Rogue Valley Street Rods

For the umpteenth time, we took a short vacation in the Northwest Cascade’s to take in one of our favorite campouts with many good friends, south of the 49^th Parallel.  Having loaded Thursday, we were on the road Friday morning in our’46 Deluxe conv. (top down) with our 17’ Route 66 Boler on the back, pups in their cage and the cat nestled in Charlotte’s jacket.  Customs passed us quickly, our next stop was ‘Nina’s Café’ in  Everson where we enjoy a tasty senior’s breakfast before heading south on the time warped US Hwy 9. Recent paving, widening and newly painted lines makes our travel through small towns, large farms, rolling hills and even an old narrow gauge railway, a great scenic cruise.  We arrive in Sedro-Woolley at 10: 30, gas up, shop at the local super-market and head east on Hwy 20. It too, is another nice drive through wooded tracts, more small towns, farms and along side the Skagit River till we arrive at the Howard Miller RV park. Our hosts have reserved our usual space with a large shade tree for the pups to sit and greet all the passers by, then for the next hour, we set up, un-load and spend the rest of the afternoon chatting with fellow Klassic’s and JJ’s members plus others we’ve met here at past events.

The weather couldn’t be nicer, warm and sunny with the normal wind coming down the valley to cool us off. We ate a light meal of cold cuts, and salads then visited with friends from BC for a couple of hours.  At sundown, to escape a few no-seeums we retired to the trailer and played a few games of crib. We watched some discs of old comics till we got drowsy and hit the sack at 11pm.

The pups got us up at 7am then we joined Rick, Janice and Stu from our home town for the club breakfast, plain and blueberry pancakes, grilled sausages, OJ ‘n coffee and all the food you can eat!!!

Another beautiful day, so we piled the menagerie in the car and went  to Concrete, WA. The Fairground was brimming with crafters and always marvel at the ingenuity of some of  the vendors and their wares. We cruised through town, careful not to exceed the posted 35 MPH limit that is radar controlled and headed for the weekly swap meet on the Hwy west. There is always a great variety of tools, collectibles, a few antiques, lots of fishing gear, yard tools and even furniture. I got an original ‘Coca Cola Driver’s hat for a couple of bucks, an old Stewart Warner radio just like the 1^st one I ever got for my room, from my old Dad and a few Craftsman sockets that weren’t worn out!!!  We cruised old town Concrete, by-passed the airport where a vintage aircraft fly-in was in full swing to come on a bike show being held on the old Main Street. Chan took some pics of the murals painted on the sides of the old buildings, then more of the old hydro electric dam and beautiful waterfall to the outflow that goes to the Skagit River.

Back at the park, Roger from Sedro-Woolley stopped by for a look-see and a chat. Turned out we had a lot of mutual friends from my earlyracing days, dragging days and he also was a fierce competitor at the 1^st Mission Drag Strip. This is what I come for, old times, old friends and old memories!!!

One of the best parts of this event is the ‘Pot-Luck Buffet’ and it was time for me to start cooking my contribution…a pasta based, sausage,ham filled, special sauce ladened with herbs ‘n veggies crock pot. As I’m  brewing the concoction, several of the other campers came by to view our trailers that kept Chan busy showing them our rig.

At 5pm, we put our contribution into the long line of bowls of salads, chilli, chicken, wieners, rolls, chips, pickles, condiments etc. We ate with our old friends from Chillibush. After downing a huge plateful, we returned to load up with a 2^nd plate of luscious desserts!!!

As if we hadn’t consumed enough, it was time for the annual cruise for ‘Ice Cream’.  At 7pm, we line up to exit the park amidst thumbs up, a lot of hoots from the other campers as we move out of the park, east.  We take a lot of good back roads heading for the Cascade Mt’s, past more old farms, old barns, logging sites eventually arriving back on Hwy 20 to turn west and stop at a Marblemount winery that specializes in hard ice cream of almost any flavor you can imagine. My favorite is Cranberry French Vanilla!!! We’re on our own to cruise back to the park and once back there, the hosts have already set up a big screen TV for the showing of tonights movie, the Disney Pixar film, “Up”. I set my chair out and enjoyed it till as I am wont to do at 8 or 9, flaked out and never saw the end. Walked the pups and hit the sack, LOL.

Sunday there was more breakfast and lots of coffee for those of us still hungry, most used the time to pack up for an early exit. We all place our cars on the grass in front of the cook shack even tho this event is all about people, trailers, camping and having fun.

The next activity is the JJ’s thanking us all for our participation, saying a few thanks to some of the members who make it possible and then we swing into selecting numbers of tickets for all the great door prizes they have to give away. Chan and I won a couple of them and we were so excited to win the ‘Best Trailer’ display award…a super special  award, custom made by Lynn one of their Exec members, made our weekend to say the least. It was also nice to see Peg Hatley win the annual ‘Good Guy’ trophy for all the hard work she does all year for the club.

