Rules Rules Rules
As with any event of this magnitude we had to have some rules, as much as we didn't want to be restricted we though it would be best for our own safety.Yea right. OSHA would be proud.
Only for those who might get lost, we'll meet you there.
Speaking of getting lost, which is the most important, knowing where you are going or knowing where you are?
Here is the outbound layout.
This should be a familiar site to many. The ski area at the top of the 3000' Snoqualmie Pass. So far, so good. We have now traveled about 50 miles, without an "event". What could be better. Life is good.
That ended shortly there after. As the red Buick developed a mind of it's own, by just quitting while rolling down I-90. The nice part was that Ed R. was able to come to a stop on the shoulder of the interstate and simply restart his Buick. We continued on to Moses Lake for a little fuel and to see how many a/c unit were still operating. By now, I think the Buick had quit a total of three times. But in all cases it would start up after coming to a complete stop. Must be gremlins this time but it couldn't possibly happen again.
Needless to say it was getting a little toasty about 100 miles west of Spokane and my a/c was not keeping up with the demand.
What is amazing with 107F heat, none of the five cars had a fuel vapor lock problem or an engine over heating problem. Then again, eastern Washington is relatively flat compare to where we would be traveling in the next few days.
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| Can you believe all of these cars, old and older |
Right out there in the weather
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| It's just like a hot rod graveyard or a hot rodders heaven. |
Trucks and more trucks. Even though we were seeing 107F temps it was still worth a cruise through this little town I had found a few years back.
Spokane Wa. and the Mirabeau Park Hotel. Our first hotel, and a sight for sore eyes.
It was so blasted hot by the time we arrived, the pool didn't sound as good as a cool room and some of Ed R's margaritas.
This is just outside Coeur d'alene ID. Another 200 miles to our next stop in Missoula Mt
By now, the black 39 Ford has had it's share of failed starts and a new Optima battery was installed. Time for a group dinner.
After spending a night in Missoula, we continued east on I-90 through Butte, and just a few miles prior to Bozeman we turned south on Highway SR191 up to the town of West Yellowstone. What's with the clouds? Can't possibly mean rain.
What a beautiful ride, and this was approaching rush hour traffic along I-90 and I-5 in the Seattle/Tacoma area. HaHa.
The White Buffalo Hotel for the next three nights.That's my copilot carrying in her white flight bag.
Still unloading the Mullins trailer, along with some time to clean the Buick and to read a magazine for Nick I and his always clean 39 Ford.
About an hour later, after all of the cars were cleaned mother nature musta found a spot of dirt on one of the cars and decided to help with a fire hose of rain. Don S parked his red 39 Ford and Tom S also parked his blue 39 Chevy just outside the hotel windows. The West Yellowstone car show was held in the park in the background.
As can be seen by the fact there is only about 1.5" of margarita left in the pitcher, it was time for snooze just before dinner.
There are about 370 cars in the West Yellowstone show this year.
There were two winners in our group. Tom S. for a sponsor award.
And Nick I. for being a driver and something about fixing it.
Time to push on from the White Buffalo Hotel. We had a fun time.
A little more detail showing the road from West Yellowstone to Cooke City, Mt, Beartooth Pass, Red Lodge ending at Cody Wy.
When we stopped at this small pull out along the road, we were the only people there. By the time we arranged our cars for this picture there were about 20 Chinese folks. So many, that it was difficult to to take a picture of just the cars and nobody standing by or in front of them.
It's obvious that the Chinese now have dollars to spend. There were bus load after bus load of them at all of the hotels throughout Wy. Mt and ID. No problem, but watch out for all of those rental cars they are driving and doing u turns in the middle of the highway. That posed a larger danger than the wildlife.
Finally, a great location for a group car picture thanks to Linda S.
Tom & Lonna and Nick & Sharon.
Tom & Lonna, Nick & Sharon, Judy & Eddie, Tom & Linda and Don & Joyce.
Buffalo were scattered all along the Lamar River Valley. I was really glad they stayed off the roads when we traveled through there. We saw a few that were just off the pavement. They make my 33 Ford look really small.
