We had a cruise to the Meems Bottom Covered Bridge near Mt.
Jackson, VA a couple years ago and it was very successful by all the feedback I
got. Over the ensuing months I have had
a few people ask me, “when was I going to do another one?” One person from Fredericksburg was very persistent….I
won’t mention her name but she rides in a red 2006 Silverado with yellow flames…. This person plans and executes cruises for
her club and I couldn’t figure out why she just didn’t plan it herself!? But she was unrelenting….when she came around
selling the 50/50 tickets at their cruise on Friday night she sometimes asked “When
are we going to the covered bridge Chuck?”
I knew I had to plan another cruise….
The local car show/cruise calendar is very full and with the
rain causing make up events to be added to the already full schedule, I was
having some difficulty planning a day that would work. Our group, Cruisin For Heroes, manages a
monthly cruise at the Bruster’s Ice Cream shop in Culpeper, VA. We decided to fold the covered bridge cruise
in with our monthly Bruster’s cruise!
WHEW!!!! We planned the route to
begin in the more or less centralized location of Opal, VA and run West 47
miles to Luray, VA and a Liberty gas station for the pit stop. Then we would proceed 19 more miles, over
another mountain range, to Mt. Jackson and the Meems Bottom Covered Bridge. After our photo shoot at the bridge we would
run 58 miles to Culpeper, VA and the Bruster’s cruise. A very long, busy day!
At the start point in Opal we had about 32 vehicles when the
launch time got close….but for some reason we only had 24 vehicles go to the
bridge? One of our group had car trouble
at the main intersection near the start point and we had to play ‘how many guys
does it take to push a ’55 Chevy about 100 yds, some of it up hill to the
McDonalds parking lot’. A couple of us
old gimpy guys don’t push very well, so we stopped traffic on one of the most
traveled secondary roads in Virginia, Rt. 29, while the gaggle of guys provided
the motive power to the incapacitated Chebbie.
The owner wanted us to go ahead and leave since we were already about 20
min late, he and his wife would stay with the car till his friend (pastor) came
with his trailer to retrieve the intransient hot rod. I felt it would be ok to leave since he had
help coming and there was food, drink, restroom, and A/C onsite. We were two guys less in our group since two
were at Bruster’s setting up for our arrival later….and since I was the only
one that knew the route we were taking I led the group. We said goodbye to our friends and began the
journey!
For the first leg of the cruise we left McD’s and worked our way
to Rt. 211 using back roads. While
traveling on Rt. 211 we went through the Shenandoah National Park and at
Thornton Gap, elevation 2460’, we went under the Skyline Drive then down the
other side to Luray, VA. After the pit
stop and a brief drivers meeting we launched toward New Market, VA on Rt. 211
up over another mountain where Rt. 211 ended at Rt. 11. We turned North for a few miles to Wissler
Rd. and the Meems Bottom bridge was right over the river….what a concept, a
bridge over a river!
The purpose of the cruise was to travel the countryside of
Virginia with our hot rods but also to take some pictures of the hot rods
around the covered bridge. Since the
bridge is actually one that is actively used we could drive the vehicles
through the bridge and circle around on the other side and take pictures as they
leave the bridge on the sunny side….a good photo setup! We took all the pictures we wanted and
mingled around talking with friends.
After about an hour we were ready to saddle up and cruise to the food!
Since no one needed to stop at the pit stop on the way back we
would be cruising nonstop to Culpeper.
We would retrace our earlier route till we reached Sperryville, VA. Here we would leave Rt. 211 and begin running
Rt. 522. We would take Rt. 522 into the
heart of Culpeper, we would utilize three traffic circles to keep the group
together until we turned onto Rt. 29bus.
A few miles later after one more turn we arrived at Bruster’s….food!
The music was playing, thanks to DJ Chip, and about 20 vehicles
were already parked. We all folded in
with them and began to enjoy the cruise.
Kim & Crystal ran the 50/50 for us again, I’m really glad they volunteered
to do that for us. Can you imagine how
much money a couple old grumpy guys could extort from people for the
50/50? Ladies are much better at separating
guys from their money than other guys are….grinning I had been bitten on the leg by something
when I was walking in the grass taking pictures of the cars near the bridge! My legs were beginning to swell a little so I
was gimping around more than usual….but the show goes on! Lou had arranged for State Farm Ins to be at
the cruise offering to give quotes for vehicle insurance. Something a little different but they were
giving $20 to Fisher House for each quote even if you didn’t take their
insurance!
About 6PM some very dark clouds began to roll
in….the hot rodders began to leave. We
called the event 30 min early incase it began to rain, it didn’t! Jim called the 50/50 winner and announced that
the Bruster’s manager’s pick was the very nice red ’39 Ford convertible. After that most everyone vacated the
lot. Some vacated louder and with tire
smoke….we may have to have a police presence next time,, hehehe It was a very long, fun day and difficult
retelling all the little things that made it memorable. You just have to come along and make your own
memories next time….
