Getting there from here...

[garysanfran]

Last year, about the same time of year, I took an Amtrak sleeper roomette from San Francisco to S. Station, Boston...An incredible train trip through the bowels and underbelly of America. The parts you don't see by road...OR PLANE!

This year, I'm travelling (driving) the "Backbone of America"...Route-50 from here to there. It's a backroad, filmed a few years ago by a crew headed by Tom Brokaw who spent 3 months traveling this "Loneliest Road in America"...Some very desolate parts in Nevada and Utah...No cell service, no gas stations, little traffic for about 300 miles from Fallon to Ely...

http://route50.com/

https://roadtripusa.com/the-loneliest-road/

[jbolty]

I love cross country trips.

everyone knows about Rt 66 but I saw a tv show not long ago about the Lincoln highway, had never heard of it before.

https://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org/map/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Highway

[Woody38]

Just returned from Burbank, CA, Route 40 and 44 to St Louis. Many areas of Rt 66 along the way. The first time I went to CA it was on Rt 66 all the way, towing my boat.
Lincoln hwy. I-80 is the northern route west. AAA once did a trip kit for me and it was I-80. Did not do that since there could be nasty weather along the way. If time is not a hindrance taking country roads can be a great ride.

_____________________________________

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

[8gv]

I rode a bunch of miles on 50 going through Kansas in 2014.

The road was straight and flat.

It was July and 107°.

The trucks coming at me carried a cushion of air that felt capable of knocking me off my light motorcycle.

There were grain elevators to be seen every so often.

Where there was an elevator there was usually a flashing yellow light (or even a stop sign) and a few houses.

Once in a while there would be a gas station.

It was boring to me but marginally safer than the dirt road grids (sans any stop signs) of OK, which had been our original plan.

Try to stay awake!

[trfour]

1950; My Mom And Dad with 9 children started to think about a trip west to California from Stoneham Ma, at the time. Now, keep in mind that at the time I was 6 years old and wasn't preview of all of their thoughts. "And In No Way Neglected"!


My family, Mom, Dad and 9 siblings took the Northern route out to California and it took us 34 days. Went site seeing when we'd stop to do maintainance, wash cloths and such. Lets see here, 1952 I was 7 years old at the time, and Life Magazine got wind of our trip and photographers followed us and took pics.
Here's a couple..
Pic# 1. Brother's Brynn, Bob, Sister June, Bother Fred, Sister Doña, Dad, Mom, me with my Lunch pale and the guitar. Sisters Dianne and Linda, and Brother Mel.

[ApS]

Last year, about the same time of year, I took an Amtrak sleeper roomette from San Francisco to S. Station, Boston...An incredible train trip through the bowels and underbelly of America. The parts you don't see by road...OR PLANE! This year, I'm travelling (driving) the "Backbone of America"...Route-50 from here to there. It's a backroad, filmed a few years ago by a crew headed by Tom Brokaw who spent 3 months traveling this "Loneliest Road in America"...Some very desolate parts in Nevada and Utah...No cell service, no gas stations, little traffic for about 300 miles from Fallon to Ely...
http://route50.com/
https://roadtripusa.com/the-loneliest-road/
You enter Nevada's SR-50 by driving downhill onto a roadway with miles and miles of visibility ahead. :cool: Trouble is, you're the only person on it! https://sailingforums.com/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/confused.png You ask yourself, "Why is this road even here?" :rolleye1:

You stop your RV to check the racecar being towed behind it—and to walk the dogs, take pictures—and still, no one appears. :eek2:

But the panorama changes as your elevation drops—taking-in steep round hills, rugged snow-capped mountains, the texture of rocks millions of years old, and an occasional herd of pronghorn antelope, who disappear behind a moonscape—highly suitable for a Sci-Fi movie set. The only thing missing are clusters of active volcanoes! :look:

https://www.aroundtheatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/28379503_10214747968240297_2141602938986868842_n.j pg

[joey2665]

Wow!!!! Great pictures of love lake nostalgia :)

[8gv]

My family, Mom, Dad and 9 siblings took the Northern route out to California and it took us 34 days. Went site seeing when we'd stop to do maintainance, wash cloths and such. Lets see here, 1952 I was 7 years old at the time, and Life Magazine got wind of our trip and photographers followed us and took pics.
Here's a couple...

In just those four pictures it is evident that there is plenty of book material from your family and this trip.

Has the book been written?

[garysanfran]

Just returned from Burbank, CA, Route 40 and 44 to St Louis. Many areas of Rt 66 along the way. The first time I went to CA it was on Rt 66 all the way, towing my boat.
Lincoln hwy. I-80 is the northern route west. AAA once did a trip kit for me and it was I-80. Did not do that since there could be nasty weather along the way. If time is not a hindrance taking country roads can be a great ride.

_____________________________________

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic


It was boring...

This is my fourth cross-country trip. In 2018 I clocked 11,000 in 3 months.

[garysanfran]

I rode a bunch of miles on 50 going through Kansas in 2014.

The road was straight and flat.

It was July and 107°.

The trucks coming at me carried a cushion of air that felt capable of knocking me off my light motorcycle.

There were grain elevators to be seen every so often.

Where there was an elevator there was usually a flashing yellow light (or even a stop sign) and a few houses.

Once in a while there would be a gas station.

It was boring to me but marginally safer than the dirt road grids (sans any stop signs) of OK, which had been our original plan.

Try to stay awake!

On a previous trip, I went through Kansas and remember seeing a tree...Made my day!

[garysanfran]

An absolutely amazing post. The photos are really great.


Many thanks...

[joey2665]

On a previous trip, I went through Kansas and remember seeing a tree...Made my day!

Recently drove from St Louis to Iowa City then to Chicago. Nothing but corn and soybean fields. lol. I love the northeast!!!!

[trfour]

Has the book been written?

So far just a short story 8gv, in the Dec 28th 1953 Life Magazine. Just scroll down to page 18-24 when you get there; https://books.google.com/books?id=-T8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=Fred%20Rugg%20family%20Life%20Magazine%20Dec%20 28%201953&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJwujmyoPhAhUP2qwKHWtyBu0Q6AEIKDAA&fbclid=IwAR3O5phr5Ui9LZ1vNIwOqHAnR7YsHXMf_nJ-rOGKgR92WEShMOmb7r58Y5w#v=onepage&q=Fred%20Rugg%20family%20Life%20Magazine%20Dec%202 8%201953&f=false

Pic#1. Cover, Life Magazine.

Pic#2. During our journey west, Sister Doña, keeping with tradition, and Brother Brynn checking to see if surgery would be necessary, taken in Wounded Knee, South Dakota where Doña hurt her knee playing outside.

[garysanfran]

Pic#1. Cover, Life Magazine.

taken in Wounded Knee, South Dakota where Doña hurt her knee playing outside.

Can't make this stuff up...She hurt her knee in Wounded Knee. Sing me the song!

Bet Child-Protective whatever's didn't get involved.

Wouldn't this trip be before Eisenhower's great highway build?

[trfour]

Tune hUP, 'ith Some Hep!
This was taken by Life Magazine 1952 in South Dakota on our way out to California. The day before this was taken, we had been coming up the Black 'HILLS' and the 1949 Buick's 150 Horse Powered straight 8 cylinder engine decided to eat a spark plug, then another and she slowed to a crawl, and then just couldn't pull that heavy load any further. Dad had Brother Fred drive up to the summit and drop off the luggage trailer he was pulling and come back down and towed that whole rig up the mountain! This is where I questioned the name 'HILLS' when the Summit was above 7000 foot!! You know, maybe we could have made a run at it from the bottom... Anyway, this was the Tune hUP to get us the rest of the way with NO Problems. that would include Donner Pass over the Rockies into California. And By the way, Donner Pass was just over 7000 foot as well. An adventure, for sure. Well so as to make a Long Long story short, we made it to the top! Seeing that there was no such thing as 911 in those days, but however, my Mom could yodel like no other and we got the message out for everyone to get the, out of the way cause We Were a Comi'n Down the Mountain!
:-)... That's me in my Time Out shirt taking a picture...

Pic #1. Sister Doña holding the hood up. :-)

[trfour]

Things that Dad had to contend with before we left on the trip west, mainly involved the 1949 Buick that towed the Magic Carpet. The 1948 Buick that towed the luggage trailer just needed a trailer hitch and fender mirrors. Dad beefed up the rear springs, adding extra leaves in each on the 1949 Buick, plus a Heavy Duty tow hitch. Then after the Magic Carpet was delivered to our house there in Stoneham, Dad hooked up and took the rig on a shake down run over the road and on returning to the house found that the heavy duty hitch had bent down almost disconnecting from the trailer tow ball.
With the length of the Magic Carpet being 46' and only two axels, the tongue weight was huge so Dad tried out a few tongue dollies and ended up settling on an air over hydrolic tripple wheeler that he used for the trip.
Pic 1. Tongue dolly
Pic 2. The one we used

[trfour]

I was 7 years old, pushing 8.
We had spent the day in Salt Lake City before travelling south into Las Vegas.
On this leg of our trip, the bought used luggage trailer had a bent axle and would strip the rubber off a new tire on a pretty regular basis, especially in the heat of day... It and we experienced two flat tires, which slowed us down immeasurably. The decision was made in Las Vegas to cross the Mojave Desert at night.

Well, there just happened to be a raging wind and sandstorm and my Dad had his hands full trying to keep the high profile rig in one lane. Here comes a State Trooper that had been following us for a while, he pulled us over and made us put up at a truck stop over night until the storm blew over.
Now, even after the sunset it was HOT. Neither the Buicks or the Magic Carpet had air conditioning. I was tired and went to bed early that evening.
Before my Mom and Dad turned in for the night, they left the front door open with just the screen door closed for ventilation.
Next, and this could have been the early creation of how Brinks Home Security got started.

They took out Every pot & pan, piled them on the kitchen counter, tied a string from them and over to the screen door handle, so as any would-be intruder would at least wake us up!
So guess who wakes up thirsty in the middle of the night, stumbles out to the kitchen and streight away sets this crude but very effective devise off!
'HE, double hocky sticks' broke loose, and the pain of the pots & pans bouncing off of my bare toes, and my own family coming at me with rolling pins, baseball bats and guns, you can talk all you want about seeing you're life flash before you're very EYES!!
Oh, and take another guess who was on everyone's dung list for a few days, to boot! :)

[ApS]

The canvas bag to the left of the license plate is for cooling the water inside: water seeps out slowly, evaporating in the dry heat to cool the contents.

Early auto "air-conditioning" used the same principle—lately nicknamed a "swamp-cooler". :coolsm: (Still made for house (https://www.sylvane.com/swamp-cooler-buying-tips.html) or car (https://www.etsy.com/listing/115395443/swamp-cooler-vintage-window-ac)).