The little town of Cooke City Mt is just prior to Bearthooth Pass and the last time to get gas until Red Lodge Mt. Since the bike show in Sturgis was this week, we were able to see hundreds of Harley's in just about very little town along our route.
This town is located 7608' above sea level and has a permanent population of 140 residents. They keep the road from West Yellowstone to Cooke City open all winter but the road we are about to travel, over Beartooth Pass will be closed in the winter. It's also possible to see it snowing there in July and Aug.
Out of Cooke City and through some very beautiful mountains.
This road just keeps going up, higher and higher.
Stopped along the way on what appeared to be the top of the pass. The little turn out shown on my GPS, just below the red arrow, would have been interesting to drive, or even to walk on.
Here is what it looks like.
Further along the way we stopped for another group picture. There are what appears to be two passes about two miles apart. The second pass was 10,960'. I can't recall the exact temperature but it was something like 55F, a far cry from that 107F we saw a few days earlier.
No wonder this road is not open in the winter.Good thing they keep that road west of Cooke City open.
If you can see the road in the very bottom of the valley, we were on it shortly after taking this picture. It's the little white line in the trees.
What a road.
Arrival into Red Lodge Mt. and the Buick quits once again. But this time it's not only the Buick but the Red 39 Ford won't start. By now the women were along the side of the road praying for help. I think they had given up on us for the fix.
Help
Generally, in Montana help arrives in the form of the Calvary. In this case the calvary were driving really cool cars. Another group of hot rodders coming from the West Yellowstone show and headed to the Billings area decided to stop and give us a hand. My oh my do these guys have nice cars. Foose quality cars, everyone of them, and they had more to boot, back on the ranch.
Now this is giving you a hand Montana style. The guy under the car is not from our group but from the Montana group. These guys not only had a fabulous attitude about helping out but complete knowledge and understanding of this Buick. I really won't hold that against them, because within 30
mins the Buick was back on the road.
BTW, they were about 1 hr behind us crossing Beartooth Pass and by the time they came across, the entire hill side was white from hail.
Putting the final touches on the Buick. This was actually the last time the Buick failed to start. It was rock solid from this point forward.
Thanks again guys.
Tom & Lonna in front of the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum. This place is amazing, way too long to describe here, look it up or better yet just go there and see for yourself.
This is the entrance back into the Park from Cody. This is called the East Entrance.
Where's all of this rain coming from.
This time the Black 39 Ford wouldn't start but the Buick did start and I think actually jump started the Ford. Not too sure about the red 39 Ford at this point, as there were a few times it had to be jumped also.
Our return from Cody takes us back into Yellowstone Park through the east entrance and out the south entrance into Jackson Hole Wy on are way to Rexburg ID.
This is just outside of Rexburg Id. where we spent the night. Seems to be storm clouds gathering, once again.
Yes, even the following day as we leave Rexburg and head to Salmon Id the storm clouds are still there. That horizontal black line is a storm cloud that appears to be only a few hundred feet above the highway. This should be interesting.
Crazy rain.
Looking at the bright side, we didn't have a single leak in the 33.
Click on the small triangle to start the very short video.
Along the Salmon River and over Lolo Pass.
At the top of Lolo Pass......we crossed from Montana back into Idaho.
This time neither 39 Ford would start. By-the-way. It was the blue 39 Chevy and Tom S. that pulled the majority of the jump statring duties when it came to helping out with the starting. Hey, he had the best jumper cables and never had a problem starting his Chevy.
This dinner is in Lewiston Id. and it happens to be our last dinner out on this trip. From the looks on our wives faces, even after all of the heat, rain etc. I know our wives are certainly ready for another trip. Maybe Glacier National Park or highway 101 to LA for next year.
Our last night out in Lewiston ID.
After spending the night in Lewiston Id we headed west across SE Washington, through the wheat fields.
Eventually we entered the irrigation areas around Walla Walla and on into Pasco Wa. through the grape vineyards.
Although this is an older picture, we stopped once again at Whistlin Jacks for that turkey dinner, prior to crossing over Chinook Pass and home.
The entire trip was 2120 miles and 111.2 gallons of gas for the 33 Ford. What a great time. Great friends. Great Food and unbelievable scenery. "Ya gotta drive em"
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