Al & Mary Rosario are "On The Road Again...March - April 2003"
                       
                      at one of the beautiful rest stops in Louisiana

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WE’RE ON OUR WAY AGAIN! WE HAVE A LITTLE CARGO TRAILER TO TOW FOR THIS TRIP. WE’RE OFF TO TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA FOR THE GOODGUY'S 5th SPRING NAT’S. CAR SHOW. THEN WE’RE OFF TO PENSACOLA BEACH FOR ANOTHER CAR SHOW. NEXT WE GO TO OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA FOR THE NSRA SOUTHWEST STREET ROD NAT’S. ON THE WAY BACK TO CALIFORNIA FOR THE NSRA 27th WESTERN STREET RODS NAT’S. IN BAKERSFIELD, WE’RE GOING VISIT MOM & DAD IN ARIZONA! THE TRIP WILL BE 2754 MILES AND WILL BE 5 WEEKS.

THURSDAY - 3/20/03 - STARTED OUT FROM HOME IN SEASIDE, CA AT 6 am. THE TRAILER TOWS SO WELL YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IT’S THERE. THE VICKIE IS RUNNING GREAT. WENT SOUTH ON HWY 101 TO HWY 46 EAST. ON HWY 46 WE SAW KELLY AND KATHY ROPER GOING WEST AS WE WERE GOING EAST. THEIR JUST COMING HOME FROM A TRIP TO MEXICO. WENT SOUTH ON HWY 99 TO HWY 58 EAST AT BAKERSFIELD, SOUTH ON HWY 395, TO HWY 10 EAST. THE WIND IS BLOWING AND THE DUST IS REAL BAD IN PALM SPRINGS. WE HAD PLANED TO STAY THE NIGHT HERE BUT WE DON’T LIKE THE DUST STORM, SO WE’RE GOING ON TO YUMA, AZ. GOT THERE AT 5:30 pm. TIME CHANGED, WE GAINED AN HOUR. 644 MILES TODAY

FRIDAY - 3/21/03 - AL HAD THE OIL CHANGED BECAUSE HE JUST REBUILT THE LT1 MOTOR IN THE VICKIE AND 600 MILES IS JUST RIGHT FOR THE FIRST SERVICE. WE STARTED OFF AT 10 am. THE WIND IS BLOWING A LITTLE BUT NOT BAD. WE HEADED EAST ON HWY 8. AT CASA GRANDE, AZ WE GOT ONTO HWY 10 EAST. THIS WILL TAKE US ALL THE WAY TO TALLAHASSEE! WE STAYED IN WILLCOX, AZ, EAST OF TUCSON. THE ELEVATION IS 4768 ft. IT’S DRY, WARM AND THE WIND IS JUST RIGHT! 322 MILES TODAY

SATURDAY - 3/22/03 - STARTED OFF AT 6:30 am, EAST ON HWY 10. IT’S ONLY 40 MILES TO NEW MEXICO. IT WAS 173 MILES ACROSS TO TEXAS. THE WEATHER IS GREAT! JUST EAST OF EL PASO, TX, THE TIME CHANGED AGAIN. GAINED ANOTHER HOUR. WE GOT TO SONORA, TX AT 4:30 pm AND STAYED THE NIGHT. IT’S STILL DESERT AND HIGH. 612 MILES TODAY

SUNDAY - 3/23/03 - LEFT SONORA AT 7:00 am, IT’S FOGGY AND COLD. TEXAS IS LOTS OF WASHES AND PLATEAUS SO FAR. THE FOG IS HANGING IN THE WASHES. AS WE GET CLOSER TO SAN ANTONIO, IT’S GOTTEN GREENER, WITH SMALL TREES. AFTER SAN ANTONIO THERE ARE LOTS OF PASTURES AND TREES. THE FREEWAY IS GREAT, VERY WIDE AND LOTS OF WILD FLOWERS AND GRASS IN THE MIDDLE AND ALONG THE SIDES. BLUE BONNETS AND ORANGE, PAINT BRUSHES ALONG WITH YELLOW MUSTARD AND A WHITE FLOWER THAT I DON’T KNOW. IT’S WARMING UP AND IS SUNNY NOW. WE GOT TO HOUSTON AT 3 pm AND ARE STAYING THE NIGHT. IT’S WARM AND REAL NICE. 380 MILES TODAY

