1,200 Miles To Willmar – Music & Lyrics By Velvet Elves And The Texx-Tones

Well, today it’s time to hit the road for the 1,200 mile (one way) road trip to Willmar, Minnesota to attend the big Mikkelson Collection Auction this weekend.

Then, because we have all those miles to go cover, we thought it would be a good idea to write a song about our journey across the country to Willmar. We have decided to name the song “1,200 Miles To Willmar” and get Velvet Elves (our resident singer / song writer) to help us with the music and lyrics.

Only problem is – we can’t decide if the song is going to be a dance party song, a country & western type song or a blues song? – And because it’s a “No Reserve Auction” we don’t know what to expect and how the market will react to the auction… We sure hope for Paul Mikkelson that all his hard work and dedication over the years putting this impressive collection together, that the auction is going to be an overwhelming success… But as we know, these “No Reserve Auctions” can go either way in today’s market.

We had a wonderful ferry ride en route today, kind of like getting all three seats to yourself on a commercial airline flight… The sign on the ferry was interesting too. Can anyone guess where this is?

As the anticipation for the Mikkelson Collection Auction builds, a few days ago we heard from fellow Woody Boater Ben Wilson in Chicago, who sent us this update.

Well Matt and Texx, the catalog showed up!
Rich Penn Presents an Auction Event “The Mikkelson Collection”

The anticipation this week was only a minor distraction- finally some noteworthy literature for the weekend. My $35 phone call payed off.. BIG

Enclosed:
– Full color Catalog of Goodies
– 8 page insert of just boats
– Antique Back Roads Winter 2012 Newsletter
– Absentee & Telephone Bidding Form
– Shipping Information
– 1 sleepless night upon arrival

I booked my plane ticket last week to head to Minnesota. Hopefully everyone else forgets to so I am bidding against myself in the Willmar Civic Center, next weekend.

My house is already littered with wood boat memorabilia, model boats and picture of boats. A three day event is certainly essential to any woodyboater enthusiast around, including yours truly. I heard the question yesterday from the Mrs. “soooo is this an all day thing?” I responded positively “probably” knowing very well 3 days of my life I will be existing in Wilmar, MN without distraction. A few things that caught my eye right away- EVERYTHING.

Don’t forget my favorite and the Crown Jewel of the collection- Lot 280 “Boondoggle” Described in the catalog as:

“Speed boat, Larson Falls Flyer Inboard, known as “Boondoggle”, c1939. The Rarest of the Rare, believed to be the only single cockpit Falls Flyer Inboard ever built. Also the smallest at 16ft. Built of steam bent oak frames & cedar strip planking covered w/ fabric. This boat is both sleep & Fast, powered by a 90HP Gray Fireball 4 cyl engine. Used very little in the 1980’s , in Exc restored cond & comes w/a shoreland’r trailer & a high quality custom cover. A one-of-a-kind beauty! See catalog Inset

Keep your eye on Lot 940 the 1939 17ft Split cockpit inboard- tagged as “the only split cockpit inboard Flyer ever built.” … what a sweetheart.

– Boats
– Toy Boats
– Model Engines
– Literature
– Signs
– Outboards
– Ducks
– other Woody Boaters!
…sign me up! See you may 18th

Ben Wilson – Chicago, IL

Thanks Ben, and we look forward to meeting you in Willmar!

Stay tuned for live-ish reports from Texx and the Texx-Tones throughout the weekend. And also stay tuned for our final version of the song…