Alex Burr - hester_nec

Speaking of festivals: Anybody that might be headed for TN sometime next spring I might be trying to organize a chapter of TRACK - stand for The Rusty Antique Car Klub. Down Maine we had a feastival every spring at the heighth of mosquito/black fly season. Had a lot of interesting comptetions - like the engine pull. We lined up a dozen or so 50's Ford 1-½ ton trucks and the idea was for the contestant to disconnect the engines, pull them out of the trucks and the first one to get their engine over the finish line was the winner. By the way, this was for the gals!! Last year Martinique DeChambres was the winner - Marty's a hefty chunck of a gal, goes right 'round 320 - but she can totem them engine blocks. Another contest we have is the beauty contest - and I'll tell you, chummy, some of them gals are beauties in the skimpy bikini's they have to wear. Idea is all the gals line up on one of the flat bed Fords, under the lights, and the last one that swats a 'skeeter or black fly, is the winner. We have contests for the guys too - like the wife carryin'. Boys have to take the wife on their backs, carry 'em across a mud hole without fallin' down and make a 150 yard dash to the finish line. "Skinney" Jack Emory won last year - but there were allegations of cheating. Skinny's wife's a lightweight - She only weighs about 245, 250. Anyway we'll see what develops over time. Y'all have a great day, now hear. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Not really. It's so hot down here at the moment the cat won't sit in the window for fear of getting a sunburn. LOL Supposed to cool off next week - into the 90's. Safe traveling. Hudsonly, Alex B

In the meantime, down in Memphis, hester_nec is now, officially, a Tennessee Volunteer. He has a TN drivers license, car registration and is registered to vote. He's been out looking for Elvis - seems like every Elvis fan in the world is in Memphis for a week of commerating his death. Seems, tho, he's been sighted at Graceland, Beale Street, out on old 61, the Memphis Zoo and a few other places - all at the same time. There is a connection between old highways and Elvis, you know. His last home, Graceland, is on 51, and he was born in Tupelo, which is on old 78. Back in the 50's, traveling between Memphis and Nashville, he would have most likely used U S 70. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN (and lovin' it)

That excuse, plus claims of old age, works for me. LOL Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I hadn't had as much "virtual" fun since KC and I had a virtual Christmas party a few years back. We sent each other gifts, and then, with digital cameras took pictures of ourselves opening the presents and sending them to each other on the IM page. It as a hoot. Thanks, Denny, for the best idea you've had in years - and thanks the American Road gang for giving us a place to get together and get to know each other. Hudsonly, Alex Burr aka Aunt Hester

There you go - Like me. People tell me I know a lot about Hudsons; I tell them I don't know from nothing - but I do know where to look it up!!!!! LOL Same thing with the recent exchange with Anna about the Lincoln Highway routing thru Utah - where did it go. Well, a 1941 AAA tour book and a 1948 road atlas got most of the answers. Now, about that query from a fellow Hudson member on what country Jerusalem was in in 1926.........Oh, yeah, a 1937 Encyclopedia I got on my shelf says Palestine. LOL Hudsonly, Alex Burr

Thank you - and that's Memphians, by the way. Hudsonly, Alex B

9 Thursday nite - what time zone we talking here, please. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

How about we all gather in the American Road garage, kick a few tires, swap a few lies (like how big that moose we almost ran over) and talk about 2-lane highways. Sounds good to me. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Great road trip Tracy. We all love to hear from people who have made a trip and write them up. Denny Gibson got me so wrapped up in this that I made up a web site just for my trips, few as they have been. My daughter KC and I just finished one (I saw your comment on my Memphis Road Trip - so assume you also found my yankeetraveller web site) to Halls TN, up 51. I've driven most of 51 between Decatur, IL (where I have friends) to Winona, MS (where KC was born). The last time KC and I were over 51 from Memphis to Winona, back about 3, 4 years ago, I was disappointed to see them widening it to 4-lane. Disappointed because just to the east is I-55. What a waste of money - no wonder the bridges are falling down. Again, thanks for the great report. Y'all have a good one, and safe traveling. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

As I am one who cannot stop tinkering with anything - I added a strip map, Memphis-Dyersburg, out of a 1939 AAA Southwestern Tour Book at the beginning of the trip report. Hudsonly, Alex Burr

