Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside RESTO-GO!

[flashed]

Great trip , looking forward to the next one . What did you think of the Antigue Archeology Shop ? I have been to their store in Nashville and the real good stuff is not for sale ,mostly just trinkets and T shirts .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Great trip , looking forward to the next one . What did you think of the Antigue Archeology Shop ? I have been to their store in Nashville and the real good stuff is not for sale ,mostly just trinkets and T shirts .

Back home.

Still got a week to write up.

I do hope some stalkers appreciate it




I think one thing to just highlight, as it has come up on various trip thread entries that I posted, is that Andy relies on 1% common sense from his guests and looks after the rest of their safety himself.

So safety glasses at all times when working, feeding furnaces using grinders, drills, and heavy duty leather gauntlets are available on all benches etc, should you then screw up, it is not his fault is it?

Also, more importantly......

When he casts, it is outside under the roof, and all guests need to be inside the shop on the concrete. Once again, the 1%Common sense also comes into play. We possibly transgressed many times and he did shout at us a few times. Ultimately, synthetic trainers won’t make a blind bit of difference.

I hope that makes it clear for many of the readers, stalkers, watchers and critics who have perfect H&S records.

Few more pics from Andy’s for the tractor fetishists.

Ford truck engine, was driven to where it is now awaiting TLC.





Tractors, loads of them and some more around.











Later

[Grizz1963]

So after a good nights sleep we headed out of Republic the next morning via Clever.

Back onto the motorways and headed South toward St Louis, via some Antique stores to hand the rental back in, and unpack it before we did that, and to pick up Dennis’ daily banger Lumina he uses for work commuting up and down I-70

Of course because all three of us are always early, we hit the antiques stores just after 09.00 only to find every one opens at 10.00
But one had two vehicles parked in front of it, and a Coca Cola vending machine and a load of other goods.
Craig jumped out and went to try the front door......
Eureka!!!
Opened at 09.00

So we parked up and went if for a quick browse, that turned into 2 hours of only covering half the concession stands and shop, before heading out again.

I love these stores and bargains are to be had, but buyer beware as prices vary greatly, even between vendors.

Some random pics for your pleasure. (Well, those still on board and enjoying the ride)





Bought myself a street sign for $5.00 to put in my back yard as my house is no 9, bit of a tenacious link, but hey.... it’s my place.



I have a single 50p stirrup already, but this was interesting.







Spent $24.00 plus Sales Tax on this single wood and leather stirrup......

My money, my home and all that.

Beautiful detail to leather, and must have cost the original land owner a lot of money. So happy to have it on my American wall of weirdness.



Inside, less but equally lovely detail.



From there we headed down the motorway again, Dennis and Craig also bought some stuff, hopefully Craig will post up his HUMDINGER of a purchase that came back in his bag.......

Some great place names.



And product placement.



Picking up birds.



We did a mini detour to the Case knife outlet in Lebanon Missouri too.

Turns out it was Kim, the managers bithday, so she posed for us.

Also tried real hard to get us to stay over and come to the open day on Saturday.



Craig and I both went a little mad, leaving with a few knives and multi tools.

I love John Deere, so this cabinet had a real attraction for me.





Got myself this, depending on the angle it is salmon pink or orange.

Crocker and Boone Limited Edition.





Craig’s



One I got at a Flea market shop for $5.00

Mechanical assist.



Same shop.



Many bridge crossings.

I love these old bridges across the States.



Loads of this going on.





Read the label.

Yes, really.






Eventually made it back to St Louis, to unload and return the car.

3300 miles on that leg of the Three Amigos Road Trip.

Then a well deserved beer or two and headed out to see Roger



Great times.

[Grizz1963]

Some of you may have realised that Dennis is an incredibly talented and funny guy.

Friday night we chilled at home, beers, Jack and many stories were told.

At one point the tears were running down my face from his stories.

Maybe they should be in a book one day.



Saturday morning Craig and Hanna were discussing the plans and progress of the house/shop

No idea what he said to make her respond like the teenager she is.



We did various small jobs around the house and shop.

I got to do some welding too, creating a bullet proof rake that Craig and I made up from scrap.



Followed later on by some earth moving and compacting in the new house, till Adam broke the compactor.




By 1.30 Dennis pulled Craig and I aside and we got in the truck, headed for Ethyls for a snack.

