Sheila’s words:
It’s the day before our trip. Merv has our Model A ready, complete with an add-on brake light and turn signals. Model A’s didn’t have turn signals back in the day. And the brake light is an inconspicuous amber light mounted on the left rear fender. There is a two gallon gas can and a gallon of antifreeze strapped to the rear bumper. Tools and spare parts are under the seats. There is a load of laundry and packing left to do. Its been rather a low-key day before such an ambitious undertaking.
At 7:00 tomorrow morning we will be meeting up with our friends Larry and Linda Hanson just south of Turtle Lake, WI and we will be on our way. Our ultimate goal is Missoula Montana but for Day One, our goal is to make it to Alexandria, MN where Sheila’s brother Denny and his wife Barb will be putting us up for the night.
Barb, in her confirmation email wrote “Can’t wait to see the six of you!” And it’s true, the two cars will be characters in this trip as much as the people. Larry and Linda will be driving their 1928 Model A Ford Roadster. Its a convertible but they can snap on side curtains. We will be driving our 1930 Model A Tudor. These old cars cruise along at 40 mph. They were made for the back roads that we will be taking. One of Henry Ford’s specifications for the car was that there had to be room on the floor of the backseat for a 10 gallon milk can so there will be plenty of room for our gear.
Denny has tentatively arranged to have Merv and Larry show the cars to some members of his church tomorrow night. Merv and Larry love to show people their cars and people, especially in small town’s, love them too. Whenever we stop with our “A” in a small town we can count on someone walking over and asking about it. Often three or four more join in before we make our getaway. Once an old gentleman remarked wistfully that he had “courted many a gal in a car just like this”. It’s also fun to watch people react as they first hear the car coming and then turn, smile and wave. Merv honks the a-ooga horn and they laugh. I hope to catch a number of these scenes as movies and photos and then stream them together later.
Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. The relational part of your trip sounds like the ultimate bonus to your beautiful scenery. I can’t wait for the next season!
Ken Hill sent me info on your trip. Originally from Cook and now living in Western Montana we have traveled all the roads you were on. Enjoyed your comments and photos very much. By the way the contraption for making the hay stacks is called a “beaver slide” . It is still being used in some areas but not as much as in the past. Hay was pulled up the slide by horses or what I remember them being called in Minnesota, a “joker”.
Don Erickson
Hi Don,
Thanks for the comment on Sheil’s blog. We really enjoyed our trip out west. Montana is nothing like what I imagined it to be. I guess my idea was misguided in grade school history and geography classes.
Thanks for the info about the hay stackers.
Our adventure with Model A s might have been seen as a bit foolhardy but everything worked out just fine. After all, they did trips like this in the ’20s and ’30s when the roads were much worse. We did drive on some roads that were probably authentic for the period.
The trip was so much fun we are thinking of doing another trip, maybe a circumnavigation of Lake Superior. We would like to visit Nova Scotia but that is a bit out of reason.
Thanks for looking.
Take care.
Merv