Rock the Dinosaur
Posted on Jun 27th, 2009 at 7:20 am by team
Another great day in the Maxwell! We pulled out of Steamboat Springs at 8am with the top down. The weather fluctuates so much in the mountains. We are back to wearing many layers. In the 163 miles of talking, singing, waving and dancing, we add and remove clothing A LOT! Emily and I feel so at home in Colorado and Utah! People are constantly passing us with all of their toys strapped to their cars and their dogs riding along for the journey. This morning we even passed a group of people heading off to go hot air ballooning! Unfortunately, we had to leave our pups at home, this time. Next trip there wil be a Reggie and Angus in the back seat!
About 30 miles into the drive it started to drizzle and the tempature was dropping. We loaded on the layers, utilized our goggles, and covered our legs wth our dusters.
Emily and Christie driving somewhere between Steamboat Springs and Craig, CO
Within 5 miles it was raining hard. The rain was cold and it felt like pins and needles in the face with every drop of rain hit us. We passed by a sign that said Espresso in Craig, CO and made a quick uturn to get ourselves some coffee and put up the top. By this time we were very wet and getting more wet by the second. After we secured the roof and the Eisenglass windshield we squished inside to grab some warm drinks. We had no idea that we were walking into the definition of southern hospitality!!!
Mom and Pops Coffee Shop is owned by Joy and Gabriel Daigle. They had excellant coffee drinks, home made Ooie Gooie Cakes and the very best bathrooms so far on our trip. What are Ooie Gooie Cakes? You might just need to go and check it out for yourselves. Think brownie meets magic cookie bar with the soft consistency of…I can’t describe it any more than that. I will swear by the Pineapple coconut variation, while Emily enjoyed noshing on the German Chocolate cake. Even though we created puddles of water on their floor and I spilled coffee…not once……twice, they offered to fire up the pellett stove and told us we were welcome to stay as long as we would like! Kaisa even received a new fleece blanket as a treat that was made by Joy and Gabriels Daughter. Check it out! http://babyduckbooks.com.
Babbs in the rain outside of Mom and Pops coffee shop in Craig, CO
Barb and Sally in Mom and Pops
Good vibes in Mom and Pops! There were two reporters from the Craig Daily Press that made their way over and Emily and I have to give them some propers, not only did they patiently wait for us to ring ourselves out, we really feel that they asked us the most thoughtful question we have received yet on the road. The question was (roughly) “What have you learned about the US crossing the country this way”. We had so much to say to this question we could have been there all day. The paper should come out tomorrow and we will post the link.
Overcaffinated (well that might have been just me) and warm we continued cruising on 40 west. About 20 miles west of Craig, CO Babbs gave up while we were cruising down a hill. We coasted to a pull out to safely stop and check the gas and add some oil. After a little TLC Babbs started right up and we continued on our way.
About 130 miles into our day we stopped in Dinosaur, CO for some lunch. The skies had turned blue and we were extremly pleased to find a cute little place called the BedRock Depot www.bedrockdepot.com where we could sit outside, relax, and enjoy our delicious and fresh sandwiches. Some of the neighbors stopped in to chat about Babbs and take some photos. There are very nice people in Dinosaur, CO! Lunch was leisurely and we finally met back up with the Spyker here. This is the first time we saw them since they flew past us wearing plastic bags 20 miles west of Steamboat Springs!
Em, Margaret & Kaisa P at the BedRock Depot
The BedRock Depot was 33 miles from Vernal, UT, however it was only 3 miles to the Utah Boarder. The blue skies became dark and stormy again. We detached the windshield, but kept the roof up. We decided to try our luck with some music in the car for the first time on the trip. Em and I rocked down the road until we reached Vernal, UT. It was a nice luxury, but we turned it off when we reached Vernal in order for Emily to concentrate. Honestly, I am pretty sure the music will be saved for our hotel room fun. It was a little to hard to listen to Babbs and music at the same time.
This really felt like the quickest day so far even with all of the stops! Looking forward to Park City, UT tomorrow night!
Emily –
Welcome to the great, but sometimes weird state of Utah! I have been following your adventure from the start, and it is a wonderful thing. Utah has a rich history of transcontinental motoring and Alice Ramsey and her drive is a great part of that history. Last November I had the fun and pleasure of hooking up with the participants in The Longest Auto Race Centennial tour and guided them for several days over the back roads of Utah. It was a blast. I’m hoping to touch base with you and Babbs, and take a few photos on your arrival in Park City.
Here’s to a continued safe trip.
Bob Rampton
Salt Lake City
Robert Rampton on June 27th, 2009 at 8:01 am #
According to my 1910 Maxwell advertisement, it should be costing you 68/100 of a cent per mile to operate Babbs. And that includes gasoline, oil, grease, tires, and depreciation. Is this what you’re finding? ;-) The horse and buggy was 1 44/100 cents per mile, so the Maxwell is obviously a better choice.
Glad to see you have weathered some tricky driving and bad weather and are still gung-ho. Regards to all in the team, and keep on rollin along!
Terry Huston on June 27th, 2009 at 8:01 am #
Glad to see everyone is keeping there spirits up and the rain wind nor fowell weather will keep the team from making it all the way be safe and have another great day your friends in Iowa
Dennis McGuire on June 27th, 2009 at 8:10 am #
Hi there…thanks for the mention of my blankies and books. Some reason the link doesn’t go to the website. It’s http://www.babyduckbooks.com. I think there is an s missing in the link somewhere…anyway…have a safe trip and glad the weather has cleared up a bit for you.
Julie Whitecotton on June 27th, 2009 at 10:23 am #
Hello from Cambridge, MN! Your blog is addictive and I look forward to reading about your adventurous travel everyday. I would love to see you coming down the road so hope Bengt is keeping the cameras rolling. Wishing you safe travel.