MONDAY - 3/24/03 - AL CHECKED OUT THE ENGINE BEFORE WE LEFT THIS MORNING. HEADED OUT AT 7 am. HOUSTON’S OUTSKIRTS HAS HWY 610 THAT CIRCLES THE CITY. WE TOOK THIS HWY TO MISS THE TRAFFIC. ONCE WE WERE BACK ON HWY 10 IT’S 100 MILES TO THE BORDER. WARM AND CLEAR TODAY. IT WAS 880 MILES ACROSS TEXAS. WE CROSSED INTO LOUISIANA AND GOT THE FIRST LOOK AT THE GULF. THE ROADS IN LOUISIANA ARE REALLY BAD. SO BAD THAT IN 47 MILES THE FENDER BRACE ON THE TRAILER’S LEFT SIDE CRACKED AND WAS HITTING THE TIRE. AL BROKE IT OFF AND WE PUT IT IN THE CAR. THE OTHER SIDE IS ALSO CRACKED. IT STARTED DRAGGING ON THE TIRE AT 61 MILES. WE PULLED INTO A REST STOP AND TOOK THE TIRE OFF SO WE COULD TAKE THE BRACE OFF AND NOW THERE ARE NO FENDERS! WE’LL FIX THEM LATER. THANKFULLY IT’S ONLY 268 MILES ACROSS LOUISIANA. WE ARE NOW IN MISSISSIPPI! ROADS ARE BETTER. AT GULFPORT WE DROPPED DOWN TO HWY 90. IT RUNS ALONG THE GULF SO WE COULD GET A GOOD LOOK AT IT. WE’RE STAYING THE NIGHT IN BILOXI. THE HOTEL IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GULF. THE SAND IS WHITE AND THE BEACHES ARE WIDE AND RUN FOR MILES!  462 MILES TODAY