Pat, A forum, egroup, etc, is only as good as the people who run it. I know that down the road somewhere the people who run this operation will move on to other things and endevors - and, oh, how I wish it would never happen. But it will - nothing is forever. Hopefully it will not change to much. So for now we give thanks for the great folks at American Road for giving us this great venue - we may not say it often, but your work and effort are greatly appreciated (Yes I belong to that certain Route 66 group - but probably won't be for long). Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis Road Traveler

Interesting diary - loved reading it. As the diary (journal) says, Germantown was 15 miles from Memphis - in the 1860's. Today it is part of Memphis, more or less, as the city has grown out to it. From my house I'm about 20 miles for Germantown. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Well, Jim, thank you for the kudos - I know my web site isn't real fancy. I'm not all that good with the idea. But we keep trying. Every so often one catches just the "right" angle for a photo and it comes out better than expected. Personally, I like the one of my daughter standing by the door of the general store - in "period" costume, say 1920's or early 1930's dress it would be perfect. More trips to come. And, by the way, if you find yourself headed for Memphis, give us a shout. I guarantee you will not have to spend money on a motel. I got a spare bedroom down here - and that goes for any of you road trip junkies. We'll worry about the menu later. LOL Hudsonly, Alex Burr

By the way, that should be "hester_nec", not "hector_nec" - and before you ask. Back in the 70's I wrote up a lot of New England Hudson Chapter meets. I decided I needed a pen name for those write-ups. So I came up with Aunt Hester (translation - 'H' - Hudson; 'ES' - Essex; 'TER' - Terraplane -- for Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club. Oh, the nec? That's easy - New England Chapter. Of course I didn't use the by-line "Aunt Hester - NEC", simply Aunt Hester. I guess I did a good job thinking up the character. About 49% of the club members thought is was made up; 49% swore there was an Aunt Hester, and a few even claimed they had met her; the other 2% didn't have a clue. LOL Hudsonly, Alex Burr

31 July 2007 - Memphis to Halls A nice day for a road trip, so my daughter, KC, and I decided that we would drive north about 60 miles to visit the Veterans Museum in Halls, TN. And we would also make a road trip out of it by driving about half the way on Old U. S. 51. And so starts another Memphis road trip. To read about the trip, please go to: http://www.freewebs.com/yankeetraveller/index.htm We had a great time and look forward to our next trip. Safe Travels Hudsonly, Alex Burr

I started on computers in 1992 or 1993 when I worked at the Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, NH. Web site - what's a web site??? Even better, at the time, was "Computer!!! What's a computer???" Somehow the thing wound up on MY desk and I suddenly became the office "expert" (definition: I figured out how to turn it on!!") on the thing. Now I got a few more web sites than I should have. I was using MSN groups, but recently started moving everything over to a web site at www.freewebs.com. You can use a free site - or pay a small fee for more options. I havn't gone that route yet - but may in the future once my finances stabalize. Hudsonly, Alex Burr"

Maybe, but you should have seen the rest of the state. LOL And actually, Maine cannot claim the distinction. It didn't become a separate state until 1820, when it split from Massachusetts. True Down East Mainers like to say "Maine split from Massachusetts, becoming a state of it's own in 1820 - and Massachusetts has been trying to get it back every since - one house lot at a time!!" hehehehe Hudsonly, Alex Burr (Former "Mainiac")

Great road trip report - I got to get out and about around the Memphis area. Daughter, KC, and I have a trip planned for this coming Tuesday. Short one - going north on U S 51, turning off on old 51 in Henning (now TN SR 209) and heading north on that alignment to the little town of Halls. Halls main claim to fame is that it was home to Arnold Army Air Force Base during WWII, a B-17 training base - from here the crews went overseas. Most histories of the base locate it in Dyersburg - the next town up. Reason: Simple - everybody knew where Dyersburg was; nobody knew where Halls was. And, no, Dyersburg Municipal Airport is NOT Arnold Field. That's 6-1/2 miles (as the B-17 flies) south of DMA. Today there is a museum dedicated to (mainly) WWII, but with artifacts and exhibits from WWI thru the Korean War, maybe even Nam. I'll let you know. Hudsonly, Alex Burr