Rebecca Carlson on June 27th, 2009 at 10:44 am #
I’ve been reading your adventures every day since you started posting them.. a wonderful treat. I drove over much of your route in the ’50’s so it easy to imagine you going along. Isn’t it wonderful to discover places like Mom and Pop’s and the Bedrock Depot. Babb’s may become the best known Maxwell in history. Wish she could talk.. what a story she could tell of the days gone past.
Lyle Hegsted on June 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm #
Writing from Arvada, Colorado…What an incredible story! I had not heard the story about her before. What an inspiration to all! Keep going and can’t wait to hear you made your destination. You’re making history. It’s an awesome thing to do. In your low points of traveling, keep your goal focused…for motivation and determination will push you.
Noreen Suniga on June 27th, 2009 at 3:33 pm #
This would have been our favorite part of the drive. It is so scenic in Colorado and Utah. We are pleased and relieved to read that Babbs is doing so well. You continue to have our prayers and best wishes!
Carol, Kip, and Cait McGilliard
Carol McGilliard on June 27th, 2009 at 7:37 pm #
We saw you twice as we were making our way back to Oregon from Colorado on highway 40 as you were making your way down from the pass to the east of Stramboat Springs and again as you were going towards Craig Colorado the following morning. Hope you survived all the heavy rain in eastern Colorado, It came down HARD!!!! I can only guess what it was like in a open carriage car.
Best Wishes on your journey.
Roger & Sue Kaalaas
Roger & Susan Kaalaas on June 28th, 2009 at 6:27 am #
Glad you got the Maxwell up and going again, nice to have some shims in the rods when needed. Couldn’t find Lincoln Highway in Colorado on my map, but that’s ok, we take detours too. We will be on part of your route when we head to the HCCA Nickel Era tour in the CA Redwoods in July. Maybe you will want to go on that tour too? Kermit & Ruby Wilke
Kermit & Ruby Wilke on June 28th, 2009 at 6:44 am #
Watch out for the grasshopper invasion in Tooele. Goggles on, mouths closed!
Terry Huston on June 28th, 2009 at 7:11 am #
Hi there Alice Crew! I met you at the Lincoln Highway Association Conference in South Bend,IN and had the privilage of talking with some of you. Took a couple of pictures of “Babbs” to send to Kathy Franzwa. I do so envy the passengers riding along in the Maxwell!! Wish I could join you!! Good luck to all of you on this fantastic re-enactment!! Hope you have drier weather to CA!
Sue Jacobson, LHA Secretary on June 28th, 2009 at 10:20 am #
Hi Christie, I knew you were in CO this weekend. Love the picture of you and Emily with your goggles… Kelly’s wedding was great, a bit wet at times but with beautiful moments of sunshine. By the way, the really enjoyed the smoked salmon…
aureliane on June 28th, 2009 at 11:10 am #
In my search for something adventurous to do with a group of young women, I came across your blog. I’ve been involved with my church in taking young women on a week long high adventure activity, mostly backpacking. Now that I’m aging, and my back is not as good as it use to be, we are looking at rafting, biking and day hiking in remote places. In my search, I saw that there was an exhibit in Reno for Alice Ramsey. I was trying to find a video on her journey to show the girls, but there does not seem to be one. I’m excited that you are putting together a video which I will get to show the group next year (if we can find electricity on our trip). The fun thing that I noticed is that my husband and I will be traveling to Colorado and should be passing you in Austin, Nevada on July 2nd. Also my daughter is traveling through Salt Lake right now (I just called) with her family on her way to Colorado. I told her they should drive to Toole and see if they can catch a picture of you. (She had 2 screaming daughters in the car so that may not happen.) Then you will be driving by my other 2 daughters that are in Orem, Utah on your way to Delta. So on your journey you will have passed our 3 daughters and 2 granddaughters. Your ride sounds like quite an adventure. You are an inspiration to women! I can’t wait to see your video and hopefully we will catch sight of you on the 2nd.
Sue Taylor on June 28th, 2009 at 11:49 am #
Hello Friends! We made it back home safe and sound, and are now enjoying the cool breeze that has exchanged hands with that disgusting humidity we all loved so dearly in Omaha! Glad to hear/read your trip is still movin’ right along and all is going well with Babbs! Only another 10 days, right?! Last week when we talked, the end seemed far away, and now it sounds like a breeze with only 10 days left! I so wish I could catch up with you again, or meet you at the end in SF! If only…
All the best for a great rest of the trip!
We love and miss you all!
Martha and gang :)
Martha Sather on June 28th, 2009 at 2:39 pm #
Thanks for keeping such a specific electronic journal…it’s like being with you all the way…and the photos are great! You look rested, happy and triumphant, as you should on this ground breaking historic road trip of a century! Fun to see Sally and Barbara on the pics too! Hope to see you in CA soon :). You are doing an amazing job and Kaisa looks adorable!
Kaye Gamper on June 28th, 2009 at 9:17 pm #
What you learned about America, in your journey so far, is something I want to read, when it comes out in the Craig paper. As you probably have heard, last week was one in which several popular culture icons passed away: Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.
It was hard to get a fix on what the country was about from all the nonsense that attended their passings, most especially that of Michael Jackson. There was one photo that caught my attention in today’s Seattle Times. It showed a bunch of people, holding hands, in Gary, Indiana, Mr. Jackson’s original home. I sensed that he meant escape to those people, from the ordinary hassles of daily living.
In a sense, it seems to me, you two and Babs represent that, too. When you two and Babs are at the Golden Gate bridge, I half expect there will be a rainbow there to meet you. Maybe Mr. Jackson can arrange that, from wherever he is now, rest his soul.
Terry Parkhurst on June 28th, 2009 at 11:12 pm #