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY - 3/25 & 26/02 - WELL WE FINALLY MADE IT OUT OF MISSISSIPPI. LOUISIANA SURE MESSED UP THE CAR & TRAILER. AFTER LOSING BOTH FENDERS ON THE TRAILER, THE AIR BAG ON THE LEFT FRONT GOT A CHUNK GOUGED OUT OF IT WHEN WE WENT OVER A RUFF BRIDGE THAT WENT ACROSS THE BAY. GOOD THING AL HAD EACH BAG BY IT’S SELF. WE MADE IT TO A GAS STATION & USED THE NSRA FELLOW PAGES TO CALL A LOCAL RODDER. HIS NAME IS “MIKE ROBINSON.” HE GAVE US PHONE NUMBERS FOR A TOW TRUCK & PARTS HOUSES TO SEE ABOUT A NEW BAG. HE HAD US HAVE THE VICKIE DROPPED AT HIS HOUSE. MIKE & HIS WIFE SANDY WERE GREAT. MIKE WAS WAITING OUTSIDE IN THE ROAD WHEN WE GOT THERE TO SHOW US THE WAY. HE HAD ME PUT THE VICKIE IN THEIR CARPORT & KEPT IT OVER NIGHT. WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK, AL WAS LOOKING FOR A RENT-A-CAR. THERE WAS A GUY NAMED MITCH IN THE STATION WHO HAD STOPPED TO GET A HOT DOG. HE HELPED AL LOOK FOR ONE. HE’S A COP IN BILOXI. HE TOOK AL TO, TWO CASINOS & THEN OUT TO THE AIRPORT LOOKING FOR AN N OPEN RENT-A-CAR PLACE. HE ALSO HAD SOME IDEAS ON WHO MIGHT HAVE A BAG. BY THE TIME I GOT TO MIKE’S WITH THE VICKIE, AL WASN’T FAR BEHIND WITH THE RENT-A-CAR. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOOK ALL BACK ROADS SO HE DIDN’T HAVE TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE. MIKE & SANDY INVITED US IN & MADE US FEEL RIGHT AT HOME. BY THE TIME WE GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL 23 MILES AWAY, WERE WE HAD LEFT THE TRAILER WHEN WE WENT TO EAT AND BROKE DOWN, IT WAS AFTER MIDNIGHT. THIS MORNING WE HEADED BACK TO MIKE & SANDY’S. MIKE WAS OUTSIDE AGAIN WAITING FOR US. HE HAD A FLOOR JACK; JACK STANDS & PLANKS ALREADY OUT. AL & MIKE GOT THE VICKIE UP IN NO TIME. AL TOOK OFF THE BAG SO IT COULD BE MATCHED UP. MIKE HAD CALLED A FRIEND OF HIS WHO HAS BAGS ON A CAR THAT’S NOT RUNNING YET. HE SAID WE COULD USE IT IF IT WAS THE SAME SIZE. HE WILL GET HOME FROM WORK AT 3 pm & GET IT IF WE DON’T FIND ONE. WE HAD THREE PLACES TO CHECK THAT AL HAD CALLED YESTERDAY. DAN TACKETT HA! S A NEW ROD SHOP IN GULFPORT CALLED ”SWEET DREAMS RODS & PARTS INC” 17251 HWY 53, GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI. IT’S A GREAT SHOP. SOME NEAT CARS ARE THERE. WE STOPPED THERE FIRST BECAUSE IT WAS OPEN & CLOSE TO MIKE’S. THEY CALLED AROUND & FOUND TWO PEOPLE WHO HAD BAGS. WE TOOK THE BAG OVER TO “KUNFUZED CUSTOMZ,” KEVIN HAD A USED BAG HE SOLD US. BACK TO MIKE’S WE WENT. AL GOT THE BAG ON & WAS JUST FINISHING UP WHEN SANDY NOTICED THAT THE RENT-A-CAR HAD A FLAT ON THE LEFT FRONT! ALL OF OUR STUFF FROM THE ROOM WAS IN THE TRUNK, SO SANDY HELPED ME TAKE IT OUT TO GET TO THE SPARE. WELL, IT WOULDN’T COME OUT. AL HAD TO USE GRIPS TO GET IT OUT. SANDY & I STARTED TO CHANGING IT & THE LUGS WERE SO ROUNDED OFF AL HAD TO BRAKE THEM FOR US. JUST AS IT STARTED TO RAIN WE FINISHED. PUT OUT STUFF IN THE BACK SEAT. WHEN AL FINISHED WE PUT IT IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VICKIE SO WE COULD TAKE THE RENT-A-CAR BACK. WE SAID OUR GOODBYES, FOR TODAY TO MIKE & SANDY. THEY WILL BE AT THE SHOW SO WE’LL SEE THEM TOMORROW. WELL, ON THE WAY, THE VICKIE’S FAN BELT STARTED MAKING NOISE. WE’RE NEAR “SWEET DREAMS” SO WE STOPPED & AL HAD THEM CHANGE THE BELT. BY THIS TIME AL WAS IN NO SHAPE TO PUT THE BELT ON. HE WAS BEAT! THE GUYS IN THE SHOP GOT RIGHT ON IT & HAD US BACK ON OUR WAY IN KNOW TIME! DAN WILL ALSO BE AT THE SHOW. WE WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL TO GET THE TRAILER. HOOKED IT UP & OFF WE GO. ALMOST! I HAD PUT THE COUPLER LOCK ON & IN ABOUT A MILE, WE HIT A BUMP & IT CAME OFF. AL PULLED OVER & WE WALKED BACK & GOT IT. FINALLY WE’RE ON THE WAY. Its 4:45 pm. & WE’VE ONLY WENT 23-MILES SO FAR. WE DROVE TO PENSACOLA, FLORIDA & GOT A ROOM. WE WENT FROM MISSISSIPPI TO ALABAMA & INTO FLORIDA.122 MILES TODAY

THURSDAY - 3/27/03 - WE DIDN'T RUSH OUT THIS MORNING, WE HAVE A SHORT DRIVE TODAY. IT'S SUNNY NOW, BUT TO THE EAST WE CAN SEE CLOUDS. THE TIME CHANGED AGAIN. MOVED AHEAD ANOTHER HOUR. ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL AT 12:45. THERE ARE LOTS OF RODS AT THE HOST HOTEL PARKING LOT. THE FAIRGROUNDS ISN’T OPEN TODAY. THERE IS A CRUISE TODAY TO THE TALLAHASSEE ANTIQUE CAR MUSEUM AND A GET TOGETHER AT THE HOTEL TONIGHT.