[The Real BigGuy]

You enter Nevada's SR-50 by driving downhill onto a roadway with miles and miles of visibility ahead. :

Great Picture! Reminds me of trip my wife, my Gordon Setter, and I took from Boston to Northern AZ. In 1978. We traveled in a TR-6 with a trunk lashed to the luggage rack and camped our way across. We took the southern (to avoid late fall snow) route and ended up on Rt 20 across Texas. One night we stopped near Odessa and pitched our pup tent. A little crowded with me, a big dog, and the wife but cozy.

I wake up at day break, open the flaps and there is a blizzard going with 3 or 4 inches on the ground. I wake the wife and we are running around stuffing the tent & sleeping bags into the trunk, getting it tied down, getting the dog in the TR and getting out of there before we are snowed in. Visibility is about 20 ft. Thank goodness the camp ground was pretty close to the highway on-ramp. Nothing has been plowed.

As I start up the ramp and as we reach the end a trailer truck passes. I pull onto the roadway and stay far enough behind that I can just see it’s tail lights. I had no idea where the road was. The TR is skittering around in the deep snow and ruts created by other vehicles and I’m locked onto the tail lights. If the truck went off the highway and drove out into a field I was going to be right behind it.

We drive this way for what seemed at the time like hours as the snow starts letting up. All of a sudden we reach the western edge of a plateau with a view very similar to your picture. About 2/3rds of the the way down there is a line going right to left for as far as we could see either way. On my side everything is white. On the far side everything is desert colors. Boy were we happy to finally reach the desert side.

On a brighter note, we ended up in AZ instead of Boston when the blizzard of 78 hit.


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[Biggd]

I'd love to have that old Buick today! :)

[tis]

Even though they aren't lake related I love seeing your old pictures!!

[garysanfran]

And it's never been non-eventful. Noticed at one point trfour had a police escort.

When I made the trip from Boston to San Fran in 1976 in a '67 Mustang convertible on Rt. 80, I was accompanied by a young lady I met through the ride-share line on a local radio station. She told me she was 19. Nice looking too.

We stopped overnight at her grandparents in Chicago. They took us out to dinner. When I went to the men's room, grand dad followed.

"I'd like to know your intentions with my 17 yr. old grand daughter"? he demanded quite strongly. I was 26. Finding out she was 17 kinda freaked me out. Minors across state-lines, etc. All of a sudden I realized I could be in trouble.

"Uhhhhhh. Pay for half the gas, and maybe drive a bit"?, I stuttered (she was a lousy driver).

She slept in the guest bedroom. I slept on the living room floor next to the couch...On the floor NEXT TO THE COUCH!!!

In Rawlins, Wyoming we got snowed in and had to get a motel room. We had been camping. She came out of the shower, uhhh...Not very dressed. Fearing a twenty-year sentence, I kept my word to grand dad, left her alone and felt the need for an adult beverage and left the room and went into town. I got a vodka & tonic from a drive-up window at a local bar. Drove around until it was gone and went back and got another.

Got back to the room and she "was asleep".

The rest of the drive was icy (I'm not referring to the driving conditions). In Quincy, CA we stopped at a school where she had an old boyfriend. She closed his door behind her and I never saw her again.

Got up the next day (after sleeping ON their couch) and drove into SF from the north. As I came through the Waldo Tunnel from Marin, there was the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco all laid (bad choice of word) out before me. Gorgeous beyond anything I had imagined.

Thirteen years later the Loma Prieta earthquake caused me to enter San Fran from the same direction because of the Bay Bridge collapse. The view that day was a lot different than 1976. It was after dark. No lights in the City or on the bridge. The only light was vertical columns of fire from the Marina District rising hundreds of feet into the air.

I'm driving this episode solo. My current girlfriend will join me in Meredith later via a 5 1/2 hr. flight and a short drive from Boston. I hope to make it to Lake Winnipesaukee with as little negative experience as possible...Although, I have found minor negatives create positive memories after time works on them. Even at The Lake.

[8gv]

It takes a coast to coast drive to make the Boston to Lake Wiini trip seem short.

[Biggd]

It takes a coast to coast drive to make the Boston to Lake Wiini trip seem short.Some Friday nights feel like a coast to coast drive. :rolleye1:

[trfour]

Even though they aren't lake related I love seeing your old pictures!!
Mom and Dad eloped in Nashua NH. back in the early 30s and Honeymooned in Meredith and the Lakes Region. Plus I had many other relatives here, then and to this day...
Love you Tis,
Terry

Pic#1. Sister Doña saying, " Where is everyone? ", and Brother Brynn saying, " Don't worry sistah, I'll finger it out! "

[trfour]

Pic#1. Doña and Fred, Statue of Liberty in background.
Pic#2. Neither Buick was equipped with a sunroof, so it was difficult for viewing the Empire State Building while we were driving around looking for a parking spot, to visit it.

[trfour]

Pic#1. And finding out everything you need to know about waring open shoes and cacti. Sister Linda and Doctor Mom.

[joey2665]

These photos are incredible. How lucky you are to have accomplished all this traveling with your family as a child. [emoji7]


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[trfour]

These photos are incredible. How lucky you are to have accomplished all this traveling with your family as a child. [emoji7]

It was Joey. We had to stop in each State and get an Overlength permit for the big-rig. I am forever grateful for Winnipesaukee.com for allowing me to share and view the Treasure Trove 0f info and all of the wonderful memories we all get to share here.
Love,
Terry

PS, Also, he would register them with our insurance Co. Dad, about to register 'Moe Over Length Permits!...
So we didn't have all open road, without some bubble gum!

[Descant]

Thanks Garysanfran and trfour for sharing these experiences. I don't have pictures but you bring back recollections of trips my wife and I made when I first joined the Navy. We were living at the lake, and my first duty was to report to Pensacola FL. Six months there, then three months each at Corpus Christi, TX, Newport, RI, Norfolk, VA, Pax River, MD and finally to Brunswick, ME for a few months before my squadron deployed overseas for 4 months. We had a 4x8 plywood trailer I had built based on a 1932 axle I scavenged from my folks barn. Harry Swinnerton in Center Harbor swapped me out some wire wheels so that I had two the same size instead of
mismatched, and at that time you could buy tires from Sears to fit antiques. We were in business. Everything we owned fit in there except the St. Bernard who filled up the back seat of our Mustang.
When I was in grade school we used to visit my grandparents in Hastings FL for a week, then go tourist for a week before flying back to Massachusetts. I remember driving (riding for me) from Hastings (near St. Augustine), to Sarasota. Mile after mile, hour after hour, it seemed, of orange groves. Like magic (pardon me) not many years later, the groves were gone replaced by monorails, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Tomorrowland. Around this time, I thought my wife was a little magical. She demonstrated once between Pensacola and Orlando. She whispered some magic words, and I turned into a motel.

OK OK. Groan. But the rest is true history.

Also, between Pensacola and Orlando. We were now based in Maine and my wife worked at a Volvo dealership. We were driving a brand new Volvo 164, top of the line, with Maine dealer plates. The speedometer cable broke, so we were using the tachometer to gauge speed. In 4th gear, 2500 rpm was 50 mph, 3500 was 70 mph. No problem, except we forgot to compensate for the electric overdrive which reduced 450 rpm. Oops. The state trooper who stopped us suggested we judge our speed by not quickly passing every other car on the road. I can imagine his thoughts. Two young kids in FL in a very expensive car with dealer plates going way fast. Instead of walking up to us, he opened his door and stood behind it and waved for us to get out. I expect my driver's license convinced him a ticket wouldn't go anywhere. It was a NH license, with a Maine address, and being in the Navy, I renewed it by mail, so it had a stamp on it that said "Valid without photo or signature". I think he liked the Navy ID card better and we were on our way, no longer in the passing lane.

[trfour]

Who enjoyed and thanked and or commented on the Life Magazine photos. I did try several years ago now to post about our journey west in a more appropriate section of this website and ran into problems due to my very limited computer skills and eyesight, so I gave up. I never thought I'd be this Old, so Fast.

After our story was published, Life Magazine presented us with a Huge photo album with both the published photos and many of the unpublished photos that were taken along the way.

Pic#1 Preface inside the cover.
Pic#2. Dad with permit in hand after another of many Highway Petrol stops.

[ApS]

It was Joey. We had to stop in each State and get an Overlength permit for the big-rig. I am forever grateful for Winnipesaukee.com for allowing me to share and view the Treasure Trove 0f info and all of the wonderful memories we all get to share here. Love, Terry
'Reminds me of pulling into an Arizona U.S. National Monument campground. :coolsm:

The sign sez, "Turn left to campground"—but there was no "turning right". :eek2: An oversized RV had made that unauthorized turn, then backed the chassis' rear corner downhill onto a outcropping of sandstone, and lifted a drive wheel 6" off the ground. :eek:

Stuck—80 miles from the nearest town! :o

[joey2665]

It was Joey. We had to stop in each State and get an Overlength permit for the big-rig. I am forever grateful for Winnipesaukee.com for allowing me to share and view the Treasure Trove 0f info and all of the wonderful memories we all get to share here.
Love,
Terry

Wow what a pain in the butt to be stopped constantly by troopers for being over length. I did not know back then you needed a permit to pull a large camper.

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[trfour]

Wow what a pain in the butt to be stopped constantly by troopers for being over length. I did not know back then you needed a permit to pull a large camper.

Back then, rail boxcars were only 40' long, and the Magic Carpet was a house trailer, and it was custom built for us by Michigan Arrow.

[trfour]

Thank God gasoline averaged about 17 cents a gallon back then too, we'd a had to own Exon Mobile as the 1949 Buick pulling that monstah got just under four miles per gallon - +. We stopped for gas a few times over the 4,376 mile trip as well!

[trfour]

Friends and neighbors getting a tour of the Magic Carpet, many of whom didn't want us to leave.

[trfour]

To our Pastor Henderson.

From left, Dad Mom Pastor Henderson Doña Mel and June.

[joey2665]

Friends and neighbors getting a tour of the Magic Carpet, many of whom didn't want us to leave.

How long was the trip across the country?

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[trfour]

How long was the trip across the country.

4,376 miles, to be exact.

Pic#1. This photo will give a size and length prospective, and many of the Park owners couldn't believe how my Dad backed that Big-Rig into some of the lots we stayed at...

[joey2665]

4,376 miles, to be exact.

Pic#1. This photo will give a size and length prospective, and many of the Park owners couldn't believe how my Dad backed that Big-Rig into some of the lots we stayed at...

Wow that’s a long trip with a rig like that. With all the stops I assume it took you about a month there and back.

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[Descant]

Trfour, lots of good stories here. Thank you for sharing. I wonder if the LIFE magazine story was the inspiration for the movie, "The Long Long Trailer" starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez. Here's the trailer, if you'll excuse the unavoidable pun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Ucb9O8q1eOc

[trfour]

Wow that’s a long trip with a rig like that. With all the stops I assume it took you about a month.

