PA trip over; MI 8/20-8/21; western US in OCT; etc.!

[Guest]

As William Least Heat-Moon writes in his book, _blue highways_, "Be careful going in search of adventure -- it's ridiculously easy to find." I did just that this past weekend (with a family reunion thrown in for good measure)...and I can't believe my PA trip is history already!

*takes a deep breath*

I left Elgin Thursday evening in my 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Luxury Sport [which performed flawlessly the entire trip, garnering an average of 25mpg, with the low at 23.72 in the PA "hills" & the high at 28.61 across Ohio Saturday night] about 7p (central), arriving in Marion IN about midnight (central), via IL RT 47 S, IL-IN SR 24 E, IN RT 35 S, & IN RT 18 E.

Friday, I left Marion IN about 10:30a (eastern), arriving in Smithville OH about 2:45p (eastern), via IN RT 18 E, I-69 N, I-469 E, OH SR 30 E, OH RT 585 N. That evening, I saw a dark brown (I believe) 1972 MC in downtown Smithville heading S (I was heading back N to a softball diamond after getting gas).

After the softball game Friday night, I traveled to Johnstown PA, leaving OH about 9:30p (eastern), arriving in Johnstown about 1:15a (eastern), via OH RT 585 N, OH RT 21 N, I-76 W, I-80 W, I-79 S, PA RT 422 W, PA RT 219 S. I attended our family reunion in PA on Saturday, spent about an hour meeting & talking with a buddy from my MC-related message boards before beginning the trek back home.

I left the Johnstown area about 4:45p (central), arriving in N Manchester IN about 1:45a (central), with 1 25-minute stop. I took PA RT 219 N, PA RT 422 E (spotted a few nice 4th gens along the way, including a handful of LSs & 1 medium blue with dark blue vinyl top SC for sale...looked to be in mint condition), I-79 N, I-80 W, I-76 W, OH RT 224 W (spotted some nice 4th gen LSs in a couple towns here, too), OH-IN SR 30 W, I-69 S, IN SR 24 W, IN RT 114 W.

I returned home Sunday, leaving N Manchester about 9a, arriving home about 2:20p with 1 10-min stop for gas in Wabash IN, where I spotted a 1976 or 1977 (couldn't tell if it had a stand-up ornament or not) light/creme-colored MC with brown vinyl top turning left onto IN SR 15 from IN SR 24 E. I took IN RT 13 S to IN-IL SR 24 W to IL RT 47 N, along which I spotted my 72 MC's "twin" near Yorkville (if I remember correctly) with a for sale sign.....hmmmm...

*pauses*

If I passed anybody along my trails, I'm sorry I missed you this trip...maybe next time. [I know I missed people during my eastern trip through IN, OH, PA, VA & TN last year, too.] I realize I didn't post my path before I left, but I wasn't sure exactly what my plans were or my exact route. I'll be heading to MI this coming weekend, then to WI at the end of September, & out west (Kansas, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, etc.) in October....

I'll try to post the travel plans & routes in more detail in advance for my western trip, in case anyone is on my way.... But, for now, a quick preview (leaving Elgin either Tuesday October 12 or Wednesday October 13)...I-55 S to I-70 W to Kansas, then I-70 W to Denver, then I-25 N to I-80 W to Utah, then to NM (route TBD), then I-40 E to Oklahoma City, then I-35 S to Dallas/FW Texas, then I-30 E to I-40 W, to I-55 N, to I-57 N to home.

I can't wait until, according to William Least Heat-Moon, I'm "...(M)oving without going anywhere, taking a trip instead of making one ... turning the windshield into a movie screen in which I, the viewer, did the moving while the subject held still."


A few other reminders/notes:

Woodward Dream Cruise/1st Gen MC E Meet, 8/19-8/22, MI: I'll be heading to MI Thursday evening late (probably via I-290, I-294 and I-94) for the Woodward Dream Cruise/1st Gen MC Eastern Meet, http://www.firstgenerationmontecarlo.com ... At Woodward, the 1st Gen MC club will be parked in the grassy area at the intersection of Woodward Ave & Huron St (near The Daily Oakland Press).



10th Annual Lions' Homecoming Car Show...Saturday, 8/28...Weldon IL: I'll be heading down Saturday morning, http://www.virtual-carshow.com/weldon



MID-W Fall Gathering '04, Friday-Saturday, 9/10-9/11, Elgin/Volo/S Elgin IL

This Mid-West Fall Gathering '04 Weekend Cruise will feature:

* Friday cruise, 6p-10p, at Caribou Coffee/Wendy's, Randall Rd, Elgin (other activities later)

* Saturday trip to Volo Auto Museum, 10a-4p (leaving Elgin area about 9a), see site for price & other info, http://www.volocars.com

* Saturday cruise, 6p-10p, Beef Villa, Spring St/McLean Blvd, S Elgin (other activities later)

If you plan to come, let me know....plenty of hotels in the area if you need a place to stay!