We were on the road home by 1pm, and got thru the customs without any concern and were back home by 3pm. Can’t say enough about the great fun ,the great camaraderie, the friendship, the good times, the easy laid back weekend we always enjoy with the JJ’s club members.  And the money they raise from their events all goes to local charities, what can be better than that??? Thanks again for a swell weekend.

Compiled by Bunny Jeboult

After a disappointing 1st attempt for this year’s cruise, we’d chucked the idea ‘til a chance stop for lunch at a small diner in Rogue River revived our efforts. New owner of Karen’s Kitchen, Chris qas eager to have us for dinner next Sunday and we met Karen who is the proud owner of a custom ‘40 Ford convert. Chan (short for ‘Charlotte Ann’) and I hurried home to begin planning. It took all week to ‘Get It Together’ with weather, the main concern as it had rained til Friday morn. Sunday dawned with nary a cloud in the azure blue sky, it was warming when we headed for our planned start with breakfast at Ron & Linda’s ‘Mrs. Q’s Café’ in Medford. Almost 30 chowed down then assembled in the parking lot for initial instructions, Goody Bags and drew their 1st card for a best Black Jack hand, (this is a lot easier than a Poker Run) and away we went. The 1st leg goes a cross town on 4 lane roads allowing us to stay together through the various lights. North on Crater Lake,  we stayed on the frontage road skirting Hwy 62 then turning onto it at White City. At this point, all the cruiser’s have a ‘Trip Test’ that asks they fill in answers to 25 trick questions about signs, vehicles, road names, etc. with prizes at the end for the most correct. (continue reading…)

Charlotte and I contacted Debby & Paul at ‘Debby’s Diner’ in Phoenix, OR. regards another ‘Special Nite’ where he cooks up 2 of his special recipes and she brings in entertainment. We set a date, agreed on the meals as Debby arranged for Clint Engebretson to do a gig.

We had heard his repertoire included ‘Frankie’, ‘Dino’, ‘Sammy’ and others so specifically requested these be the hi-lite of his performance. This Friday Nite Dinner Special was announced at the April club meeting and in the following Week, Chan began calling all the members.

It was a ‘Sell-out’ as the diner’s back area will only seat about 55 without overcrowding. Friday was sunny and bright all day so we drove there in our ’46 convert (top up) as did over 15 other members much to Paul & Debby’s delight as we filled their parking lot creating a small car show for their other customers. (continue reading…)

Having spent most of the summer working on an addition to our BC home, at it’s completion, we were ready for a cruisin’ weekend with the ’46 Ford conv. and our 17’ Boler trailer. With
everything loaded in the car and trailer (including the pups and cat) we left Chilliwack at noon.
We breezed through the border and drove our favorite ‘Time Warp’ route, Hwy 9 south from
Sumas, WA., Everson, Demming to Sedro Wooley. As usual, we filled the larder with ‘Specials’
from the local food mart and continued down 9 to the City Riverfront Park RV site on the Skagit River. Our reserved space was taken, so we parked next door. It was next to a nice tree
for the pups and next to a couple we soon met…ironic that he’s an old racer I am sure we ran
against in the ‘50s. They are expecting several more family for a reunion in the next 2 days, but we are invited to attend. For dinner, we cruised downtown to the Iron Skillet for dinner. (continue reading…)

All week we’d planned, packed, and wrenched in readiness to leave for the Eugene Roadster Show, and
at one point, almost thought we just weren’t meant to go. Two nights of tinkering, timing and adjusting
had the ’40 Ford conv. starting, running, idling and sounding right. We’d hoped to get away Thursday
morning, leisurely cruise up I 5, arrive at our hotel for a nice evening meal and unwind a bit. That didn’t happen as it wasn’t til 7pm we got the car into the trailer after a hard time of keeping it running after I
put it in gear??? As we were already loaded, we headed north on dry roads, little traffic and drove straight to Eugene. Things went better here, able to use the large bus parking spot, we got our favorite room and at a reduced rate too!!! We watched an interesting episode of Overhaulin’ and crashed.
The Shilo breakfast fare was enough to satisfy our needs, filled my coffee pot and we were on our way to the Lane County Fairgrounds by 8:30am. Our hosts Kurt, Suzie and staff were all set up and after a few
hugs, we registered and were shown our space, a 3 open sided 20’X20’ area under a couple of large lights that will give good reflections for our Candy Apple paint. Being early, we were able to drive the truck and trailer along side for easy un-loading, laid the carpet and rolled the car onto it. We had a lot of help from their staff and had the gas and battery check done early. (continue reading…)