Yes Joey, 34 days, which I stated in post #5.

[trfour]

Trfour, lots of good stories here. Thank you for sharing. I wonder if the LIFE magazine story was the inspiration for the movie, "The Long Long Trailer" starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez. Here's the trailer, if you'll excuse the unavoidable pun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Ucb9O8q1eOc

Hi Descant,
The movie was actually based from the Book, " The Long Long Trailer ", written by Clinton Twiss that came out in 1951. The book was the chronicle of a couples year-long journey in a 28' Airway Zephyr ($4,200) towed by a Chrysler New Yorker convertible ($3,500) both purchased new just for the adventure.

[trfour]

The 1949 Buick Roadmaster was equipped with all of the bells and whistles of the day which included a back-up camera, just for hookup purposes. Here a still...:laugh:

[trfour]

Our Uncle George was a Commercial Artist in New York and had some buddy photographers at Life Magazine, and he was the one to let the cat out of the bag to Life about our trip.

Pic#1. Uncle George's rendition of our journey out to California.

[trfour]

Mom mounted Uncle George's Cartoon drawing on a boarder board and had everyone who visited, Open House. and before we left, front and back full.

Pic#2. We visited the Morman Tabernacle in Salt Lake City Utah.

[trfour]

Pic#1. Playing Catch?

[trfour]

Packing up.

[tis]

Your poor mother? NINE kids???? She had to be amazing and to do a trip like that???

[trfour]

Pic#1. On the Hudson.

Pic#2. Leaving New York headed to the Gettysburg National Military Park.

[trfour]

Your poor mother? NINE kids???? She had to be amazing and to do a trip like that???

OH, YES!! She used to make all of our clothes, including suits for Church, cheerleader's out fits for my Sisters, she reupholstered furniture, wallpapered and painted, and cooked, OMG!! Between Her and my Dad, there wasn't anything they couldn't do.
After we got out to California, She even won " Queen For A Day!

[garysanfran]

Of old B&W photos...And the nostalgia that goes with it.

Do you recall what kind of camera(s) was (were) used? Rolleiflexes were common among journalists then. Common format was 4x5 and 4x6.

[tis]

Wow, tr, she truly deserved a medal!!

[trfour]

Of old B&W photos...And the nostalgia that goes with it.

Do you recall what kind of camera(s) was (were) used? Rolleiflexes were common among journalists then. Common format was 4x5 and 4x6.

I do not recall Gary, but I would imagine by now you could find out online.

[trfour]

Wow, tr, she truly deserved a medal!!
Hi Tis,
After being in California for awhile, we were Blessed by a new Sister Sandra, I guess to even up us siblings to 5 Girl's and 5 Boy's. :)

Pic#1. Sister Dianne and newborn Sandra.

[ApS]

Of old B&W photos...And the nostalgia that goes with it. Do you recall what kind of camera(s) was (were) used? Rolleiflexes were common among journalists then. Common format was 4x5 and 4x6.Rolleiflex (and Rolleicord) came onto the market in the 1960s, so the camera used was probably a 4x5 "Press camera". (Medium or Large format). Yashica "twin-lens" clones appeared about the same time—selling for less than $30! (Seeing their quality, I ordered three Yashicamat 124G cameras in the mid-1970s).

Among other medium-format cameras, I used a Pentax 645, Zeiss Nettar, and a most-excellent Kowa SLR.

This older (2x4, 6x6, 2¼x2¼) format is seeing a resurgence, with camera prices edging-up. (Mint-condition Yashica 124Gs are selling for 10x their original price)!

And why not? Large-format cameras (https://www.bjp-online.com/2017/05/what-would-ansel-adams-make-of-this-camera/) claim a 480 megapixel quality. :eek2:

.

[tis]

Well, that explains it! I was trying to figure out if it was nine or ten. I guess the good thing is that she had plenty of helpers once the first ones got a little older.

[trfour]

Rolleiflex (and Rolleicord) came onto the market in the 1960s, so the camera used was probably a 4x5 "Press camera". (Medium or Large format). Yashica "twin-lens" clones appeared about the same time—selling for less than $30! (Seeing their quality, I ordered three Yashicamat 124G cameras in the mid-1970s).


Hi ApS,

Bout all I remember about the cameras Life used on our journey back in 1952 was they didn't use the canvas hoods and gun powder flashes. :)

[joey2665]

Hi ApS,

Bout all I remember about the cameras Life used on our journey back in 1952 was they didn't use the canvas hoods and gun powder flashes. :)

That’s is hilarious [emoji23] I love it. I have so enjoyed this thread it is fantastic. ❤️


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[Biggd]

Hi Tis,
After being in California for awhile, we were Blessed by a new Sister Sandra, I guess to even up us siblings to 5 Girl's and 5 Boy's. :)

Pic#1. Sister Dianne and newborn Sandra.Your mother was truly a busy woman! :D

[SIKSUKR]

Just awesome stuff Terry!!! Love love love.And thanks Don for allowing this.

[fatlazyless]

Talk'n about old trailer trips from the 1950's towed with sedan style cars..... here's a movie ..... The Long Long Trailer (1953) with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz .... driving what looks like ..... just guessing here ..... a 1953 Mercury Monterey convertible w/ a 125-hp flathead V-8 .... and the trailer is a 36-foot, 1953 Redman 'New Moon' model.

Seems like a whole lot of trailer for a 125-hp gasoline motor..... on the mountain road .... must have had a three on the tree, manual, set up with a hill-climber 2nd gear and a heavy duty clutch!

"Say Lucy ...... oh Lucy ..... could you please get out and help with this trailer by giving it a push!"

https://vimeo.com/77392290

This movie is a regular on Turner Classic Movies .... showing up every few months.

[garysanfran]

Talk'n about old trailer trips from the 1950's towed by sedan passenger style cars..... here's a movie ..... The Long Long Trailer (1953) with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz .... driving what looks like ..... just guessing here ..... a 1953 Mercury Monterey convertible w/ a 125-hp flathead V-8
https://vimeo.com/77392290 .... mountain road clip

This movie is a regular on TCM .... playing up every few months on Turner Classic Movies.

Watch it here. I did. Hilarious.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=long+long+trailer&&view=detail&mid=13F9DAFC2AEC6C74D49613F9DAFC2AEC6C74D496&&FORM=VRDGAR

[trfour]

Pic#2.Don't shoot, checking her aim??

[trfour]

Pic#1. An NFL Referee Officiating, FIND THE FOOTBALL.

Pic#2. Tennis, on a Trailer Court??

[Janet]

trfour, how did you make it down here to the DFW area with the rest of us who wished we lived closer to the lake than 1800 miles?

[trfour]

trfour, how did you make it down here to the DFW area with the rest of us who wished we lived closer to the lake than 1800 miles?

Hi Janet,

I needed medical attention, and the only coverage I had at the time, 2005, was the VA and the #1 VA hospital in the Country was here in Dallas. Also, my Sister Doña has been living for many years here prier, so that's why. I found out threw much testing that I had kidney cancer, was successfully operated on some five years ago now. So I'm kindah stuck here, Retired on SS. Howevah, even though they had to give me 16 pts of blood and two pts of platelets, I still have my New England accent... And Thank God for this website, keeping me from getting too Homesick!!

[Janet]

Hi Janet,

I needed medical attention, and the only coverage I had at the time, 2005, was the VA and the #1 VA hospital in the Country was here in Dallas. Also, my Sister Doña has been living for many years here prier, so that's why. I found out threw much testing that I had kidney cancer, was successfully operated on some five years ago now. So I'm kindah stuck here, Retired on SS. Howevah, even though they had to give me 16 pts of blood and two pts of platelets, I still have my New England accent... And Thank God for this website, keeping me from getting too Homesick!!

Hi trfour,
Glad to hear your surgery was successful and you still have your accent. My family is fortunate to spend 7 weeks in Melvin Village each year. This great website is what gets us through the "winter months" here in Plano.

[Descant]

Congrats on successful surgery. I think we all feel like we know you and wish you the best. Fifty percent, maybe more, of good health is good attitude, so you're in the good numbers. We say here, "Press on, young man. Things will be better tomorrow." Keep posting. This is a great thread.

[trfour]

Go 'in to bed now, have a good night.


Turn out the lights, the party's oh-over...

[ApS]

Pic#2.Don't shoot, checking her aim??

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14656&stc=1&d=1554903835

The correct term for that is "boresighting (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boresight_(firearm))". ;)

[trfour]

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14656&stc=1&d=1554903835

The correct term for that is "boresighting (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boresight_(firearm))". ;)

Cool ApS! :)

OHIO". To this very day, I couldn't think of a better name for this State.

We were detoured along our journey through, by a tornado that closed the main highway onto a dirt road that most Oxen would have said, Get Out'ah Here!
We did however get back to the main highway, through a very skillful pilot in my Dad, and of course Our Good Lord!
We stoped again to wash the MUD off, and did some more chores...

[Biggd]

I remember the family vacations when I was very young traveling in the beach wagon out to the Midwest to visit my fathers side of the family.
It's amazing what I can remember from 60 years ago but I can't remember what I had for dinner last night. :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
I remember my uncle taking me fishing and I was catching frogs that were so big I held them like a cat.
Another thing I remember is my uncles basement had a shower in the middle of it with nothing surrounding it. We all thought that was funny because you would obviously be seen by anyone that came down the stairs while you were showering. :emb:
Now I'm going to have to search my attic for pictures. :D
It's fun to look back when life was simple and less stressful, at least for the kids anyway.

[farechofisherman]

What an amazing story!!! Incredible pictures and storyline. Your parents were real troopers to undertake this journey, and so culturally rewarding for the entire family-WOW!!!

[Biggd]

What an amazing story!!! Incredible pictures and storyline. Your parents were real troopers to undertake this journey, and so culturally rewarding for the entire family-WOW!!!My kids dread taking my grandkids to visit at the lake for just a weekend. Too much trouble packing all the crap they have to bring and they only have 2 and 3 kids?

[joey2665]

My kids dread taking my grandkids to visit at the lake for just a weekend. Too much trouble packing all the crap they have to bring and they only have 2 and 3 kids?



