Team Blog

Ohio, a night at the spa

Posted on Jun 15th, 2009 at 8:35 am by The Team

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Our directions were a little off, so we ended up driving an extra 25 or so miles further than expected to get to Aurora, and ended up doing 225 miles yesterday, a record! We’ve got over 600 miles in the car so far, with Emily easily putting the most miles on the car than anyone has, she has become an expert Maxwell driver! It was a really long day, but good driving, our engine trouble seem to have been left behind.

We stopped along the way at the White Turkey drive-in, just over the Ohio line where there were root beer floats, lots of families hanging around on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. It was very clean with picnic tables, nice shade trees, a good old fashioned 50s-style drive-in! This was a real treat for the folks from the Netherlands to see some real Americana, but they didn’t enjoy the taste of Root Beer (not enough Beer, too much Root).

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Somewhere near Mentor/Aurora area about 3 miles before we got to our stop in Aurora our film crew got stopped by the police. They were just trying to get some good iconic shots of us traveling across the country, so had advanced ahead of us and found a great spot where we would come up over this hill. There was an island in the middle of the road where we could setup the camera, frame up the shot and were just waiting for people to drive over. A cop rolled by and a few minutes later another one showed up from another directinon, he asked, “What are you guys doing in the middle of the road?” After some explaining of the Alice Ramsey tall tale, and he said, “Why dont you get out of the middle of the road and we can talk about it?” He then took licenses and ran them and asked, “Why do I have the Mayor calling me, the next town over cops calling me, all telling me that people are in the middle of the road shooting with a video camera?” He eventually let us go after telling them to keep out of the middle of the road, probably a good idea.

We were relieved to arrive in Aurora, we were a bit road-weary when we arrived, but it was a treat to see our family Peter, Erika baby Lucas who were patiently waiting for us. There were also some Maxwell folks were there waiting for us too, and Terry and Ed Huston were there to greet us. We had dinner with them, at the lovely Mario’s International Spa and Hotel in Aurora, OH. It was in a really interesting 1840’s building turned into hotel and spa. Those folks bent over backwards for us, going out of their way to keep their restaurant open late for us. David took such good care of us in our roadweary and late state, and the kitchen crew stayed late to make sure we had an excellent dinner. A big thanks to David for taking such good care of us while we were there, to Robin for making the arrangements and the kitchen folks!

We are just coming out of the rolling hills of Ohio, and have a second Maxwell with us today. Its Howard Joiner’s 1910 Maxwell, driven by his daughter Jenny, they are going to be with us for about four days, until Cedar Rapids. Jane Schultz from Ohio is riding with us all day too. We are just now going around a roundabout in a cute little town called La Grange, we plan on hitting Bowling Green in the afternoon to check out Snook’s Automotive Museum where we will meet Vern and Doris Ann Campbell. Its Doris Ann’s birthday and she is going to ride with us the rest of the way to Napolean. Vern is the head of the Maxwell Registry and has been helping Rich with parts, he restored the magneto for us! Finally, to Napolean, OH to bed down for the night. Its flattening out here, we were on some amazing steep hills, but its looking more and more like the midwest now, the trees have changed too.

Day 6 - WE MADE IT!!!

Napolean was dynamite!

29 Comments

  1. I am traveling through northern Indiana and hoped to see you and your Maxwell in Auburn or South Bend on the 14th or 15th. I was not able to find anyone who knows where you intend to stop in either location. I spoke to people at the ACD Museum, the Studebaker museum, and the county visitor’s bureau with no luck. I am sure there are others who who would like to celebrate your venture.

    Thanks.

    Roger Williams on June 15th, 2009 at 12:28 pm #

  2. I am traveling through northern Indiana and hoped to see you and your Maxwell in Auburn or South Bend on the 14th or 15th. I was not able to find anyone who knows where you intend to stop in either location. I spoke to people at the ACD Museum, the Studebaker museum, and the county visitor’s bureau with no luck. I am sure there are others who who would like to celebrate your venture.

    Thanks.

    Roger Williams on June 15th, 2009 at 12:29 pm #

  3. Really enjoy your information each day.

    Lyle Hegsted on June 15th, 2009 at 1:49 pm #

  4. Hi Team Mates,

    Thinking of you everyday, following the weather, and your blog and map. Wishing you safe travels every step of the way. What a special event you have created!

    Franni and Jim Herrgott on June 15th, 2009 at 2:59 pm #

  5. I can’t tell you how much we enjoyed visiting with you all, seeing the car up close and personal, and riding for that short time this morning. I had several choked-up sniffly moments when I thought how much Pop would have loved to be with you in person. He is with you in spirit, I’m sure.

