Soaring in September III
Hosted by the Olympic Classic Thunderbird Club
Burlington, WA Sept 15 - 18
Our September event was Soaring in September III hosted by the Olympic Classic Thunderbirds in Bellingham, WA. Only seven members of the Rose City Thunderbirds made it: Ruth Kelley, Sig & Cordula Lemke, Bruce & Becky Jensen and John & Oleta Sailors. It was a great event, and it is unfortunate more could not have made it from our club. Photos from the first day are shown below.
Everyone gathered at the host hotel on Saturday evening {9/14} in Burlington, WA. Dinner was in small groups all over town. The last thing I did before leaving home was to check the weather in the Burlington area. As a result, Oleta and I took warmer shirts, jackets & waterproof jackets for the Sunday morning Jet Boat ride. Well, the weather was fine; it didn’t rain at all, and the jet boat pilot did not do spins to get us all wet. The pilot pointed out many historical things in the area and a lot of local lore in the small bay.
He showed us high up on a cliff a very old (over 100 years) mine entrance. Miners were looking for gold, they never found any but struck it rich mining gravel out of it. It is closed off now with steel bars so that no one can enter, it is too dangerous due to falling rock and bat infestation.
The highway bridge over Deception Pass was built in 1934 for about $400,000. When repainted in the 1980’s it cost more than that.
The tide was coming in at about 10 mph when we were there. As that tidal water mixed with the water in the bay huge whirlpools and heavy turbulence were created. He shut off the engine and allowed the boat to coast into that violent turbulence, we immediately began a slow spin right in place. After about two full turns he started the engine and put the power to it to drive us clear. A photo below attempts to show that turbulence. He then gave it just enough throttle to hold us against the tide waiting for another boat to come in through the pass. As soon as it was clear he went to full throttle and pushed us through the pass into open water. He then took us out to a buoy that had a large Stellar Seal sunning on top of it. We then headed back through the channel and to the dock. It was a great trip, well worth the price.
Heading back to the hotel we stopped at Country Corner (a great place for breakfast & sandwiches) for lunch. Later that evening small groups went to various restaurants.
This first batch of photos shows us gathering at the dock, boarding and on the Jet Boat ride. The last two photos are of a mine very high on a cliff above Deception Bay. When first dug they were searching for gold; however, none was found but it became a very successful gravel mine. It was eventually closed due to unsafe conditions and bat infestation.
Everyone gathered at the host hotel on Saturday evening {9/14} in Burlington, WA. Dinner was in small groups all over town. The last thing I did before leaving home was to check the weather in the Burlington area. As a result, Oleta and I took warmer shirts, jackets & waterproof jackets for the Sunday morning Jet Boat ride. Well, the weather was fine; it didn’t rain at all, and the jet boat pilot did not do spins to get us all wet. The pilot pointed out many historical things in the area and a lot of local lore in the small bay.
He showed us high up on a cliff a very old (over 100 years) mine entrance. Miners were looking for gold, they never found any but struck it rich mining gravel out of it. It is closed off now with steel bars so that no one can enter, it is too dangerous due to falling rock and bat infestation.
The highway bridge over Deception Pass was built in 1934 for about $400,000. When repainted in the 1980’s it cost more than that.
The tide was coming in at about 10 mph when we were there. As that tidal water mixed with the water in the bay huge whirlpools and heavy turbulence were created. He shut off the engine and allowed the boat to coast into that violent turbulence, we immediately began a slow spin right in place. After about two full turns he started the engine and put the power to it to drive us clear. A photo below attempts to show that turbulence. He then gave it just enough throttle to hold us against the tide waiting for another boat to come in through the pass. As soon as it was clear he went to full throttle and pushed us through the pass into open water. He then took us out to a buoy that had a large Stellar Seal sunning on top of it. We then headed back through the channel and to the dock. It was a great trip, well worth the price.
Heading back to the hotel we stopped at Country Corner (a great place for breakfast & sandwiches) for lunch. Later that evening small groups went to various restaurants.
