Heading for Dearborn "Ginger's great advanture"

Cougar Community Classic Cougar Experience
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Neil,

Great photos! Love the shot of the interior.

In Shelby, where did you stay, O’Haires? If you did, make sure you get a photo in front of the motel and get a shot of the signage too.

Here’s a suggestion on a retro place to stay in Williston, ND, the El Rancho.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60819-d114715-Reviews-El_Rancho_Hotel-Williston_North_Dakota.html

Reviews on Trip Advisor are all over the map, but it appears clean and functional.

Here’s what it looked like in the 1970s.

Here’s their website.

http://www.elranchowilliston.com/

Let me know where you plan to stay on Sunday night and I’ll see what I can find for you.

I wish I was making the trip with you.

Drive safe,

Rich Truesdell
Co-editor, Legendary Cougar Magazine

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Neal only one of your video links worked for me. It looks like you’re having an enjoyable cruise.
Steven

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Go Neil! Go Ginger! So cool!!! See you in Dearborn!

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Today started fairly early. A beautiful morning in Shelby MT. I drove around the town looking for the hotel Richard had told me about and missed last night. It certainly has the 60’s feel to it. I wish I had found it.

So I filled the car up and headed out. I got on the road about 8:15. I made a couple stops to enjoy the vistas. Not going to bore you with them. I got to the town of Chester ands found number of interesting places. I first stopped at Kokomo Joe’s Antique shop.

It is an interesting shop, but he is closed on Saturdays. I then found the “Awesome Auto ECT Museum” The owner Joel Finger was there, he was not open at that hour. We did talk for some time about the cool trucks and cars outside.

Joel and his wife were getting ready to go on a rod run north to Canada, taking their 85 Corvette. Outside he has a Dodge cab over, What a dynamite old beast this is.

No need to trans plant in a hot rod engine, it already has a 354 inch Hemi! The rig looks solid and has some graphics from when this belonged to the government on the doors. I could not get that to show in the pictures. He also hd the cool old F-6 with Chester Ford Mercury on the doors. But he has sold this one.
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Is this a cool truck or what? After about a hour viset I was on the road again. Stopping at many of the Historical markers on the way.

Can you say Buy me a Mercury?

In Havre MT I was thinking about stopping to clean the windshield. I found the local Scouts(Boys and Girls) were having a car wash. So I had them wash Ginger. I had a nice time talking with the locals. One of the scouts is restoring a 1967 Fairlane and his brother is working on a Galixie.

So after grabing a cold drink at a local store I was off and running. On eastward, next stop in the plan w=is Malta. US-101 crosses US-2 in Malta. I got in to town about 12:40 and found a place for lunch. The town had a street fair going on. I did pass as I could not find a good parking spot. After eating on the far side of town from the fair I found a gas station and filled up. I should have found another station. iI flled up at a Conneco station, with premium. Within a mile the car started having a hesitation when accelerating. When I stopped at a rest area to check it out the idle was a bit erratic and very low. About 375. I checked the float fuel level(Hollie 600) and it was fine. I raised the idle up and adjusted the idle needles. Still runs like crap. with a slightly ruff idle.

I was able to get a carb kit, fuel filter and carb cleaner. In Glasgow MT. I’m thinking I’m doing a curb side carb rebuild in the morning.
I kept heading east, not pushing her to hard. At 75 in 5th gear she is turning about 1650 RPM, I made it in to North Dakota.

And in to Williston. Staying at the El Ranchero, it has a great 60’s early 70’s feel to it. I’ll have pictures of it in tomorrow’s up date. I’m going to get some sleep and then in the morning I will get the new filter installed, run the rest of this gas out and fill up with hopefully good stuff and see if I need to pull the carb apart.

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Good luck today on the carb and gas. Drive safe!

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Car is back running.like a top. I’m in Powers Lake heading East now.

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Gosh this is great. It’s inspiring to see a Classic Cougar and its owner enjoying a trip like this. Keep the updates coming and drive safe.
Steven

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Last nights hotel.
After yesterday’s troubles with the car I was not in a big rush to get going this morning. I had a hard time getting it started and it was running worse than yesterday. I was going to try and get to Minot. I pulled across the street to a Sinclair station and filled it up. I decided I was going to do a curb side rebuild there. So I pulled the car in to the shade and got out the tools and carb kit. I started to relieve the pressure in the line when I noticed the front float bowl moving around. So I thought that can’t be right. I tightened the 4 bolts up and re tuned the idle and it was running like it should. So off I went with a big smile and a happy car.
My first stop was Powers Lake, this little town is about 40 miles north of US-2 on State rout 50. But holds family ties. I have been here before and know of a nice little place for breakfast. Being this was Sunday morning it was not open. This is what the town welcome sign looks like.