Purpose of the trip is to bring less not more [emoji23]


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[ApS]

Cool ApS! :)

OHIO". To this very day, I couldn't think of a better name for this State. We were detoured along our journey through, by a tornado that closed the main highway onto a dirt road that most Oxen would have said, Get Out'ah Here! We did however get back to the main highway, through a very skillful pilot in my Dad, and of course Our Good Lord! We stopped again to wash the MUD off, and did some more chores...
I, too, was confronted by tornadoes. As I entered New Mexico, the first Tornado Warning was issued by AM radio. As I entered the modest State campground near Roswell, perhaps 50 children and parents were using the provided playground. I advised them of the warning, then drove around the small campground for a suitable spot. After completing the small loop of maybe 30 spaces, I'd returned to the playground, and found it had emptied out. :eek2: Ultimately, I'd picked a campground with nobody in it! :eek:

As for the 8-minute movie clip of Lucie and Desie, I could sympathize with their dilemma of trailering through mountain passes. The only thing missing was steam. :emb: I won't spoil the ending, which is very telling, as most Eastern flatlanders become collectors of such things when they head out West. :rolleye2: ;)

[trfour]

I mustah had CRS back then Too, cause your supposed to put a sheet on the bed before you jump in? and go to sleep... :)

[Island Girl]

Thanks so much Terry, for the journey through time. The pictures are wonderful.

IG

[trfour]

Thanks so much Terry, for the journey through time. The pictures are wonderful.

IG

You are so very welcome Island Girl. And I thank you for all of your wonderful Pictures out here. I found out that time doesn't stand still for any of us, so we all qualify to that "journey through time".

Oh, and you rid me of CRS as I recall that wonderful Hug you gave me at Waldo Pepper's. Way back when... Love and miss you, Terry

[trfour]

The othah golden rule = " Stay Out The Kitchen" before meals!!!!
:)
Aftah meals, your All on KP duty!!!!

[trfour]

Removing a splinter from my LegO!

Pic#2. Us-Tube Photo??

[trfour]

Most of us love Coney Island hotDogs...

My younger sister Doña says in this photo, ( way too late , of course ) Hold The Sauerkraut!!

[trfour]

The whole Swat Team.

We got pulled over again just outside of Bakersfield California, on our way there, from the east coast, and it was like a swat team, that descended upon us!!
Well, the Sergent at arms thought that we were over width, and there fore illegal, not covered in our permits! ... He had one of his subtenants call in to check it out, only to find that we were good to go!

The Sergent felt so bad, that he gave us some coupons for free donuts at a local donut shop...

Pic # 1. C.H.P's Major Sargent
And, Not Resume Photos.

[moose tracks]

The Sergent felt so bad, that he gave us some coupons for free donuts at a local donut shop...


It is very special for a cop to give up coupons for free donuts :). Thanks for all the great pictures Trfour.

[trfour]

Thank you Moose, my pleasure.
Even though none of my photos ever came out as good as theirs, it was the Life photog's that got me hooked on taking photos as they gave me a camera and all the film I wanted at the begining of our journey.
Thanks to our Webmaster Don, all of us forum members get to post and share our photos here on this wonderful website alowing us Much pleasure and fun over many many years now, and I consider all as extended Family.
Love,
Terry

[trfour]

No Broom, chimney sweep.

[trfour]

Even travel logging, including every gallon of gas, how many miles and such, and planning was Fun. We were fix'in to embark to the Wisconsin Dell's, and take the Boat Cruise...

[trfour]

Just so fll knows, from The Long Long Trailer movie clip that he posted here of Lucy and Desi climbing the mountains and everything being all over the floor when they stopped and went inside.

Long before we left Stoneham, my Dad retro fitted cabinet drawers and closet doors, refrigerator and such, so that while under way, rough roads and or climbing up to 6% grades in the mountains, that everything would remain secure, and Not all over the floor when we stopped.
AND, he even cleaned up any mess of drillings or whatever.

[trfour]

MUSIC LOVER'S ALL
Our Mom had an incredibly beautiful singing voice, and although none of us siblings could replicate it, we were all music lover's from Day One.
Aftah dinner singalongs were always a BLAST!! Brother Bob on guitar, and me on bass voice...

MUSIC BENIFITS.
There are now literally thousands of research papers showing the clinical evidence for the benefits of meditation and meditation music. It is a proven drug free technique for reducing stress, overcoming depression and even improving your brain function, memory and IQ.
Studies also found that music enhances the effects of meditation and science has pushed the development of sound technology to develop the best meditation music to benefit the brain and human consciousness.
According to experts, listening to music while meditating is good for both your body and soul. It refreshes you from within and rejuvenates your mind. There are different kinds of music you could listen to while meditating.
If there is any kind of music today that you shouldn’t miss out on, it is instrumental music. This type consists of classical guitars, violins, chimes, table, guitar, harp, etc. The tunes are always melodious and beautiful. There is a wide range of choices you could pick from when it comes to instrumental music. Simply visit a CD shop or purchase online.

[DRH]

You are so very welcome Island Girl. And I thank you for all of your wonderful Pictures out here. I found out that time doesn't stand still for any of us, so we all qualify to that "journey through time".
Oh, and you rid me of CRS as I recall that wonderful Hug you gave me at Waldo Pepper's. Way back when... Love and miss you, Terry I remember meeting you that time at Waldo Pepper's too, Terry! There were a number of forum "regulars" there and we all had the pleasure of meeting you. It was a good time. I sure miss the old Waldo Pepper's at the Weirs!

Your photo presentation of your trip is absolutely wonderful! You have made the trip come alive for many of us. Many thanks for sharing your memories!

Don

[ApS]

MUSIC LOVER'S ALL
Our Mom had an incredibly beautiful singing voice, and although none of us siblings could replicate it, we were all music lover's from Day One.
Aftah dinner singalongs were always a BLAST!! Brother Bob on guitar, and me on bass voice...
MUSIC BENEFITS.
There are now literally thousands of research papers showing the clinical evidence for the benefits of meditation and meditation music. It is a proven drug free technique for reducing stress, overcoming depression and even improving your brain function, memory and IQ.
Studies also found that music enhances the effects of meditation and science has pushed the development of sound technology to develop the best meditation music to benefit the brain and human consciousness.
According to experts, listening to music while meditating is good for both your body and soul. It refreshes you from within and rejuvenates your mind. There are different kinds of music you could listen to while meditating.
If there is any kind of music today that you shouldn’t miss out on, it is instrumental music. This type consists of classical guitars, violins, chimes, table, guitar, harp, etc. The tunes are always melodious and beautiful. There is a wide range of choices you could pick from when it comes to instrumental music. Simply visit a CD shop or purchase online.

Yesterday, I received an email with a similar emphasis—but has to do with a doctor and his fixation on gardens for refreshing one's soul:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/18/opinion/sunday/oliver-sacks-gardens.html

As for music, I like to start my day with composer Thomas Bergersen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qTghUgMOeY

Comment at YouTube:
" It's impossible to blend Celtic music, pirate music, and rock. Nobody can do it."

Thomas Bergersen : "Hold my beer ."

.

[trfour]

Your photo presentation of your trip is absolutely wonderful! You have made the trip come alive for many of us. Many thanks for sharing your memories!

Don

Hi Don,
Now I get to Thank You for all of your wonderful photo's, memories and story's that you have shared with all of us over these many years here as well!
Thank you Don, and say Hi to Peg for me.
Love,
Terry

[trfour]

All of the sophisticated and luxurious front lawn furniture that came with the Magic Carpet.

[joey2665]

I can’t get enough of these pictures. Thank you again so much for sharing, your parents seem to be very special and talented people and how lucky you were that they took you on the awesome adventure. [emoji4]❤️


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[trfour]

I can’t get enough of these pictures. Thank you again so much for sharing, your parents seem to be very special and talented people and how lucky you were that they took you on the awesome adventure. [emoji4]❤️

A Typical Phrase from friend's, "To Know Them Is To Love Them", and no such thing as luck Joey, they were Tried and True Blessings.

[joey2665]

Well said. Have a happy Easter [emoji214][emoji195]


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[trfour]

Many Summits along the way, and at the time the Magic Carpet was the largest house trailer to cross over the Rocky Mountains.

[tis]

Since there were nine of you, you must have ridden in the Magic Carpet, right? Did it sway a lot? Was anybody car sick?

[trfour]

Well said. Have a happy Easter [emoji214][emoji195]

You too Joey, I'll be celebrating Easter at Sister Doña's on Sunday.

[trfour]

Since there were nine of you, you must have ridden in the Magic Carpet, right? Did it sway a lot? Was anybody car sick?

Actually Tis, the two Buicks were really comfortable and there was a few occasions when someone would ride inside the Magic Carpet with no problems, and with the air over hydraulic tongue dolly the trailer had a very stable ride as well.
Picture, better view of tongue dolly.

PS, I'll be getting to the Magic Carpet being loaded onto a flatbed trailer later on in the story, so Y'all ( some O that Texas blood rubbing off that I got during my operation ) stay tuned... :-)

[tis]

Oh you had two cars? Guess I missed that.

[trfour]

Oh you had two cars? Guess I missed that.

Yes Tis, my older Brother Fred drove the 1948 Buick Roadmaster towing the luggage trailer.

[trfour]

Getting Close To The West Coast.

[trfour]

SOMEHOW, that bought used luggage trailer upon readying for the trip, slid under the radar with a bent axel-right side, and we had some 26 flats to contend with during our journey West.

me on right, practicing The California Bop...:)

[moose tracks]

PS, I'll be getting to the Magic Carpet being loaded onto a flatbed trailer later on in the story, so Y'all ( some O that Texas blood rubbing off that I got during my operation ) stay tuned... :-)

Come On Trfour, you can't leave us like that! Can't wait for next episode.

[trfour]

Come On Trfour, you can't leave us like that! Can't wait for next episode.

Hey, that's Terry to you Moose. :) I had to mow two huge lawns today, and because Mom and Dad taught me how to fix things, in Retirement I'm busier than ever when I worked full time. you know, pool circulation pumps, electrical work ect ect. My Dad still has 3 US Patents of his Genius.

Brother's Fred and Brynn sprucing up the Flatstah, luggage trailer back in Stoneham. :)

[Merrymeeting]

The othah golden rule = " Stay Out The Kitchen" before meals!!!!
:)
Aftah meals, your All on KP duty!!!!

Look at the size of that wine glass! ;-) (See 2nd picture in reply #81)

Thanks for including us all in your wonderful story!

[The Real BigGuy]

Wine glass or tip jar[emoji16]


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[trfour]

Look at the size of that wine glass! ;-) (See 2nd picture in reply #81)

Thanks for including us all in your wonderful story!

I couldn't have done it without Y'all, Merrymeeting. I looked for the wine bottle for that there wine glass, couldn't find it, but I did find a can O beer... :)

[trfour]

They don't make whitewall tires like they usetah…

[trfour]

I remember meeting you that time at Waldo Pepper's too, Terry! There were a number of forum "regulars" there and we all had the pleasure of meeting you. It was a good time. I sure miss the old Waldo Pepper's at the Weirs!
Don

Waldo Pepper's were right on my doorstep when I lived at the Camp on Paugus Bay, they always kept me from dieting, cause the food was so awesome, just like the Owner's, Wonderful Folk's, and it really made my day when I stopped to get a couple Lobstah rolls to go and got to meet you wonderful Folk's too Don!!