Going via the race car shop to make Roger a prezzie for the burn out strip.

I love the weight saving in these cars.



Car on the left, converted two seater with 350 crate motor for demos.







Done.



Ethyls













Wings again.



And introducing Cortney.



She puts the short into shorts.



From there we headed to Rogers burnout party.

[Grizz1963]

For those who virtually know Marmaduke Frootloops.

The time came at 17 years old tonight.



Harley will miss him for sure.

[Grizz1963]

Quick comment from another forum.


Dukey was great in his own quiet, unassuming way.

Fooling us all into thinking he was not too bright......

Till the day I covered his poopy house in branches and he pooped in my washing line post hole after shouting at me for a while about not being able to get into the garden bed that was his toilet.

[Grizz1963]

[font size="6"]Back to the Road Trip[/font]


After leaving Ethyls, we headed to Rogers place near O’Fallon where he had last years Burnout Picnic.

Due to all the rain and bad weather a lot of people did not come, compared to last years picnic.

Sad really as Roger and Debbie had prepared food and drink for so many people,

He sponsors this party from his own pocket.

Tylers cooler box showed us we were in the right place.



Due to the weather and complete failure of attendance, Roger moved it all down to one of his workshops, in stead of next to the lake.





Remember this from last year??

Closer this time.



The girl reminds me a whole load of one of my lady friends, Helene.



Roger Orf’s sense of humour and fun evident even on his trucks.



After leaving Rogers, we all went home to get ready for more food.......

We had a family table booked at Harry J’s Steakhouse. He is one of Adam and Dennis’ prime sponsors on the sprint cars we saw so much of last year. Adams day job in construction is keeping him busy 18/24 currently, six days a week, so racin has taken a temporary back seat.



Dennis had also reserved a few Prime Rib steaks for Craig and I.


Keep in mind, we had late lunch at Ethyls and been drinking all day, not at all drunk and unruly, but certainly relaxed.


Once everyone had regrouped we headed out to Moscow, Missouri to Harry J’s included was Granny Dorothy with her bottle of continuous oxygen and unstoppable sense of humour, putting up with Craig and I teasing her most of the time.

More gratiuotous (spelling) food shots.



At the bar, I saw a plate for our own Bstardchild Init?



Deep fried green beans and dip anyone?



Deep fried Pickle....??

I hear you say WT actual F ??

Just trust me......



Prime beef rib steak, blackened, Cajun style, done Medium Rare.

Melt in your mouth good.

Yes, it is a large steak, $23.00 including sweet potato fries and sides.

And nope...........

I did not have it alone.

Craig and I had already had a large meal of wings at Ethyls, so we shared this one.

It was good





After dinner where Dave the owner picked up the drinks bill for all of us, we headed home.

Bed by near midnight, we were headed out to a flea market/Bootfair by 06.30 Sunday morning.

Despite the rain that kept interfering with our vacation, while we just ignored it.

[Grizz1963]

Sunday morning early, coffee drunk, beds made etc, we were out early.

By now we had also decided that despite Adam desperately wanting us to take his Hellcat that was hardly being used, like his 2400 mile Harley, to get a few thousand miles onto it for him, and as we had access to any vehicle on site, except for Dennis’ daily Lumina, we would use Adams “Small Silverado” rather than the Dualies on site, or any of the other cars.



Off to spend some cash.



Carpark, well, part of it.



$20.00 Radio Flyer, tempting, very tempting.



First blood.

Craig’s $5.00 novelty cigarette lighter.



Another knife for my collection, $7.00



All sorts of stuff.

Dennis bought a few items, including some vintage display stands for his gas station.

Lights, not overpriced.



After three hours, we headed to White Castle for breakfast.

Check out just one page of the menu, also check out the numbers in the deals.



Known by many as Belly Bombers.



After brekkie, we headed to Lowes for guttering for the gas station.

Craig loves Hallowe’en

I don’t.



New Toyota Camry outside, I liked that.





Then home again as Debbie’s mum had arranged for a catered “Southern” lunch which included a mountain of food and too much beer for Sunday lunch for all comers to celebrate Dennis and Debbie’s birthdays

While at Andy’s place I had managed to destroy my one flip flop when it stopped in the mud, while I carried on walking....

