HRPT - Day 6 - Wichita, Kansas

Every morning, Kenneth would go to the El Camino, open all the windows, check all the fluids and make sure everything was good for the days trip to the next venue.  I liked to get pics of him...:)

 

 

Checking to make sure it's all good!

 

Discovered that I loved Kansas!  There were windmill here, too, and so many of the little town's buildings had dates from the 1800s on them so all these little towns have been here for well over a hundred years!  Farms out on the highway would have gates with the families name and the year they settled there.  It was the coolest thing.  I had such a wonderful time just sightseeing!

Kansas has some beautiful scenery, too!

More windmills!

No wonder this is tornado alley!  There is absolutely nothing to stop them!

So much flat, open land filled with crops and then you'd drop into lush, green hills - it was gorgeous!

Again, I got no pictures of the venue, Kansas Pavilions in Valley Center.  They all started looking quite the same.  We met a couple on the Power Tour, Michelle and Carl McClellan from the Houston area so we took the hotel shuttle and got together for dinner in Kansas City that evening.  There was a huge car show right in the middle of the square!  Ate at a great local restaurant and had some more of their local craft beer.  That is certainly becoming a "thing" everywhere we go and I'm beginning to like it.

Carl and Kenneth walking off dinner.

The restaurant we ate at is on the corner.

Again, the Power Tour has shut down another city!

Had to leave earlier than I wanted to...my ankles were twice their normal size and were really hurting!

HRPT - Day 5 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

We headed out from Curt and Lisa's a little bit late because I had to work.  Payroll had to be done and bills paid.  Thank goodness for internet, ACH banking and technology!  I'm able to take these trips and work from the road.  And most of all, thank goodness for a wonderful boss who understands how important life is outside of work!  He really is the best boss I've ever had.  I really didn't take many pictures this day.  The venue, Remington Park in Oklahoma City, was nothing really special - just a big, hot parking lot!  We blew in, stamped our credentials at the timeclock at the stage and headed for the hotel.  The hotel here was the best hotel we stayed in, by far!  It had a sitting room separate from the bedroom and was quite large and comfortable.  We showered and were in walking distance of a Chili's so we headed over there for a light dinner and a couple of beers.  Walked back over to the hotel, visited with some other drivers in the parking lot, Kenneth watched a guy work on his car and then we retired to the room to watch TV and rest up for the next leg of the trip.  I certainly appreciate air conditioning a LOT more than ever!

10:49am...goodness...this was the hottest day of the tour!

I was fascinated with these windmills.  We saw them all over Oklahoma.

Loved being in a long line of cars...as long as they were moving!

HRPT - Day 4 - Grand Prairie, Texas

We woke to another beautiful, sunny, hot day in Austin, TX.  Honestly, the heat was more desirable than the rain so we were thankful.  We discovered our friends driving the 1972 Cutlass, Jerry and Stephen, were in the hotel next to ours so we decided to travel with them on this day.  This was to be their last leg of the Power Tour.  They were headed back to New Orleans, LA to celebrate a family birthday and couldn't go all the way.  Kenneth and I were going to stop somewhere quick for breakfast and they said they'd love to join us.  They said to pick wherever we wanted and they would eat anything.  They were kind of surprised when we pulled into Taco Bell!  I told Jerry, the grandfather, "Hey.  You said you'd eat anywhere!" and he agreed.  It was his first time EVER eating at a Taco Bell, which I found hard to believe given the fact he had eight grandchildren, Stephen being one of them.  At any rate, they both agreed it was a good stop and both ate all of their food so I assume they enjoyed it.  Jerry insisted on paying because of all the help Kenneth had provided the day before.  Turns out, that wasn't all the help they needed!  Their car died a few more times so Kenneth took a look under the hood and they all came to the conclusion that the fan clutch wasn't working properly so in we pulled to an Auto Zone where Jerry purchased the part and Kenneth installed it for them.  Stephen was pretty handy with tools but I'm not sure he would've figured it out without Kenneth's help.  So thankful that not only is he knowledgeable, but also so willing to help anyone in need.  He's such a good guy...:) 

True definition of a "shade tree mechanic"...the first thing he told Stephen was to pull his car into the shade!

Jerry supervising...

Kenneth showing him the bad part

Stephen learning

Back on the road.  Look at this old El Camino!

We also discovered that no matter what gas station we stopped at, there was also a mini car show going on!  It was a nice surprise for other customers who took time to walk around, look at cars and take pictures.  It was fun for us, too!

Stephen and Jerry rode with us all day and we kept an eye on them.

People would park their classics on the road where they were sitting so we could admire their cars, too!

Even the police parked and waved...and maybe waited for a burnout!

I can't tell you how many beautiful little churches we passed in these small towns.  I loved them all but only got a picture of this one. 

Making lunch on the road.  Saved us a lot of money not having to eat in restaurants every meal!

Black Dodge Dakota RT just like the one we used to have.  They were part of our eight car group the day before.

Getting shaved ice to cool us off at Traders Village in Grand Prairie, TX

Anywhere you looked you might see someone working on a car!

Stephen and Jerry

Chevrolet was the sponsor of this year's Power Tour and they brought out their mechanics to travel to each venue.  They would set up a tent and were known as the "Motor Medics".  Any make or model vehicle that had trouble or needed work would come by their tent and the mechanics would help.  Auto Zone had a booth, too and had some parts on hand for people to purchase but some had to go to a local store to buy what they needed and the mechanic would help fix the car.  We stopped in Traders Village because Kenneth said the carburetor needed adjusting.  Well, they fiddled with it and he seemed happy enough although he still doesn't think it's quite right.

Kenneth and the mechanic under the hood.

Looking for just the right tool

Back in another Power Tour traffic jam!

Instead of booking a hotel room for this night, we drove up to Curt and Lisa's house to spend the night.  What a welcome halfway point to stop at - it was exactly what I needed!  We met Sharon, Dawn and Doug at La Hacienda Mexican restaurant for some fabulous food, Sharon's homemade chocolate red wine cupcakes and lots of laughs.

Tableside guacamole that was the best I've ever had - no lie!  Sharon supervising. The waiter was too young to have a cupcake!

Curt and Lisa

Dawn and Doug

Stopped by Mash'd for an after dinner drink but I was too worn out to try any moonshine this trip.  I'll have to get by there one day soon and get that sampler they have!

I'm thinking he was a bit worn out, too.