Home

Well we made it home late Monday. Tomorrow I have to go back to work but that is not bad because I have not stopped since I got home and it is to hot here. The trip was great would we do it again yes but not in a 29 pickup next time it will be in a sedan or a newer pickup maybe my 32 pickup. Total miles driven was 6500.

Back To Dumas

Today we drove from Gunnison Colorado to Dumas Texas long hard drive across the mountains. Originally we were going to drive to Durango. For those that know me I own a 1967 Airstream trailer r. I have been wanting to go to the vintage airstream meet in Salida Colorado well this year we were able to make it in the model a. There was 85 trailers I think the pickup got as much attention as the trailers. Maybe next year I can take my trailer. We had a bad breakdown today outside Raton New Mexico our cruise control quit. When your legs are folded inside a cramped 29 pickup the cruise helps alot. We found a broken wire when we arrived at the motel. Tomorrow we will finally be home.

Thank God for Autozone

Well technically this is the only breakdown we have had. Yesterday morning we left Boise Idaho with very little brakes. We were in the middle of nowhere about 40 miles from Boise. We pulled into a NAPA auto supply and asked for some silicon brake fluid that did not know what we were talking about I guess they were used to sell tractor parts. We drove 10 miles down the road to another little town that had a Autozone they had silcone fluid on the shelf. Upon furthur inspection we found a hole in a brake line. The manager loaned us atubing bender so we did a parking lot repair. Today we are in Gunnison Colorado about 800 miles from home we should be home late Monday or Tuesday.

Mormon Tabernacle

We spent the night last night in Salt Lake City. This is a inside picture of the Mormon church the church seats 21000.

Homeward bound

We are in Boise Idaho at a Inn America this motel cost $57.00 one of the cheapest and nicest places we have stayed. If you do not have AAA and you travel you are missing out because the AAA book is where we found this motel. We had to leave the meet Tues. morning because it is 2700 miles home and I have to be at work next Friday the 13th. We spent the day yesterday in Portland with my sister sightseeing. Sorry I forgot to take my camera. For you Model A fans this is a new original looking five main bearing cast iron block Terry Burtz from Cal. is working on these he is going to try and market the block crank and rods for $3000.00 looks like I might be getting on the list. Well the meet was fun the short time we were there about 460 registration. Tomorrow we will be stoppin in Salt Lake City.

National Convention

Today has been very busy the swapmeet was from 8:00-10:00. I was busy selling a A/C so we were late to the engine seminar. At 11:45 we went on a road rally that went all over Vancouver. I thought we had done really good on the rally we did not miss anything then when my navigator (Matt) turned in our sheet he realized that he had not read the instructions and you were supposed to count all of the speed bumps during the rally so I guessed we missed one. The evening welcome party was nice. Well the bad news tomorrow about noon we will be heading home another 2700 miles. My back has not recovered from before we got on the ferry. This is a picture of a snow machine I have never seen one I do not think we need these in Texas.

1st day MAFCA meet

Well for those that know me you know I do not like non original restorations. This car was just finished it is a copy of a custom built Model A from the early 30's it was extremelly nice. The front of the car is cabrolet the back was custom. A few minor modern upgrades were new miller overhead valves, 4speed, and much needed A/C. The meet was supposed to start off with the hill race. The race was on the other side of the airport in the middle of no where. The Police arrived early and we were told they were writing tickets the speed limit was 30KM and they had clocked one of the racers at over 50KM. Art Moore said Olive had just finished running over 70MPH before the Police arrived. The city had told the meet that it was ok to have the race their and a permit would not be required the Police said it was not ok and a permit was required.
So sorry race fans no pictures this year. So the day was spent in the parking lot talking to friends.

Alaska

Well we finally made it here. Well I got the last four post backwards maybe Lynda can flip them around for me.

Heritage museum

This picture was taken in Ketchikan Alaska. The museum was full of antique totem poles. The ferry stops off at all the same places the cruise ships do we got tired of tourist shops and jewelery stores.

Camping on deck

This was home away from home for four nights our tent is the green one on the right. Their was seven tents here two tents on the deck above us. A lot of people slept in folding lounges on the deck above us. Would I do this again yes. Camping does not bother me and it was very nice outside.

Finally Here

Well we finally made it to the end of the ferry line Bellingham Washington. We bought some cheap gas in the U.S. before we crossed back over the border to Canada $313 per gallon. The gas in Vancouver cost more than we were paying in the other parts of Canada. The ferry ride was not as nice as a cruise even though it cost as much because the pickup cost $797 and our passage was $353 each no food or lodging. The ferry travels closer to the shoreline we saw humpback whales, orcas, bears, and eagles. The ride was very senic we met people from Australia, Sweden, and Germany. The food was cafeteria style and not to bad. Everything was great except I got a stomach virus for 24 hours.

The Ferry Tale

A Map of the Skagway to Vancouver ferry route.

An Alaskan Ferry.

Just heard from Ken and he asked that I let everyone know that the ferry does not have Internet. So Ken won't be posting, officially, to his blog unless he tells me something to post. In our phone call, I learned that he's been paying about $4 to $5 per gallon for gasoline. OUTRAGEOUS!!! I know! Luckily, he won't need gas on the ferry :) (not that it's economical). Their one star hotel last night cost them $124, and he said it was an "okay" hotel room. Skagway is very expensive, it seems. He and Matt had burgers that were "on sale" for $10 each. Luckily it was, "the best burger I ever ate." And they have camped out for about a week, so at least that saved them some money :) They cooked a lot in camp, making bacon, eggs, gravy, etc., for breakfast and also feasting on grilled steaks, soup, and "foil" burgers (a boyscout meal) for dinner.