[trfour]

My Dad made replica models of the two Buicks, the Flatstah luggage trailer and the Magic carpet and Mom upholstered the furniture, out of balsa wood. Partly because even though The Magic Carpet was 8' x 46' , there were people that wondered how a family of 11 could sleep in it. So the model had a plexie glass top so the floor plan and sleeping areas were viewable.

Pic#1 Boys rear bunk room, Shower bathroom and double bunk beds

Pic#2 Storage and bedrooms

Pic#3. Double bunks

Pic#4. Kitchen and living area

[trfour]

By the way, this model trailer actually has many more miles on it than The Real Magic Carpet did, as it has been shipped back and fourth across the Country several times to different Siblings homes, as well as the Big Photo album Life gave us...

Pic#5. Front living area.

[trfour]

Aftah a rest stop, we crossed ovah the California state line and us siblings performed an all out California Gold Rush! Nevah found even an old gold watch, so my guess was that someone mustah beat us to it... :)
And, Not A Resume Photo.

[trfour]

Another reason for our journey to California was that Mom had three Sister's that lived there, so six more Aunt's and Uncle's for us to spend some time with.

Pic#2. Aunt Sarah, Zbra and Brother's Fred and Bob.

[trfour]

Our 4,376 mile and 34 day trek across the country ended on the evening of July 6, 1952 when we pulled into the Airport Trailer Village in Westchester, CA, a suburb west of Los Angeles. There was a warm welcome party at Aunt Betty and Uncle Mark's house in Westchester. We were there only a week and moved to Artesia, southeast of Los Angeles.

Side Note; There was a Take Out Restaurant at the Airport Trailer Village that had THE BEST fried Jumbo shrimp On This Planet!!
Pic#1. . Hey Man, Don't be Shoot'in the Breeze over here, Get Us Off'in The Highway!!!!

[trfour]

Palms Galore... Getty Images bought the rights to Life Magazine, they also got many of the photos that Life took of our journey west on undeveloped film. I registered at their website and they gave me some that they had since developed. This is one of them.
Life's guesstimate of all of the photos they took was HUGE, many more than they gave us in the photo album after the story in the magazine was published.

[Barney Bear]

Trfour - thanks four your wonderful story of your trip west. How many states of the then 48 states did you visit on this great adventure? In 1947, our family of five took a long trip to the west coast in an Oldsmobile sedan. Our most expensive overnight stay was in Carson City, Nevada [$19.00]. 🐻

[trfour]

Trfour - thanks four your wonderful story of your trip west. How many states of the then 48 states did you visit on this great adventure? In 1947, our family of five took a long trip to the west coast in an Oldsmobile sedan. Our most expensive overnight stay was in Carson City, Nevada [$19.00]. ��

Awesome Barney!!

Here they are, Oh and I wrote them down and put them in a safe place, so it took me a Loooong time to find them. :)
From Stoneham MA. south to, RI. CT. NY. NJ. DE. MD. DC. PA. OH. IN. IL. IA. WI. MN. SD. WY. UT. NV. CA.
PS, I don't want to hurt myself Barney, so you do the math...
Funny, the only two States that I haven't gotten to visit yet, [ my loss ] is [ How'areya and Alaska! ] How are ya?
Also, we needed a biggah cah wash...

[trfour]

Thank God the snow Angel was taking a Napa when we traversed Donner Pass in the Rockies...

It was late when we arrived in Artesia, southeast of Los Angeles.The trailer was in place and Dad decided he would put the stabilizers in place the next day.
It was here at 5:00 AM the next morning that we discovered one of California's notorieties.
"EARTHQUAKE!" The Tahachapi earthquake paid us a visit. Had our wheeled trailer rocking and swaying like a washing machine. Most of us ended down on the floor, me falling from my top bunkbed out of a sound sleep, and thought that our trailer was going to, see us on the flip side.
Opened the back door and saw the COWs, in a field and pasture, falling and tumbling over like candle pins.

[trfour]

Shortly after getting to California, my folks decided to sell the 49, as it was brutal on fuel. My Dad was in Transportation Management, and got transferred up to Santa Maria. We had to load the house trailer on a flatbed tractor trailer unit, by crane, to bring it up there. Although the 1948 Buick had the same engine, it was a three speed standard shift, and if we tried to tow the big trailer with it, we probably never would have made it out of Stoneham without burning up a clutch! Being a custom built trailer with accommodations for 11 people, plus all of the provisions loaded inside, it took a lot of torque just to get the thing rolling. This is where the Dynaflow transmission shined!

My Dad and I went down to the trucking co's yard to tow the trailer to the park and set it up on the lot. Well it didn't take very long and you could smell that old clutch burn'in up!! Only had to tow it about three and a half miles, and we made it okay, but had to replace the clutch that week!

Pic#1. Dad on left, watching over Home loading.
Pic#4. Coast Highway 101, on a rest stop.

[trfour]

We stayed at Fort Wayne for a few days doing some general maintenance and such. Us children could be very inventive and were not afraid or shy in any way to pitch in get our hands dirty.

There was an awesome indoor basketball arena right there beside the trailer park and my older brother Mel was a phenomenal player and he'd sneaker over and maid friends with a large group of Indians that invited him into their shoot around for practice before a big game that was going to take place the fallowing night. Well, when they got to see what brother Mel could do, they were fighting to get him on their team!

Well, don't ya know come game time night that Mel, while playing Center for the Indians, scored the winning HOOP to the delight of the huge crowd in the grandstands cheering them on. OH would I ever have loved to play backup for my brother in that game. I have way bigger feet than he did, but he had about three feet in height on me at the time, so I made a better Cheerer and seat warmer.

Pic#2. Bringing our cloths back home from the air dryer.

[trfour]

Do not invite us!... A very simple $2.99 cent lunch could take off and run into the tens or more thousands of dollars in a heartbeat!
So maybe some would ask, how we did what we did????
First of all, our Mom and Dad were the Best!... Did I ever tell how they cooked? No contest, they were the best! Now, shut my face!
Grand Parents, Grand Great Parents and so on and on have embodied our very existence since history got invented here!
By the way, they did a wonderful job!
With todays economy, I couldn't imagine any self respecting family restaurant wanting to ban children under a certain age... However, some are...

I would hazard a guess that todays Moms and Dads have lost some of the ( use of the brail system, if you will ), to communicate good behavior to their siblings...


Now!.. / Waaayyyyy back when I was young, and born even younger, my parents taught me and the rest of us children just how to behave, wise? Course, it could have been the size of the herd?.. They never wanted us to get out of hand, ( so to speak ). ( And Especially Around The Dinner Table )...
Here's a pic of all of us enjoying lunch at the very exclusive Columbia Yacht Club back in 19 and 52! They loved us, and could have retired from our bill and tips alone!

Most of us lived in the Magic Carpet for close to two years out in California before we bought a house without wheels...
The world is getting and multiplying faster than Nascar


, these days, kind of needs our collective help, so to speak...

The glass half full, has been replaced with ' our world on top ', if you will.
Let us keep it all going forward...
Love,
Terry

Pic#2. Stopped for a drink, ours was Hires Root Beer since 1876

[trfour]

Dad always said Grace, Before we ate a meal where ever we were together, and that included when Dad sometimes had to work late, Mom would wait dinner until he got home to join us at the table and say Grace...

The Columbia Yacht Club.

[trfour]

Designated Back Seat Drivah. Here's one O my pic's NOT.
How come you see me in them striped Time Out shirts all O the time. :)

[ApS]

Do not invite us!... A very simple $2.99 cent lunch could take off and run into the tens or more thousands of dollars in a heartbeat! So maybe some would ask, how we did what we did????
First of all, our Mom and Dad were the Best!... Did I ever tell how they cooked? No contest, they were the best! Now, shut my face! Grand Parents, Grand Great Parents and so on and on have embodied our very existence since history got invented here! By the way, they did a wonderful job!
With todays economy, I couldn't imagine any self respecting family restaurant wanting to ban children under a certain age... However, some are...I would hazard a guess that todays Moms and Dads have lost some of the ( use of the Braille system, if you will ), to communicate good behavior to their siblings...Now!.. / Waaayyyyy back when I was young, and born even younger, my parents taught me and the rest of us children just how to behave, wise? Course, it could have been the size of the herd?.. They never wanted us to get out of hand, ( so to speak ). ( And Especially Around The Dinner Table )...Here's a pic of all of us enjoying lunch at the very exclusive Columbia Yacht Club back in 19 and 52! They loved us, and could have retired from our bill and tips alone! Most of us lived in the Magic Carpet for close to two years out in California before we bought a house without wheels...The world is getting and multiplying faster than Nascar, these days, kind of needs our collective help, so to speak...The glass half full, has been replaced with ' our world on top ', if you will. Let us keep it all going forward...Love, Terry Pic#2. Stopped for a drink

https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/021/468/1254569426412.jpg

'Times sure have changed. You had no seat belts, and just-recently two states have raised their speed limits—to 80—and (in Utah) 85. :eek2:

.

[joey2665]

As I continue to say, thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so enjoying it. [emoji4]


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[trfour]

'Times sure have changed. You had no seat belts, and just-recently two states have raised their speed limits—to 80—and (in Utah) 85. :eek2:

Cool ApS,

Yes, tons O change long and since 1952, however my faith tells me to keep on doing the best I can, don't over think things like writing 18 one hundred page volumes of hypothetical arguments that Chestah won in the shower.
As long as I can help my loved one's and other's, I'm good. I've almost been around the block once. :)

Thanks ApS.

PS, my pickup loves the pot holes down heah, and it gives me a reason to Take It Easy.

[trfour]

Dad teaching me how to adjust a loose wheel bearing along the way on one of our chore and maintainance stayovers.

[trfour]

We never needed Uncle George to draw us a crowd,

As we were already pretty much there.

[trfour]

When the rigger's loaded the Magic Carpet onto the flatbed trailer to take up to Santa Maria, they had to remove the tires so as to provide safe overall height clearance for the bridges and overpasses on the trip.

Pic. Dad between the axles

[trfour]

Fred worked and was an extreamly talented heavy Truck mecanic and he worked at the same Trucking Co. as my Dad, and was also amung the very few that could back double ttrailer combinations without unhooking them into the loading docks.

Many prayers were said when Fred thought that it was time for him to serve our Country and enlisted into the Marine Corps and after boot camp served on Okinawa as a Sergeant in the Motor Pool of his unit and taught Automotive Carburetion and Ignition. He mailed me the study text & tests, I'd mail him back the tests for him to grade, then he wrote me back saying that I was in the top 99% of the classes.
May I add, that my oldest brother Fred and I were always pretty close. He taught me how to drive a car in a local State Park back when I was six years old in his 1934 Chevy, with wooden blocks on the brake, clutch and gas peddles, so that my feet could reach them while I was also sitting on cushions so's I could see out the windshield just above the defroster vents. By the time I got to be 6.5, I could drive that car anywhere.