Down Maine there's towns around that have only one gas station, if that. In many small towns the gas pump is outside the general store. Go inside and you'll find a bunch of the boys sitting around the old pot bellied stove, in season - which is usually October to May - swapping lies and discussing the state of the nation. Along the coast you'll find most of these old timers were fisherman; inland maybe farmers or loggers. Whatever the occupation these old boys have seen a lifetime and have a philosophy about life that we'll never see the likes of again. "Old Ed died last night." "Is that right." "Going to his funeral?" "Why?? He ain't comin' ta mine, now, chummy!" If there is a gas staton in town, you'll probably find a small building with one gas pump outside. Just like Mr. Ford and his "any color Model T you want, as long as it's black", we sell "any grade of gas you need", as long as it's regular!! Now, my friend, if you need repairs, yep, young Tommy over here (all of 15) can fix most anything - might have to send down to Portland (or maybe over to Bangor, depending on where you're at) to get the parts. Gonna take a day or two - the Greyhound bus only comes thru every other day, and she came thru this mawnin'. (Downeasters talk a little funny). But, sir, you can stay over to Miss Molly's boarding house - nice clean rooms for $1 a night, and for 25 cents a day extra she'll stuff breakfast and supper into you. Puts out a spread you'll just want to tuck right into. Life was slower and much simpler back in the 30's. Trouble was Maine, at that time, didn't have to many good, improved roads. But, with a little effort, 'tween the end of May and the first snow fall, you could get there from here. Just don't try it in January - 'cause there ain't no road plows. Why, I 'member one of them trucking companies down Portland way, think it was Mr. Merrill, putting out a call one January day for men to come shovel the road out between Bangor and Houlton, so his trucks could get thru. Money was real scarce in rural Maine in the 1930's. They say men came from 25 and 30 miles just to shovel the road out for $1.25 an hour - brought some of their boys with 'em - well, chummy, I'll tell you - if that lad can keep up with the men, we'll pay him $1.50 too. Hey, Eben, toss another chunk o' wood in that there stove and I'll tell you about the time I run my Model A into Widow Thompsons chicken coop. Hudsonly, Alex Burr

Thank you Becky - it was just a spur of the moment thing that I just tossed out to see what would come up!! Maybe somebody else will supply you with another trivia question. Congratulations to citybo1986 - American Road has some wonderful prizes. (I ought to know - at one time I think I cleaned up most of them!!!!!! LOL) Hudsonly, Alex Burr

Great write-up. Tho I am an 'easterner' I know about those wide open spaces in the west. In 2001 I drove out to Miles City, MT, to link up with a buddy of mine for a trip to Seattle. I remember coming thru Baker, MT, and seeing a sign that said "Last gas for 89 miles" - it was not a come-on. I didn't find another gas station until I was nearly into Miles City. In 2002 my daughter and I took a trip from Memphis to South Dakota. She's the type that lets her gas gauge reach nearly empty. I told her, when we got out into South Dakota, when the gauge hit 1/2, she'd better fill it up at the first gas station we found - because if she didn't SHE was going to be the one walking for gas!!! LOL And something else we saw on that trip you don't see often in the east; we left Valentine, NE, at around 5am. Pitch black on old U S 83 as we headed south for North Platte - all of a sudden we see these little pin points of light up ahead. I'm yelling STOP STOP STOP - and she's slowing down. There were 8 or 10 cows trucking north in the south bound lane!!!! Safe Traveling - looking fwd to more of your reports. Hudsonly, Alex Burr

And another icon falls to the Great God of Corporate indifferenece - do we really need a Rite Aide or Wal Grens, or Wal Mart on EVERY corner. Thank God I grew up in an era when a road trip meant finding something different around every corner, when people sat on their front porches and waved as you went by, when "good service" most everywhere you went was the rule, rather than the exception. God, I miss those carefree days. Sure, we didn't have TV, we didn't have Mickey D's, we didn't have Ipods and computers (well, I guess I'll have to accept the computer - it has made me so many new friends, many of whom I've never met and a few that it was a pleasure to meet (like Denny), but we also weren't living life at 120 mph going nowhere either. I'm glad I turned the radio off in 1965 - it's all gone to hell in a handbasket since then. Such is life. Hudsonly, Alex Burr

Great show, Kip. I am so enjoying these 66 road trip stories that keep coming up seemingly everywhere. Slowly, but very slowly, I'm beginning to remember some of the things we saw on our trip on 66 from Illinois to California - in 1953!!!! Yeah, I'm nearly 70, that was over 50 years ago, and things change so much it's hard to remember things. Hudsonly, Alex Burr

CONGRATULATIONS to cityboy1986 - the two routes were 9 and 10. Now, can somebody else come up with another trivia question?? Hudsonly, Alex Burr

The other one is still using the ferry - so far your in the right area for one of them, but it wasn't that ferry. Hudsonly, Alex Burr U S 80 is NOT one of them. If nobody figures it out by tomorrow I'll let everybody know. Hudsonly, Alex B