So Craig and I grabbed the 1987 GMC Caballero and headed back to town to some shoe shops and Walmart to find me some new safety shoes, and trainers in the end.

What an awesome, smooth ride this is.

Craig was instantly smitten.





https://youtu.be/fySkqqMiG_c

Eventually we made it back home, with time having completely gotten away from us.

We got a bollocking. And apologised for not singing to Dennis and Deb for their birthdays, then had all the food to choose from, before going out to Adam and Hanna’s Shop/house that is in process.

Donnie who is recovering from a nasty cancer at the moment, Adams neighbour had come around as well as a load of other friends.



Golf karts make these properties much smaller.

Riding with Dennis to fetch more beers........ yard art Chevy truck next to his pond.





We were in the Shop/House talking, drinking beers, Rum for me, maybe 10-12 of us, when Warren asked me if we had ever shot a gun, being from England.

It took a while to explain that I was ex military a long time ago, Craig and his wife’s parents both owned farms and that being from South Africa, we had both shot guns before and liked to shoot guns.

Now, you should never mix guns and beer,.......

Always get someone to hold your beer first, you don’t want to spill it.

[Grizz1963]

One clip I forgot to post up......

Atthe Fleamarket, one of the vendors keeps a wheel of fortune where you can pay a dollar and win up to 5x the value.

I was prepared to pay for this lady to play, justto film it, as I never saw that at a UK Bootfair before.

https://youtu.be/4jOpGJhs9EY



Dennis and Debbie keep a very family oriented home.

Kids, grand kids all welcome.

So of course inthe afternoon, the kids toys come out too.

https://youtu.be/ttj9UwPF9IQ

Now, you should never mix guns and beer,.......

Always get someone to hold your beer first, you don’t want to spill it.

Craig, always aware of this rule, followed the rules.

https://youtu.be/swetpmGFrCc

It was so funny, having all these guys, running amuck fetching all sorts of guns, shotguns and revolvers and boxes and boxes of ammo.

The more we drank, the more targets we had.



Deadeye Kritzinger at it.



Tyler went off on a quad to his place and came back with shotgun, revolver and pistols.

So different to what we are used to overhere.



Hanna fetched her pink 9mm to add to the fun, the girl can shoot.



Cowboy Tyler.......

Another guy who I prefer not to face with a gun in his hands.



And then it got turned up a notch or two......

Clay pigeon shooting with beer cans.



Later some messing in the workshop.

https://youtu.be/yGWYH4kIQyM



Nope, I would not think of it either.



Really nice tool.



Always clear up after yourself.





After we finished shooting, with the day headed for a close, Adam brought out the Harley and insisted on Craig taking it for a decent ride down the motorway.



https://youtu.be/xmMFklxEzE0


Sunday evening eventually calmed down to a point that we were all sitting out onDennis’ new gas station deck, just chatting and chilling.


Perfect.

Monday Craig and I would be off to Iowa to see www.kelderman.com as guests of Derek, and then off to Monroe to meet up with and stay with Ray and Eve and their awesome dogs, a whole trip in itself.


Later.

[Grizz1963]

When we got to Kelderman, we were met by Bo, the shop security dog.





Evidence everywhere of hobbies, interests and passions.



Derek introduced us to Jeff, the VP as part of our tour.

He will be along soon to add some video links to some of their builds too.

We saw a lot of stuff that is either in development, or private, also many customer trucks being fitted with various high lift kits.

I have to say, most of the stuff he showed us was way above my pay grade and understanding, but I loved it all.

This is a big concern.

Evidenced by a double storey red barn inside the factory.



Some more random pics of some of the builds, and toys.





This is how you move bales....



Wide body, wider wheels.



Good advice.



Jeff’s corner.

This was where my heart started to beat faster.







Lastly, the corporate tow truck.



Once we had completed the tour, we headed over to a small town called Beacon, that the Iowa State Trooper had suggested we go see.

Unfortunately, it was Monday 15.00 and when we got there, the sign said closed Monday and Tuesday.

But we saw something we wanted badly out front........

And so started another 2.5 hr story.

[Grizz1963]

So we got to the small antiques shop in Beacon, Iowa only to find it closed on a Monday and Tuesday.

This was of course Monday afternoon.

We did see a pair of Shell backed vintage steel chairs that we wanted to get for Dennis for the gas station veranda, so made some effort.

