High School reunion.

( amazing I graduated before I was born)

Sooooooooooooo.  Mr. Freeman will not be publishing a blog. 

 I'll return to the blog world on Tuesday, June 19th. 



SNOW!!?? Day 5& 6&7

ON THE WAY TO YELLOWSTONE

Day 5

 I was so amazed that there was still snow remaining on the ground from the winter.

 Oh and look we are getting snow flurries, Aren't they beautiful on the windshield?

Oh this isn't good, my side of windshield, the important side for helping

Dave to drive, became totally obliterated with a sheet of snow ice. 

We managed to keep Dave with a swipe peep hole thanks to the handy dandy, 

Wife cranked windshield wiper.  That is wife cranked not cranky wife. 

 Finally Yellowstone and this was our official first park greeter

And our second greeting was old Faithful located immediately

adjacent to our hotel, the Old Faithful Inn. 

 It was erupting as we pulled in to the parking lot.

We watched many more from the deck with beer and wine.

                                     

                                     Day Six 

Litte Red loved the sights of Yellowstone

In front of some geyser, with geiser driving.

Lake Yellowstone, a gigantuan lake, though it has  thermal spouts

( underwater geysers) deep down it is very cold. 

 Gorgeous . 

We had lunch overloooking the lake.

Dave and his best mate in front of the

Yellowstone Grand Canyon Water Falls

A line up of about half the cars in front of Old Faithful Inn

Leaving Yellowstone.  See no snow.  Weather warmed up nicely, 

 The road was a bit steep and a few curves.  But no snow.
On our way down to Cody Wyoming

More on this center next time.  This blog is becoming way too long.

It is 10pm and Dave has just left with the "trouble truck"

to return to East Gate of Yellowstone to rescue

one of our travel mates who has a broken axle something.

AAA failed to respond to his call and he has been stuck since noon.

The first trouble anyone has had.

On to Gillette Wy in the morning.