Michael Heads South

Barb and I needed to go to Phoenix for a few days so we decided to take the newly acquired red '01 Z and figured we’d also hit a few Route 66 spots along the way.

Needles Chevron

We pushed hard the 1^st day and hit the sack in Woodland, Cali, just north of Sacramento but we did stop for a  “In and Out” burger and fries in Redding.  Day 2 saw us make it through to Kingman, AZ using US40 with stops in Barstow, Needles, and Baker city.

Take note: don’t buy fuel in Needles 'cause a few miles later in Arizona it’s a dollar a gallon cheaper!  However do drive the main street in Needles ‘cause there are a lot of the original buildings and signs beings maintained. We also went to Joshua Tree forest en-route.

When you cross to Arizona, the speed limit jumps to 75 and everyone including the police go 80, so not too boring in the middle of the desert. Weather was warm - around 90 day and 50 at night. We stayed at a BW in Kingman, which is a great hotel except the trains ran about 20 feet from the rear of the building and each had 100 cars. Better than the 25-cent vibrating bed!

We hit the Route 66 museum and other spots in Kingman and then headed east and down the 93 through the great town of Wickenburg, arriving in Phoenix in the late evening.  More Canadians are setting up to live in Wickenburg - very cheap. 

After family time in Phoenix we came home with a stop in Palm Springs, saying hello to Gerry Swan, but missing the Drewitts . Next day we went through LA, enjoying the beautiful weather and after an overnight in Medford, we hit the most intense rain/sleet storm from Olympia, Washington to home. A little scary in a low slung car but the Z served us great, chocking up 3406 miles round trip, using a ½ litre of oil, and destroying a set of wiper blades.   

- Michael Moore

Banquet Left People Happy, Right?

The 2012 edition of the BCCC Awards Banquet had us back at Redwood's Golf Club, as organizers Brenda and John sought to build upon the success of last year's banquet.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it!  And that was fine by me, as I had a great time in 2011 and an even better time in 2012.

When I arrived, I found that Blair and Marj had saved my wife and I a spot right next to the bar - they know us so well!  And so did the bartender, Tim, who practically had a bottle of wine ready for us before we even sat down.

Our hosts left us to mingle for a bit, enjoy our drinks, and catch up, but soon enough the buffet opened and a line-up promptly formed right past the bar.  Not that I was at the bar, mind you, having managed to be one of the first tables to get called.  It's funny how Ginette can be totally oblivious to the subtle differences between a '58 and a '59, until there's a trivia contest to determine who gets to partake in the buffet first; then all those car facts come flooding right out!

Bartender Tim Serving It Right - and getting me a bottle of wine!

The food was delish, especially the roast beast which was cooked just right.  I may have had a second helping, and I left not a morsel.  Unfortunately that meant I missed out on some of the desserts, as I found that my fellow BCCC-ers left me only a few sweets, by the time I got around to visiting that particular table.  But that was all right - I simply ordered another bottle of wine!

Of course, awards were handed out to the many people in the club who volunteer on different committees, and who help organize all the events which the members enjoy.  And then our Membership chairperson, Leslie, did something that I thought was just right.  She had ordered anniversary pins, and gave them out to club members who have been with the club for a significant number of years.  I don't recall everyone who received pins, but people like Nigel and Al and Marie and Bev Tyrell received 10 year pins, and I know that Dan Ward got a 25 year pin.  And then there's Dan Maxwell, who's been with the club for over 40 years!  I know I left the vast majority of people out - sorry - but I had to mention Leslie's idea, as I thought it was a great one.

The evening wrapped up with door prizes (including a left / right prize, which is the theme of this post; you'll understand if you were at the banquet) and dancing.  At the end, only a few of us were left - crowding around the bar, of course - and, oddly enough, taking a lot of photos and video.  Jenny seems addicted to her camera!  Eventually, when the music died, we, too, left, feeling that the night went just right.