So we called the number on the door, first one, then the other.

Unfortunately my number must have come up as a strange number being a U.K. dealing code etc, and they put the phone down after answering it, and then continued to not answer.

Bugggerr!!

So Craig walked two properties over (there are no fences in Beacon) and spoke to an elderly lady who was mowing her significant lawn on a ride on mower.
She came back to the shop with him and tried to get hold of the owner for us too, using her mobile phone, but no luck.
So an hour later, we decided to give up and he’d North to Monroe to Ray and Eve’s place.

Upon leaving we drove past a corner property one block away, that had loads of yard art out front, for sale.

Craig and I stopped, to see if there was anything interesting to buy, and ended up speaking to the owner and her daughter and their dog........ typical small town story, husband had passed the year before and wife and daughter were trying to get rid of stock and sell up. Craig bought a small metal chicken from them, and while we were speaking to them and playing with the dog, asked if they knew the antique shops owner......

Yes, it was her late husbands friend and he had bought all the best stuff already for his shop.

Could you possibly try get hold of him for us??

The daughter had to prompt the mum to go fetch her phone and get hold of the owner, whom it turns out, is a full time plumber.

After 10 minutes she came out and said that he had agreed to come back and open up for us, could we wait 20 minutes?

This did turn into nearer an hour, but still worth it in the end.


So Steve met us at the shop and opened up all his buildings, one is a large road trailer filled with great stuff.


He agreed to sell the two chairs to us at exactly the price Craig and I had thought we would be prepared to pay.

I asked if he had any others that were rotten, damaged or cheaper too, and he said he had sow more, different to what we had bought, so we walked to another property and he showed us a square back, and a square back rocker. The rocker price was agreed, as they are a bit more rare and expensive.

Under them, under the tree was a “Glider” bench, three seater.........

This was the Holy Grail of this part of the trip.

Dennis wanted one desperately but they are crazy prices at antique stores and usually two seaters.

So I asked if it was for sale and Steve, the owner said it was not his, but after asking him, he called the owner, who was away, and got a price.

Contacting Dennis with photos, than you to our travelling internet hotspot and Messenger, followed by a call, it was agreed to buy it.....

This was a massive win, but we now had to load and secure it all and travel a few more days with our bounty on the rear of the Silverado.

Thankfully we were in the Midwest, where things rarely gets stolen, removed or interfered with.

So even in public spaces, overnight in car parks..... it was all safe.

I will post up some photos of just one range of collectibles Steve has, he has some seriously good stuff.


Pepsi.........


Anyone interested?


Too bad if not, pics up soon.

[Grizz1963]

All of the Stuff Steve has is his shop is good collector quality.

Craig bought an absolutely gorgeous vintage charm bracelet for his wife from Steve too and as I said to him, if I had someone who needed or deserved it and would use and enjoy it, I certainly would have been more envious.

Prices seemed high to me because I do not collect but I suspect collectors will know

Ultimately, the question “When last did you see one of them for sale?” Possibly rules





















As we drive off to rejoin the motorway up to Ray and Eves we saw why Pepsi stuff costs so much more.

Just not as common as this.



Hopefully Craig will come in and post a photo of his favourite bargain purchase and photo plus description of it.

I may just add that he is a keen Coca Cola collector too.


Back to Steves shop of antiques

He has a very good Sinclair sign, post and light.



Back to Dennis’ Birthday presents that we were lucky enough to find hundreds of miles away from St Louis in Beacon, Iowa after a discussion with an Iowa State Trooper on a Cassies gas and service station forecourt where he had bought his chewing tobacco......

The Glider in question under the tree after clearing the other stuff stacked on top of it, off.



Craig for size perspective when I needed to see if this was what Dennis wanted.



Loading the bounty.

Steve and his sone helped us learn ad and supplied a lot of cardboard to help protect the Silverado and pieces.

Note the brown Shell backed chair behind the Glider back and the white rocker backrest.
A couple of rubber bungee straps and a single lightweight ratchet strap held everything in place.
Capably tied by boyscout Craig.



I love this photo.

Its the one I took for Dennis after we had loaded “his Glider purchase” not showing the other chairs he was looking for as a surprise.