Weekly IL Cruise Nights!

TUEs
* (1st/3rd) Elgin ... 9/7, 9/21, 10/5 ... Double K Productions, SteakNShake, Randall Rd (W side of road; just S of IL RT 20), http://www.doublekproductions.com


WEDs
* Geneva ... 9/1, 9/15, 9/29 ... Goody's, IL RT 38 (E of Randall Rd)
* Hampshire ... 8/18 ... Crusaders, Red Ox, IL RT 72, http://www.carclubCrusadersIL.homestead.com
* Elmhurst ... 8/25 ... Cars Under the Stars, Super Chevy Night, City Center on York, http://www.elmhurstcitycentre.com
* St Charles ... 9/8, 9/22, 9/29 ... Double K Productions, Rookies Sportsbar, IL RT 64 (E of Randall Rd)


THUs
* Crystal Lake ... 9/2 ... Classic Car Nights, downtown
* Schaumburg ... 9/16 ... Chicago RodFathers, Frato's, Roselle Rd (W side of road; between Schauburg & Wise Rds)
* Geneva ... 9/30 ... Car Show, IL RT 38 (W of IL RT 31; downtown)


FRIs
* Elgin ... 8/27, 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1 ... N IL St Rod Assoc, Wendy's/Caribou Coffee, Randall Rd & Bowes Rd (E side of Randall, N side of Bowes), http://www.nilsra.com


SATs
* S Elgin ... 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2 ... Kane County Gearheads, Beef Villa, Spring St/Hopps Rd & McLean Blvd (W side of McLean; S side of Spring St/Hopps Rd; E of Randall Rd)
* Freeport ... Saturday night races ... dates TBD (possibly replacing S Elgin dates)
* Sycamore ... Saturday afternoon car show; Saturday night races ... dates possible/TBD


Cort, "Mr MC"/"Mr Road Trip"/"The Uniter", 30swm/pig valve/pacemaker
'72/'76/'79/'81/'87 & train & models = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
Spotting MCs = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html
MC's Future = http://www.projectmonte.com/petition/

 

[tobagotwo]

Well, when you get somewhere near the Allentown, PA area sometime, gimme a holler. That's about an hour or so away. Actually, let me know if you hit Eastern PA or anywhere in NJ. Then I can think, "mebbe."

Best wishes,

 

[Guest]

*nods*

I can do that . Thank ya!

 

[Guest]

In case any of you are interested, here is some pics a friend of mine took at the Woodward Dream Cruise....

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/rtcouture

That'll give you a taste, anyway.... Tons of other pictures taken by countless other people...lol.

 

[gijanet]

As usual, just reading your itinerary............

As usual, just reading your itinerary............

leaves me completely exhausted. In fact my eyelids were drooping until I saw that Texas thrown in there.............followed by a Dallas/Ft.Worth. Woke me right up - for a second or two anyway. Sounds great. Maybe Kittenwoman, Hackiesack Tom, the Papergirl and I could all marry up somewhere to roast - no, no, I mean greet, you. And don't forget Suzy Q from the ring. Shoot for a weekend.

Having said all that, with a three year old (who goes back for her next PC checkup Oct. 7th to see if we can stall surgery another two months), and an 11 year old with chronic Boy Scout activities, and a husband who is full-time military, I don't even know what I am doing this coming weekend, but this far out, I think we could probably swing it. Keep us posted as you firm up your dates.

Take care and God bless..............

 

[Guest]

*grins*

Glad I could wake you up

*pauses*

Sounds good, Janet!

Although, I can't guarantee a weekend stop...we shall see....

And, yep, as the where/when plans are finalized, I'll be a postin' 'em .

 

[Sherry]

Hi, Cort. Thought you may enjoy reading about the "frogs" that have descended upon Evansville. I saw them all over town last night as I was driving home from the tennis match. Take care.

http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/news/article/0,1626,ECP_734_3141330,00.html

 

[Guest]

Sherry,

That's this weekend, right? I thought about coming, but since a buddy of mine is one of the ones putting on the car show tomorrow in Weldon IL, I figured I'd go to that .

Have fun seeing all the cars in Evansville .

 

[Sherry]

Yea, this weekend. This event is such a boon to the local economy that the merchants really roll out the red carpet for the hot rod visitors. It's such a cool thing to see them dotting the various parking lots and cruising down the Lloyd Expressway and Highway 41. I really hope you can come down for it next year. BTW, this morning's paper has a supplement dedicated to the event, and I'll bring it out to Golden to give to you.
Take care