Post 9: Feelin' the Heat

Wow how lucky we are to have landed here at the Lake Quinault Lodge. I tried repeatedly to book a room for this trip and lucked out when someone canceled because the lodge doesn't have AC and they couldn't tolerate the heat. It was 100 here at 4pm yesterday, the hottest on record. Back tracking a bit, we had a great time in Victoria despite the excessive heat. Samantha and Mary stayed with us on the ferry to Port Angeles, and after lunch we said our goodbyes. Two wonderful friends we really enjoyed being with.

Heading inland from the coast it got really hot. The 29 has been its old reliable self and never showed any sign of fatigue or over heating. Not the same with the pilot and co-pilot. We estimate it was over 100 and were told today that Seattle hit 107 (Needles was probably cooler). As we drove south on 101 the terrain and vegetation was changing. Trees shaded the highway and it was getting cold probably a 40 degree temp drop. Then we saw the sign for Ruby Beach and turned off to see the Pacific Ocean and soak in the cool air. Turning inland at Queets it didn't take long to return to scorching heat.

We arrived a little past 5 and at check in asked for a second night which we were able to book this morning due to a cancelation. We dined late last night and cooled off with our feet in the lake. This is a very international vacation destination and its fun listening to the kids especially, yakking in their own languages. We took a hike this morning in the rain forest and were astonished by all the downed trees with paths cleared by chain saw. A fellow hiker said that in 2007 there was a fierce storm that blew in with 120 mph winds and heavy rains that took a heavy toll on the forest.

We'll be making a room change into the main lodge building and had to check out by 11am, but we can check back in at 3pm. So with some free time Judy hung out at the Laundromat and I serviced the car and changed the oil at the local Chevron station. The lobby has wifi and although I was going to ignore technology while here I just couldn't. Sitting on a leather couch, laptop on lap top, in luxury's lap, kids playing piano (well), great views all around in and out, I wish we could stay a while longer.

Steve & Judy

Post 8: Victoria's Secret

Well it's Wednesday morning in Victoria and plans have changed. Our trip to Vancouver has been put on hold until next year for several reasons. First and foremost is that I was able to book a (unavailable till this morning) room at Lake Quinault Lodge in the Olympic Rain Forest. Secondly in checking available lodging in Vancouver, what was available is "spendy", and it's an additional 214 miles and two days (less 90 minutes) to Port Angeles, WA.

Since we arrived here in Victoria I haven't stopped sweating, and the ladies haven't stopped radiating. Hot and humid, one of 4 heat waves in the last 100 years. I think one other was during the 1994 Joint meet in Tacoma that we attended. We drove out to Butchart Gardens yesterday and were wowed by the beauty. We could do as well at home if everyone would just come over and help. Mom treated to a luxurious lunch while there and we went our separate ways afterwards. After naps Judy & I stopped in at the inn at the East India Room at Empress for Martinis and conversation, and to see how high on the hog we could get. And speaking of hogs, one donated dinner at a local pub (they’re everywhere) and we had some local brew to cool us as AC is rare.

We've got to run to check out and catch the ferry, and probably won't have email in the forest tonight.

Until the next time........Steve & Judy on the water but not on the wagon.

Post 7: Victoria

It's late Monday night and we've had a long but relaxing day. We're lodged at the Bedford Hotel in Victoria, right in the center of downtown on Government Street. Judy & I have stayed here before in the early 90's and they've kept the place up pretty well. As I recall the hookers liked working the street in front.

The A is still running but I can't seem to shake the Chevie that's always in my mirror. Anyhow we were up really early intending to line up early for the 9:30 ferry to Keystone, but when we arrived we were able to take the 8am, saving us a long wait. We stopped in Coupeville for breakfast and I met a guy (Scott I think) from the Island A's. They are a local club on Widbey Island with about 50 members. We stopped in Oak Harbor to shop for a wheel chair for Mary (mom) at Walgreens. She's celebrating her 83rd birthday today and last night at the Ajax Cafe everyone sang to her. On our way to Anacortes we crossed the bridges at Deception Pass. It's way up there above the channels and fast currents. We wandered through antique shops and had lunch at an ale house in Anacortes while waiting to line up for the ferry.

