Fixed the laptop

The laptop was infected with some junk......I took it to my computer guys, Digital Majik in St Cloud, they fixed it again...they are the GUYS!! Yhe photos I published was Barry's bent wheel and the gravel road of Moki Dugway in Utah. The first pic here is Colorado snow, then Dennis' place in Marquette, NE, then more of Mokai Dugway.

Sunday

We left Silt early Sunday morning and headed towards Grand Junction, just before Grand Junction we took' I think it was 141, towards Gateway canyon and to the town of Gateway. Barry hit a pothole and bent his front wheel, those skinny tires and aluminum wheels are easy to bend. It was driveable so we continued We stopped for a break and some photos at the Gateway museum. It is the home of many nice restored cars and the famous Olds concept car that sold for 5 million dollars a few years back at BJ auction. On down the road it was into Utah for a few miles. The paved road stops at he top of a bluff and the next 3 miles is dirt and gravel switchback road with no gaurd rails. What a view from the top. I think it is 3,000 feet down to the bottom. The cars look smaller than hot wheels as you look over the edge. Several of the group did not know about this part of the trip....they all took it better than I expected. Ron climbed over the top fence to place a "Thoze ol guys" sticker on the sign post. We all idled the cars down the dirt road until we hit the black top again....a big relief to be at the bottom. Then it was onto Monument Valley. The dirt road is called Mokai Dugway. That was my fourth time to drive either up or down the road...always exciting. We made it to Flagstaff for the evening... a nice drive. Monday morning we will head for Prescott, AZ.

Friday...Goodguys CO show

We got up early and drove to the Goodguys show in Loveland CO. A beautiful day. A nice turn out, more than I expected for a Friday. We walked the swap meet. I found pair of Corvette valve covers for a GREAT price. Rex from Affordable Street Rods offered to take them to BTT50's for me...that will really help, my pickup is full. I saw quite a few friends from around the country, that is always great. We were the last cars out of the grounds. We drove back to Nancy's kids' home for a great BBQ and a good nights rest. We all decided to leave early instead of noon to head west over the Loveland Pass. We were on the road at 7AM. What a great ride up the pass, high banks of snow on the roadsides and at the parking on the top. I lost my brakes on the way up...the peddle was almost to the floor. After a quick look under I discovered the fitting in the right rear brake was cracked. I think I bottomed out and the axle hit the elbow on the brake line and broke the brass fitting. Its a IFF 3/16 to AN3.....there is not a parts house that will carry that. I refilled the master, turned the porportioning valve to go all to the front and headed down the mountain. The first town was Granby and right on main street was a NAPA store. He had a 3/16 IFF plug fitting...great, I plugged the line to the right side, rebled the brakes and it all works...brakes on 3 wheels....better than only 2 !! We made it to Silt CO for the night, had a great dinner and I am going to bed. Tommorow will be the longest day of the trip

Made it to Colorado

The plan was to leave Grand Island, NE at 6:30 this morning. John walked to my blue roadster and found a puddle of gas. Under closer inspection I found it was the fuel pump...leaking right at the crimp of the body. Don had a spare one but would not match up with my lines. I found an O'Rileys a few blocks away on the Garmin, called them, they answered but said they were not open yet. After a little pleading from me, he agreed to let me in early. Randy drove me there, got the pump and had it on in a few minutes. We were on the road at 7:30. It looked like rain but did not get any until Longmont just a few blocks from where we are staying. We ran down I80 at 80, connected with I76 to Sterling, stopped for lunch there and took the 2 lane onto Loveland. Somewhere in Nebraska, Dave's windshield blew past the stops and pushed in....that woke him up. That happened when he was passing a truck....exciting for him!! We found a car wash after we registered and then went to the kickoff party at Pinkees rod shop. Always lots of nice projects there. We had a beer and a sandwich there and about 7 PM headed to Nancy's daughter's house to spend the night. There is enough room for all of us to stay here for both nights...really nice. Thanks Nancy!!

Wednesday

We made it to Des Moines as planned. Met all the guys at Daves shop. The weather forecast was not good...predicted rain, wind and hail. We got all the cars into Daves shop, the place next door and his new rental building down the street. Dave treated us to pork loin sandwiches on the grille, pop, beer...a great dinner. The pork is his specialty. We all then went to his home a few blocks away for the night. We left this morning about 8 AM after breakfast at McDonalds for the trip west. I80 to I29 to Blair, NE and onto Humphrey, NE. That part of the state was hammered with baseball size hail. There were several cars on the side of I29 totally beat up, no glass and dents all over. As we drove thru Blair, there was much damage. Glass broken out, store fronts gone, all boarded up, tree branches and leaves all over. Cars and trucks with all the glass knocked out. Homes with holes all over the siding.Wow....sure glad we did not plan to stay there last night! In Humphrey we visited Dale Boesch Hot Rod shop. He is a builder of top notch cars. I met him a few years ago...really nice guy...lots of talent. After lunch it was off to visit the Mayor of Marquette, NE....Mayor Dennis. He has a personal hot rod shop in the center of town. He has a 32 tudor, a roadster and is building a 3W coupe. Really cool shop....cool guy. Lots of signs and neat stuff all over the walls. We are spending the night in Grand Island, NE tonight. Just had a great dinner next door. In the morning we are leaving at 6:30 for the 400 mile trip to Loveland, CO. I will try to post some pictures tomorrow, I am having trouble with them tonight.

starts tomorrow

The time has come....we leave in the morning. We have picked up a couple of other cars. I met a new friend from Texas. He flew to St Paul to buy a 34 Ford coupe...called me, I invited him to spend the night and then invited him to drive to California with us and he said yes. He is my kind if guy....found a car on Craigslist, looedk at the pictures, flew to St Paul and bought it, drove to my house,and now is driving to California....doesn't even have a screw driver with him! Gutsy guy! We are leaving at 9ish, meeting two other rods from WI in Lakeville and then onto Des Moines. We will all gather there and leave on Wednesday morning.......