33rd Fall Color Cruise

Article by Marty D. Crain Photography by Marty Crain, David Hood, Larry Creech, Gary Lambert and Libby Cooper Article Layout by Jimmy B

Hard to believe it still a lot of folks that want to pack a picnic lunch, gas up their street rods, muscle cars, classics and head out on the two lane back roads and hills for a day of cruising and fellowship.

Hard to believe it’s been thirty three years however, thankfully we still a lot of folks that want to pack a picnic lunch, gas up their street rods, muscle cars, classics and head out on the two lane back roads and hills for a day of cruising and fellowship.

October 22nd we gathered once again at the Kohl’s parking lot in Hermitage, Tennessee and were greeted by a picturesque sunrise followed by over fifty five cool rides. Everything from Vettes, Mustangs, Kustoms, Street Rod coupes and sedans, even an over the top International Loadstar 1700 diesel flatbed. Yeppers, that made it official, we had one of everything there! We rode down Chicken Road, through Norene, took Jug Creek Rd. (no one missed the turn and had the Wolfman get-em that I know of). We rolled through Statesville, Liberty and stopped at the Kwick-N-Easy in Smithville for fuel and a restroom break before heading on through Midway and Shady Grove. Cruised past the Lazy Daisy in Rock Island and the Great Falls Cotton Mill on our way to the Sandbar Beach and Pavilion on the Caney River in Rock Island State Park. If you’ve never been to this isolated area of Tennessee, it’s a must explore State Park. Once at the picnic pavilion, everyone threw down with some good food from fried chicken, sandwiches, homemade cakes and cookies, (my favorite) some were tailgating, some taking advantage of the picnic tables and others formed a family circle. I was fortunate, my friend George Toombs, brought an extra baloney sandwich, between that and my friend, Little Debbie, it was game on. My favorite part of the cruise however is just walking around, listening to the laughter and the sound of folks having fun. With the windows down, radio cranked up, leaves at their peak and the scenery of rolling hills, reflections across the creeks, rivers and lakes all coming together, I believe number thirty three was one of the very best ever! Thank you to everyone that participated from all the Midnight Rodders. We hope you’ll come back next year and make Color Cruise thirty four another day of “Makin’ Memories!”