FRIDAY - 3/28/03 - WENT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS TODAY. REGISTRATION WAS AT THE RAMADA INN. WE’RE #539. THEY HAVE SOME OF THE VENDORS & MANUFACTURERS INSIDE & JUST AS MANY OUTSIDE. NOT MUCH IN THE ARTS & CRAFTS OR THE SWAP TODAY. THE WEATHER IS REAL NICE. WE SAW MIKE & SANDY ROBINSON & THERE FRIENDS TODAY. THERE’RE LOTS OF REALLY NICE CARS HERE. TONIGHT THERE WAS A TGIF PARTY IN THE RAMADA INN’S PARKING LOT. THEY HAD A BAND SET UP AND ALL THE CARS PARKED IN THE LOTS UP & DOWN FROM THE DANCING. WAS A BIG PARTY

SATURDAY - 3/29/03 - THE FAIRGROUNDS WAS REAL FULL TODAY. LOT MORE IN THE SWAP MEET & MORE VENDORS. THERE IS A 35 STUDEBAKER SEDAN LIKE MINE HERE, OUT OF LOUISIANA. WHAT A NICE CAR! IT WON AN AWARD. THE WEATHER HAS BEEN VERY NICE. WITH HIGHS IN THE 80’S, SCATTERED CLOUDS & A SMALL BREEZE THAT KEEPS YOU COOL. THE PEOPLE ARE VERY FRIENDLY HERE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. EVERYONE WHO WALKS BY, SAYS HI & MOST STOP & VISIT. WITHIN 300 MILES YOU CAN BE IN 6 DIFFERENT STATES. THIS AREA & TOWN LOOKS A LOT LIKE PACIFIC GROVE WITH PINE TREES & OAKS. THE TREES HAVE A PLANT IN THEM THAT HANGS DOWN & LOOKS LIKE OUR SPANISH MOSS, BUT IT’S AN AIR PLANT THAT HAS A SMALL BLOOM. IT DOESN’T HURT THE TREES. THE TOWN IS BUILT ON HILLS. TALLAHASSEE IS THE CAPITAL OF FLORIDA. THE BUILDING RIGHT BEHIND THE CAPITAL DOME IS THE TALLEST ONE HERE. MOST ARE UNDER THREE STORIES & HAS A SMALL TOWN LOOK. WE’RE ABOUT 25 MILES NORTH OF THE GULF. THERE WAS A BEACH PARTY TONIGHT AT THE RAMADA INN. THEY HAD A HAWAIIAN SHIRT CONTEST & THE “FLAMINGO BLVD” BAND PLAYED FOR THE DANCE.

Congratulations to Al & Mary

MONDAY - 3/31/03 - WE ARE DOING CATCH UP WORK TODAY. IT'S TIME TO WASH THE CLOTHES, CHANGE THE OIL IN THE CAR & MAKE SURE THINGS ARE OK UNDER THE CAR. AL FOUND THAT THE NUTS WERE GONE OFF BOTH, FRONT FENDER BRACES ON THE VICKIE. MORE THAN LIKELY THEY CAME OFF IN LOUISIANA. IN THE AFTERNOON WE WENT DOWNTOWN TO THE CAPITAL BUILDING & LOOKED AROUND. WENT TO THE IMAX MOVE. THEY HAVE A NASA DISPLAY THERE. WARMER TODAY & THE WIND, HAS GONE DOWN BUT THERE IS A FREEZE WARNING TONIGHT. AIR IS DRY & FIRE HAZARD IS HIGH. VERY UNUSUAL.

TUESDAY - 4/1/03 - IT WAS 40 DEGREES THIS MORNING! BUT THE SUN WAS OUT AND NO WIND. IT WARMED UP FAST. WE’RE GOING TO START FOR PENSACOLA BEACH TODAY. WE’LL GO ALONG THE GULF ON HWY 98 & STAY THE NIGHT ABOUT HALF WAY. WE STAYED IN DESTIN. THE GULF HAS LOTS OF ISLANDS & PENINSULAS WITH LONG BRIDGES CONNECTING THEM. THE CITY OF DESTIN IS ON ONE OF THESE. WATER ON BOTH SIDE OF THE HOTEL IS DIFFERENT! 197 MILES TODAY