Many people stopped to talk about the roadster and remember their own Model A's from the past. Most found it hard to believe were were from California in such an old car. The crew on the ferry had an unscheduled stop to rescue a Bald Eagle that was foundering in the water, unable to take off. They returned to applause from the passengers and crew.

Tonight was Martini Monday at the local Tapas Bar in Trounce Alley. It was really hot this evening, but we had a good time socializing with the locals. Sammie & her mom just came back from dinner bringing a gift of unfinished chocolate-raspberry thingie desert, and it's almost 10:30.

Steve & Judy, parked for a couple of days

Post 6: Port Haddock, WA

We got out of Centrailia at 8 this Sunday morning and drove the 25 miles to Olympia on the dreded but empty Interstate 5 where we picked up Hwy 101 north. This was another beautiful ride with little to no traffic, through forest and small towns, with the canal along the right. We stopped at a county park at waters edge and checked out the dugout canoes. Next week they will gather many more for a tour of canoes in Puget Sound. We continued on to Port Hadlock where we had reserved a room for the night.

A call to Samantha and her mom and we would get together for a great sea food lunch at Scampi & Halibut in P.H. We noodled through some antique stores in Port Townsend this afternoon and bought nothing but some Washington wines. After a good nap and relaxing at the motel, we went to the recomended Ajax Cafe. What a great spot. People were waiting for tables but we got right in when Judy told them we're good tippers.The food and wine was great and the service slow enough so that we noshed for more than 2 hours enjoying the piano player and the people around us. What a fun evening we all had.

We all plan to get up early and catch the 8am ferry from Port Townsend to Keystone. From there we're up to Annacortes and the ferry to Victoria, B.C. A few days seeing the sights and we'll be going to Vancouver, B.C.

No Photos because I can't find my wire. I hope it's not in Centralia.

Steve & Judy

Post 5: To Washington

We had a less than wonderful dining experience in old town McMinnville last night. There are almost as many wine bars, tasting rooms and good restaurants as Healdsburg. We just didn't eat at one. The new Comfort Inn was a good call though.

Out at 6am massaging the front end on the roadster, and just put the tools away before the sprinklers came on. It proved to have helped but not completely, so more work will follow.

We left town on Hwy 47 and it was a good choice with small towns and large farms thriving in the Willamette Valley. With top down weather we could see everything and enjoyed doing 40 with no traffic. A late breakfast at MK's in Banks was excellent and made up for the night before. We continued on 47 along the Banks-Venonia Trail, a forested ride up and down eventually taking us to Clatskanie. It was cool along the Columbia River and we crossed into Washington at Longview. Our map lacked detail and we spun around before finding our way. Good thing no Model A's without CB's were following. A Show N Shine car show blocked the streets in Castle Rock and we continued on to the Mount St. Helens Visitors Center at Silver Lake. We watched the video and listened to a ranger's recollection of the events in the Spring of 1980 and the eruption in May. We took the Old Pacific Hwy north to Toledo but lost it as Washington has a signage problem, something to remember for 2010. We attempted to stay on the road less traveled, but opted to I-5 it the last 10 miles to Centralia. We're at the King Oscar for $71 including tax, something Oregon seems to do quite well without. We may connect with Samantha and Mary (Mom) in the next few days who are also going north to Vancouver.

Steve & Judy, parked for now

Post 4: X Rated!

Well guess what? I decided to go shopping on our way through Eugene this morning but the shop was closed (actually I stopped to look at the map). Then after getting a bit turned around we finally got on the road to Crow trying to find Cindy's covered bridge. And we Did! What a beautiful state we're in. It's so lush with graceful trees and large fields of wheat and corn, acres of Hazel nut trees and tidy farms with an abundance of color.

We came north from Crow on the Territorial Hwy all the way to Corvalis with barely a car but several logging trucks. We stopped in Monroe for lunch at The Sweet Spot and it was a delightful place with good food and it was very clean. From Corvalis to McMinville we opted for 99W north and regretted the stress of heavy traffic. We tried to book a room at a nice hotel in old town but they were full for the International Pinot Noir weekend. We're at the Comfort Inn and it is comfortable.

The car has developed a front end dance that I'll work on in the morning. Did I mention I had to replace a battery cable in Cottage Grove, and it was the cause of all the pushing and shoving as far back as Redding? We dined on Ice berg and Chef Boy R Dee at an Italian place that had no wine or beer, but Judy wanted meat balls. Oh well? Tomorrow.........Maybe Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier or who knows where we'll be.

