2007 Texas to Colorado Model T Tour
June 20th thru July 4th, 2007
joining the "Search
for the Mohigans Tour”
and the Model T
Club of Northern Colorado.
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Our group works like a pit crew in the
mornings to get all the cars checked over before we set out.
When we pulled in to the host motel this morning, they
had set up cones, put down a drip “cloth” made from
an old campaign sign, and waved us in for our turn.
Everyone had a task but it was fun.
In this tour, each participant is
given a guide book showing the recommended route to our next
destination but we all leave at our own pace. If you
wanted to pull out at 7:00AM, you could. If you preferred
to sleep in and set out at 10:00, you could.
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Most of the cars had already left by the
time we left the motel. We drove through Big Thompson
Canyon, alongside the Big Thompson Creek. We arrived
around noon in Estes Park at the entrance to the Rocky Mountain
National Park. After spending 30 minutes checking out
some of the shops, we headed on into the park. We had
planned to drive up Old Fall River Road but, unfortunately, it
was closed today. That is the old dirt road to the
Visitor’s Center at the top of Trail Ridge Road.
We’ve driven it before and it is exciting and
scenic.
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Instead, we took the Trail Ridge Road, the
paved road over the mountain. It was crowded but we drove
up without any serious problems and only one irate driver who
was swearing at us for going slow. The road is a good
one, paved with numerous pullouts and scenic overlooks.
We try to pull over to let faster cars pass but on a road
with 1000-foot drops, sometimes you just can’t.
Martin Thomen and Patty Duhon enjoyed
their first day of the tour. We had stopped at one of the
first major overlooks to cool engines and regroup.
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All of us with convertable tops put them
down and enjoyed the sunshine. It was cool as we went
higher but a perfect way to see the mountains all around us.
When we stopped, we were immediately surrounded by people
who wanted to talk about our cars and our trip. People
came up and photographed their children in front of the cars.
Surprisingly, almost an equal number
of people wanted to pet Marian Rose. Fortunately, she is
a friendly girl.
Jeff Cordes and Blake Williams can drive
pretty fast but tried to stay in the general vicinity of those
who couldn’t. While we don’t travel in a line
(other drivers would REALLY hate us then!), we do try to make
certain that no one gets left on the side of the road.
This is Ben, me, and Marian Rose. We
stopped here and Ben went back to shoot the others coming
around the curve. But, before he did, one of the people
we had met at an earlier stop took our picture. He was a
fan of Marian Rose.
Be sure to notice the small lake in
the lower left of the picture. I don’t know how you
would get there without a helicopter. It is in a small
bowl, high in the mountains and above the tree line. So
beautiful!
A small herd of elk were grazing about 100
yards from the road. They were wary about the people
coming out to photograph them but not really frightened.
Ben walked out and got this wonderful photograph and,
yes, that really is pretty close to the edge. The elk
didn’t seem to be to frightened about that, either. (Click on Image)
After we passed the Continental Divide, we
dropped quickly to nearly flat pastures. They were very
green, with small rivers snaking through them. Most of
them had fly fishermen in them although this picture
doesn’t seem to have captured any. It is a huge
contrast to the mountains we have just driven through and hard
to imagine that there would be so much difference within just a
few miles drive.
As we drove toward the Village of Grand
Lake, we came upon our group. They had stopped to help a friend
and fellow Texas, Denny Irvine. Denny and his wife Gwen
had struggled across the Trail Ridge Road with little power and
serious backfiring. By the time Ross had run up on them,
Denny was considering dropping out of the tour and going home.
It didn’t take long to determine the problem
(related to the spark plugs) and he was running again. We
are including this picture because Denny does the tour videos
for our Houston Model T Club and NEVER includes any photos of
his own car troubles.
Patty and Nicky wandered out into the
pasture while the men were working on the car. A moose
was out by the river in the background and they had gone to try
and photograph it. Patty had bought the pretty scarves on
a recent trip and shared one with Nicky to keep their hats on.
Nicky Bromley, being from England,
has not driven in mountains like these before. She is
having a great time and, to my surprise, isn’t at all
frightened.
After the car was running again, everyone
was milling around discussing lunch plans. Shortly after
this picture was taken, a bucket of water was dumped on Austen
Bromley’s back. Out there, by the side of the road,
a total water fight broke out.
The water fight comes to a really wet
conclusion. Austen was the most wet but I think he won the
battle.
In Grand Lake, we stopped at The
Bears Den Restaurant for lunch. It is a charming log
cabin with a great menu and really good food. The
owner,Vicky Johnson, formerly lived in Bryan, TX, and bought
this restaurant three years ago. She was delighted to
have a bunch of Texans in her restaurant and gave us all a
doo-rag as a gift. Our English friends have never seen a
doo-rag so we had to show them how to wear one.
Nicky put hers on like an Amish cap with
the ties hanging down the side. Everyone put one on and
we persuaded Vicky to get in the picture with us. If you
make it to Grand Lake, be sure to stop by and have a meal.
Tell them we sent you.
We are spending the night in Granby
and will be leaving for Rabbit Ears Pass and Steamboat Springs
in the morning.