Picture of Skagway:
Some cars on the ferry (I just pulled these pics on the internet).

Well, there isn't much to do in Skagway, so he was glad they chose to stay 3 days in Whitehorse. He said the Model A is constantly surrounded by people taking pictures and asking him questions, so I'm sure he is in hog heaven. He told me that sometimes old gentlemen get disgruntled and want to argue about his General Jumbo wheels or his Ford grandbaby Pinto engine. Some things never change ;) He also told me that a lady reported seeing a grisly strolling down the Alaskan Hwy, ignoring the vehicles. Nice little anecdote, so here's another one:

According to the locals, there are only one or two legit jewelry stores (dare I think Ken was shopping jewelry?). A jewelry spot costs about $25,000 to let, and many Middle Eastern companies have come in offering $100,000 for the spots, and, the locals say, they don't have customers. It is thought that they laundry money. Hmmmm.

When last I spoke with Ken, they were waiting in line to board the ferry. I hope they enjoy the cruise and take lots of pictures. They elected the more economical route, so they will be sleeping out on the barge instead of having an estate room. Something tells me they have the better "view." I'm sure the night sky will be huge and the stars bright. Let's wish them bon voyage!!!

(Some campers on an Alaskan ferry).

Still in the Yukon.

This will be our third night to stay in the Yukon. Tomorrow we will be in Skagway Alaska to catch the ferry to Vancouver for the MAFCA meet. We have been very busy. Yesterday we went to a dog home 132 dogs. The owner has raced in the Yukon Quest 24 times and had the fastest record for 12 years. This was very interesting. We also saw a eagle at the dog home. Today we visited several museums including the last paddle wheel used between Whitehorse and Dawson City (1955).

Well it has been a while since we have posted. I spent two hours last night loading pictures with slow speed internet at the campgrounds in Whitehorse Yukon. We atarted Mon. at the 0 mark in Dawson Creek Canada on the Alaskan Hwy. today we are in Whitehorse 888miles up the Alaskan hwy. This has been a beautiful drive lots of wildlife the roads have been pretty good some gravel and lots of road repair. We have been camping in the state parks which have been very pretty. The best one was Liard hotsprings the water starts at 70 deg. at the bottom pool and goes to 130 deg at the top. This picture is at Watson lake people from all over the world have nailed signs from where they are from thousands of signs. We will be leaving Whitehorse Sat. to go to Skagway to ride the ferry down to Vancouver.

Yukon

Yukon Wildlife

Liard Hotsprings

Alaskan Hwy.

Prince George Train Museum

Today we stopped in Prince George; tomorrow we will be driving on the Alaskan Highway in the Yukon. We might not be posting for a couple of days because we are going to try to do some camping in the Yukon. We visited the train museum in Prince George. This picture is of a wooden train snowplow that was built in 1903 and used through the 50's when it was replaced with a steel plow.

Glacier

This is one of the glaciers; we camped a few miles from here. It has been hard to stop because everywhere we go we have to answer alot of questions. At this stop a lady told Matt to move so she could take a picture of the truck. Everyone is shocked that we left Tues. -- about 2400 miles so far.

Entering Canada

We have been driving through some beautiful mountains. We camped last night in the Canadian Rockies. Yesterday and today we saw three glaciers, some deer, antelope and bullwinkle. Bullwinkle would not stop long enough so we could take his picture.

Day 4: Kalispell, Montana

We have drove and drove for the last two days. We have traveled about 1750 miles since leaving Tuesday morning. Tonight, we are in Kalispell Montana, about 100 miles from the Canadian border. The scenery has been great, lots of step mountains and wind today. This picture was taken yesterday at Little Big Horn National Park where Custer had his last stand. Yesterday we visited a hotel in Buffalo Wyoming that started in the 1870's in a tent. Buffalo Bill and Teddy Roosevelt supposedly have stayed there. The hotel was won in high stakes poker game in the early 1900's. Today all we saw was alot of mountains and cattle ranches.

Day 2

Today has been a long day we drove from Dumas Tx. to Chevene Wy. 466 miles. Long drive in a old ford. We drove north from Tx to the east side of CO. There is nothing to see or do on this side of Co. just flat land and open sky. I could not get my camera to upload a picture the internet is real slow here. We changed the carburator when we got here the old carb was hard to start when the engine was hot. For thoese interested I installed a universal audiovox cruise control I mounted the magnet to the front of the crank pulley this thing works great.

Where in the World is Ken and Matthew?

Picture: Packed and ready to go yesterday morning.

I just heard from Ken. He doesn't believe they have internet in their room, so I'm giving a small update in their stead. Tonight they are in Cheyenne, WY. I think they may have driven about 500 miles today. They traveled through the East side of Colorado, "boring," he said, then skirted Denver. Since they gained an hour, Matt suggested they keep driving to Cheyenne. Leave them a comment here and let them know that you're keeping tabs on them. :) LD

Home to Dumas TX.

Well today has not been too eventful. We drove over 400 miles to try to get out of the Texas heat as fast as we could. We stopped at the Panhandle Museum today. This is a picture of Matt in front of a Pierce Arrow. If you get a chance to see this museum it is great. Tomorrow we should be in Colorado.

Getting Ready to leave in the morning.

This is a painting that Lynda had made on our first aniversary. This is the 29 Ford pickup that my son Matt and I will be taking in the morning to travel to Alaska and the National Model A meet in Vancouver Canada. It has been a tiring day trying to get everything loaded and ready.