And, back in them days I never considered sewing the town for building the sidewalks too close to my butt either. :)

Sister Doña helping the sergeant load, and I didn't want my Brother to go.

[trfour]

After lunch in Utah before finishing the days trip.

[joey2665]

I think this is my favorite picture so far [emoji4]


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[ApS]

After lunch in Utah before finishing the days trip.

Utah—Waterfront cottages, in an ancient time when ice covered the Winnipesaukee Basin.

https://cdn7.dissolve.com/p/D246_105_188/D246_105_188_600.jpg

Utah, where, y'know, you can photograph the kids...;)

https://blog.trekaroo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/things-to-do-in-utah-dinosaurs-by-tiffany-vaughn-768x576.jpg

Mountains, natural stone arches, desert terrain, fossils, petroglyphs, snow, dinosaurs, and fast rivers for rafting. Having toured most of the US, if I had only one state to visit again, it'd be Utah. Within one State Park (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome_Basin_State_Park), I managed to drive 85 miles on a dirt road, and never saw another human being. :eek:

On one deserted paved road, I pulled over at a random site to walk the dog. 'Getting about 100 feet from the road, the dog and I turned a corner, and came upon ancient petroglyphs carved and painted into a vertical rock face. :eek2: The site had probably been rarely encountered since carved into that rock—except perhaps Anasazi, surveyors, anthropology students, a few roadway workers, and one (or two) dog-walkers. ;)

Capital Reef National Park has only 20 spaces for campers—Reserve early!

[trfour]

Every place we got to see together!!

[trfour]

Rascal flats, and a wheel bearing replacement that required a file and some emery cloth to fit the new bearing on the axle spindle.

[Barney Bear]

Wonderful series, trfour. What is, and where is this monument located? 🐻

[trfour]

Wonderful series, trfour. What is, and where is this monument located? 🐻

The Monument in Post #137 is The US Civil War Monument, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg PA.

I didn't want to discourage Folks from visiting the above, you know, when I posted it right here in black and white.

At my age, and with CRS and all, this computer stuff is like climbing for me, only somebody greased the post... :)

[trfour]

Our oldest Sister June was working in LA. when Dad got transferred up to Santa Maria to straighten out the truck terminal there.
We had to build a real chimney on the roof of the Magic Carpet, as Christmas was fast approaching, so Santa could deliver our gifts.

Pic#1. June at work in LA.
Pic#2. Home for Christmas. June, Doña, Mom and Linda greeting.

[thinkxingu]

The storyline and pictures here are awesome--thanks for sharing!

[trfour]

The storyline and pictures here are awesome--thanks for sharing!

Hi You, :) Just remember that I'm enjoying and having just as much fun with this, as Y'all are!

Thank you thinkxingu,
Terry

[trfour]

Let me S'plain,
Some may have noticed the aluminium outer shell sheets buckling from the steel frame movement over rough roads, Post#47, so Dad called Michican Arrow, ( and at the time we only had one cell phone among us ) and told them about it. So if you'll notice in the Michican Arrow add that I posted, Post#34, from around 1954 that they redisigned the outer shell using horizontal sheets with expansion joints to correct the problem.

Pic#1. Our Old partyline cell phone.

[trfour]

He never asked for much, and was soooo talented in every way. ' Just A Rock ' for us!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Mom was Too!
She knew better than to wake him for a [ Gitti-Up-Go-Day ] without having a freshly brewed pot of coffee, at the ready!
One thing that we learn in this life, is to love our Moms and Dads.
These two will forever be loved by us, and any whom got to know them...

PS, This was also inherent In my folks decision, as my Dad hadn't taken a vacation in some twenty years before we went on our journey out to California!

[trfour]

Dad wiring us in for another overnight stay.

The Old cellphone too. :)

[trfour]

Map Shows the Ultimate U.S. National Park Road Trip.
If exploring the breathtaking beauty of our National Park System in one road trip is something on your bucket list, this may be the perfect map for you.

[trfour]

12 every year.

Here's Brother Fred's.

[ApS]

Map Shows the Ultimate U.S. National Park Road Trip. If exploring the breathtaking beauty of our National Park System in one road trip is something on your bucket list, this may be the perfect map for you.
I've hit quite a number of those National Parks, but found National Monuments less crowded and more gratifying. Several have since joined the National Parks System. Note the number of National Parks in Utah! :cool:

[trfour]

Something Very Special
about getting to visit National Parks and Monuments with a Large Family is, with all of our individual prospectives and points of history and knowledge gained made them all so and more enjoyable.

Lets Chat,
There comes a time for all us antiques to fess Up and admit that it is 2019...?... Us Altimers after all, have a clue to the glue.
At the same time, I owned an awesome Toyota 1/2 ton 4x4, that I used to put family and friends boats in the water with when they came to visit me up at Lake Winnipesaukee towing their boats with their motor homes.
Here again, our journey took place back in 1952! As I remember, Flash Gordon was just getting his shower cap wet!
Seriously, I don't know that there was another human being of the day, that we would be able to do what we did, without Our Mom and Dad's Love.

[trfour]

Now, to get back on topic in the early 19 and 50s, our very own Rascal Flats put on a different kind of tantrum deciding to chew up some wheel bearings during our journey to the west!
Brother Fred using a file and some emery-cloth from the safety kit that Dad put together back in Stoneham MA. as the axle spindle got some damage that wouldn't allow a simple bearing swap. ( Has Anyone Else Been Hear? ) Thank God for Old School and some good Ol' Yankee ingenuity!

[trfour]

Watching a video on our one and only cellphone??

[trfour]

Ladies Meeting.

[trfour]

Enjoying our first Christmas together in the Magic Carpet and in Santa Maria, California in 1952.

[trfour]

We 'pulled' into a trailer park ( heading west ), to park and rest over night... Now, my Dad always made it a point to convey to the Clerk at the counter, while registering, that and how come we had a 46 foot trailer and S'more!!..
The clerk said to him, ( ' We have plenty of room for you sir, and gave my Dad the keys for lot # 24 and # 25, for the Magic Carpet '), and lot # 26 for the 19 and 48 Buick with Rascal Flats.
Well, come to find out, there was No Way to fit the Magic Carpet in them two #s 24 and #s 25 lots. So, although our Dad tried his best, the Magic Carpet suffered it's first and only bruise of our journey.
The grounds crew was summoned shortly there and after and offered to extend us a Long Long extension cord, to stay the night, out in the outback, if you will! Free of charge, don't ya know!!

[tis]

What a lot of challenges! And what an amazing family! Good thing your dad had mechanical ability!!!

[joey2665]

Enjoying our first Christmas together in the Magic Carpet and in Santa Maria, California in 1952.



Wow what a great picture. The classic Christmas!!


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[8gv]

Thanks for all the pics!

Keep them coming.

As I look at them I realize that they were taken only seven years after the end of WWII.

That means that many of the men you encountered on this trip had fought overseas.

Many of the women had supported the war effort here and abroad.

It humbles me to consider what these every day folks did to ensure our freedom!

[trfour]

It's not my fault.

Go's to our Webmaster Don for all of His dedication and hard work at keeping this Treasure Trove of a website up and running for all of these wonderful years now. #1, All of Y'all's sharing photos and informative info.
Couldn't be better!!

Thank you Don, and Y'all!!
Love,
Terry

[ApS]

I love cross country trips.
everyone knows about Rt 66 but I saw a tv show not long ago about the Lincoln highway, had never heard of it before.

https://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org/map/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Highway

Today, Rt 66 sees light traffic:

https://photos-e1.flightcdn.com/photos/retriever/245bcde0b32d74e179449aa9c52cea06569c48cb

[trfour]

As I look at them I realize that they were taken only seven years after the end of WWII.

That means that many of the men you encountered on this trip had fought overseas.

Many of the women had supported the war effort here and abroad.

It humbles me to consider what these every day folks did to ensure our freedom!

Oh yes 8gv, good points.

My Dad was drafted into the Military during WW2, however at that time Mom and Dad had 7 children and the Government didn't want to put Dad on the front line in battle, so with Dad's education and skills they offered to send him to Caracas Venezuela, South America to engineer on the Pan American Highway project. Can I take my family with, Dad asked, and they said absolutely, and we will set you up in a private home.
So off we went to live in Venezuela for 2 1/2 years, and most of us learned to speak Spanish as well...

Pic#1 me @ two and a half years old, on clean up duty, in Caracas

[trfour]

What a lot of challenges! And what an amazing family! Good thing your dad had mechanical ability!!!

Absolutely Tis, and either Brother Fred or Dad could have done a complete engine swap if needed. using a tree and chain falls that were in the trunk with the safety kit.

[trfour]

Sister June's turn to iron some cloths.

[trfour]

ALL of the different views.

[tis]

Absolutely Tis, and either Brother Fred or Dad could have done a complete engine swap if needed. using a tree and chain falls that were in the trunk with the safety kit.

Wow! And they thought of everything in the Magic Carpet! Even an ironing board. But in those days it was much more important that it is today.

[trfour]

The 19 and 49 Buick Roadmaster did have a sunroof.

Brother Mel came down with hives, and aftah an appointment with Doctor Mom's Home Remedy, she also gave him a prescription for some vitamin D, and he was like new in a day and a half.

[trfour]

Purpose of the trip is to bring less not more [emoji23]


No Such Animal In Our Family Joey! :)

[trfour]

Are there any other gearheads out there?

The Dynaflow in our 1949 Buick was not the most efficient, but the incredible torque it took just to get that 7 1/2 ton rig to move, and if anyone used it to tow with the fuel prices of today, they'd probably need to own an oil company! The 1949 Buick was brutal on fuel, 3-4 miles per gallon. Just remember that gas was about .17-.20 cents a gallon back then.
However, the Dynaflow was virtually indestructible and towed our house from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts, and all of the mountains, [Rockies], and in between. It used 1/2 pint of transmission fluid over the whole trip!
Here's some history on it , Credit Wikipedia.
Dynaflow was the trademark name for a type of automatic transmission developed and built by General Motors' Buick Motor Division from the late 1940s to the mid 1960s. The Dynaflow, which was introduced for the 1948 model year only as an option on Roadmaster models, received some severe early testing in the M18 Hellcat tank destroyer, which were built in Buick's Flint, Michigan assembly plant during World War II. It was also used in the 1951 Le Sabre concept car.[1]
The Dynaflow initially used a five-element torque converter, with two turbines and two stators, as well as a planetary gearset that provided two forward speeds plus reverse. In normal driving, Dynaflow started in high gear (direct drive), relying on the converter's torque multiplication to accelerate the vehicle. Low gear, obtained via the planetary gearset, could be manually engaged and held up to approximately 40 mph (64 km/h), improving acceleration. However, the transmission was incapable of automatic shifting, requiring the driver to move the shift lever from low to drive to cause an upshift. Buicks equipped with the Dynaflow transmissions were unique among American automobiles of the time in that the driver or his/her passengers would not detect the tell-tale interruption in acceleration that resulted when other automatic transmissions of the time shifted through their gears. Acceleration through a Dynaflow was one smooth (if inefficient) experience.