After all of this we hit the road in a hurry as we were “running late”

Letting Ray know our exact ETA according to Wayz that has been an awesome tool the whole trip.

Our arrival was greeted by a big smile, bear hugs and these one inch prime pork chops that he had put on the grill as we turned up his street.

Speak of military precission.



Dinner, beers and two large, lovely dogs next.

Ohhh and Eve, Rays lovely bride.


PS. Sorry for the load of spelling ang grammar errors in the previous entry.
iPad on an early train and not proof reading.

Later.

[CraigRK]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Hopefully Craig will come in and post a photo of his favourite bargain purchase and photo plus description of it.

I may just add that he is a keen Coca Cola collector too.

Hey all,

I've gone a bit quiet as I'm back to work and as you all know I tend to be a quiet when working as I seem to expend all my energy there.

As @Grizz said above, I love coke things. I doubt I'd qualify as a collector, but I certainly have the odd thing or two (like fridges, signs, etc). Well I spotted this little beauty but it felt a bot expensive, so I dithered about it, and then eventually made an offer as part of the deal and bought it.



Truth be told, I didn't really know what I was buying, all would become clear two days later when I spotted another for a different price, in a different store, in a different town, in a different state (but that's another story!!).

I'll leave the story here for you guys to guess what it is. If you follow me on Facebook, then please don't cheat, rather leave it for others to guess.

[Grizz1963]

Parked up in Des Moines, I was once again surprised, but it had become the norm, by how. Ray just left the Caddy open, windows all down, unlocked. (We were inside the antique shop for hours)

In many countries this would just not happen.

So we all had things we were looking for.

Ray was looking for rest, he has a back that kills him, due to shall we say a misspent youth, or life in general and he had a booking for his back to be treated the next week.

Eve was looking for gifts for her children.

Craig........... ?? The guy was hunting beaver, not shaved. And a few other things.

Grizz.....? Well, I needed nothing, but was still looking for some real, used, and good looking horse riding spurs or even just one, to hang on my mantle piece over the fireplace and some other random stuff, including Strawberry Depression glass for Debbie our hostess in St Louis for her birthday as she collects it. It’s both expensive and reasonably rare, but every now and then you find some for sale.

Wikipedia says:

Much depression glass is uranium glass. The Quaker Oats Company, and other food manufacturers and distributors, put a piece of glassware in boxes of food, as an incentive to purchase. Some movie theaters and businesses handed out pieces to patrons.

Most of this glassware was made in the Ohio River Valley of the United States, where access to raw materials and power made manufacturing inexpensive in the first half of the twentieth century. More than twenty manufacturers made more than 100 patterns, and entire dinner sets were made in some patterns. Common colors are clear (crystal), pink, pale blue, green, and amber. Less common colors include yellow (canary), ultramarine, jadeite (opaque pale green), delphite (opaque pale blue), cobalt blue, red (ruby and royal ruby), black, amethyst, monax, and white (milk glass).

Although of marginal quality, Depression glass has been highly collectible since the 1960s. Due to its popularity as a collectible,[1] it is becoming more scarce on the open market. Rare pieces may sell for several hundred dollars. Some manufacturers continued to make popular patterns after World War II, or introduced similar patterns, which are also collectible. Popular and expensive patterns and pieces have been reproduced, and reproductions are still being made.


So time for another PHOTODUMP.

First blood went to Eve, she found a beaver for Craig.

His wife, Lorraine is very active in scouting and works with the beavers. They were looking for a totem.
Yes, you are right.....

This is a girly Beaver.

But it was booked for gender reassignment before it even boarded the plane for England.



Coke collectors



Remember 1.5 liter glass bottles, returned for a deposit











Interesting plate, no, I did not buy it.

Wonder what it was reserved for.



Smoking pipes, which I still collect, were available at just about every place we went looking.
They maintain a decent price too.

U.K. prices have dropped or stagnated





Did you notice the spurs on the top shelf?

Yup, quite a few pairs about.

Sadly, some appear to be reproductions, and others were just too costly for the use I have planned for them.

[Grizz1963]

Bugger!!!!

Bloody iPad just deleted a 20 photo post including notes.

I hate it some days.

Ready for bed now.

[Grizz1963]

Back to the service station.

Seen them before, but continue to make me smile. Spoke to the driver too, steering on the right for postal deliveries to post boxes on sidewalks.