I headed out to another little town I know named Kenmare. About 35 miles east This little town has Dutch heritage. And has an authentic Dutch Wind mill in the town center park. This was moved in to the park in the early 1920s from a farm about 12 miles out of town. I met a nice couple at the park and talked cars with them for about a half hour.

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So back on the road heading to Minot on US-82 I spotted this old gas station and had to get a picture.

I think the logo on the pump is for Standard Oil. I got back underway and found my way to Minot. When

[/url] in town one needs to stop at Kroll’s Dinner. If nothing more than to appreciate the retro architure.
After quick bight and topping the tank off I was off And heading east again. I was noticing a lot of nice classic cars heading west. When I was about 40 miles wear of Devils Lake I stopped at a rest area. While I was there, this sweet 72 Chevlle pulled in. So I went over and introduced myself. The owner told he had been at a Show and Shine in Devils lake. It was a 2 day event with about 1000 cars.

The show was ending at 3:00 and it was nearly that so I resigned my self to the fact that I would not get to enjoy the show. As I went through town I could still see a lot of cars packing up for the trip home. I spotted this 50’s Mercury.

And this sweet Custom Shoebox Ford. I got to talk with the owners. It is powerd by a LS Chevy and he has put 45,000 miles on it so far without a single problem

I had been thinking about spending the night in Grand Forks. But I didn’t feel like stopping for the day yet. I wanted to get a picture of Ginger at the Welcome to Minnesota sign. But due to construction I couldn’t do that. But I did spot the cool wall mural in Crookston

So tomorrow I will get to Duluth by early afternoon. And, then in to Wisconsin. More tomorrow folks. Have fun and be safe.

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This is awesome. I’ve been day dreaming of the places I’d like to take rhe cougar because of you

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Neal have you planned your stops or are you taking the trip as it comes to you. The pictures are awesome. I can imagine your trip is very similar to what a lot of people experienced back in the day before the modern Interstates were put in place.
Steven

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Steven,
I have a plan, But yesterday I winged it. The plan was to stay in Grand Forks. Tonight’s plan is to stay in IronWood MI. But that may change. And yes, on the before the Interstates. I remember sitting in the back seat of dad’s car as we did cross country trips. When I was growing up my dad worked on the Boemark and Minuteman missile projects. From 1959 to 1966 we lived in 8 states. That is how I knew Kenmare had the windmill. :smiley:

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Neal, some great retro choices in Ironwood. Here’s what I found.

http://www.indianheadmotel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CedarsMotel/

But this might be the best and it might be connected to some sort of old auto dealership.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g42342-d2231879-Reviews-Classic_Motor_Inn-Ironwood_Upper_Peninsula_Michigan.html

All should be under $80 a night and the reviews indicate all are clean and family operated.

Keep posting photos… they are excellent!

Drive safe,

Richard Truesdell
Co-editor, Legendary Cougar Magazine

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Thanks Richard.

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Before I head out each day I do a once over to make sure everything is good.

I also have been doing my part to help with insect control. (I did get her washed by a church group in Superior WI collecting for a trip to Hawaii).

Today I started out looking around Bemidji, The home of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. I found this on the waterfront in a nice park. Old Paul is 18 feet tall. And doesn’t look a day over…

This guy is also in the park, This is Niiemii. Or “He Dances.

I started down the street this park is on and found I was crossing the big muddy, The Mississippi River.

So back on to US-2, and out about 45 minutes I stopped at a rest area at Cass Lake. I met the biker. Mike, he is a retired Michigan State Patrolman. He is heading west on his dream bike ride. He is planning to go to Alaska. He is leaning on the rock in the background.

Leaving this rest area US-2 becomes a 2 lane hi-way. The first since I just entered North Dakota. It runs through the forest land of Northern Minnesota. It is quite nice to see. Only about 20 miles further along I find “Big Winnie Store and RV Park. This is a true 1930’s resort that had nbeen run down but rescued. Featuring several remodeled original cabins.

So onward I go, the car is running like a top. So I stopped at a big station west of Floodwood and asked if there gas was good for my car. The lady said not to use it and told me about the Conoco in town, that has good Premium. I topped the tank and went to find lunch. The guys at the station recommended Bridgeman’s in town. But, they were not open today. But they have a cool sign painted on the side of the building.