Steve & Judy on the road



Coyote Creek bridge, built in 1922

Post 3: End of NWRG Meet

The Meet is over and we're packing up and don't know where we'll be tonight. It was really fun here in Cottage Grove but 5 days zipped by leaving little time to communicate with the world outside. We attended seminars, toured the lush green countryside and crossed covered bridges with 130 other A's, ate bbq in the park, competed (poorly) in the Gymkhana, but blew away the competition in the "Gentlemen Start Your Engines" contest. Our team, the "Cap Diablo's, Son of Auburn" came from 4 different NCRG Chapters: Alex Janke, Diablo A's; Ralph Lawrie, Capitol A's, Ron Ludford, Auburn A's and Steve Lewis, Sonoma A's. They allowed 15 minutes to trouble shoot and repair a sabotaged Model A and our winning time was a mere 6 minutes 35 seconds.

I know I said we never go to banquets, but this one was excellent. The grounds at the Garden Inn are beautifully planted with lots of flowers and mature trees, and they had a large tent set up on the lawn with the cars that were judged on display. The McKenzie A's did a great job and the awards presentation ran as smoothly as the rest of the event.

Steve & Judy

NWRG Trophy

Post 2: Day 2 & 3

I'm sitting in a motel room in Cottage Grove recalling day 2 & 3 of our trip. On Friday when we gassed up in Eureka the starter made a rattling sound and some of you will know exactly what was about to happen if I didn't take care of it soon. After spending a relaxing night at the Patrick Creek Inn, I removed the starter and discovered the bendix bolts had loosened and were about to end up at the bottom of the flywheel housing. I tightened the bolts and bent the tabs tighter after discovering I had an early starter with the 5/16" bolts and no replacements in the multitude of parts I carry.

With everything back together and after a good breakfast we headed to Cave Junction and the Oregon Caves. While waiting for our tour to start we were talking to some people and one of them noticed my Sonoma A's hat. It seams that the world is truly a small place because the guy was a former club member and friend of the Gayners and Swarts; Don Lewis. He was a part of the Corvette club visiting Southern Oregon. The caves were interesting and cool, and I remembered crawling around in them on a trip to Corvalis with the club in the mid 90's. We had lunch at the soda fountain in the lodge and got some literature on lodging for a future trip.

We headed east to Grants Pass for Saturday night but couldn't get a room at the Riverside (full of Corvette folks) or anywhere else nice, so we roughed it downtown at the no tell motel. We felt better when the bikers checked in, and really good when they fired up a dozen Harleys at 7am. Some roudies had checked in at 1am, making a lot of noise so it was payback time.

Our third day was cool all the way to Cottage Grove. We took side roads and zig-zagged across I-5 trying to stay on old 99. There were a few short stretches on the Interstate, but it was a nice ride on a beautiful Sunday morning.

The Northwest Regional Meet will last through Thursday and I'll bring you up to date before we leave.

Steve & Judy

Day 2 Lodge at Oregon Caves & Cave

Day 3 photo in Oakland

Post 1: Day 1 & 2. Here we are...

Good morning from Cottage Grove, Oregon. Sorry for the lack of communication but we've been really busy since we arrived and were preoccupied getting here.

Day 1 was a longish 331 mile trek up 101. We got out of town at 8 on Friday and immediately stopped in Healdsburg for breakfast. By Willits it was of with the sweatshirts and take on fuel. It was an easy ride and getting hotter by the time we got to Redway. We bought ice and a sandwich to split and headed for the Redwoods on the Avenue of the Giants. We found a wide spot in the shade for our runningboard lunch and scared off a 'couple' of ladies picnicking in the poison oak. As we neared Scotia the temp steadily dropped to fffreezing. Gas in Eureka and sweatshirts & coats up the coast to Crescent City. We turned inland on 199 through forest and ferns and gradually warmed. We blew through Gasquet (get it?) and stopped at the Patrick Creek Inn for, as the sign says, foof booze and snooze. A rustic old place to rest and with good food & drink, and a friendly staff.

We're leaving for the Grand Tour so we'll catch up later. S&J