Engine he said is 4 cylinder from S10 Chevy.



Coffee dilemma



And No.....

I did not buy it.



Though patriotism is visible everywhere on the road, this one seen a while later on our way after our good byes.



Ray and Eve at the services, two incredibly genuine people, Craig and I both regretted having to leave so soon, a week would have been good with them.



Back at Rays a couple more pics.

I am sorry we did not get around to seeing him abuse his favourite toy, the “License Loser” S10

I like S10 Chevys



Rays standard Blue Heritage with fairing as he likes his music.





Eve’s 100 ci 6 speeder and a hopped up cam, ign and and head work with 200 rear tire in black and white that he custom built for her short 5’2” frame as she likes to go fast, she called it the Renegade. It’s my favourite looker.





So once we had said all our goodbyes, it was off to the motorway with Wayz guiding us.

This Silverado is light on gas, really light and we decided to fill it up about 60 miles down the road as Adam had told us to bring it home on empty, or as close to empty as possible....... not the kind of thing Craig and I would normally do, rather full up and after a wash. But working back he calculated that this would land us back near empty.

So we pulled in and I was filling the truck when he came over with a stupid grin, saying to me “You cannot say no, you cannot refuse and you certainly cannot return it” “Seriously”
So taken aback, I asked him what he was talking about.
So he pulled out model of an AD Chevy like the trucks he has at home and said “Ray gave me this to add to my collection of other I bought already and he sent you a gift too but you cannot refuse”

#Gobsmacked....

Touched and choked up at the pumps.



This is like giving away your first born in Hotrodding to me.

Taken from his 1931 Ford Tudor Sedan when he traded it for the Caddy as a momento, this to me is a bigger gift than one should ever accept, but the rules were made and read for me and I had no say in it.

The trip that keeps giving, had just blown my mind.

I called Ray from the truck on my mobile to say Thank You and to bollock him for the size of this gift, which in my view was just too much.

First thing he did was laugh and laugh at me, then made it clear that he had had his fun and had less use for it now, than I would have for it as an ornament in my house.
It was going to go into my study where I can enjoy seeing and touching it.

Thank you again Ray.

You guys rocked for us.




After filling up, we joined the main motorway and headed South.

Toward Le Claire.

[Grizz1963]

Well.

What can I say??

Got to American Pickers the Television programmes shop in Le Claire at 5.30 and had 30 minutes to look around.

Simply put.....

100% Disappointing

Very pretty, clean, tidy, and just like it looks on telly....l















Loved this piece of art.



Old photos $5.00 each.





More coming.

[Grizz1963]

More.









Prices for branded stuff.

I was disappointed but we know it is reality television which has no reality.







Yeahhhhhhh Riiiigghht.



Love this

[Grizz1963]

I really love these plaques.

If I had thought about it, I would have asked Andy to help me make one.





Sucker pricing.





Bargain










So,

In summary, this was a bucket list visit, based on great television and expectations.

We made a significant detour, short changed friends who we could have given a second evening to, as we had such limited time to wrap up and complete our Roadtrip

My personal experience, after all the other junk and antique stores on this trip, it sucked big time.

There is none, and I mean none of the actual magic created by the programme to be found in the two buildings, housing personal collections with NFS labels, a few random, over priced imho items for sale and a bunch of mementos, none of which would impress me, if you brought me one home. And look closely at the prices, hmmmmmm.
Even the staff are purely functional, and I suspect not on six figure pay packets.

The rest rooms though, are clean and tidy.

I will continue to watch and enjoy the programmes, but if you want to know the truth, don’t ask me, ask Google or Wikipedia.

We were out the shop before closing time so less than 30 minutes in all.

The local police officer was more entertaining, informative and inviting.....

Super cool guy who out Norris’ Chuck Norris.




Bed time.

[Grizz1963]

Seven states in two weeks.

Possibly more than some Americans do in a lifetime.

So we crossed the Mighty Mississippi once again and drifted into Illinois



We headed up to the tourist welcome centre and rest area some time after 6.30pm

Like every one of them we had seen on this trip, they are large, clean, well equipped and actually welcoming.
I really enjoy this feature of the USA



Looking back at Iowa, over the bridge we had just crossed.







Once we were done there, it was near 7.00pm and we still had a long way to go, into the sunset to get to Macomb, our planned stopover for the night.