THIS IS THE GULF JUST OUTSIDE PANAMA CITY

WEDNESDAY - 4/2/03 - AS WE STARTED OUT THIS MORNING, THERE WERE KIDS WITH BEADS ON, WALKING ALONG THE ROAD, EVERY WERE. THEN WE SAW THE SIGNS! "WELCOME SPRING BREAK". WELL HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO FLORIDA ON SPRING BREAK? NOW WE HAVE! MOST OF THEM ARE COLLAGE AGE BUT SOME ARE EVEN AS YOUNG AS JUNIOR HIGH. THE ROAD WE TOOK TODAY IS RIGHT ALONG THE BEACH. GREAT VIEWS. LOTS OF WHITE SAND DUNES & BEACHES. THE DUNES AREN’T VERY TALL. THERE AREN’T ANY HILLS HERE, MOSTLY FLAT. THE GULF IS CALLED THE EMERALD COAST ALONG HERE, THE WATER IS JUST THAT EMERALD! HWY 98 IS A NICE DRIVE & THE ROAD IS ALMOST NEW. THE BRIDGE THAT TAKES YOU TO PENSACOLA BEACH IS CALLED THE 3-MILE BRIDGE, KNOW WHY? YOU’RE RIGHT; IT’S THREE MILES LONG. THE FIRST ISLAND YOU COME TO IS GULF BREEZE. THE NEXT BRIDGE IS A TOLL BRIDGE. $.50 PER AXES. WE HAVE HOTEL PREVARICATIONS IN PENSACOLA BUT WE’RE GOING TO LOOK FOR SOME PLACE IN PENSACOLA BEACH CLOSER TO THE CAR SHOW. WE FOUND A NICE MOTEL ABOUT TWO BLOCKS AWAY. IT’S RIGHT ON THE BEACH. NEW ROOMS! GREAT VIEWS & JUST STEPS TO THE WATER. THE SAND IS SO SOFT IT STICKS TO EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES. JUST A SMALL BREEZE MOVES IT AROUND. NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE YET, BUT THE WEEKEND IT’S GOING TO BE FULL. THERE ARE 24 ROOMS OFF THE COURT WE’RE ON. THERE ARE ALSO 4 COTTAGES & A 40 ROOM COMPLEX. THE ROOM HAS A KITCHEN WITH ALL THE STUFF IN IT. NOT THAT I’M GOING TO COOK! BUT FOR SNACKS & COCKTAILS IT’S GREAT. 47 MILES TODAY

THURSDAY - 4/3/03 - THE TIME CHANGE HAS GOT US UP EARLY TODAY. WE CROSSED BACK INTO CENTRAL TIME YESTERDAY. WE HAD JUST GOTTEN USES TO EASTERN TIME. Its VERY QUITE HERE. THE BIRDS AND DUCKS ARE ALL YOU HEAR. THERE IS A PAIR OF MALLARDS WHO HANG AROUND; THEY ARE ALWAYS WALKING AROUND THE CAR. AL SAY’S “THEY’RE LOOKING FOR A HAND OUT”, I SAID, “THEY LIKE TO LOOK AT THE CAR”! WE’RE GOING TO GO THE ZOO TODAY; IT’S IN GULF BREEZE. THEN WHEN WE GET BACK I’M GOING SHOPPING! LOTS OF STORES TO WALK TO. THE WEATHER WAS GREAT TODAY 74, WITH COME CLOUDS. THE SUN SET WAS VERY PINK & RED TONIGHT. JUST A DAY OF REST & RELAXATION.

FRIDAY - 4/4/03 - THE DAY WAS NICE & WARM. WE WENT INTO PENSACOLA TO SHERMAN FIELD NAVAL BASE, THE HOME OF THE BLUE ANGELS, TO THE NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM. THIS WAS A VERY INTERESTING DAY. THEY HAVE SET UP DISPLAYS IN SETS LIKE TOWNS & ON SHIPS. YOU CAN TAKE A BUS TOUR OF ALL THE PLANES & JETS ON THE GROUNDS. THERE ARE LOTS OF TOUR GUIDES TELLING STORIES ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PLANES & AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. THERE ALSO IS AN IMAX THEATER IN THE MUSEUM. YOU REALLY NEED TO SPEND A WHOLE DAY THERE. WE STAYED TILL 4pm, THEN WE NEEDED TO BE AT THE CAR SHOW FOR REGISTRATION. YOU GOT A DASH PLAQUE & TICKETS THE BBQ. THEY HAD A HAMBURGERS & HOT DOGS WITH ALL THE OTHER GOODIES & CAKE. WE GOT A GOODIE BAG FULL OF ALL KINDS OF THINGS. THEY HAD A DOOR PRIZES FOR EVERYONE IN THE CAR, SOME REALLY NICE THINGS. ALSO THEY HAD A LOT OF THING FOR LADIES. IN THE GOODIE BAG THEY HAD LADIES MAGAZINES & FANS. THERE ARE LOTS OF REALLY FRIENDLY PEOPLE IN THE PENSACOLA ROD-TOQUES CAR CLUB, MAKES YOU FELL RIGHT AT HOME. THE DJ PLAYED TILL DARK. OUR MOTEL IS STARTING TO FILL UP A BIT.

