CCC Cruises & Dining
CLASSY CHASSY CRUISERS LEAF CRUISE AND
WINDMILL MANOR “TRUNK OR TREAT”
On a beautiful, sunny, and a bit windy, Sunday, October 19th, Classy Chassy Cruisers met at the Highlander and left at 9:30 a.m. for a fall leaf cruise. Daryl and Deb Lewis led the cruise of 10 cars with 20 CCC members, traveling up Hwy 1 through Solon to the Palisades Park where we were joined by another member. We stopped for a photo op by the Cedar River. Leaves were just starting to turn. We then cruised on to the Wasipinicon Park outside of Anamosa, then on to Larry’s Restaurant on Main Street, Anamosa to eat. It is a family restaurant with a wide variety of great food. It was a great time cruising and visiting – Thanks Daryl and Deb for planning and leading the cruise.
Members left their own ways, but some went on to Windmill Manor, Coralville to participate in their “Trunk or Treat” handing out goodies. It was windy and cool. Some residents came out and others were community families. It was fun to see the kids in costume.
ANNUAL PLATES PICNIC
Sunday, September 21st was a cloudy, cool day for the Annual Plate’s Picnic. 19 attended, Six of Harold’s Shriner friends and the rest was Classy Chassy Cruiser members. Sloppy Joe made by Diane Stansky and a wide variety of food and desserts was brought by those attending. It was great a time visiting.
CCC Cruise to Elkader
Classy Chassy Cruisers members went on a cruise to Elkader, Iowa Saturday, September 6th to explore the Rural Heritage Museum and the Earthmoving Legacy Center. Six classic cars left the Highlander Hotel, Iowa City cruising up Hwy 1, Hwy 30 and Hwy 13, where another classic joined us. We cruised through Strawberry Point to the Rural Heritage Museum, Elkader.
This museum brought back memories. Lunch was at the Johnson's Restaurant, Elkader. After lunch we went to the Earthmoving Legacy Center and viewed the many earthmoving equipment and heard about the gentlemen (Holt and Best) who invented many of the equipment. From there we went over to a "Classic" car collection to view the classics. It was a pretty impressive set up with a turn table in the middle of the room to enable getting the classics in.
Thank you to Mel and Barb Cannon for arranging the trip, it was a Great day!
JOIN CLASSY CHASSY CRUISERS ON A ROAD TRIP TO ELKADER, IA
Join CCC members on September 6, 2025, for a road trip to visit the museums of Elkader. Elkader is home to: “The Earthmoving Legacy Center” (Caterpillar); “The Rural Heritage Center;” “Elkader Depot Museum”’; and the “Grist Mill Historic Site.”
Meet at the Highlander Inn, I-80, exit 246 on September 6th to leave at 8:30 a.m. We will plan to visit the Rural Museum in the a.m., have lunch, then visit the “Earthmoving Center” after lunch, and other museums as time allows. Mel Cannon – 319-351-2792 melvin-cannon@uiowa.edu
CLASSY CHASSY CRUISERS TRIP TO IOWA FALLS
By Barb Cannon
On Sunday, July 20th, four of us, the Cannon’s and Heacock’s, set out to meet another couple, Lee and Lin Thompson, to ride on the Scenic Empress Club Riverboat in Iowa Falls. Unfortunately, the boat trip was cancelled when we were about 20 miles from Iowa Falls, because of highwater on the Iowa River. We ate lunch at the Top Flight Grille (where Barb had a big, thick breaded tenderloin!), we decided to drive down to the boat dock and at least see what we would have been riding and get a group photo.
Jessica, the club manager, was there to give others the unwelcome news. She told us of all tree carvings around town that were created out of all the dead ash trees. We did not have time to see them, but we did catch sight of two when we drove along the river through town. We crossed over the river just west of Iowa Falls and followed it back into town to view the Swinging Bridge. Mel and Lin were brave enough to walk over it and back. I chickened out at the plaque about 15 feet off shore. After the bridge we decided to head back home.
It was disappointing not to ride the boat, but we saw a lot of water in the fields and in the ditches along the way. We had great company and scenery along the way.
TRIP TO IOWA FALLS AND BOAT RIDE ALONG THE IOWA RIVER
Come along with us for a scenic car trip to Iowa Falls and take a ride aboard the Scenic City Empress, Sunday July 20th.