It would be the first and only night on this trip that it was just Craig and I, kinda weird as we had become so spoiled being in great company every day and night the last two weeks.

The trucks windscreen was showing the signs of the many miles we had covered thus far, and taking photos into the setting sun was just not successful, though the scenery as on most of the trip, this time of day was actually beautiful, with farmsteads, machinery and architecture passing us by while we tried to ignore the glare of the setting sun.
After using the washer and wipers, the view was even worse and possibly even dangerous






Making it to Macomb, which is a University town, we tried the Super 8 Motel, but it was full up, the receptionist was very sweet, a former gymnast, which was very apparent by her posture, shape and looks, she was surprised when I asked her if she was a gymnast at school as to how I knew. Simple observation really.

So no bed there, she suggested we drive a few miles across and over town to another area with some hotels and restaurants, which of course we did, by now it was dark, so the Wayz Satnav and our free WiFi got us to the next area, seemingly newer and also upmarket from the Super 8 which we subsequently found out, did not get great reviews.

The first hotel we got to was fully booked as well, BUT.........

IN TYPICAL AMERICAN SERVICE INDUSTRY STYLE, THE RECEPTIONIST ASKED WHAT WE NEEDED, AND PROCEEDED TO CALL AND FIND OUT ABOUT AVAILABILITY ELSEWHERE.

Service excellence in practice.

I also got a cuddle and a selfie when Craig took the truck and headed off to see about tariffs and what was on offer at the next hotel, 300 meters away. Leaving me to say thank you, get the selfie and direct her to the site for the trip report.



Welcome to the Hampton Inn, part of the Hilton group.

Pricier, but clearly in a different class.



Parking up the truck, we unloaded once I walked over from the first hotel and got to our room

Because Craig is a Hilton Honors member, he also got a discounted rate on the room, based on just supplying his email address. So much for loyalty schemes. Free money is good.

I think it is worth posting the room, cannot recall the cost, but under $120.00 for the night, and included a decent breakfast, help from staff and a secure carpark.





And a rather sweet welcome.

Little touches that are noticed.



After a bit of a false start, looking for a place to eat, as we were getting hungry now, we found our way down the road and over to the other side to a well camouflaged Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner.
Typical Sports Bar, Student hang out, where the beer was cold, the waitresses hot and the wings even hotter.

Mikayla looked after us and ensured we even had desert after our deceptively large plates of food.
Wings really is a speciality where ever we went in the USA and I found myself passing up on burgers and pizza time after time, to try various versions, flavours and combos of wings.



Not a fight or a frown up to this point.

Certainly worth toasting the trip so far.



Mild for Craig, mixed hot and Teriyaki for me.

Portions are deceptive and some places the “drummy” section of the wings were larger than some restaurant drumsticks.



After dinner, paying and heading out, I saw this poster on the wall......

Wonder if it was a chicken on its way to the kitchen.



Late to bed, we had a lazy start planned as we wanted to get to Hannibal in time for the businesses to open, via a detour Craig had planned along the way.

[Grizz1963]

Woke up, showered, checked internet and forums the next morning.

Filled the cooler with fresh Free hotel ice as Craig had filled it the night before to prime the sodas and beers (unused) and took it and our small traveling backpacks down to the truck to pack it up.
All our stuff, untouched as expected, but still such a different experience to South Africa, England and possibly many other places.
The parts of the USA that I have travelled now, keep my head and heart in a great place when it comes to this sort of thing.

Remember what I said about chatting to all and sundry?

When we got up and saw how very dirty the glass and mirrors were on the truck, I went in search of some help. Craig got the truck packed etc.

I spoke to a gent in the kitchen, from the Philippines, he was in charge of the kitchen and catering in the hotel.
So once I explained what I needed, he gave me a large wad of industrial strength paper towel with some dishwashing liquid on it to remove the bug wax and brains from the screen, plus a large bucket of fresh water.

Nimble as an acrobat, Craig was straight up (thankfully, because my knackered back had not really let up at all, since leaving England and we were almost headed back)

So between us we washed all the glass and I dried the side windows and mirrors.

Then returned the bucket, and headed for breakfast where the coffee and smell of waffles was calling us in.




All secure and ready to roll.



Right

I think some of you know me reasonably well.