SATURDAY - 4/5/03 - IT WAS SO FOGGY THIS MORNING WE COULDN’T SEE THE WATER. WE WENT OVER TO THE SHOW AT 9:30am & PARKED NEXT TO A COUPLE FROM ALABAMA. THEY HAVE A 23 T-BUCKET THEY HAD DRIVEN THERE. LOTS OF NICE CARS. ABOUT 120 CARS IN THE SHOW, PARKED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE COMFORT INN HOTEL. THEY HAD A BBQ TODAY & GAMES FOR EVERYONE. SOME REAL NEAT ONES! THE POKER WALK WAS THE LAST THING FOR THE DAY. IT TOOK YOU ACROSS THE STREET TO THE BOARDWALK & TO THE BIG SHELL STAGE. WAS LOTS OF FUN WALKING WITH A BUNCH OF RODDERS. WENT BACK TO OUR MOTEL & VISITED WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM NEXT DOOR. THEY HAD BEEN FISHING & HAD A BUCKET OF MULLET. THE ROOMS HAVE KITCHENS IN THEM, SO SOON THEY WERE COOKING THEM. THE MOTEL IS ALMOST FULL NOW. THE EVENING IS SO WARM YOU CAN SET OUT IN T-SHIRTS & SHORTS.

SUNDAY - 4/6/03 - WE WERE UP EARLY & THE POWER IS OFF ON THE WHOLE ISLAND. NO PHONES EITHER. IT’S REALLY FOGGY AGAIN THIS MORNING, BUT WE NEED TO BE OVER AT THE HOTEL BY 9am BECAUSE AL GOT THE LONG DISTANCE AWARD. AWARDS ARE AT 10am. THEY ARE SELLING 50/50 TICKETS THAT ARE ALSO USED FOR DRAWING FOR A LADIES’ BASKET & A NEW TRANSMISSION, & THEN THEY PUT THE TICKETS BACK IN FOR THE 50/50 DRAWING. THEY USED THE CAR NUMBERS TO GIVE AWAY 2 NEW CHEVY MOTORS, ANOTHER NEW TRANSMISSION & $500.00 IN CASH ON THE MONEY TREE. THEY HAD LEAVES WITH THE MONEY IN THEM. FROM $20 TO $100. AL WON TWO AWARDS TODAY. ONE IS THE SHAPE OF FLORIDA & IS A CLOCK WITH A SMALL PINK ROADSTER ON IT. EVERYTHING WAS OVER BY 11am. WE WENT BACK TO THE MOTEL PICKED UP THE TRAILER & STARTED WEST ON HWY 10. AT MOBILE, ALABAMA WE WENT NORTH ON HWY 98. THE MAP SHOWS IT AS A THIN RED LINE, BUT THE ROAD IS 4 LANES WITH A PARK IN THE MIDDLE & VERY SMOOTH MUCH NICER THAN THE FREEWAY! IN HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI WE TOOK HWY 49 TO JACKSON. THE ROAD IS THE SAME. WE MADE A GOOD CHOICE TO TAKE THE BACK ROADS. IT IS CLOUDING UP & LOOKS LIKE RAIN. WE ARE GOING TO STAY HERE TONIGHT. IT STARTED TO RAIN WHEN WE WERE HAVING DINNER. LIGHTING, WIND & THUNDER STORM WARNINGS. 255 MILES TODAY

