Saturday, October 27, 2012
A Trip of Tricks and Treats
Well, we had our Halloween tricks and treats a few days early this year. Our first treat was the unexpectedly large crowd that showed up for the ride — 18 LBCs and 25 people, including 4 first-timers, three of whom we met at the car show. We were prepared for the breezes from the season’s first real cold front, but Hurricane Sandy threw a kink into our weather with cooler and cloudy skies.
We pulled out of the BCF parking lot at 10:00am and managed to stay together reasonably well up US 231. Once we reached Redland Road, we were in the “traffic light free zone” for the rest of our ride.
Our next trick was between the Friendship community and AL 14 on Cherokee Trail Road. State Troopers surprised us with a road block to check for proof of insurance. Exercising uncommonly good common sense and decency, the trooper asked if I thought everyone in each of the eighteen little British cars had insurance. I assured him that we all did so he waved the entire caravan through. I got the feeling he didn’t really want to be working on a Saturday anyway. Why else would they pick that road, right in the middle of downtown Nowhere?
Treat time again as we motored over highway 50’s hills & curves, but then Bobby’s Austin Healey tricked him with an acute case of fuel delivery emphysema. With only a slight delay, we rolled into Niffer’s parking lot in time for some chatting and some Kodak moments with all the cars lined up before entering the restaurant. Niffer’s advertises that they don’t accept reservations and they passed the audition. A nice treat and visit.
Several people needed to head back to town after eating, but ten cars continued to the Hodges Vineyard and Winery, arriving just after 1:30pm. The best part of the day for me was when one of the ladies who worked there, whose father had married her English mum during his military stint in England, told us that the first new car she had was a MGB. Malcolm seemed to enjoy sharing his beautifully restored 1967 MGB with her as she took photos and a trip down memory lane. I was happy for them both.
We began the winery tour as soon as we arrived, followed by tastings of several of their grape and fruit wines. It’s a beautiful setting so once again, out came the cameras.
We retraced our route home. The trip had more ups and downs than highway 50, but all in all, it was a pretty good day.
Russell
Photos Itinerary, Directions, and Manifest