    Happy motoring westward! We’ll be following your adventure closely. [Refresh, refresh, refresh.....]

    Terry Huston on June 15th, 2009 at 4:00 pm #

  6. Emily:
    Glad to hear things are going well, sorry we didn’t have more time to enjoy you and the team the first few days-a pleasure to meet all of you guys!!!!
    the 1910 Buick made it home fine after a 1008 mile trip-take care of Stijnus and the Spyker! Best for the rest of the trip!!!!
    Clay Green

    Clay Green on June 15th, 2009 at 6:11 pm #

  7. Andrea and I are following your every move via the website, and wish we could get the girls down to Iowa to see you all and meet Kaisa! Keep up the great work… we are so proud of you!

    Erik Eckman on June 15th, 2009 at 6:40 pm #

  8. Looking forward to meeting the team in Omaha. Please provide estimated time of arrival, route and stop over information.

    Jim Ecker on June 15th, 2009 at 7:09 pm #

  9. Following your journey every night online. Wish I could cheer you on in person. Please keep the blog posts coming! We keep reminding Vern that his beautiful Maxwell is not a Model T! Our best to Vern & all the Maxwell owners & Happy Birthday Doris Ann! Ted O’Dell, Sr. & Ted O’Dell, Jr., Milan, Michigan.

    Ted O'Dell, Jr. on June 15th, 2009 at 7:52 pm #

  10. I just talked to my son David. You met him in Aurora at the Mario’s International Spa. He told me about your adventure and I wanted to wish you all a safe journey. I live in Southern California and I wish I could see you when you arrive. Lots of luck to you :-)
    I will follow your blog until your arrival in California

    Mirjam on June 15th, 2009 at 8:26 pm #

  11. We’re watching your progress nightly from the living room here at Mark and Steph’s in Billings! Looking to possibly get to Omaha for some time with you next weekend. I hope to hear something about when/where you’ll be when you’re there so we can find you sometime on Saturday and/or Sunday. So glad to hear all the troubles have subsided and that you’re making some good progress! We love hearing about all of these adventures you’re having and people you’re meeting, and we all wish you well the rest of the way! Thinking about you lots and lots, and sending loads of love and hugs! Hi Christie! Let’s be in touch soon if possible…
    Love, Martha :)

    Martha Sather on June 15th, 2009 at 8:46 pm #

  12. After having seen you folks off in Manhattan, I am enjoying this journey unfold day by day with the added excitement that only an unanticipated, real time event can hold. There is no way to fast-forward through this adventure as is the desire of people with lives on-the-go in the 21th Century. Each entry happens when you actually finish your whole day’s adventure and there are no short cuts possible for us reading and imagining along. There is only question that I have yet to answer: What is the esimated miles per gallon? Keep up with this exiting historic journey for we are all watching it unfold through your windshield.

    Kevin Mark on June 16th, 2009 at 4:03 am #

  13. Hi,

    We have enjoyed following along on-line and today (Tuesday) we will be joining you in person! We are looking forward to seeing you all and meeting Kaisa. Hope you have another great driving day. Keep it up!!

    Carol, Kip, and Cait

    Carol McGilliard on June 16th, 2009 at 4:41 am #

  14. Sorry you weren’t able to drive the car in our area, Canandaigua, NY. Maybe when you get to Cedar Rapids my brother and his family will greet you.

    Dan and Donna Brigham on June 16th, 2009 at 7:32 am #

  15. Enjoying your trip blogs very much - the White Turkey Drive-In that you stopped at in Conneaut,OH is one of my very favorite places and the best example of an authentic Richardson’s Root Beer Stand. Only know of one other, in NYS, on US 20 in the Finger Lakes area. Also enjoying the Flickr Photostream but it would be nice if at least the photos has a location, i.e. city or even state.
    Keep on motoring and try and keep the bugs out of your teeth!!

    Cheers, CAR

    CARuth on June 16th, 2009 at 10:18 am #

  16. Nice to have met you all at Snook’s Dreams Cars in Bowling Green, Ohio. I’d read of Alice Ramsey in books on the Lincoln Highway, but had no idea somebody was duplicating the feat. Good luck, be well, safe travels.

