Highway to Hell Car Story

We’re near the end of October, and the weather’s been unusually warm. What’s with that? Right after storing cars for the winter, we get beautiful 70-degree days! Sad… And just like classic car owners, boat owners go through the prep and storage process, too.

My awesome lady friend Judi had to collect her boat from the marina after it was “winterized” and she’s trusting enough to let me do it again. Maybe “desperate enough” is the right term. Or perhaps because I have a hitch on my SUV.

It’s always a bit tricky, since I only pull a trailer twice a year and it’s only two miles, two turns, and one back up scenario.  I admit, it’s a challenge for me to back it into the driveway anywhere close to where she wants it. Hey, at least I didn’t ram it into the neighbor’s truck or run over her garden! So I declare it a success if I get it close and she isn’t shouting at me to “Stop!” suddenly. Then it’s a team effort to muscle it into the correct location for the winter.

Following the annual trailer fiasco, I drive the long route home, hoping to find some Kodak moments of the Maple trees in color. Then, I came across a sign pointing the way to Hell. I had to make the turn because, as Flip Wilson used to say, “the Devil made me do it!”

The highway to Hell is well-traveled in the summer. It’s common to see car clubs and motorcycles winding their way out along the two-lane blacktop. They typically stop for food and drinks at Smitty’s Hell Saloon. It has a casual atmosphere, and the food and drinks are very good. Try the Hell of a Bowl or Hell’s Hot Wings. The saloon and souvenir shop weren’t open yet or I would have stopped for a bite.

I scouted around the area, opting out of walking through the Gates of Hell but checking out the putt-putt golf course. It’s hard enough to play golf on Earth, I can’t imagine what it would be like in Hell. Probably impossible to sink a putt! Or maybe the players in front of you never finish the hole so you wait for eternity to tee-off?

While I was loitering in the parking lot, two cars pulled in. One was a convertible with the top down. The devil made me check it out. It was a well preserved 1990 Mazda Miata. They were looking for places to take pictures of the car. Good Idea! Why not put a photo on Digmycar.com? The owner agreed and moved the car in front of the souvenir shop and set it up for the “droopy-eyed look.”

Since it was too early to get inside the shop or saloon, I drove behind the property to see the small lake. It was a perfect fall setting and I finally found the Kodak Moment I was looking for!

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