MONDAY - 4/7/03 - WE ARE SOUTH, OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI ON THE OUTSKIRTS IN RICHLAND. THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE. IN THE LAST 24 HOURS THEY HAD 10" OF RAIN. YES, THAT'S 10" OF RAIN, WITH LOTS OF LIGHTING, THUNDER & WIND. THEN CAME THE TORNADO WARNINGS & FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR RIVERS & HIGHWAYS UNDERPASSES. BUT, IT'S STILL WARM!! WE STAYED AT THE MOTEL, TILL MOST OF THIS PASSED. IT SHOULD BE BETTER LATER THIS MORNING. A COLD FRONT IS ON THE WAY & SHOULD BRING THE SUNSHINE. WHEN WE LEFT, WE WENT NORTH, ON INTERSTATE 55, INSTEAD OF THE SMALLER HIGHWAYS WE'RE GOING TO USE LIKE WE DID YESTERDAY. JUST NORTH OF JACKSON IN CANTON, YOU COULD SEE THE FLOODING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HWY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP HAD JUST THE TOPS OF THE CARS & TRUCKS STICKING OUT OF THE WATER. THE MOTELS NEXT TO IT, THE COMFORT INN, ECONO LODGE, DAYS INN & HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS WE'RE ALSO FLOODED, WITH PEOPLE STANDING ON THE SECOND STORY BALCONIES, LOOKING AT THE TOPS OF THEIR CARS. THE FOUR GAS STATIONS & THE PIZZA HUT, MC DONALD'S, WENDY'S & THE IHOP WERE ALSO UNDER WATER. FOR ABOUT 2 MILES EVERYTHING WAS UP TO THE TOPS OF CARS. AT LEAST IT'S NOT RAINING ANYMORE.  AS WE GOT FARTHER NORTH, THINGS WERE DRYER, SO WE TOOK OF ON A COUNTY ROAD. THERE IS A REASON THE HIGHWAYS HAVE PARKS IN THE MIDDLE! WHEN IT RAINS, THEY'RE LAKES! WE CROSSED THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT GREENVILLE & WENT INTO ARKANSAS. WE WENT UP HWY 65 TO PINE BLUFF & ON TO LITTLE ROCK. WE TOOK INTERSTATE 40 WEST FROM THERE. WE STAYED THE NIGHT IN CONWAY, ARKANSAS, AT A MOTEL ON A HILLTOP! 359 MILES TODAY

            Water, Water Everywhere

TUESDAY - 4/8/03 - IT'S COLD TODAY, WHAT A CHANGE, 49, WHEN LAST NIGHT IT WAS IN THE 70'S. SATURDAY WAS THE LAST TIME WE COULD GET ON LINE & WHEN WE CHECKED THE WEATHER IN OKLAHOMA CITY IT WAS 81. WE DIDN'T EXPECT THIS MUCH OF A CHANGE. WHEN WE LEFT CONWAY, ARKANSAS THIS MORNING WE TOOK INTERSTATE 40 WEST. THE ROAD ISN'T TO GOOD BUT THERE WASN'T MUCH CHOICE, OKLAHOMA CITY IS DUE WEST FROM THERE. ONCE WE GOT TO OKLAHOMA CITY, AL CHECKED A FEW MOTELS TO SEE IF WE COULD GET ONE CLOSER TO THE FAIRGROUNDS. WE HAD RESERVATIONS HERE BUT WE GOT A NICE ROOM CLOSER. THE SUN CAME OUT JUST BEFORE THE SUNSET, SO MAYBE IT’LL BE WARMER TOMORROW! 310 MILES TODAY

WEDNESDAY - 4/9/03 - IT HAS WARMED UP SOME TODAY. IT A DAY TO CLEAN THE CAR & GET READY FOR THE SHOW. DID SOME SHOPPING FOR SNACKS FOR THE SHOW & JUST RESTED.

THURSDAY - 4/10/03 - WE'RE DOING SOME SIGHTSEEING TODAY. THE OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL & MUSEUM WAS A VERY MOVING EXPERIENCE. THE 8th ANNIVERSARY WILL BE IN A FEW DAYS. THEY HAVE MADE A REAL NICE MEMORIAL. OKLAHOMA CITY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY THE STREET RODDERS! REGISTRATION STARTED TODAY AT THE COURTYARD MARRIOTT. THE PARKING LOT WAS CRAMMED! ALL THE HOTELS AROUND US ARE FULL OF RODS ALSO. TONIGHT THERE IS AN OPEN HOUSE CRUISE-IN AT PARR AUTOMOTIVE. THEY HAD BURGERS, SODAS & MUSIC & DOOR PRIZES. THEY PUT ON QUITE A PARTY FOR THE RODDERS. BACK AT THE HOTEL EVERYONE IS GETTING READY FOR FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT, THEY HAVE THE CHAIRS OUT IN THE PARKING LOT. THEY CRUISE ON MERIDIAN AVE. FRIDAY & SATURDAY. IT’S THE STREET OUTSIDE THE HOTEL! IT IS WARMING UP, 75 OUTSIDE NOW AT 9pm

SATURDAY - 4/12/03 - ANOTHER GREAT DAY OF SUN, FUN & STREET RODS. WE CRUISED AROUND GROUNDS FIRST THING, THEN FOUND A NICE PLACE TO PARK ON THE GRASS UNDER SOME TREES. SET UP THE CHAIRS & WATCHED THE RODS GO BY. THE NSRA ROD RUNS, GIVE AWAY LOTS OF PRIZES. THEY PULL CAR NUMBERS ALL DAY. BACK AT THE HOTEL WE VISITED & WATCHED THE CRUISE, WHICH WAS ABOUT THE SAME AS LAST NIGHT.