I really do speak to anyone.

Back in the restaurant I saw a challenge, well not really a challenge, but certainly an opportunity.

As I was getting my Froot Loops cereal for brekkie......

In walked an Amish family with their daughter looking just like the stereotypical view we have of them.
I made eye contact with the husband and told him his daughter was absolutely gorgeous, which he accepted.
Obviously there followed a 15 minute conversation between us, the wife respectfully off to the side, but still part of the conversation, and that 4-5 year old, showing the most incredible restraint I may ever have seen in a young child. Most kids would be bored and unpleasant after less than 5 minutes.
They were really interested in our motivations for travelling the roads less travelled as well.
Turns out they and another couple were headed city ways for business and had overnighted in the hotel too.
They are part of the US part of the Happy Egg company and supply a lot of the eggs we get in the U.K. as well.
After wishing each other well on our travels, we all had breakfast while the one went on his mobile for a telephone call and the other presumably worked on emails.

What a refreshing start to my day.



After breakfast we headed out onto the road and for Craig’s mission.

US style “Transit” roadworks trucks.



We did contemplate hijacking this truck for Dennis’ Shell Gas Station project.



Rolling along the Hiway, we eventually found Craig’s target exit and drove into......



Of course his Wife Lorraine had allowed him to head out on the trip with me.
So a tribute would be fitting, despite the spelling and detour which proved to be interesting.
Every village has some vintage trucks and cars to show.
Here there was. Great 1930’s Ford and obvious S10donor parked near a business on some land, but I did not want to just walk in and take photos.

Loved this bit of yard art, he had loads more displayed.



And as mentioned before, restrooms are all free, clean and available in even the smallest establishments.
So before heading out to the motorway we stopped here.



Back into Missouri



Rolling into Hannibal, it became apparent what it was famed for.





Loads of classic and vintage cars here, used as daily and drivers it seems, speaking to owners.




We stopped in the street outside the Mark Twain tourist and information centre and I went in to use the restrooms and also to find out about parking tariffs and limitations as we do try respect the rules.

All parking is free, all day for you was the reply.

So we parked the truck with all of the stuff on and in the rear loaded and went off looking for stuff.

This is certainly another two day town, or possibly more.

So much to see and do.

[Grizz1963]

Been putting company work off all weekend.

Online training etc with deadline tonight.


Once we unloaded the steel furniture. We set up the glider and rocker plus shell backed chairs on the deck for Dennis to come home to.





Also took my cleaned up, hole filled mail box back to the woods behind the main shop, this is the second year I have left it behind, along with two pairs of shoes, good trainers and garden trainers.



At last Craig managed to drive the Challenger too.



I also found some replacement stickers inside the race shop for Prozac as a few have died the last two years.



When Dennis came in, he had brought me another plate for my collection.



We showed him the prezzie sand he seemed to like them, a lot.

So we sat down and drank beer and had a long evening discussing the world and our road trip.

[Grizz1963]

Yates from Oskaloosa......

Originally Posted by yates

I wanted to tell you that you would be disappointed but didn't want to be that guy, lol.

So i told Rian I would post up some links but i will keep it brief as i am not here to promote a brand.

I was disappointed we didn't have any over the top builds going on as we normally do at this time for sema.

Company started out as a repair shop for agriculture so tractors, combines, etc. The founder along the way made some pretty big inventions like the tracks still used on John Deere tractors, corn reels for combines, and self propelled square baler. The founder bought a ram truck many years ago and hated the ride so developed an air suspension. Que in his son whom took over the day to day and focused on the air suspension side and took them to the next level.

We now specialize in 3/4 ton and up trucks from stock height to lifted applications on pickups, ambulances, shuttle busses, tow trucks, vacuum trucks, etc.

Two trucks that i built for sema, the white one for 2013 and the grey for 2014.


I thought there was a few videos on the piece of machinery Craig posed with but i may be mistaken, here is a link to the ag related portion https://kelderman.com/specialty/agriculture/.

Any questions let me know and i can expand on it.

[Grizz1963]

Question asked elsewhere.

America is a big country.

[Grizz1963]

Thermostats.









On the way home we stopped at another antique shop, but bought nothing.

Found this guy on the GMC though.





Then eventually home.

Craig seemed to really bond with the little GMC Caballero