[JEEPONLY]

I'm nothing of a gear-head. I am a bit of a history buff. You have managed UP YOUR GAME!.

Thank you- you story is beautiful and intriguing!

[trfour]

Not A Resume Photo.


Eventually we took the Southern Route and returned to New England, ( some 6 and some change years later ) in a 1947 Plymouth Woody station wagon 9 passenger six cylinder with headers and dual exhaust, a huge luggage rack mounted on the roof, towing a 12' U'hall...
( Yet A Whole nothah story ) !

[trfour]

After arriving in California, Mom and Dad helped out at Aunt Joan and Uncle Chick's restaurant on Santa Catalina Island, for awhile. Here they are.

Photo's by Life Magazine. in 1952.

PS, And Mother would eventually open her own restaurant in downtown LA., called ' Mom's Kitchen ' and most of the Cheft's, Waitresses and dishwashers that worked at the fancy hotel restaurants in the area would sneak over to Mom's and get into the Literal line's of folk's at any given meal time for her wonderful food and recipe's.
No child labor laws, and I washed all O the dishes, aftah school, at 8 years Hold.

Pic#2. In background, see the Lucky Strike, Yes, back in the 50s smoking was considered normal. Lucky Strike was a valued advertiser in Life Magazine... I also remember that cigarettes were ten cents per pack at the PX, when I served in the Signal Corps in the mid 60s.
For all of those that may read this, ( Do Not Start Smoking )!!!!
A quote from an old friend of ours;
"Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times. ~ Mark Twain".

[trfour]

I'm nothing of a gear-head. I am a bit of a history buff. You have managed UP YOUR GAME!.

You couldah fooled me with that Handel!! :)

[trfour]

Sister's Linda and Doña met a pooch, on there way to the store.

[trfour]

S'more Dad got the Trucking Terminal in Santa Maria running smoothly so show-nuf got transferred back down to the LA. area and we bought a house [without wheels] where we had our first Christmas without Brother Fred, as he served in the Marines.
Pic#1. Magic Carpet delivered for unpacking, by semi tractor. Orange, CAL.
Pic#2. Missing Brother Fred, pictured on mantle from barracks. Sister Doña.
Pic#3. Santa, caught on camera.

The neighbors lawnmower was on the fritz.

[trfour]

At The Magic Carpet PrimaCare Clinic, Dr. Mom administering cough medication.

The ironing board setup was also used for surgery.
Only kidding!

[trfour]

I don't miss the LA smog...

[trfour]

More signatures for Uncle George's painting.

[trfour]

Tabernacle was Awesome too. Lot's of history and things to enjoy!

[trfour]

The Paparazzi were around.
However, I could even imagine the interest in so huge a space, although not quite a space ship... Even before The Magic Carpet had her name painted upon, I talked some local paparazzi into letting me borrow their camera so's I could take a picture of them peeping around trying to get a better look see!

Here's what I got...

Pic # 1. Jeepers Peepers

[trfour]

NO ordinary Adventure, for sure.
Took our Dad's attention with and including having to be aware of Mother Nature, through and over the trek that we traveled in our 4,376 mile 34 day adventure.
From a tornado to a raging sandstorm along our way, Dad new how to keep us all together as a team!

Pic # 1. Dad's Preparation Was Key!
An interesting side note; A wonderful friend of our family at the time, in the checked jacket, ( Jack Lewis, [center], who skated with the late Sonja Henie

[trfour]

Amazing Grace, and soooo very Blessed to be a part of such Spirituality, also eternally Grateful am I. +

[trfour]

Pic#1. Lucy thought she had it tough in the movie The Long Long Trailer.

Pic#2. 'The Real Wonder Woman'. 'Mom, and The Real Long Long Trailer'.

[trfour]

I think that Brother Fred was the only inductee to ever be picked up at his home by the Marines.
They found out that Life Magazine was taking pictures of us, and jumped right on it to get in on the action, sent a Sergent and a 3/4 ton to pick him up, for some PR.

Pic#2. Sister Doña saying to da Sergent, 'Do Ya Wannah Dance'. :)

Photos by Life Magazine 1952 in Santa Maria California.

[trfour]

Ever since I joined PhotoPost, back in 2002, I caught this BUG, that would Nevah let me tell any story, without PICTURES. So I really had to advance my game, trade in my WebTV for the real Mac ' coy, get a desktop, and learn how to use it, so I'm still trying, you know, speed kills. :)

My apologies Y'all, for taking Soooo Long, S'more on the way.

[trfour]

Heart rending moments for sure and also as you may imagine with a troop as large as ours, there was sort of a void in familiarity and especially among the youngest in our group!..
Again, most children get to learn their own back yards with a few bumps and bruises. Think about spreading that back yard out over 4000 + miles, and it will bring to light just how very blessed we were!!

Poor youngest brother Brynn in a freak accident, lost his balance from the second ladder rung from the floor, and just landed wrong on his left leg and broke it.
Due to an elaborate cast, that separated his left from right legs, he was able to heal up pretty quickly, and with his Doctors permission, of course.

Pic#1. Doña consoling Brynn.

Pic#2. Off to Santa Maria.

[trfour]

In No Rush, to leave or get to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, in South Dakota.

[trfour]

To The Greatest Lake Winnipesaukee.

WAY back when and before Dad got drafted, Dad and a longtime Friend of our Family, Paul Johnson, worked together on a project for the Laconia Airport.
Paul was both a military early on, and a Commercial pilot, pictured below with us siblings.

[trfour]

Most folks could not fathom the shear size of the Magic Carpet, let alonne the Buick as the tow vehicle, and curiosity would bring them to our door for a look see and info about. And of course we were very accommodating.

[trfour]

Pic#1. Dad and Sister Doña on the Hudson, New York.

Pic#2. Dad and Brother Bob working at Smith Transportation, LA

[trfour]

In Life Magazine, that is.

I know nothing about writing magazine stories, to sell magazines, however I did take exception to one of the writings that Life put in our story. " lost their house in Stoneham MA. due to back taxes ". The truth was that before we left, our house was up for sale, and we had to go west. Mom and Dad decided to give Power of Attorney to , and what both thought was a friend of Dad's, Lawyer, to sell the house.
So we left and were out in California and found out that as soon as we left, said lawyer jacked the price of the house Up so high that No one would buy it, and the bank foreclosed on it.
This meant, that both Mom and Dad immediately had to WORK. So we All pitched in, and I even had two part time jobs, after school, washing dishes and delivering a huge News paper route for the Santa Barbara News Press, and for Mom washing dishes at the Grayhound Bus Terminal Restaurant, and then when she was hired at the Reporter Restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara as Head Chef.
Then, back in LA when Mom opened 'Mom's Kitchen', Sister's Linda and Dianne worked as Waitresses and I washed the dishes there too after school. Dad kept getting transferred so we dug in where ever we landed.

[trfour]

And, a few O these here,

Over Length Permit Up Close, ovah! :)

[trfour]

Getting breakfast ready Utah. :)

[trfour]

Nannie getting a look see of the Magic Carpet.

[trfour]

At Columbia Yacht Club.



With Love, and PLEASE remember that 'WINNIPESAUKEE .COM' " ROCKS "!!

[trfour]

Forgot to mention the part about Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada's was a trip in itself, at 7'085 feet above sea level, and the lowest point of traversing them huge mountains, Donner Pass! Thank God the snow Gods were resting!

The Black 'HILLS'
Now, I can see the Blue Hills being called the Blue Hills back in MA. ,

However, South Dakota's Harney Peak is some 7,244 feet tall, looking at it from Revere Beach in Boston. :)

And NO, I'm No relation to Sarah P.

[trfour]

Over several years while living in Andover and Stoneham, we belonged to the First Baptist Church in North Andover MA., and after Church Service, Mom would teach a Bible Study, and or work with the Church Quire Group, us siblings would attend Sunday School, and Dad would go home and prepare and cook Sunday dinner for us.
Pic#1. Mom saying goodbye.

[trfour]

Cacti Tough, and nevah saw any until this journey, Up close.


Pic#1. The Mojave, Gett'in Close Up.

[trfour]

'GITTY-UP-GO DAY', to the Wisconsin Dells.


Pic#1. Breakfast, in bed, Sister Doña OATMEAL!!

[trfour]

Finishing up the dishes, Sister's Linda, and Dianne taking a TV break in Mom's Kitchen. :)

[trfour]

Us Siblings all had chores to do and the learning expieance has continued to help us all to this very day.

Although, none of the Life photogs ever caught me on camera. I mustah been too quick. :)

Oh and, Y'all can't imagine just how complicated the California Bop is and I was running outah time, so that's why I would practice every time Rascal Flats got a flat...

[trfour]

Although Rascal Flats persistence in slowing our get-along, we were Blessed with roadside assistants that would have us up and running again in no-time!

[The Real BigGuy]

Tryout, thank you. You’ve inspired me to start putting together a life history so my kids will know something about their extended family.


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[The Real BigGuy]

trifour, not tryout. I really need to start proofing my posts (have I said I hate spell correct on my phone!!!)


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[trfour]

You’ve inspired me to start putting together a life history so my kids will know something about their extended family.



One of the most rewarding things that I've learned in life is, 'You Can't keep It, If You Don't Give It'.
Keeping things honest, doing the next right thing, and then seeing all of the inspiration and achievements that your own sibling,'s, Grand children enjoy is what true life is all about, on and on.
Thank you The Real BigGuy,
Terry

[trfour]

trifour, not tryout. I really need to start proofing my posts (have I said I hate spell correct on my phone!!!)


No ProblemO BigGuy, truth be told All of my spell checkahs over the years have banned me...

[trfour]

Arriving at Gettysburg Military Park, both Buicks.