TUESDAY - 4/15/03 - UP EARLY TODAY TO BEAT THE HEAT, IT'S 67 NOW. IT'S DARK & THE MOON IS FULL. AS IT SETS OVER THE PLANES OF TEXAS, IT'S BIG & ORANGE. STARTED OUT AT 6am, BUT IN 58 MILES WE CROSSED THE NEW MEXICO BORDER & THE TIME CHANGED AGAIN, BACK ANOTHER HOUR. THE SCENERY IS CHANGING, MESAS & RED DIRT WITH SCRUB BRUSH & GRASS. WHEN WE GOT TO SANTA ROSA, NEW MEXICO THE WIND STARTED BLOWING & IT‘S GETTING COLD. BY THE TIME WE GOT CLOSE TO ALBUQUERQUE IT RAINED SOME BIG DROPS, JUST A BIT. WE STOPPED IN ALBUQUERQUE. THE WIND IS SO BAD AL DECIDED TO GET A ROOM & WAIT THE BAD WEATHER OUT. IT WAS ONLY 10:30am BUT, HE MADE A GOOD CHOICE, THE WIND GOT TO 50 mph WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH. DIRT & TUMBLE WEEDS WITH TRASH, And BILLBOARD PIECES & LOTS OF DUST IS BLOWING AROUND. THE ROOF CAME OFF OF A SCHOOL & LOTS MORE. IT RAINED A FEW MORE DROPS & SOME HAIL, THEN THE DUST & DIRT CAME & JUST STUCK TO THE CAR, LOOKS LIKE YOU TOOK MUD & THRU IT AT THE CAR, WHAT A MESS. THE ROOM AT THE HOTEL IS AWAY FROM THE WIND BUT IT COMES AROUND ANYWAY. AT LEAST THE CAR IS PROTECTED SOME. 294 MILES TODAY

MONDAY & TUESDAY - 4/21 & 4/22/03 - SPENT THE DAYS WITH MOM & DAD. IT'S ALMOST TIME TO HEAD WEST.
 

WEDNESDAY - 4/23/03 - WENT INTO BAJA CALIFORNIA THIS MORNING, TO VISIT, ALGODONES, MEXICO.  DID A LITTLE SITE SEEING & BACK TO YUMA.  TOOK OFF WEST ON INTERSTATE  8, THIS AFTERNOON.  STAYED IN PALM DESERT TONIGHT.  THE WEATHER IS GREAT, NICE & NOT TOO WARM,  IT‘S 84 AT 9pm.  SHORT DRIVING DAY, TODAY.  162 MILES TODAY

SUNDAY - 4/27/03 - WENT BACK TO THE FAIRGROUNDS IN THE MORNING & FINISHED GETTING THE GOODIES FOR THE CAR. IT WAS THE WARMEST DAY AT THE SHOW TODAY. AFTER THE AWARDS WE WENT TO BOB & SALLY TAVARES’S HOUSE AT LAKE NACIMIENTO, TO SPENT THE NIGHT. LEAVING BAKERSFIELD WE WENT NORTH ON HIGHWAY 99 TO 7 STANDARD ROAD & WENT WEST, AT INTERSTATE 5, WENT NORTH TO HIGHWAY 46 & WEST TO PASO ROBLES & THEN THE BACK ROADS TO THE LAKE. WITH ALL THE RAIN & COOL WEATHER SO FAR THIS YEAR, EVERYTHING IS STILL GREEN & THE WILD FLOWERS ARE REALLY COMING OUT. WHEN WE GOT TO THE HOUSE, THEIR DAUGHTER TERI HAD DINNER ALMOST READY, FOR ALL OF US. GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS & GOOD FOOD! WHAT MORE COULD ANYONE ASK FOR? 147 MILES TODAY

     
At Bob & Sally's Lake house     Hwy 46 just outside of Paso Robles

MONDAY - 4/28/03 - WE HAD RAIN DURING THE NIGHT, BUT IT WAS CLEAR IN THE MORNING. WE ALL WENT TO SEASIDE TODAY. WENT THE BACK ROADS TO HIGHWAY 101, NORTH TO SALINAS THEN WEST ON HIGHWAY 68. MADE IT HOME JUST IN TIME FOR IT TO RAIN. 117 MILES TODAY

TILL THE NEXT TIME, MARY & AL ROSARIO