Leaving from Lowes in Coralville at 8:45 am, the planned route is mostly two-lane roads: Highway 6 to Marengo, highways 212 and 21 through Belle Plaine to US 30 to Tama/Toledo. After a short pit stop there, we will take US 63 to Highway 96, past Gladbrook to highway 14, highway 14 to 175, 175 through Eldora to US 65, then US 65 to Iowa Falls. We’ll have lunch in Iowa Falls then drive to the boat landing.
Scenic City Empress Riverboat Club is at 1113 Union Street about 7 blocks west of US 65. We are to board at 1:30 for the 90-minute trip up the Iowa River. It is $10 per adult and you will pay when boarding. Their Website is http://www.empressboatclub.org/ The boat has a capacity of 50 but I could reserve just 15 seats. The first 13 people who contact me will get the reserved slots. Anyone else should be in line before boarding starts. You can email me at bkcannon1108@gmail.com or text me at 319-325-2078. I’ll need name/s and contact phone #.
If the boat ride is cancelled, we’ll still drive the route, have lunch in Iowa Falls, then take a scenic drive around the area and come home.
CCC ROAD TRIP TO ELDON, IOWA, SATURDAY MAY 3RD
Despite cloudy skies and temperatures in the 50s, about 18 people in 9 cars set out from the Iowa City Menards for a leisurely road trip to Eldon, Iowa, along mostly two-lane highways.
The trip took us about an hour and a half, which got us to Eldon in time for lunch at Chommy’s Bar & Grill. It has good food with a variety of salads, burgers, and chicken sandwiches, etc. After lunch we visited the railroad museum located right next door. The museum was started by former employees of the railroad and has a wide collection of memorabilia relating to the operation of the rail system. One Interesting item was a device for passing orders from the train to the ground crews along the train route. It looked like a long-handled wishbone with a string across the two ends. In this string was a folded paper with the crew’s orders. The person by the tracks would grab the string as the train whizzed, by breaking the string and releasing the orders. Sounds like a tricky way to get orders.
The museum grounds also have a full-sized train engine, flat car, and caboose which we were welcomed to climb aboard. The museum guide said we could blow the whistle if we wished, which one of us did.
From the museum the group drove the short distance to the Gothic House Museum Center. The house is famous as the backdrop for Grant Wood’s painting American Gothic, one of the most famous paintings of the 20th century. The house was not open that day, but we could peak in the windows.
The Gothic Center needed some Spring cleanup in the flower beds and garden areas, but we were early bird visitors for the season. The museum area of the Center was full of interesting stories and displays of Grant Wood’s early years and the responsibilities the formed his teen years and adult life. The Center also has costumes to rent for “authentic” selfies in front of the house..
It was a wonderful trip. Thanks to Lee and Lin Thompson for organizing the trip and helping with this article
Classy Chassy Cruisers celebrated their 25 year anniversary with a Season Kick Off Party at the Hills Bank, Hwy 965 and Forever Green Rd, North Liberty Saturday, March 29th.
Members checked in with Gloria Drapac and she gave them a ticket if they brought a model car. The ticket was drawn after the meal. HyVee catered the meal. Mark Heacock showed some videos from 2006 and 2009 of CCC cruise ins.
Thank you to Barb Cannon, who coordinated the event and meal. Gloria Drapac made her party mix. After the meal, a ticket was drawn for a $25 Visa Card and Mel Cannon was the lucky winner. Members enjoyed meeting other members and visiting.
2024 PICNIC FOR CLASSY CHASSY CRUISERS
Classy Chassy Cruisers held a picnic at Plate's front yard for members September 8, 2024. There were 13 that came. They were asked to bring a dish to share and dessert. The Plates had sloppy joes, plates and utensils. Those who came enjoyed the food and visiting. Here are a few pictures shared.
Classy Chassy Cruisers members cruised and dined at SunDown Bar & Grill, Williamsburg May 17 th for BBQ ribs, brisket, & Broasted Chicken & Food Specials. Food was Great!
“CRUISING SEASON KICKOFF”
"The Cruising Season Kickoff" Dinner May 6th at Miller's Homestead Cooking, Warren and Ila Miller's Farm Community Building, 5708 Sharon Center Rd, SW, Kalona was a big hit with 28 members attending. The food was great - Amish cooking served family style.
