The Wreck

This blog is a little out of order, for which I apologize. I got a little anxious. Anyway, in November of 2008, Grandma and Grandpa set out to bring the Travelers to Gary to work on the wood. We were excited to have them come. They set out on their journey on Wednesday evening. Thursday morning they were involved in an accident. It was kind of scary to know that they were in the middle of nowhere (well kind of, a ways away from home, and a long way from us).

As the events of the morning unfolded we began to understand more of what had happened. For what we are most grateful is all walked away with minor injuries, bumps, bruises, etc. Grandpa could see the what was going to happened and reacted in such away to avoid major issues. We are grateful for his quick thinking.

However although the humans faired pretty well, the vehicles did not. At this moment I believe, there were 4 vehicles involved, 5 counting the Travelers. All totaled. Grandma and Grandpa's red truck with totaled as was their trailer. The Travelers sustained major damage. I don't think that the pictures show the extent of the paint damage.

I think this was very hard for Grandpa to see this vehicle he had worked so hard on be so damaged. But true to his spirit, he immediately started the process of rebuilding. Many from his club and family came to help him take her apart and put her back together. She is beautiful! And the second trip down, well she came in an enclosed trailer this time, she was riding in style. And although it is weird not to see Grandpa's red truck, well the new white one is very nice. Seems that all ended much better than could have been expected. Isn't that how it always goes.

In the end it is all alright...if it is not alright, well it is not the end!



And thanks to great Neighbors E&E and Todd who came and helped them clean it up and bring it home!

Here is how this project came about!

I emailed my Father in law about why he decided to make this particular model of Henry Fords cars. Here is his reply:

I have been trying to do some kind of a project with Gary thru the years but it seems that some how, it was not to be, something came in the way. When you were in Boise I thought that I could encourage Gary to do this project with me. I looked forward to doing this but with the Mission and all that happened it kind of fell by the way side.

I dreamed of getting the travelers done and driving it to Alaska, but that probably has gone by the way side also.

I have thoroughly enjoyed spending many hours researching the information as how to put this together and trying to figure out how to put a trailor hitch and spare tire mount on so little a place and still make it look some what original; all this so I would not have to have the tire on the fender, because it is very hard for me to get into the cars with the side mount spare.

I put a great deal of extra's on this car so it could be used for long distance travel, maybe to Alaska or to the Regional Conventions. B motor, 56 steering gear, 12 volt battery, over drive, trailor hitch so I could pull a small trailor, heavy springs, powder coat all the metal serfices, windows to help keep out the cold wind.

I told Gary maybe he could have Chad work with him because he likes to work with wood, and in some way make up for what I am not able to do.

With seeing it in the warm room when the men came out to work on their cars and the crash, there is a lot of interest in the club to see the car done and have it in some of the parades.

*Editor side note...I know all those extra's sound cool, I am not exactly positive about some of them, although I understand the windows to keep out the cold wind. I apologize to my father-in-law right now if I get something wrong, I am not intentionally doing that just will be by my lack of understanding. I hope this car with spirit will someday be in parades. It certainly has made a stir. I love seeing it in the garage and smelling it's smell (Okay that might be a little weird but true.) The smell reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on it.
This will be a 1929 Travelers, with the above extras and changes.
Also I am Glen's daughter in law, my husband his middle son, is Gary. I think for sake of this blog I will refer to him/them as Grandpa and Grandma. I think some of his club members are following the progress.

We've made a start

This blog has been started in an attempt to help grandpa keep up with the wood progress on his Travelers. He and Grandma brought it down here January 9, 2009. This was their second attempt and I hope to get Grandpa to post some pictures and tell his story so this will be a journal of sorts of the adventure of this vehicle. Here is what she looks like since being parked here.

After being parked for two weeks here is what has happened....don't be discouraged.



And another picture of her progress.