    Doug Grosjean
    Pemberville, Ohio
    douggrosjean@gmail.com

    Doug Grosjean on June 16th, 2009 at 3:48 pm #

  17. Looking Good!!! Sounds like a lot of fun. Be Safe. Whidbey Island A’s. Gary. Hi Rich and others!!!

    Gary A. Formhals on June 16th, 2009 at 7:42 pm #

  18. What route are you taking from Rochelle to Cedar Rapids? I would love to see you as you pass here and hopefully drive up in the 1915 Packard to meet you. Dave Mitchell

    Dave Mitchell on June 16th, 2009 at 7:53 pm #

  19. Tourists,
    Speaking for Jenny Washburn, Howard Joyner, Bob Burkhalter and my self, thanks for the hospitality as we traveled with you the last two days. We managed to put two of Howard’s Maxwell cars out of service, but still had a lot of fun. Good luck on the rest of the tour. PS - Tell Christie that I honestly thought I had the ground off the mag. She sure cranked that Maxwell over good. Once I turned the ground switch off, it even started. KEEP IT BETWEEN THE DITCHES

    Joe Goss on June 16th, 2009 at 8:11 pm #

  20. We have loved being able to follow your progress! It has made us feel like we are right there with you, (at least a little bit!). I leave for the lake today and I will now have to go to town to keep up. Keep up the good work! You remain in our thoughts and prayers! Love , Sherri

    Sherri Berry on June 17th, 2009 at 4:39 am #

  21. Please keep up the news on the trip. My uncle Howard Joyner and his daughter Jenny have been looking forward to this adventure for so long. We are really enjoying the updates.

    Nancy Dietz on June 17th, 2009 at 5:26 am #

  22. Sounds like a fantastic trip. What a great idea!

    Richard Erickson on June 17th, 2009 at 8:13 am #

  23. I’m enjoying the updates, although I thought you’d be further along. I keep forgetting you’re driving a 100 year old vehicle! It sounds like the best part of the trip is the wonderful people you are meeting along the way! Stay safe and have fun! Happy trails. . .

    Toni Catania on June 17th, 2009 at 8:23 am #

  24. Please check your email.

    Warmest regards. Attack the hills!

    Iowa Department of Transportation on June 17th, 2009 at 12:47 pm #

  25. Hello!!! I hope you’re all up and running well again! Thanks so much for stopping by our museum on Monday, we very much enjoyed your visit. We’ll be watching the rest of your journey! Safe travels to you all! ~Amanda

    Amanda Diehl, Snook's Dream Cars on June 17th, 2009 at 12:54 pm #

  26. Irene and Julia don’t mind bugs in their teeth, but then again, they don’t have that many teeth and they haven’t experienced it at over 4 mph:-)
    Grandma La and Grandpa Mark are here tonight in anticipation of leaving tomorrow to meet you in Iowa. We all send big hugs and good wishes and hopes for no more babbit replacement (whatever the heck that means!) xoxoxo

    Jenny, Eric, Irene, and Julia on June 17th, 2009 at 7:36 pm #

  27. HI Roger -
    Sorry to hear we missed you and you us. We are in Rochelle, IL. tonight and leave for Cedar Rapids, IA tomorrow. From there we move on to Omaha. If you’re still up for running into us…we’ll be departing from Rochelle at 8a.m. tomorrow. Feel free to send an email to media@aliceramsey.org which will go directly to my phone and I can possibly help us all connect. Thanks! Bengt

    Bengt on June 17th, 2009 at 10:04 pm #

  28. HI Roger -
    Sorry to hear we missed you and you us. We are in Rochelle, IL. tonight and leave for Cedar Rapids, IA tomorrow. From there we move on to Omaha. If you’re still up for running into us…we’ll be departing from Rochelle at 8a.m. tomorrow. Feel free to send an email to media@aliceramsey.org which will go directly to my phone and I can possibly help us all connect. Thanks! Bengt

    Bengt on June 17th, 2009 at 10:04 pm #

  29. I’m truly impressed at how the number of comments your blog attracts seems to increase with each day that you progress further west - it’s sort of like watching a snowball get bigger as it rolls downhill! Having been in simular situations a few times myself, it’s arguably miraculous that your film crew made it all the way to Ohio before some cop decided to give them the third degree about why they were hanging out on the side of the road. In spite of it, I hope they got the shot they were waiting for! A fellow photojournalist I know of likes to joke it’s not a truly successful shoot until someone winds up in the ER or the back of a police cruiser! Despite your best attempts to explain how preparation plays into it, the cops always think a good photo is an accidental thing that can be accomplished in a second.

    Gregg D. Merksamer on June 23rd, 2009 at 10:03 am #