Hey Misfits,
Friday morning dawned cold and gray with the threat of rain. Paul and Ann along with Don and Karen opted to car pool in a Dodge van rather than take the Chrysler 300 and the 55 Chevy. With fuel approaching $3.80 and the large engines using a gallon every 15 miles, a 400-mile cruise would take a large chunk of cruising budgets. Ed braved the cost with his white Monte Carlo and Audrey and I chose the 30-mpg TR-6 with the top down of course. It was a bit chilly to start but the hope of warm temperatures kept us optimistic.
We departed right at 7:00 am as planned and headed up Rt. 12 with light traffic through Claremont and Newport on our way to meet Doug and Ginny in Henniker. We pulled into the hardware store parking lot to find Doug half hour of light rain coming out of Keene, just enough to mud up the rear of the freshly detailed pristine Corvette. The rain was just south of us as we had dry roads. After a brief rest, it was on with the second leg of the trip.
After another 50 miles to Rochester, NH and clearing skies, we met Bob and Ellie for breakfast at the Remember When Diner. They were waiting in the big red SSR Chevy truck. Even though the diner has changed hands, we had the same waitress as last year. Good food and lots of hot coffee had us ready for the trip into Maine. Now under clear blue and sunshine, Bob and Ellie led us east on Rt. 202 to a portion of I-295 to avoid construction to Freeport, ME to the Goldenrod Garage. This is like stepping back in auto history as the 2-level barn is filled with every conceivable old car in every condition. They were bumper-to-bumper and just enough room between the lines for one person to walk. We all wore a midsection ring of dust after negotiating the array of antiques. There were customer cars mixed with garage cars, some for sale, some being stored and some most likely long forgotten in several stages of completion, all potential project cars.
All the old car calendars you¹ve ever seen must have been modeled after the Goldenrod Garage setting. There were old rusty cars, trucks, original jalopy racecars, station wagons, and fire trucks. We also found wooden boats, campers, delivery trucks, woodys, pick-ups, bicycles, chain saws and even a couple of foreign pieces of shit. Neil even owns, sponsors and drives his own well-prepared late model racecar. After touring all the barns, grounds and garages, it was on to the Allen's at 7 Paxton Lane in Topsham.
Bob and Ellie's beautiful new home is being encroached upon by a new seven-home development sprouting up in what used to be pine forest. Heavy equipment was carving a new access road at the end of their driveway and behind Bob's new three-car garage. Next year's Maine Weekend may find some new neighbors. After being on the road for about 9 hours, everyone decided to chill for an hour and settle in before our reserved seating at Captain Mike¹s in Berwick. One mission was to get Bob's scarlet red Corvette running. It ran fine last season when he put it up but now wouldn't fire. After Don sprayed starting fluid into the intake, Bob was able to get life from the Vette but it wasn't getting any fuel to keep running. Several possible electronic conditions prevented fuel from being pumped but Bob has an expert in the wings to assist but not today so Max the Malibu will do the duty for the evening. Now it's off to Captain Mike's for some fresh Maine seafood. After a satisfying meal it was back to Paxton Lane for the night.
The next morning brought a more ominous threat of rain so Bob offered the garage to me so the TR wouldn't get soaked. It was up with the new roof (the old one rotted from lack of use) and into the garage it went. We all doubled up in sedans and vans for a trip to Tim Horton's for breakfast and on to the Pemaquid Point Light House in New Harbor and the ruins of Fort William Henry (of Pemaquid, not Lake George), which, after being burned by the Abenaki Indians, was later rebuilt as Fort Frederick. Back to Paxton Lane and a couple hours of cookie snacks and upright napping. Don and Karen treated us to a BBQ chicken feed before a raucous evening of cards. Doug and Paul were the big winners while the losers watched Jr. and Kyle Busch crash each other out at Richmond while Ellie's driver Clint Bowyer went on to win.
Before the BBQ, I decided to use the main level bathroom. Inside I found the telltale signs of a clogged toilet. I could leave but then I'd be blamed for the situation or I could try a flush to unclog it. I only had one shot so a twist of the handle brought a bowl filling (as I feared) to the brim. Now I was in a real situation so I summoned help from Ellie. She tried to discreetly defer to Bob but the quiet coded conversation attracted everyone's attention. Of course they all blamed me for the fouled toilet but all I did was enter and attempt a flush. Bob worked a plunger, Don used a bucket for additional water pressure and Doug was the project supervisor. After much activity, sloshing, plunging and trips up and down stairs to try other toilets, Bob declared that the problem was likely solved and it was working almost as good a normal. All that meant is I wouldn't use that one on a dare for the remainder of the weekend. See attached drawing for full details. The quote of the weekend came from Ed stating that "A royal flush is better than a full house any day."
Sunday morning found all the vehicles back at Tim Horton's in a driving rain. We lingered and waited as long as we could but it was inevitable the trip back was going to be wet. Bob and Ellie led us through the wilds of Maine until we ended up a Hannaford's in Sanford or maybe Lebanon where it seemed to be raining the hardest. Our new top, that's rightSit was up, worked well except for a few annoying leaks. As luck would have it, all the intruding water was on Audrey's side so she manned a handy towel to keep the moisture to a minimum. After bidding a farewell to Bob and Ellie, Paul and Ann led us out of Maine and into New Hampshire. As soon as we crossed the state line, the sky lightened and the rain let up. By the time we arrived in Concord, the roads were nearly dry.
Our usual stop at the Country Spirit Restaurant in Henniker was almost a short one as an impatient waitress told us we needed to order from the dinner menu only. With the meals ranging up to $29.00 we were set to move on. Another waitress gave us much more consideration and allowed us to order off the lunch menu for burgers and sandwiches. Everyone was happy with the waitress, the food and the prices. We'll use them again next year.
After good food and good talk, the final leg of the trip began as Doug and Ginny headed down Rt. 9 to Keene, Paul and Ann and Don and Karen left the line in Charlestown and Ed stopped at the boat landing as Bill, Springfield¹s newest radio personality as half of the "Bondo Boys" weekly radio show, passed us in the opposite direction at the Blue Canoe with his Talkabout activated. The sun broke out for the first time since Friday right at the Eureka School House. It stayed clear for the rest of the day and Monday dawned with a perfect blue sky and 100% sunshine and a return to summer conditions.
Thanks to Bob and Ellie for allowing us to take over their homestead for the weekend and for arranging the tour of the Goldenrod Garage and tour of Pemaquid Point. They provided everything we needed and made us all feel at home. It was a great weekend with no trouble other than a clogged toilet and a Corvette that wouldn¹t run. Everyone had a good time as expected and all are looking forward to next year. Bob and Ellie will be in the area for a week at the end of May and will be in line for the cruise to the Steaming Tender Restaurant in Palmer, MA on June 1 so join in and say hi to them and Jim and Karen at the restaurant.
Tom and Audrey
