Mel Manasse's Cruise-In

A local auctioneer has a cruise-in to his place one Tuesday night each month from spring through fall.

The first one for 2012 was April of this year,

before we were home from winter in the southwest.

Since that time, EVERY cruise-in Tuesday has had abominable weather

until July.

Finally a perfect night!

Here is our ride, the

 1946

CJ2A

'pushed' by the Bantam trailer.

This RATROD is just way too cool.

Later there is a photo of part of the burlap interior.

Perfect!

And, isn't this car and RV the ONLY way to go camping?

I LOVE the color!

For me,

these events are all in the details....

RATROD detail above and below

Next month Vic hopes to have the

1955 M38A1 Jeep

and the M416 trailer that 'pushes' it

on the road

AND

we'll pray for good weather once again.

It was a good time -

Thanks, Mel!

And thanks,Vic, for the ice cream on the way home!

Mnnn

The Great Willys Picnic 2012

The annual Great Willys Picnic was held at a

new location this year.

The Kempton Community Recreaton Center

in

Kempton, PA.

To describe the event in three phrases

GOOD LOCATION

WELL-ATTENDED

and

HOT

******************

The park is also home to the WK&S scenic railroad

Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern

The box on the rear of our

1946 CJ3A

got lots of

attention.

The original advertising makes it particularly special.

It was our understanding that over 70 Jeeps were in attendance.

Enthusiastic participation

is always

a nice reward

 for the amount of work that is put into setting up an event

like this.

The last location for this show/picnic was very nice

however

there is much more room here in Kempton

and a nice area for the public to park

as well as tugs and trailers for the Jeeps that

were hauled.

And did I mention HOT?

92F

and this is June?

I should have had many more photos.

It was just TOO HOT!

Perfect hood ornament!

And, to the folks who did all the work,

a BIG THANK YOU!!!

and Vic

King of Trucks and CNYJeep.org

The King of Trucks held their inaugural event

 in Syracuse at the NY State Fairgrounds in 2011.

This year was the second annual show.

The promoter asked the CNYJeep.org fellows for a few volunteers to construct an obstacle course then man that course during the show.

A member was in touch with Vic to see if he would help.

So, from Memorial Day through Friday he spent his days at the Fairgrounds

building obstacles.

.

Tracey Road Equipment donated the equipment

for the event.

Vic was having entirely too much fun to take many pictures (and was busy spotting Saturday and Sunday) but, this is a sample of a few of the obstacles that were available to registrants.

Friday a few of the

volunteers had to give it a try.

The entrance to the course was under the "arch" made by the excavator's arm.

Check out the wheels above and below.

The front bumper almost touchs going down and the hitch drags coming out of the hole.

Saturday was sunny and nice.

An enthusiastic crowd kept the place hopping all day.

Sunday was mostly rainy and attendance still wasn't too bad.

Off-roaders don't let a little moisture dampen the fun.

Everyone had a good time - Vic included.

Cruise Nite '12

The event began in our village of Marathon at 1pm.

At 2pm promptly we left to cruise to the county seat of

Cortland, New York

 Main Street was closed off  to all other traffic.

Nice.

Vic drove the 1946 CJ2A and I drove the 2006 Rubicon.

We parked together

to give folks a peek at the changes from 60 years ago.

Red, white and blue cars to go with our American flag -

long may it wave!

The graphics are terrific on this hearse and the license plate is perfect,

is it not?

Look at that shine!

The fake bullet holes are just right on this antique.

All electric....

and plugs into the gas tank for a humorous twist.

Lots of door prizes donated by local businesses were awarded to those who attended.

Thanks to www.LateModelRestorations.com we brought home a tee-shirt.

A well-organized event and a nice drive on a fine, sunny day!

Three Days of Contrasts on Owasco Lake (from the shores of Casowasco)

Vic and I returned home just a bit over three weeks ago.

Although this post has nothing to do with the west

or with Jeeps and offroad adventures,

I have to share a couple of pictures.

Nearly every spring and autumn

I attend a three-day quilting retreat

with friends from my quilt guild

and

another area guild.

Our retreat is held at Casowasco - a Methodist retreat,

camp and conference center

on

beautiful Lake Owasco

 in the Finger Lakes Region of Central New York.

This time I took very few photos of the

facility itself
(2 are below)

The Lakeside Chapel with the dining hall on the left and Bethany where we sleep and sew is back in the trees.

The unusual conditions of the lake that first afternoon
are what cried to be documented.

As the day progressed the lake the air quieted and the lake became very still.

The water's surface became absolutely flat

and, added to that, was enormity of the cumulus clouds.

This is a rare combination as cumulus clouds are formed by moving air currents.

We normally awaken to the sound of the water lapping at the shoreline

and some days there are small waves breaking on the shore.

Not today -

there were only sounds of the birds celebrating the new morning.

Later that same afternoon

a breeze stirred and

the lake's surface

returned to more normal yet still beautiful conditions.

The following morning......

rain, wind, small whitecaps and even sporadic thunder as a front came through

Our final day was cooler,

even a wee bit brisk.

At 6 a.m.

the skies returned to blue

and the lake's surface

no longer produced mirror images of the shorelines and clouds.

Three days of memorable contrasts on the lake

shared with

very special friends!