This first batch of photos shows us gathering at the dock, boarding and on the Jet Boat ride. The last two photos are of a mine very high on a cliff above Deception Bay. When first dug they were searching for gold; however, none was found but it became a very successful gravel mine. It was eventually closed due to unsafe conditions and bat infestation.
This next batch attempts to show the whirlpool and turbulence caused by the incoming tide. In the third one you can see the whirlpool we drove into. The first of the photos of tall trees shows a Bald Eagle's nest, the second one is just a tall tree. Then as we pass under the bridge we break free from the tidal flow and head for a buoy. On it you can see what the pilot thought was a 1,200 lb. Stellar Sea Lion sunning on the buoy. You can also see Cathy Stubbs standing near the bow of the boat taking some group photos.
This last batch of the day shows us cruising under the bridge again to return to harbor. The last photo is of Sandra Hood who drove out from Dallas, TX and Oleta waiting for lunch at the Country Corner dinner.
On Monday morning the group went to Jerri Drager’s Cars and Collectibles. His indoor used car collection is a bit like Matthews Memory Lane in SE Portland. However, not only does he have 40 or so Classic cars for sale he has tons of collectibles and memorabilia throughout his indoor sales store. The one vehicle that interested me the most was a 1957 Ford Skyliner Retractable. Like most all cars of that vintage it needs some work, but it looked basically solid. The interesting thing is that the front license plate was from California and the rear was from Michigan. They both said CLASSY1, but with a slight spelling difference.
We then went to Bob’s Burgers and Grill for lunch. There one server (Clair I believe) served all 40 of us and did a fantastic job. Enough so that I complimented her to the manager.
We then drove north to Bellingham to visit James & Stephanie Bell’s Studebaker collection. There we saw Studebakers from horse draw buggies to late production Avantis and a 2011 Avanti which was obviously a reproduction. There were probably 80 or 90 Studebakers in their private collection, and James knew the history of almost all his cars.
Driving back to Burlington the group went to a Chinese Buffet for dinner. Along with Bruce & Becky, Oleta and I went to Applebee’s for dinner. By then it was time to head to the hotel and bed.
Jeri Drager's Cars & Collectibles
40+ of us crowded into one room at Bob's Burger's and Brew. The photo at the end shows our waitress, she served all of us and did a phenomenal job doing it. The only help she had was physically bringing out all of the meals within a 5-10 minute span.
James & Stephanie Bell’s Studebaker collection
Next to a Thunderbird my favorite car of all time is a Studebaker Avanti. I came close to buying one in 1966 just before buying my Thunderbird. It was great to see so many of them here. About half-way through these photos is an Avanti that just doesn't look quite right. It is a 2011 Avanti that has the same basic shape, but just didn't capture it well.
Next to a Thunderbird my favorite car of all time is a Studebaker Avanti. I came close to buying one in 1966 just before buying my Thunderbird. It was great to see so many of them here. About half-way through these photos is an Avanti that just doesn't look quite right. It is a 2011 Avanti that has the same basic shape, but just didn't capture it well.
Tuesday morning was overcast but still dry. After a brief driver’s meeting at 9:15 AM the group left for a driving tour of Camano Island. Stops were planned at Camano Commons Market place, Camano Island State Park, Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park, and Camano Country Club for dinner. I believe virtually everyone made the entire loop. However, I didn’t see Ruth on the drive or at dinner, and the Jensens and Oleta & I left the hotel later and only went to the Commons Market place and the dinner. That is why I only have photos of the dinner. There we enjoyed a great dinner of Baked Chicken and the fixings. After dinner there was a drawing for 10 or 12 raffle items, both the Lemkes and the Sailors’ scored items.
I am glad you stayed with this to the end. On Sunday morning while having breakfast in the hotel Oleta had a conversation with a man that was not part of our group. His name was Syd Benson, he and his wife spent about half of each year at our hotel and the other half touring the US and abroad. Unfortunately she passed away either last year or earlier this year while they were staying in the hotel. In a flower bed by the front entrance the hotel placed a plaque and planted two yellow roses. I think that was a nice touch from the hotel staff.
