There were
some “young” hot rodders in the mix….driving their gen 4 Camaro’s and Trans
Ams. One of the Trans Am drivers is the
son of the guy that had the turquoise T bucket at the 5N Diners years ago….cool
deal. We need to dialog with the young
people about their cars, it’s what they like and can afford….and their Trans Am’s
and Camaro’s are not too shabby of a ride!
We got to see Fred & Debie’s ’57 Dodge with the new paint….like Carl
says “It’s all Mopar, two tone paint….what’s not to like?” It was a nice warm evening….till the sun went
down then the chill came back and most of us ran for warmer environs….like rats
leaving a sinking ship! Coach’s audience
was vanishing right before his eyes as he was playing the tunes….bizarre.
Saturday we
cruised 55 miles to Ashland, VA to check out the River City Diner….it is a
meeting place and cruise for some of the “southern” folks. It was OK….the food was very good but the
service was marginal. We left the diner
and cruised a couple miles to O’Banks restaurant and the Memorial cruise for
Ray Beach of Fre-Ray
Sounds. I spoke to Ray a couple times
over the years and found him to be a friendly and helpful person….he will be
sorely missed by the people that he lifted their spirits through the music he
played and the friendship he extended.
At 5 PM everyone at the cruise started their engines and revved them up
in remembrance of Ray. I think the
electric Prius near us drowned out my trucks exhaust noise! I have to fix that someday. The Princess says not to worry….she can tell
when the motor is running because the radio antenna shakes….I feel
better….not.
The cruise
was attended by about 40 cars….all very nice but I liked the Dk. Green ’37
Chevy sedan….very menacing. One of the neat things about the cruise was the
welcoming behavior some of the people extended to us. There was a blonde lady that visited us
twice, once to welcome us to the cruise and once bidding us farewell and a safe
trip home….then invited us back! Another
white haired gentleman talked with us like a long lost cousin….made us feel
comfortable and relaxed. We left about
7PM and cruised uneventfully home….a great day!
Sunday we met
up with Jim & Linda and left Stafford for the day’s adventure. Along the way we hooked up with Bob &
Benda right outside of Midland and now we were three! We like car shows and drive in cruises but we
really like to drive the hot rod….so we are always in a discovery mode to see
where we can explore next. Fortunately
we have always been this way so when we cruised all those years with the Harley
we didn’t know we were forging routes that we would later use with the hot rod.
When we
first moved to VA in 1973, Interstate 66 was incomplete to I-81; it just ended
in Gainesville, VA. We drove to Front
Royal and Skyline Drive via Rt. 55 almost exclusively. But when I-66 was completed it made running
Rt. 55 very tedious. So….Sunday we would
run Rt. 55 from Marshall, VA to Front Royal, VA and end up at South Street
Grill on Rt. 55…..a cruise that should be about 75 miles out. Except for a couple spots of intersection
indecision when my navigator was arguing with the GPS….it rolled very well. And the countryside was magnificent.
South Street
Grill is a neat little restaurant with a diner like attitude. They always have been motorcycle and hot rod
friendly and Sunday they did not disappoint.
From the tables & chairs, the floor and wall decorations to the
napkin dispensers with pictures of hot rods that have visited….it’s all
there. And the food was really good too;
Burgers, fries, salads, melts and the Princess had a to die for cherry coke that
was larger than 16oz! It’s not cloth
table coverings and little finger up in the air while you eat/drink kind of
place but rather nice old time food and atmosphere….comfortable and fun.
We told
enough stories to and about each other that should last a while so we thanked
the staff and mounted up for the return trip.
We would take a different route back that would be about 112 miles. Bob
and Benda left us in Culpeper but we pressed on towards Fredericksburg. The closer we got there the truck just
started guiding on it’s own….right to Carl’s Ice Cream. The
Princess must visit Carl’s whenever we are within 50 miles of it….it’s then
considered “on the way”….silly me.
Princess rules and maps are so confusing.
After
running about 190 miles in the Virginia countryside with friends we decided to
call it a day. With our tummy’s full of
ice cream we headed home again and all ended well! I love this hobby.
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