2014 Pumpkin Tour

October 10-12 brought a change for Packard's of Oregon and the traditional "Pumpkin Tour". Usually the tour is a one day outing around the northern Willamette Valley area in search of the perfect pumpkin for the front door at Halloween, but this year club Director Matt Hackney decided on a three day extravaganza to the Hood River area. Since he was up to his eye balls in Packard and Concourse activities he asked your reporter to set up the tour. Fine with me, I enjoy setting these things up and besides if I am setting it up I am in charge of where we go and how we get there! Frankie and I set up the tour and tried to keep it on roads more suited to our cars. The cars will handle the freeway but two lane black top is no where near as stressful, much more scenic, and a lot more fun.

On Friday the 10th of October under sunny skies we met at Lewis and Clark State Park near Troutdale on the Sandy River for a ten thirty departure. Our band of travelers included; Karla and Matt Hackney in their 1949 Packard 200 Deluxe Sedan with their niece and nephew Hayley and Cameron, Sylvia and George Potter in their 1934 Packard 1107 Victoria 12, Pat and Larry Cox with their 1938 Oldsmobile 6 Coupe (NP), Yoshiko and Chris Cataldo in their 1966 Cadillac Fleetwood Executive Sedan (NP), Mona Marsh and Orville Krull in Mona's 1941 Cadillac 62 V8 Coupe (NP), Jo Anne and Dennis Gilman in their 1937 Chevrolet Coupe (NP), Jan Taylor and Bob Newlands with Jeanette McCready in the Newlands, Taylor modern Dodge Pick Up (NP) and Frankie and Robert Douglas in their 1938 Packard Eight 1601 Touring Sedan. There was plenty of time to talk, hand out the tour guides and get caught up on everyone's latest projects. Our route took us east on Historic Highway 30 up the Columbia River Gorge, past the Vista House, Shepherd's Dell, Multnomah Falls and all the scenic wonders of the western Columbia Gorge to our first stop in Cascade Locks. From there we continued on the back roads to Wyeth-Herman Creek Road and a steep climb through the forest and close to the base of the cliffs that form the gorge and then rejoined I 84 for a few short miles to the first Hood River exit and then we rejoined Highway 30

Since we were not able to check into The Vagabond Inn till later in the afternoon we went on to The Gorge White House for lunch, wine and cider tasting and walking around the gardens that surround the "The Gorge White House". The food was excellent and we were able to sit under shade umbrellas on a beautiful patio for a little alfresco dining. After lunch it was time to head over to the motel so Matt led the group on a scenic route through the orchards and fields back to our nights lodging avoiding the road construction in downtown Hood River. After we were settled into our rooms there was a "Happy Hour" in the Hackneys palatial suite as they had a very large suite of rooms to accommodate all five of them and everyone had a great time. Then it was time to head out to dinner and since it was an "on your own" affair people went all over the place!

After breakfast on Saturday morning we were joined for the day by several members of the Cadillac Club in their modern Cadillac's, Kathy and Gary Bray, Bonnie and Johnny McCauley and Glen and Rosio Baunsgard. Matt led them all over to the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum for their pre thirties Fly-In, Cruise In. George Potter got into the festivities as well. People at the airport were giving rides around the airport in the early cars and George gave rides in the V 12 Packard as well. I doubt if people realized how much gasoline was going through that car, oh well there is a reason those cars came with a 32 gallon gas tank!! There was one sad note though, on Saturday Mona was walking , took a misstep and sprained her ankle. It was sad but talk about a trooper, she stayed for the rest of the tour but of course that meant that Orville had to drive from then on (I think I saw him smiling a little more than usual). Get well soon Mona!

Frankie and I had already been to the Museum many times and there for chose to take the old highway over to "The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Historical Museum" in The Dalles, what a great drive and the facility is amazing. There was also a live "Raptor" demonstration put on by Bambi Foy with a Great Horned Owl and a Red Tailed Hawk a very enlightening presentation. We were able to get very close to the birds and they are BIG birds! After the inside presentation and discussion we were able to go outside and watch the birds fly, the hawk was quiet in flight but the owl was absolutely silent, a very stealthy hunter who at night can hear a mouse in the brush as far away as the length of a football field! George and Sylvia were on the way to join us at the Discovery Center that afternoon but threw a fan belt. However, they were able to get into a Napa store in The Dalles and low and behold they had two of the right belts in stock and they were good to go, thank goodness that the twelve's came with two fan belts!

After the days activities we met back at The Vagabond Inn and this time "Happy Hour" was in George and Sylvia's Suite. Again it was another fun filled event. There were a lot of travelers and lots of stories to tell. After cocktails it was time for dinner and we were off in all directions enjoying all that Hood River had to offer.

On Sunday morning after breakfast it was time to find, the perfect pumpkin so it was off to Rasmussen Farm and with Karla driving the 1949 Packard we were off through town to Highway 35 and in about six miles we arrived at the pumpkin patch! What a place, there were seasonal displays, barns full of fresh fruit and vegetables, a corn maze and of course more pumpkins that you can shake a stick at. Several people were busy purchasing all sorts of things and after a thorough exploration it was time to head for home. Some of our fellow travelers went back over Mt. Hood on Highway 35 while others went back to Hood River with a stop at The Gorge White House to pick up some wine and a growler of cider to enjoy at home. Then down to the river, over the bridge and back to Portland and home on Washington Highway 14.

If you missed the tour you should be on the next one, these tours are great fun and a chance to get out there and drive your magnificent Packard! See you next time!!

Some of the great pictures Bob & Frankie took on the tour.

Click on any of them for a larger view.