07-04-2009, 10:36 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 662
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by rgrimm
M...
Speaking of which Monday should be partly cloudy and 81, some chance of showers beginning later on Tuesday, so you might hit some light rain going west.
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As for the weather, our experience has been mostly rain, rain, rain so far. Just enough occasional sunshine to reward us for addressing the AC. Can't put the top up and down on I90 at 78 MPH....
Today's travels took us into Chicago, where we were greeted with the 29th annual "Taste of Chicago" street fair in Grant Park. We spent several hours there, partaking of the food offerings and the crowd-watching.
Our run was to take us just east of St. Paul, but between our time at the fair and the heavy traffic/downpours/construction traveling north, we re-set our destination to be Black River Falls, WI. What's there? Well, nothing actually. We drove about 15 miles to a recommended family restaurant in (what is called) Downtown Hatfield, WI. There is also a small (very small) indian-run casino - with a buffet and a snack bar, and an indian Pow-Wow grounds, where we watched a bit of the action.
The S4 spider (which is still for sale, lgbalfa) is running strong. We are averaging 32 MPG and have yet to use any oil at 1200 miles out. Photos below display how we pack 14 days worth of luggage ( the spider's trunk is much bigger than your Sky/Boxter/Miata/Vette 2-seater); Some shots from Chicago, including a closed street with signage to our destination; and a photo op at the Inwood restaurant, which probably serves a yearly volume of less than an hour's worth of the Chicago street event. Great food, and just what we are looking for "off the beaten track".
- Michael
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07-05-2009, 09:20 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 662
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Far Go
Greetings: We are in Moorehead, MN, just outside of Fargo. We ventured into Fargo for a Mexican Dinner at one of the heavy commercial beltway areas.
Today dawned bright and dry, so after running with the top up untill we reached the St. Paul outskirts, the top came down and we motored towards the St Paul, Minneapolis area. After crossing the mighty Mississippi River (first photo), we visited Minnehaha Falls park, where the next two pictures were taken. We then attempted to visit Como park, but there was a big arts festival being held there and all the parking was swamped. We then drove into Minneapolis and had lunch at the Old Spaghetti factory near the Twin's ballpark. Ironically, the firm opened their first restaurant in the 60's in Portland Oregon, the destination of our trip!
Tomorrow morning we will visit downtown Fargo as Rgrimm suggested, and then run to Mendora to partake of their "Musical" on RoadTrip's recommendation.
The Spider has been running fantastic, with the trip up from Minneapolis on 94 done in four hours at 70-80 mph. Top down, as the sky was bright blue with puffy cotton-ball clouds scattered about.. Still getting about 32MPG according to my "app".
Best wishes,
Mike & Kathy
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07-05-2009, 10:37 PM
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I was an oxymoron
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the shadows of Tahoma
Posts: 2,265
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Michael -
I second the suggestion of the Little Big Horn Battlefield if it is not too far off your planned route. I visited there on my way to the KC convention in 1999 and was lucky enough to have a Native American park ranger who presented the different perspective than what I remember from high school US History.
Very interesting.
__________________
I'd rather be in an Alfa praying to God that we'll make it home, than sitting in a church thinking about my Alfa.
Gordy Hyde
1974 Spider 2000 ~ "Mia" (Carb-free)
1971 Junior Zagato 1750 (1800605) ~ "Zach"
"You see that car? Is it different from all the others? Then it's a Zagato."
~ Elio Zagato
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07-06-2009, 11:07 AM
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In the Spider's Nest
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nutley/NJ & Middletown/OH, USA
Posts: 5,487
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Michael,
I'm really enjoying this thread - and I'm so jealous! Karyl and I will be flying out to Portland next week, and will be looking forward to other first hand accounts of this great journey...
Best regards,
__________________
Enrique
Spider 74, 84 & 87
164 91S, 93L & 95Q
Milano 88 Verde
Co-chairman 2011 AROC-USA Convention:
Alfas in the Bluegrass, Lexington, KY, USA
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07-06-2009, 01:38 PM
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Director BC Chapter SNO
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver, B C
Posts: 2,411
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What a trip--I've raved about the most westerly route Michael has chosen in BC.
Some very good twisties and scenery. 
__________________
Bob
1962 Giulietta Spider: Grafite Grigio: "Tuned" 2L.
1963 101.12 Giulia Sprint: Acquired October 1/09: Completion started Oct. 24.
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07-06-2009, 06:09 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 662
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North Dakota
Greetings: We are in Medora, ND, resting a bit prior to going out for the evening adventures at "The Musical" that Roadtrip suggested.
The morning began with a tour of downtown Fargo, where we dropped in on a few shops and grabbed a mid-morning snack. The first few pictures show some of the nicely maintained historic storefronts, behind which are numerous arts and crafts stores.
Lunch stop was at The Grizzly's Grill & Saloon in Jamestown, where I was nearly mauled by a wild bear.
