Fall Color and Harvest Tour
October 10, 2004
In your mind, picture the perfect fall day in southeast Wisconsin: Blue, windless skies, warm sunshine, dry air, Canada geese flying overhead in V formation, golden corn fields and dark green hay fields covering the rolling countryside, and trees bursting with shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple. Imagine yourself driving through this scene in your beloved Model T, putting along at half throttle, taking in the scenery and catching a whiff of wood smoke in the air. For those who attended the Fall Color and Harvest Tour on October 10, this Model T fantasy was reality.
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The tour started at the home of Jim & Colleen Rodell near Kohlsville. Joining the Rodell’s were Keith & Carol Gumbinger in their 1926 roadster pickup, DeWayne Fritz & Diane Scheid in DeWayne’s 1915 Touring, Lyle Herman in his 1927 Coupe, and Jim Wright with his dog Rusty in Jim’s 1924 Tudor.
The five Tin Lizzies headed north, generally following County Hwy. W through Wayne, Elmore, Campbellsport, Dotyville, and Mt. Calvary, with lots of beautiful countryside in between. Just south of Malone, our group stopped at the home of members Larry & Carol Lamont, where we were invited for hot cider and pumpkin bars. Here, we were joined by three more Model T’s and Dairyland Tin Lizzies members. Kevin Bruso brought his 1926 Roadster. Richard Edler, with passenger Rod Prinsen, drove his 1924 Fordor. Dan & Phyllis Schultz brought nephew Elijah in their 1926 Tudor.
The beautiful Lamont farm with its pastoral pond, fields, and freshly-painted outbuildings made the perfect setting for our Model T picnic. The beer-soaked brats came steaming out of the Model T manifold cookers, and members brought out their pot-luck dishes and desserts for a delicious lunch.
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| Cars entering the farm. | Getting the food ready. | |
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| Great fall camp fire!!! | ||
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All the cars in a row. |
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Larry drove his 1915 runabout from the garage, and nine Tin Lizzies continued north on Hwy. W, with a panoramic view of Lake Winnebago while cresting the "Ledge"
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Our group followed W until it terminated at water’s edge in Columbia Park, on the east shore of Lake Winnebago near Pipe. This beautiful park has an observation tower originally used as a water tower for a furniture factory in Fond du Lac. Our park visit included some playground time for the kids and visiting with the locals.
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A couple miles drive south on State Hwy. 151 brought us to The Little Farmer, an apple orchard and pumpkin farm establishment. On this beautiful, Packerless, October Sunday afternoon, everyone else must have had the same idea we had. The place was swarming with people, and our group claimed the last parking spaces to be found. After a brief visit and pumpkin picking for the kids, we were happy to leave, and headed back south.
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THE PUMPKIN PICKERS |
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Our route through the scenic Kettle Moraine State Forest brought us to the Hamburger Haus in Dundee, another popular place on this beautiful fall day. A few ice cream cones and hamburgers later, our Waldo and Sheboygan contingency headed back to the barn, while the rest of us continued on, venturing on a two mile gravel "Model T road" through the forest just southeast of Dundee.
Back on pavement again, our route led us through St. Michaels and past the Sunburst Ski Hill, eventually ending where it all started, Rodell’s "Flivver Farm". A perfect day- a perfect way to end our tour season.
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