Hot Rod Power Tour 2025

  This is the 2025 edition of the Hot Rod Power Tour. First time I’m taking the 66 Mustang.  Pretty excited.  It’s been years waiting for this moment.  

May 23

Early start to my blog.  My water pump decided to develop a leak.  I’m grateful that it happened at home rather than on the side of a road less traveled.  Replaced the WP today. Seems to be working properly! Whew.  

May 26

Getting excited to start the trip!  Changed the oil today. Cleaned and organized the trunk.  I decided to go the route I’ve done on the past two tours. On the last two tours Spokane to Bozeman has been raining. But the forecast shows that only rain in Bozeman, but Spokane and Rapid City are supposed to be sunny.  I spoiled myself for this trip. I bought a car pad with heat and massage functions. I’m hoping that will make the long days driving more relaxing.

June 1

I’m off!  Leaving the house this morning. 

Heading out to start the journey.  Renee took this picture.

At the rest area east of Steven’s pass there was a group of classic cars   They were returning to Seattle from a car show in Chelan.  We had our own little car show at the rest area!

I visited Grand Coulee dam.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.  I always thought that it was all desert and dry but there were a lot of pine trees in the area.  Very pretty.

This is the down stream view of the dam.  Grand Coulee is the largest producer of hydropower in the United States.  

This is the upstream view showing the water build up behind the dam.  The body of water is called “Lake Roosevelt”.  I wonder who was President when the dam was built?  

Down stream was a pull out that allowed for a couple of beauty shots of the Mustang.  There were people out on the water in boats fishing.

My next stop was where I’m spending the night in Sandpoint, Idaho.  On the banks of Lake Pend Oreille.  

The river side walkway led to a bridge that connected to the City Park on the lake,

After a nice dinner I went for a walk in town.  Stumbled on this nice Mustang,  There was a middle aged couple sitting outside in a restaurant right next to the car.  I asked him if it was his car.  His response was “if it’s not a truck, it’s not mine”.  Ha Ha.

Went for a walk tonight   This guy was hanging out in the street.

 

June 2

This was my route today. Through north Idaho and Montana. Beautiful country!

Here is some of the countryside I was enjoying.  

This is Ellie.  She is a gear head/car person. She came out to see my car. Her story?  She started working on cars when she was 13 years old.  Her first car was an 1984 Buick.  She has done a lot including rebuilding engines and transmissions. She says transmissions are her favorite because it’s like putting a puzzle together.  

Mechanical issue came up. Decided to cancel my trip. On my way home. Very sad