Under ominous skies and weather forecasts that were predicting floods and heavy rain, the fearless (perhaps crazy) group departed Tramway and Central around 8:30 AM Friday morning for the Fall Tin Lizzies Mountainair/Belen Tour. We started with 7 cars; Bruce Daniel’s sedan, Vernon Armstrong driving Don Souther’s sedan with Vernon’s mom JoAn, Orlando and Melody Ortega in their touring, Paul and Marilyn Duncan in their touring, Larry and Lorna Azevedo in their touring along with Fran Gurule, Kirk and Susan Peterson in their touring and Joe Fellin and Bernice Young in the Dilt’s touring. Dave Ferro and Laura Kemmerer took their Ford F150 and towed the trouble trailer. The first stop was Roosevelt Middle School, Tijeras, where Vern and Pat Willan joined the tour making a total of 8 cars.

The first stop at Roosevelt Middle School was to show the Model T’s to the kids – and there were a lot of kids! They really enjoyed sitting in the cars and honking the horns and asking all sorts of questions.

We then continued East on Old Route 66 with a short stop to top off the gas tanks before heading to Mountainair. Turning south on Hwy 217 we had a fun series of ups and downs. Everyone was able to get up enough speed on the downs to carry them over the next hill in high gear. All day we skirted rainy weather and were able to stay dry all the way to Mountainair. At noon we pulled into the Quarai Mission Historical Site for a picnic lunch and a great guided tour of the pueblo and church ruins. Murt Sullivan, the onsite ranger, gave us some very interesting insights to life in this area of New Mexico and some of the interactions between the Pueblo Indians and the Spanish. After giving the ranger a Model T driving lesson we continued on to Mountainair.

We pulled into Mountainair about 3 PM with 8 running T’s and an empty trouble trailer. Everyone split up and checked out antique stores, an old hardware store and a soda shop. Then it was off to the Rock Motel for happy hour before dinner. A few tour members helped Bruce make a minor adjustment on his bands, carburetor and also a tightening of his clutch fingers. Then we were off to the Shaffer Hotel for dinner in this nice old rustic hotel. Three cars stayed at the Shaffer Hotel and the rest drove over to the Rock Motel for the night.

Showing our Tin Lizzies at Roosevelt Middle School in Tijeras, NM Gas station stop Arriving at the Quarai Mission Ruins Quarai Mission Ruins Quarai Mission Ruins Lunch at Quarai Mission Ruins View of Quarai Mission Ruins The Schaffer Hotel in Mountainair, NM Lorna and Fran Susan and Marilyn The dining room at the Schaffer Hotel Dave and Laura Bruce Dinner at the Schaffer Hotel Pat and Vern Don Souther Mountainair fog The Duncan’s 1920 Model T touring car in front of the Tomahawk Service Station, Montainair, NM. Joe and Bernice Kirk and Susan Lorna and Larry Paul and Marilyn Orlando, Melody, and Ethan JoAn and Vernon Tin Lizzies at Abo Mission ruins Tin Lizzies at Abo Mission ruins Tin Lizzies at Abo Mission Ruins Our cars at the Harvey House Museum in Belen, NM At Harla Mays’ Fat Boy Grill in Belen Pat and Vern Willan (left) Marla Mays in Belen Leftovers Etc. antique store View of the Manzano Mountains

We woke up early Saturday, September 20 to bigtime fog! Some had breakfast at the Shaffer and others had breakfast at Alpine Alley. We had to wait awhile for the fog to lift and meanwhile Ethan Ortega (who had joined us after work Friday) drove down the road to check out conditions. We set up a caravan with flashing lights in the back, middle and front and left for Abo Mission Historical Site about 10 AM which was only 9 miles away. By the time we got there the sun was out and Joe Fellin opted to take a (hopefully) cover shot for the Vintage Ford of our cars in front of the church and Abo Mission and Pueblo Ruins. The Abo ranger, Billy Weiman, gave us a great talk and tour of the Abo Mission with local insight.

On the way to Belen Joe’s exhaust nut came loose and we stopped and put it back on. No other problems occurred on the trip to Belen.  In Belen we stopped at the Onate Theatre where they played our Portales Tour DVD (Wheels of Yesteryear – Touring with the Tin Lizzies) on the big screen while we ate lunch at Harla Mays’ Fat Boy Grill.  After a great lunch we drove to the Belen Train Station where we got a had a tour of the Harvey House with and interesting talk on how Fred Harvey developed an extensive chain of hotels and restaurants in the southwest. After a little local antiquing it was time to check in at the Holiday Inn Express and finally off to Pete’s Café for another great dinner. Total mileage Saturday was 45 miles.

Sunday morning we left after breakfast and toured through Belen stopping at Leftovers Etc. Antiques and Collectables in Los Lunas. Then on to Sopa’s Restaurant in Bosque Farms for lunch and a visit to the local flea market across the street. At this point everyone continued on to their respective homes. It was a great tour and everyone had a wonderful time.

Special thanks to the Orlando, Ethan, Lorna and Vernon Armstrong for their efforts in setting up the tour!

Travel Log Fall Mountainair/Belen Tin Lizzies Tour September 19-21, 2014

Start Friday 9/19/2014, 8:30 AM –

Central & Tramway Albuquerque, NM:  leg distance (trip distance)

Roosevelt Middle School Tijeras, NM 7 miles

Route 66 Gas Station Old Route 66, Sedillo Hill 5 miles (12 miles)

Quarai Mission Ruins Historical Site via Hwy 217, 337, & 65, 38 miles (54 miles)

Shaffer Hotel or Rock Motel Mountainair, NM via Hwy 65 & 542, 10 miles (64 miles)

Saturday 9/20/2014

Abo Mission Historical

Site Hwy 60, 10 miles (74 miles)

Holiday Inn Belen, NM via Hwy 60 & 47, 50 miles (124 miles)

Sunday 9/21/2014

Sopa’s Restaurant Bosque Farms, NM Via Hwy 314 & 47, 19 miles (143 miles)

Home ~ To and From 65 miles (208 miles)