Published: June 09, 2006 10:45 pm      

Tin Can Tourists

GREENUP — Area communities along the Old National Road route were treated to a rare antique car and camper show Friday.

Members of Tin Can Tourists, a vintage trailer and motor coach-enthusiast group with members around the world, traveled in a caravan that began in Cumberland, Md., and ended in Vandalia.

The caravan is in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Old National Road, also known as U.S. 40. The caravan stopped in Greenup for lunch, then headed west through Effingham en route to Vandalia.

The caravan included antique Fords and Chevys, trailers made in the 1930s, a 1953 Marmon-Herrington transit bus, a 1947 Spartan Manor, a 1949 American camper with masonite siding, a 1964 Air Stream camper and a 1947 Westwood Coronado. The cars and campers were in all shades of blue, red, maroon, gray and other colors.

Tin Can Tourist travelers were pleased with the enthusiasm displayed by people watching them pass by. John Flis said the trip has been enjoyable.

“It’s been fun, seeing all the people; the excitement; everyone gets out, there’s so much enthusiasm,” he said.

John and Dot Flis of Brown City, Mich., brought “The Shack,” a wheeled camper made to look like a farmhouse with a galvanized roof, plywood siding, a flowerpot and taillights made from kerosene lanterns.

The Flis love to travel with “The Shack.” “It’s very mobile,” John Flis said, adding it can be parked conveniently anywhere. “We have all the comforts of home (in “The Shack”).”

Each traveler in the caravan has stories to tell about their travels.

Bert Kalet of North Carolina, also a part of the caravan, said people with antique campers like to talk about the places they’ve been and things they’ve done.

“Every rig in this caravan has a story to tell,” he said.

Kalet’s story includes visiting all 50 states and all provinces of Canada, and leading 36 campers to the Panama Canal. His Chevy Suburban, he laughed, is bigger than his Air Stream trailer.

Ken and Lana Hindley of Union, Ontario, Canada, purchased a 1938 International vehicle and a 1936 Curtiss Aerocar trailer in 1981.

The vehicle was made especially to pull the trailer, Ken Hindley said.

“We totally restored them,” he said.

The caravan was exciting for the Village of Greenup.

“We’re just so glad to have them here, they’re all just so friendly. They think this is a neat little town,” said Thelma Bishop, Cumberland County Historical Society volunteer.

After stopping in Vandalia, the travelers will go their separate ways.

Alta Mayhugh can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or alta.mayhugh@effinghamdailynews.com.