ON THE ROAD AGAIN ~ WELCOME TO 2025!

 The weather was hard to ignore.  Had to wake Mary Lou up from her slumber.  Took a bit more gas than I remember but got her turned over and took a quick spin over lunch.

Then we went for an evening cruise.  Went on a new road on the way to Ankeny.  Hopped out for a quick photo then had to hop back in with a car coming. 😀

On the way home, we stopped at the location of a car show in April along NW Beaver (Bradley Tools).

We thought it would be fun to post our car to the show page on Facebook.  The owner and guy putting on the show now has reached out to be friends on Facebook and is using this picture to promote!

CAR SHOW INVITATION WE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL

We received the letter below in early December.  The envelope had me curious right away and wasn't sure about the wrong last name.

This gentleman is a younger brother of the show founder and saw our car last summer at the Valley Classic Car Show.

I looked up this show and it looks big-time.  They've had Henry Winkler there.   Celebrities from Happy Days, Dukes of Hazzard, etc.  It's an indoor show obviously and 2.5 hours away.

I sent them an email thanking them and letting them we would not be able to make it.

FINAL RIDE OF 2024

It was time to put Mary Lou away for the season.  All 4 tires were low, so I took her out to get those in shape for the winter nap and topped off the gas tank. 

VALLEY JUNCTION - WHY NOT?

 We needed to pick something up in Valley Junction so of course we take Mary Lou 😀.  I didn't want to do standard parking down there, so we dropped anchor on a short stretch off Railroad.  I knew I wanted a pic by the old gas station on 4th but the shot with the leaves was a bonus.

OUT FOR A DRIVE

 With us not going to any more car events before Cindy's knee surgery, we know we need to keep driving Mary Lou until she goes away for the winter.  So, we went and filled her up and drove around ending up at Culver's.  This is a bridge I found online that I wanted a picture by.  I was worried about the light but it turned out nice.

Uncropped

PLEASANT HILL DINER #4 (LAST OUTING OF THE YEAR)

One last cruise-in before Cindy's knee surgery.  Awesome weather and a great turnout.  The VFW ended the week before so we picked up some of that crowd.  Gary Pullen was nice to hold a spot right by the sign for Cindy.  We got around to see everyone.  Bill Ferrell made a return with the Falcon and we had a Skinny Bill Martin sighting!

The gang was in eating when we got there.

The Falcon is on the road again!

And with blue wires.

Who hot rods a Packard?  This guy!

1966 Vette

 Garry Logan and his son picked up this 1960 Chevy in California and drove it home on Route 66.

Kyle and Scott

Todd and Bill!

REPAIRS - BRAKE LIGHTS / TURN SIGNAL / DOOR HANDLE

 We took Mary Lou into Trevor on 9/4.  He was able to fix the brake pad so our lights would work.  And fixed my door handle.  We took her back on 9/30 once he got the part in for the turn signal.  And my door handle stopped working again.  So he fixed both but the door handle needs a new bushing kit so we will do that later.

Leaving Mary Lou with Trevor

Sad sight

Back in the barn until the turn signal switch part comes in from Florida...

Took ML back on 9/30 for turn signal part and the darn button on driver door stuck again.  Trevor showed me the packet the part came in.  He said, "tell me that's not an original part." When I picked up the car, the envelope was on the front seat.  He knew I would want it.

Made out of pot aluminum

Dropping her off