I thank my parents for my lifelong desire to see the USA; they took my sister and I on vacations all over this beautiful country, usually during the cold Minnesota winters to escape the cold and see the American sights. We were lucky enough to see about 25 of the 50 states, from the West coast to Cape Cod, Wyoming to Texas, usually camping in tents or trailers. A truly great childhood. It instilled in me the pursuit of adventure, leading me to wilderness canoe trips in Northern Minnesota and Canada as a teenager with an old friend who currently lives in Alaska. He moved up there in 1970, at the same time I was stationed at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks. In 1972, I drove my '65 VW bug, loaded with all my belongings and spares down the Alaskan Highway to my next station at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, my greatest adventure ever. Moose, bears, porcupines, cougars and my first bath after 3 days on the road at Liard Hot Springs; ahhh.... I bought my '65 Ranchero in 2015 after I retired in 2012, and spent much time and $$ making it a reliable daily driver, then road tested it on several camping trips with my wife around Oregon. In 2018, my buddy Denny and I road-tripped it from Oregon to my 50th class reunion in Minnesota, and saw Danny Thompson set a new record in the Challenger II at the Bonneville Salt Flats on the way. We also went to the Water Follies hydroplane races near Seattle and the Lemons races in Grass Valley OR in 2021, and to the Sonoma NASCAR races in 2024. We mostly tent-camped on these trips, but occasionally opted for a motel to grab some A/C and a shower. Great times, great memories. Then, in 2025, I took it on the Redwood Rally, a drag 'n drive tour of 5 dragstrips in the OR/CA area. No drags for me, just a tag-along 'vagabond' entry, camping at each track along the way. I just booked a trip to see my old buddy Tom in Minnesota at the end of June, spending the 4th of July there, KOA camping both ways. He was a crew chief on a Huey helicopter in Vietnam that got blown up by a VietCong satchel charge while they were camped. Fishing, drinking and laughs are expected, along with a cruise on the Mississippi river on his pontoon boat. So anyway, the point of this rambling post is to plan a fun trip and use your Ranchero, if you're able, to see all the great sights this country has to offer. Being at ground level in a classic car sure beats flying over it in a plane, and I guarantee it will generate great memories. My motto, posted on my rear window:
