So far, we can’t complain.
Archive for the ‘Pure Michigan’ Category
Vacation, 2016
Posted: October 18, 2016 in Pure Michigan, spartan trailer, Tin Can Tourists, travel, UncategorizedTags: glamping, michigan, Spartan trailer, tin woody, transportation, travel
Trailer Trash at Gilmore Car Museum.
Posted: August 4, 2014 in camping, Diamond T truck, Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners Michigan, Pure Michigan, Relix Riot, Tin Can TouristsTags: Custom Cars, Diamond T truck, Diamond T trucks, Gilmore Car Museum, Hot Rods, Tin Can Tourists, transportation, Vintage trailer
Last Thursday, the staff at Cool McCool’s Garage managed to leave work early and head out to the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners for the “Red Barns Spectacular” show, held on Saturday. Since we here at the shop are getting older, we need a couple of days to gear up, then a day or two to wind down from event, so we wanted to get a head start on the weekends activities.
We’d moved the Spartan in on Wednesday evening after the cruise in at the museum, had the awning up and fridge plugged in. Anxious to begin a weekend of festivities, we quickly made the first round of cocktails, and watched our friends Jay and Angie, then Butch and Pam roll in and get set up. As you can see by the photos, a bad day camping is better than a good day at work…
Jay had been working hard all week preparing his Tiki-Bar, and the results were not disappointing. The smoking Tiki heads set the mood for the entire weekend. Now, where’s the TCT Fun Punch?
In the morning after aspirin and caffeine, Friday was all about kicking back, catching up with friends, and watching the campers roll in. The grounds are perfect for a leisurely stroll, a bike ride, or just relaxing and catching up with friends. By evening, there were 25 rigs under the trees, the grills were fired up, the Tiki-bar was smoking, beverages flowed and the party started.
Saturday morning Jake and Tami introduced us all to turkey cooker omelets, which was such a hit that we’re all going out this week and getting our own turkey fryers. (We actually have one, but it was lent out and never came home, so a new one is on the “must have” list!) After breakfast, the days activities were prowling the swap meet for that much-needed item, checking out each others campers, meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. Over 2,000 cars, and thousands of spectators made the grounds a busy place.
After breakfast, time to check out all the trailers and cars…

Beautiful GMC coach, owned a total of 4 hours! On its maiden voyage with its new owners from Traverse City, to Gilmore, then back to Wisconsin on the Badger.
After a long day in the sun, once again the Tiki-bar was put into action, and the good times rolled. We had a chance to play a little harp with Butch’s brother-in-law, a very talented musician whose guitar work more than made up for our lack of skill on the harp…
Sunday morning another omelet festival, and it was time to pack up and make the long journey back home. If it were any further than 2 miles, I think we’d still be there recovering. Jay and Angie left their Airstream at our place, and will be back in two weeks for the “Relix Riot” show at the museum, so we’re baby-sitting for them. I just plugged our Spartan in the yard, turned the fridge back on and collapsed. Hopefully I can rest up enough at work to be ready for the Riot, and get the trailer re-loaded for the next high-octane weekend!
So, that’s it for now. In two weeks it’s the Relix Riot, we hope to get the Riviera’s home by then (have I mentioned the two ’63 Riv’s soon to arrive at Cool McCool’s Garage?), the motor home still needs to get dismantled, so there are lots going here. Stay tuned for more updates, and news as it happens!
This is how we do it. Fourth Coast Style.
Posted: November 2, 2013 in Gilmore Car Museum, Hot Rod, Pure Michigan, Tin Can TouristsTags: Custom Cars, Hot Rods, Tin Can Tourists, transportation, travel
There’s West Coast style. There’s East Coast Style. And of course, there’s Southern Style. They’re all OK, given their limitations, but for those of us from The Mitten, its Fourth Coast Style, and it’s like nothing else.
It’s Detroit, Motor City, and the undisputed automotive capital of the world. It’s warm summer cruises and car shows. It’s hundreds of miles of sandy beaches, boating, water skiing, and grilling on the deck. It’s great wine, the best microbrewed beer in the world. It’s fall colors, the Big Mac bridge, and deer hunting “Up North”. It’s cold winter nights with a glass of brandy in front of the fire, and snow falling on White Pines.
It’s a state of mind, it’s what we do, and this is how we get it done.
Fall color tour, Pure Michigan!
Posted: October 28, 2013 in Pure Michigan, travel, Woody WagonTags: Custom Cars, HAMB, Tin Can Tourists, transportation, travel
Today was beautiful here in the southwest corner of the Mitten. Bright sun, brilliant fall colors, cool temps. Kim and I took advantage of day and the peak of color in this part of the state, and took a drive in the wagon after getting some fall chores done. We drove about an hour and half on back roads, never getting more than about 15 miles from home. It was absolutely beautiful, and didn’t even get the car dusty! After getting home, a snifter of “Dragons Milk”, and a little quality time with Milo and Ari.
Why not come along with us, for a little back roads bit of Pure Michigan?