Keep the Show on the Road!

Rick, mga707, Thanks for the replies!! Your comments make the effort it takes to post worthwhile. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

A road trip is not always just about spectacular scenery, friendly people, and new menus. Sometimes it is about little unpleasantries. Sheila and I had spent a few days in the Sun Valley area of Idaho in the charming town of Hailey, which not incidentally has some great early auto travel history.....more about that in other posts. Leaving, we decided to head toward Spokane, via the magnificent Stanley Basin with its Sawtooth peaks sitting nearly on your lap. What we didn't fully consider was the effect of two gigantic fires, one directly on our path, the Sheep fire. I couldn't get up to date fire information from my normal sources (e.g. DOT), but there are sites devoted just to forest fires, which show pretty good maps. The Sheep fire had started along our route on US95 but by now had burned north and east so the fire lines were miles away from the road. Between Ketchem on State 75 and Smiley Creek the scenery was magnificent, The effects of the fires had not reached that far south. But by the time we reached the Stanley Basin the smoke had spread out on the high meadows, so the Sawtooth Mountains I know from my youth were fussy but not obscured. The riverside motel in Stanley where I had stayed in my 20's was being torn down and replaced with new motel (opps, “lodge” ) rooms, modeled on the old, but with innerspring mattresses, and without the rickety wood screen doors and prominent water heaters in each room. The old wooden bridge across the river was still there but the construction trucks scared me off. THE HEADWATERS OF THE SALMON THE FRANK CHURCHILL OVERLOOK SOME EARLY COLOR NORTH OF SUN VALLEY We picked up state 55 toward McCall, where we planned to spend the night. It was a little hazy but still nice. The next morning we headed north and picked up US 95 via Riggins. We were driving north along the now wide and deep Salmon River, and things started to get nasty. The problem was that fires make smoke and smoke is heavier than air. We were driving through the Salmon River canyon, and it served as an effective container for the smoke. Boating on the river was closed. Our eyes burned and oncoming cars came with their headlights on out of a midday bank of smoke. ALONG THE SALMON RIVER I ALONG THE SALMON RIVER II SALMON RIVER CANYON Fire crews were encamped in hundreds of tents and copters with their blades still turning were parked at Forest Service sites. The whole scene was almost other worldly....big ugly trucks, scary copters, and the bivouac of the marine commandos......opps this was a forest fire, not Hollywood! FIRE FIGHTERS CAMP AT STANLEY - HAZY SAWTOOTH FIRE FIGHTERS CAMP AT STANLEY (As late as yesterday, September 27, the Idaho Sheep fire we had passed by was only 41% contained, had burned 48,000 acres, and was being fought by 400 crew, 4 copters, and 16 engines.) The smoke from the fires blanketed western Idaho and eastern Washington, giving everything a soft outline, and producing some great sunsets. They were on the national news, and your faithful reporter was there.....more or less by accident. By the way, we never saw as much as a match flame. Keep the Show on the Road! Dave

Thanks all. I took a detour on Tuesday via emergency room, and have been out of action. Going home today . All is ok, but road travel sure tops hospitals! Dave Keep the show on the road!

Sheila and I just got back from a great road trip. I want to share several stories and experiences that might be of interest, but I will have to do it piecemeal. A quick recap....we spent three days on the Washington and Oregon coast, then traveled east following the route of the first ever transcontinental auto race (1905, NY to Portland). I have noted this race before. Denny may remember that I invited him to meet me in Idaho at the Craters of the Moon to follow in the old dirt tracks. Denny, I just couldn't wait any longer....I'm getting old. Then we drove into the Sawtooth mountains of Idaho, and braved forest fires that so filled the canyons with smoke, it was hard to see cars even with their headlights on. Then we drove though the golden hills of the Palouse country of southeast Washington along the pre 1927 Yellowstone Trail. I visited Washington State University where I did some of my graduate work. We revisited old haunts....gees how much changes in 40 years!! My favorite restaurant of all time (the Hilltop) had just disappeared and the foundations for a motel extension were being laid where I used to hoist a frosty one to my future hopes and good fortune.. I guess my good fortune lasted longer than the Hilltop!! We discovered an original Warrenite brass marker dated May 7, 1918 embedded in its original pavement in a small Palouse town. I went to city hall and told the folks that maybe they should not pave over that piece of history, to which they replied “Huh?” We then drove to Spokane. In Spokane we drove the original YT out of town and talked with the owner of a named Yellowstone Trail Garage who didn't know it's history. He was genuinely excited when I showed him original (Then) pictures, and took some (Now) shots for the forum. Then we hit the interstate for home and lost all the joy in road travel.....I recall nothing except rest stops and a cookie cutter burger.....sorry folks, that part of the trip is all a blur. I hope we get computer controlled cars for the interstates soon so I can just take a nap. More later!

I just noted that Alex Burr, that man all about Hudsons and road tripping has a birthday today!! We all wish Alex a great day and another 75 years......er..... well another 25 at least!! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Dale, Funny what people took on picnics & camping in the “old days.” Lots of canned milk, sardines, ….and beer. I'm sure I could find among my “stuff” a guide to camping food in the teens or twentys. I'll have to do that one of these days. Again, a great post! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Dale, Gees, I love these little roadside mysteries!! You didn't disturb the base of the post, and I respect that. I wonder if it had rusted off, or had cement clinging to it. If the post and bottle were discovered by an archeologist he/she would date it to the hand blown bottle....as I suppose you have. A really interesting find! The presence of those artifacts near the pole probably isn't random. It didn't look much like a former campsite, did it? I have told this story elsewhere here, but we were looking for the site of a deserted hotel/ post office on the old National Parks Highway a couple of years ago, and I found a piece of broken plate stamped “Hotel” on the bottom. But the great find was a 1916 license plate sticking out of the sand. It is those tiny glimpses into the past that make it worthwhile. You added to my day!! Dave

Dale, Nice stream of conscientiousness! Dave Keep the Show on the road!