[trfour]

The Mojave Desert receives less than 2 inches (51 mm) of rain a year and is generally between 2,000 and 5,000 feet (610 and 1,520 m) in elevation. The Mojave Desert also contains the Mojave National Preserve, as well as the lowest and hottest place in North America: Death Valley at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level, where the temperature often surpasses 120 °F (49 °C) from late June to early August. Zion National Park in Utah lies at the junction of the Mojave, the Great Basin Desert, and the Colorado Plateau. Despite its aridity, the Mojave (and particularly the Antelope Valley in its southwest) has long been a center of alfalfa production, fed by irrigation coming from groundwater and from the California Aqueduct.
The Mojave is a desert of temperature extremes and two distinct seasons. Winter months bring comfortable daytime temperatures, which occasionally drop to around 25 °F (−4 °C) on valley floors, and below 0 °F (−18 °C) at the highest elevations. Storms moving from the Pacific Northwest can bring rain and in some places even snow. More often, the rain shadow created by the Sierra Nevada as well as mountain ranges within the desert such as the Spring Mountains, bring only clouds and wind. In longer periods between storm systems, winter temperatures in valleys can approach 80 °F (27 °C).
Spring weather continues to be influenced by Pacific storms, but rainfall is more widespread and occurs less often after April. By early June, it is rare for another Pacific storm to have a significant impact on the region's weather; and temperatures after the middle of May are normally above 90 °F (32 °C) and frequently above 100 °F (38 °C).
Summer weather is dominated by heat. Temperatures on valley floors can soar above 120 °F (49 °C) and above 130 °F (54 °C) at the lowest elevations. Low humidity, high temperatures, and low pressure, draw in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico creating thunderstorms across the desert southwest known as the North American monsoon.

[trfour]

Mom's Kitchen, Only open 7 days a week. 'Per Management'. :liplick:

[tis]

The cops were never far away, were they?!

[trfour]

The cops were never far away, were they?!

Only saw them while under way Tis. They all did a good job keeping the highways and roads safe though.

[tis]

No tickets? Just checking?

[trfour]

No tickets? Just checking?
I know how tough it can be for some of the younger folks to fathom an old 19 and 49 Buick's abilities to tow such a Large trailer ( The Magic Carpet ). Well trust me, that old Buick straight eight cylinder had the torque required to tow us very comfortably at the posted speed limits of the day and we were never pulled over for going under the road speed limits anywhere!
However, we were over length and pulled over many times for permit checks. (AND, Thank God We Took The Northern Route)!! :)
Dad hadn't picked up a permit for Illinois........ and don't you know that we were pulled over by Illinois's finest. He measured with his ruler, tape measure and found that we were 97 inches over length!
A justice of the peace was wakened and Mom & Dad were taken off to court.

"One dollar an inch"! was the penalty.
Dad said, "Well your honor, we don't have that kind of money so you will have to put us and our 9 children in jail."....

"Twenty dollars, and get out of here." was the judge's response.

So we payed the fine and traveled on to California.
Thank you Tis.
With Love,
Terry

[trfour]

Although we were always the Good Guys, and probably got that TV series ( Highway Patrol ), off the ground...
Now normally, my Dad would see a cruiser following us for awhile in account because they were taking notice about just how outnumbered they were. So, more likely than not, they would call in for backup, so that when they decided to pull us over it was more like a hornets nest with cruisers coming out of the wood'Work! Good thing that helicopters weren't more available back in them days, or it would have been even more costly to the local economy...
I think that I have already covered ( donut shops too ). :)

[tis]

So out of all those stops only one ticket? That's pretty good. And your Dad was pretty smart because obviously they didn't want 9 kids in jail! :laugh::laugh:

Did you say how long the whole trip was? And did you stay out west once you got there? I love your story.

[trfour]

So out of all those stops only one ticket? That's pretty good. And your Dad was pretty smart because obviously they didn't want 9 kids in jail! :laugh::laugh:

Did you say how long the whole trip was? And did you stay out west once you got there? I love your story.

Yes Tis, and I understand when folks use a me,, myself, or I cellphone to view these photos and story, it is very easy to miss bits and pieces.

A quote from post # 170. " Eventually we took the Southern Route and returned to New England, ( some 6 and some change years later ) in a 1947 Plymouth Woody station wagon 9 passenger six cylinder with headers and dual exhaust, a huge luggage rack mounted on the roof, towing a 12' U'hall...
( Yet A Whole nothah story ) ! "

With Love,
Terry

[tis]

I try to read every post but sometimes you miss. I thought you stayed out there at least for a while since you mentioned they got jobs. What an adventure!!

[joey2665]

Wow so you staying on the west coast for 6+ years and then came back in The Plymouth?

What happened to the “Magic Carpet”?

Sorry if these are repeat questions, there are a lot of posts I probably missed the answers to these.




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[trfour]

I try to read every post but sometimes you miss. I thought you stayed out there at least for a while since you mentioned they got jobs. What an adventure!!

Incredible memories they are Tis, although I do have to go back and update some O them. I guess mah brain shrink'Age is very definitely on the Loose!
So, you'll have to go back and check each post.

Thank you Tis, With Love,
Terry

[tis]

Oh you are asking a lot! You did a LOT of posting!!!

[trfour]

Wow so you staying on the west coast for 6+ years and then came back in The Plymouth?

What happened to the “Magic Carpet”?

Sorry if these are repeat questions, there are a lot of posts I probably missed the answers to these.

Hi Joey, when Dad got transferred back to LA, we sold The Magic Carpet.

Not all Peaches & Cream, I attended, from Kindergarten, 23 different Schools, up until the 9th grade in East Bridgewater MA. And yet a whole Nothah Story.

Thank you Joey, with love,
Terry

[trfour]

Oh you are asking a lot! You did a LOT of posting!!!
Oh, you can do it Sweetheart, trust me!! :) Just take you're time, maybe on a rainy day...
PS, Oh and, if you can, do so on a Desk and or Laptop, where everything comes into view...

With Love,Terry

[trfour]

Side Note, I mentioned back in post#31 how I became frustrated trying to post our Travel Story here on this Website in a different area, and having to give up.
So A friend of mine gave me a VH tape of the movie 'The Long Long Trailer, with Lucy and Dezi and my Grandson and I watched it together at the camp on Paugus Bay, and I never saw him Laugh so hard and much.
I did some research and found out about Clinton Twiss's book being the basis of the Movie.
Now, I always had that Gypsy Spirit because of my early experiences, and I bought a 28' Travelmate that the wife and I kept loaded and ready to Gitti-up-Go on weekends and up to Cape Breton Island where Mon and Dad enjoyed a vacation home during the summers, "Mom's Homeland", and then they would travel south and stop and visit with all O us Siblings scattered all ovah the country and on out to California to spend the winters with Sister's Linda and Sandra and Brother Bob whom remained there.
Now, to make a Loooog story short, I found an Off-Topic Forum out at Airstream Forums with a thread about The Long Long Trailer By Clinto Twiss, and started posting there about our journey West.
This was in 2009, and I started posting Post#16, and the thread went Global with some 43,000 views since. They even Garnered me with four Rivets. :):)
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f161/

With Love,
Terry

[joey2665]

Hi Joey, when Dad got transferred back to LA, we sold The Magic Carpet.

Not all Peaches & Cream, I attended, from Kindergarten, 23 different Schools, up until the 9th grade in East Bridgewater MA. And yet a whole Nothah Story.

Thank you Joey, with love,

Terry

Wow that is a lot of schools. Certainly could not have been easy on many levels. Education, friends, etc


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=92687)

[trfour]

Wow that is a lot of schools. Certainly could not have been easy on many levels. Education, friends, etc



Yes Joey, it was tough for me moving away from friends and Cousins and all that I had an internal battel with, however was very Blessed at the same time having been taught that no matter how tough the road. keep on a Truck'in.

Thank you Joey.
with love,
Terry

[trfour]

I can’t get enough of these pictures. Thank you again so much for sharing, your parents seem to be very special and talented people and how lucky you were that they took you on the awesome adventure. [emoji4]❤️

I've sent a link to some folks of this thread and would like to share an A Typical
response from one of our neighbors in East Bridgewater MA.

'An Email from: Ken
Mon 5/20/2019 9:37 AM
Thank You Terry these photos brought back memories. The Rugg family was so unique as photos help relate. Your parents were special for sure, your Mom was amazing. The photos are wonderful but you really had to be there.
My neighbors in Eastbridgewater in the early 60's was the Rugg family of 10 children and me #11 ( there a whole lot, my love of music, automobiles & facts of life were hatched next door), a very special family. Life magazine did a spread on the family's cross country adventure. Mrs Rugg also won Queen for a day. Mr Rugg was an inventor, Mrs. Rugg was an amazing Matriarch.
PS: Oh yes and a shared love of horses (in both yards) existed as well'......

[trfour]

Friends,

off.

Sister Dianne and me. :)

[trfour]

Front seat drivah,
Brother Brynn.

[trfour]

An Awesome Adventure in itself.

[trfour]

Back to LA., to a snowless Christmas in our house without wheels.

[trfour]

At slightly more interest, out at the thread 'The Long Long Trailer by Clinton Twiss', the views are now over 45,000 .


http://www.airforums.com/forums/f161/


With Love,
Terry

[trfour]

Mom's Kitchen. :liplick:

[trfour]

After the air over hydraulic dolly was mounted in the Magic Carpet's tow frame, the newly designed heavy duty tow hitch pictured here.

[trfour]

Fridge = 1/4 of kitchen.
Have Fridge, Will Travel. :)

[trfour]

Ironically I was the only sibling that continued with a home on wheels and the Wife, Daughter and I kept it loaded up for weekends swimming down on Cape Cod, or Vermont, Main, New Hampshire or the Big E out in Springfield Ma. Advantage, adventure and many fond memories.
Here we are on the Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island NS.




Pic#2. Near The Keltic Lodge.

[trfour]

And helping others along the way.

[trfour]

Photos by Life Magazine, 1952.

[trfour]

Both axles on The Magic Carpet were equipped with Bendix electric 6 lug drum brakes, with a control unit mounted on the left hand side of the steering column.


Dad wiring it in.

[trfour]

Brother's Mel and Brynn.

[trfour]

Always extra special traveling with Family.


Pic#1. Sister Doña

[trfour]

Getting ready for bed.




Broyher's Mel and Brynn.

[trfour]

Load-em up, Move-em out!

[trfour]

A little sleep time.

[webmaster]

Now that our Blogs are back online I noticed that you posted one about your trip exactly 10 years ago today...

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=55

[trfour]

Now that our Blogs are back online I noticed that you posted one about your trip exactly 10 years ago today...

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=55


Yes, and thank you again Don!
I did mention in post #37 here about having trouble in the format of the Blog section, ( getting duplicated posts when posting and not being able to correct them at the time with my very limited computer knowledge.


That was also when I was doing research on The Long Long Trailer by Clinton Twiss that I found the thread out on Airstream Off Topic Forum and stated posting there. They all enjoyed the story and pictures as well. :)


The Twiss's

[trfour]

Our first Christmas in LA in a house without wheels.

[trfour]

Sister's Sandy and Linda.

[trfour]

Putting some cloths away,
Sister's Linda and Dianne.

[trfour]

We took turns.

[trfour]

Magic Carpet inspection.

[tis]

Inspection? What for?