In Proctor I spotted this locomotive resting in the city park. The old 225, This engine and tender are 127 feet 8 inch long and when loaded with water and coal weighed in at 436,663 pounds

So I finally maker Duluth and stop in at the rest area on the hill. What a view! You can see all the way to tomorrow. Opps I meant Ontario. I love the vies and would love to come back after dark to see the city lights from both Duluth and Superior WI.

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OK, so I have to go through Superior WI, and I spot the ship on dry land on Baker Island and had to go look.

So I decided as it was early I would hop off US-2 for a while and hit State road 13 that follows the southern shore line. Yes I know this is the north edge of Wisconsin, but the south shore of Lake Superior. It was a nice drive, but not a lot of views of the lake. This is a forest land. But I did get some pictures. That is Canada on the far shore line yoo.

I am now in Michigan; I’m spending the night in Ironwood at a cool hotel. I’ll have pictures of it later.

Tomorrow I plan to explore the north side of the Upper Peninsula. I am really looking forward to it. I don’t have a planed location for tomorrow night. But it will be fun anyway.

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Sorry I couldn’t keep our date, Neal. Cramming in as much as I can at work before we hit the road tomorrow evening. Nice write-up on your pass through Minnesota. I think you got to see all the highlights - except you missed the Judy Garland museum in Grand Rapids, MN, altho its not the same since someone stole the ruby slippers.

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Nice Pics Neal. Welcome to Michigan. Your in the home stretch. About 600 more miles.

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Good morning folks, today I’m going to drive up Hi-way 26 on the Keneenwa Peninsula and back. If you are in Ironwood MI I would say the Classic Motor in would be a good place to stay.

The rooms are clean and tidy, maybe a little dated. But nice.

So I’ll be on the road in a few minutes. Looking forward to the adventure and finding some of Michigan’s history

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Holy bugs! Any special tips for cleaning them up, especially in the grille?

Glad your trip is going well!

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Duluth and Superior are super cool at night. All the lights on the water are really something.

Thanks for the trip notes. I am really enjoying it.

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What a day. It did not go to plan by a long shot. I need a better navigator. I started off cutting east off US-2 on State road 28 out to Bruce Crossing. Then I went north on US-45 out to Houghton MI. This is the rolling hills on US-45. They are beautiful.

In Houghton, I stopped at the City park on the waters of the Keweenaw Waterway. This park has a nice view of Hancock on the North side of the waterway.

And of the Portage Canal Lift Bridge in the back ground here.

Heading out from the park was where I made my first wrong turn, I ended up going over the bridge and finding my self in heavy construction. It took a few minutes to find my way back over the bridge to my second missed turn. Not as bad I was able to turn around about a block up. So now I’m heading south along the Keweenaw waterway and then Keweenaw bay. I found a nice wide area near L”Anse on the bay side and stopped to take pictures.

And

While I was getting back in the car, a local stopped by to see the car and talk. It seems his dad was a VP at Ford and his mom was a “gear head” his words. She had a 70 SCJ 4 speed Eliminator that he now has. He told me of when he was young his dad would buy family cars off of Ford’s “B” lot. And getting some interesting cars, like a Grabber Orange Maverick 302 and his 73 Pantara that he got in the mid 70’s and still has.
So after about a half hour I’m on my way again realizing I had lost an hour to moving in to the Eastern Time zone. So off I went on down US-41. Anyway, this is where I really missed the turns. I was going to turn east on to US-41. I ended up back on State 28 and didn’t realize it until I found myself back at Bruce Crossing. I’m now back some 30 or more miles from the intended turn. So, I decided to go south back to US-2 and then east. So I eventually found my way in too Wisconsin. I had to stop and look at the map. Yep, that is correct for those of us that didn’t know In between Crystal Falls MI and Iron Mountain MI US-2 drops back in to Wisconsin.

One of the nice things here is it is cooler then Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota were, making driving a little more comfortable. So I ended up not getting a lot of pictures as I don’t want a lot of pictures that the background looks close to the same. But I did have a great time. Even though I am about `50 miles west of where I had planned to be.
I found a neat hotel in Escanaba MI for the night. Reasonable prices and reminds me a lot of last night’s lodging. There are several nice places to eat close by too.

I’ll tell you all this, I want to come back here with a couple weeks to see this area in depth. I am not even scratching the surface of what there is to see here. I would love to be able to do that in all 50 states. I know I have not seen a lot back in Washington.

edit; I just had a nice chat with the guy in a room just down from mine. He is here from Chile building a Golf coarse. Nice guy and loves the car.