Dale, Good to see you “on the road again!” Very interesting post, and sharp photos. Are you venturing any opinions on the sign post? I recall the Lincoln Highway Association convention in Ely a few years ago. We stopped at a post like that near Tippets (sp?) Ranch and the local experts described it as "original." How they knew is anyone's guess, but it would seem yours has an equal, if not better claim to "original." I was glad to get the update on the International's burgers. Thankfully, some things don't change! Looks like great weather for road tripping. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

I suppose the Ocean to Ocean station is at the intersection of Yates and King, probably the south east corner....based on a little Google research. There is quite a nice write up on the station on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/notes/newman-illinois-past-and-present/the-ocean-to-ocean-pikes-peak-highway-and-gas-station-in-newman-il/272805906086208 Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Sherry, I have looked carefully at the 1926 PPOO guide and a couple of other PPOO guides and did not find L or R usage. That definitely does not prove they weren't used. On a different matter, looking at the 1926 PPOO official guide I did not find that the PPOO went through Newman (it went via Champaign Urbana), but to my relief ( I didn't want to convey bad news) the 1923 Rand McNally map shows it going through Newman. I haven't looked farther back in time, but I'll venture a guess that sometime between 1923 and 1926 advertising prospects were better on the route via Champaign Urbana, or perhaps by that time that (longer) route had improved. If you do buy the Ocean to Ocean station, you will have some fun research to do. If I can help, let me know. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Sherry, I have a couple of original PPOO publications. I'll dig them out and see if they have any useful examples to answer your question. Check back. And I second Denny's welcome! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Yah, lots of artifacts from the earlier days were still around in the 70's. We used to enjoy ghost towning. In those days, at least in Oregon, you could fairly easily find abandoned mining towns and farm communities with houses that still had furniture, and even the old dishes still on the shelves. Then folks decided that the weathered siding would look great in the family room, and the old stove and kitchen ware would be great souvenirs....or worse yet, it would be fun to break all of them. I am a long time fan of all the old roads like 66, but I like the National Parks Highway the most. Very few even know it exists. So it is the 1970's again....almost. If you still have your dirt bike, you can take abandoned segments of the NPH past abandoned 1930's automobiles and old roadside signs. You can peer into abandoned hotels, find old garage and hotel signs, and even old road maps still displayed in abandoned service stations. What you won't find is a single example of a business catering to NPH travelers....no fame or celebrity whatsoever. That has it's advantage and disadvantages. The advantage is you can be the first person to discover a roadside artifact. The disadvantage is no one but you gives a damn! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Thanks for the interesting video. It was quite useful. I grew up in So. Cal. and I recall Dad telling stories about how he and my uncle used to race the steam trains down the pass. This was in the 30's so I suppose he was on old 66. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Sounds like a great trip! Following the 1914 toll road sounds especially interesting. I'll now have to do little research on that. Thanks for the info! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

I sort of wondered how you hit so many neat places. It not only captured the spots, but it gave me a "feel" for the area. Looking forward to the next installment. Dave Keep the Show on the Road

Chris, Good to see you on the forum! It has been a while. I liked all the photos, but the one of Ambler's Texaco was my favorite. It looked like the real thing, with one minor exception. The lube bay doors were evenly open......no way! You "threw" those doors open in the morning, and they seldom stopped at the same height. My "old timer" comment aside, it looks as though you captured every 66 icon in Illinois....and then some. I enjoyed taking the ride with you and Katherine. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

It is Foster Braun's birthday today!! Let's wish our pod caster and traveling photomaster a great day! FOSTER, HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Jim, I clicked on the link and after reading that entry, I went to your entry on the “pinnacle of my career.” Everyone ought to read it. But you got it wrong. That was just the pinnacle up to then. I'm betting you will have more. Dave Keep the Show on the Road

Denny I have been following your latest adventure, as I usually do, and as usual it does a great job of presenting story and image. The shots of the interior of the Hotel Gadsden are especially interesting. Sheila and I were there a few years ago, and it hasn't changed. For me it is one of the best examples of what a hotel was like 80 years ago. Did you happen to note the old elevator? You don't say anything about your room, or the coffee shop.........but what a lobby! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Steve,, Glad things are better and hope they continue to improve. My road trips have been curtailed by family responsibilities, so I am depending on the rest of the gang to continue to post good stuff. I appreciate that you share your extensive knowledge, which I hope you will continue to do, even if it doesn’t involve a recent road trip. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Our fellow forum stalwart, and distinguished Road Guru is celebrating his Birthday. Let's all wish him a happy one, and many more!! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Steve, Good to see you back. You have been missed! How are you doing? Dave Keep the show on the Road!

Wes, It was fun to return to this thread, and impressive that David Cole came to your aid. I consider him to be the premier collector and authority on vintage maps, guides, and rare related early travel ephemera in America. He would put my "aggregation" to shame. I'm pleased he stepped in. NICE WORK!! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Sounds like a classic road trip!! Too many people focus just on the destination and don't enjoy the trip. Too bad....they miss what you enjoyed. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!