The Alfa continues to run strong and smooth. Top down all day, mostly at 80MPH. It needed a quart of oil for the first time. While driving along for at these velocities for hours, I keep thinking about all the things that might go wrong. I do wish I had replaced the driveshaft u-joints, or at least thoroughly inspected them. They may be original... Last picture shows her turning over 144,444 miles, on I94 near Gladstone, ND.
- Michael
Last edited by Cintos; 07-06-2009 at 10:58 PM.
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07-06-2009, 08:31 PM
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Director BC Chapter SNO
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver, B C
Posts: 2,411
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Too bad "Fargo" wasn't playing at the Fargo Theater. 
__________________
Bob
1962 Giulietta Spider: Grafite Grigio: "Tuned" 2L.
1963 101.12 Giulia Sprint: Acquired October 1/09: Completion started Oct. 24.
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07-06-2009, 09:11 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: White Rock, BC, Canada
Posts: 39
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Michael, when do you think you will hit the Ashcoft, Cache Creek, area. I might be able to drive up that way and drive back. Really this is just a lame excuse to drive on those twisty roads again.
Cheers, John
63 2600 Spider
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07-06-2009, 11:15 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 662
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subtle
Too bad "Fargo" wasn't playing at the Fargo Theater. |
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07-06-2009, 11:21 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 662
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alfa123ca
Michael, when do you think you will hit the Ashcoft, Cache Creek, area. ...
Cheers, John
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Our stay in the Glacier NP and the Lake Louise areas are both going to be two days each, so I am quite hopeful we will be able to keep to those dates.
- michael
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07-06-2009, 11:31 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
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Madora Musical
Greetings: based on roadtrip's recommendations, we made a cultural stop this evening at the crisp and cheery "Medora Musical". We had a grand time, and the weather and scenery was spectacular. The show was delivered by a group of enthusiastic singers, and accompanied by a great band.
Here are a few shots from the amphitheater. The stuff up front is stage scenery, but the back drop and sky are most decidedly real.
Off tomorrow for the Little Bighorn Memorial, and on to Red Lodge, MT. That will position us up to take on the Bear Claw Highway on the 8th.
- Michael
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07-06-2009, 11:40 PM
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I was an oxymoron
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the shadows of Tahoma
Posts: 2,265
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If you have a sweet tooth, you will LOVE the candy store in Red Lodge!
Regardless, you are going to really LOVE the Beartooth Hiway. I only wish I had been in an ALFA when I drove it. I'll cross my fingers that any 'campers' see you coming well in advance and let you by!
Best from the West...
__________________
I'd rather be in an Alfa praying to God that we'll make it home, than sitting in a church thinking about my Alfa.
Gordy Hyde
1974 Spider 2000 ~ "Mia" (Carb-free)
1971 Junior Zagato 1750 (1800605) ~ "Zach"
"You see that car? Is it different from all the others? Then it's a Zagato."
~ Elio Zagato
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07-07-2009, 09:21 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 662
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicola
If you have a sweet tooth, you will LOVE the candy store in Red Lodge!
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We rose early today, and I gave the Alfa a quick spitz bath using the room's trash bucket and shampoo. Looking spiffy, we rode up to the top of a nearby ridge to shoot some photos of the ND badlands. Then we were off on the 403 mile trek to Red Lodge.
First leg was on I94, again running at 80 for 200 miles to Forsyth, where we had lunch and visited the beautiful Rosebud County Court House. Then we ran down to The Little Bighorn Memorial, via MT 93, and then US 212. Those two grade roads were lovely (speed limit 70 MPH), and the weather fully supporting the top-down running. After the visit to the National Park, we put the top up for a quick afternoon jaunt over to Red Lodge, with the AC running.
One thing is clear - running at 80 with the AC on yields better milage than 80 with the top down! But, damn the cost, top will be down when the situation suits.
We are retiring early tonight, with a plan to depart early in the AM to get a leg up on the Beartooth Highway traffic. If tomorrow goes well, we will have attained one of the major goals of the trip. If the Spider should give us problems after that, we can just rent a car and continue.
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07-07-2009, 09:46 PM
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I was an oxymoron
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the shadows of Tahoma
Posts: 2,265
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What????
No jackalope pictures, Michael?????
I am SO disappointed. 
__________________
I'd rather be in an Alfa praying to God that we'll make it home, than sitting in a church thinking about my Alfa.
Gordy Hyde
1974 Spider 2000 ~ "Mia" (Carb-free)
1971 Junior Zagato 1750 (1800605) ~ "Zach"
"You see that car? Is it different from all the others? Then it's a Zagato."
~ Elio Zagato
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07-08-2009, 09:48 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 662
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No Jakalopes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicola
No jackalope pictures, Michael?????
I am SO disappointed. |
Jackalope - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 
Here are a few more pictures of downtown sites. First of the Roxy theater in Forsyth, MT. The painted sign on the building states continuous movies since 1930. Next Marquee is from the Candy shop in Red Lodge, and final shot outside our dinner venue here in Red Lodge.
- Michael
Last edited by Cintos; 07-24-2009 at 04:15 PM.
Reason: Forgot the photos!
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