Bruce

Willie Mac Gets New Shoes

Our church had its annual Waubonsie State Park weekend last week. Some folks drive the hour east of Lincoln, just over the Iowa state line. Several of us took trailers or tents and made a full weekend of it.

A white SUV parked next to a travel trailer in a parking lot, with clear blue skies and trees in the background.
Getting Ready to Head Out Of Town!

We arrived just in time to share dinner with our friends…

A group of people sitting around a campfire at night, with some individuals engaged in conversation and others admiring the flames. The surrounding area is dark, with faint light illuminating the scene.
A group of people sitting around a campfire at night, enjoying each other's company near a trailer.

A white camper parked under trees in a camping area, with a nearby picnic table and fire pit.
Our Site
A campsite scene featuring two recreational vehicles (RVs) parked under trees with autumn foliage, and a person setting up a picnic area.
Steve and His Kids’ sites

There’s a little lake… or maybe it’s a pond?

A serene view of a calm pond surrounded by lush greenery and trees under a clear blue sky, featuring a small wooden dock.

Where there’s water, boys need to throw rocks in it. Peter is proving this thesis!

Two children on a wooden dock by a pond, one throwing something into the water while the other watches.

Saturday afternoon some of us took a LONG walk, but it was really pretty. At the top of the ridge we could see for hundreds of miles (OK, it seemed like it!) Elsewhere the trail led through a canopy of trees, just filtering light nicely.

Scenic view from a hillside overlooking a valley with green trees and fields under a clear blue sky, featuring a large rock in the foreground.
Two people walking a dog along a hiking trail with an expansive view of a valley and trees in the background, framed by branches.
Scenic landscape showing rolling hills and open fields under a clear blue sky, with a tree branch in the foreground.
A smiling older couple posing for a selfie in a wooded area with green leaves in the background.
A sunlit forest path surrounded by lush green trees and foliage, with fallen leaves on the ground.
A person standing on a wooden bridge over a small stream, surrounded by a forest with fallen leaves and trees in the background.
A tranquil woodland scene featuring a shallow stream winding through a forested area with fallen leaves and sunlight filtering through the trees.
A person walking along a narrow trail surrounded by trees and fallen logs on a sunny day.
It was very steep here, hence the posture
A group of four people walking on a nature trail surrounded by trees in autumn foliage, with a woman standing in the foreground holding a camera.
A close-up of a Monarch butterfly perched on a dry leaf on a textured asphalt surface.

After arriving back home, we thought we’d see how our new little old pickup would do pulling the trailer. HA! It does look like it wants to try, doesn’t it?

A vintage black truck parked next to a modern Jayco travel trailer in a grassy area surrounded by trees.
A man stands beside a vintage car, which is parked in front of a modern travel trailer, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.

I don’t think I’ve described how our little truck got its name. My Dad had a Model A when he was in medical school. (I think that’s the timing.) One of my professors in Dental School had been a classmate of my Father’s, and he told me that they called Dad “Willie Mac!” I’d never heard that before! I’ve been told that cars typically have girls’ names, but trucks need guys’ names… So what could be better than naming my cool truck in honor of my Father? So now it’s officially Willie Mac.

A vintage black pickup truck parked beside a tree in a grassy area, with a brick house and a garage in the background.

Dave, the guy I bought the truck from, kindly offered to help me put the new tires on. I ordered radial tires made to look like the old ones. I threw them in the bed of the truck and drove back to Dave’s shop. We had all five tires changed out in about 2.5 hours – including all the time we spend chatting and looking at other fun stuff.

Close-up view of the rear fender and wheel of a vintage car in a garage, featuring a black fender, a cream-colored rim with a silver hubcap, and a brake drum mounted on a blue jack.

I’m afraid Dave did most of the heavy work! After each tire was mounted, I took it out on the lawn and washed the blue protective covering off the wide whitewalls.

A man standing on a tire, balancing on a wooden crate in a garage setting, with tools and equipment visible in the background.
A person working on a tire in a garage, applying tools to the wheel while kneeling on a wooden platform.
A smiling man stands in a workshop, posing with a wheel featuring a yellow hub and black tire, placed on a wooden box. Various tools and items are visible in the background.
A vintage yellow wheel with a blue rim resting on grass, accompanied by a yellow brush and a green spray bottle.

Here is Willie Mac sporting his new shoes! Old tires in the back, ready for the recycling center.

A vintage truck parked on a gravel driveway, with a person sitting in the driver's seat. The truck features a green exterior and whitewall tires. Lush greenery and a wooden fence are visible in the background.

Willie Mac looks so good, it makes me wonder if I should put whitewalls on the Suburban!

A classic 1920s pickup truck parked next to a modern white SUV in a residential driveway, with cloudy skies in the background.

2 comments

    • Yes they certainly did! I wasn’t aware that they were Tennessee Tires, but Coker makes nice radial tires made to look like the old bias ply tires. It really improved the ride and drivability!

      Reply

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