Alex Burr - hester_nec
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Posts posted by Alex Burr - hester_nec
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Got to have a Hudson in there somewhere - maybe the Joads, from "The Grapes of Wrath".
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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There's a very good article about Route 66 in Arizona by David Lamb in the February 2012 issue of Smithsonian Magazine.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Sounds like everybody is going thru Russellville!!!!!!!! I went thru there back in October on my way to West Virginia to visit with my sister.
I took 70/79 out of Memphis and stayed on 79 to Russellville. I've now covered 79 between both terminals - Russellville to Austin, TX. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of roadside attractions - between West Memphis and Austin there really isn't much of anything to photograph. I've got to run 79 between Memphis and Russellville as there are several photo ops - but I didn't take my camera on my visit to my sisters.
Since everybody has found it looks like that might be a place for a spring get-together!!! LOL
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Tho Christmas is a day behind us here's wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a New Year filled with Peace, Happiness and Joy.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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She looks a bit lonesome out there in the (apparently) middle of nowhere!!! I suppose it won't be to bad once the trees in back grow out.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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The upside of these bridges is that the area's around them probably haven't changed all that much in 70 or 80 years. Bridges, if you look at them in a positive manner, are fascinating.
Thanks for sharing
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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An up date on Charley's book - he's dropped the price to $19.
He says a couple of people have expressed interest - thank's everybody.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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I have been a member of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane (car) Club for a bit over 40 years. During that time I have made many friends and each year, if I can afford it, I make our club's national meets.
Among my many friends is Charles B. Woodruff. Charley is retired Army and currently works as a librarian in Seoul, Korea - he married a Korean girl years ago. He has made just about every national meet in the past 25 years or so - and has driven to nearly all of them in a 1951 Hudson Super Six from Binghamton, NY.
In 2010 our club's national meet was held in Spokane, WA. Charley, of course, drove his '51 on a road trip that makes most of the trips chronicled on American Road forums look like a trip to the local grocery store. The title itself tells the story - "The Long Ride - 23 States in 22 Days in a 1951 Hudson". As Charley says on the front cover "...to be young once again, running free on the open road in the West just one more time!"
I highly recommend this 191 page soft cover book for any roadies book shelf. His ad in our club magazine says it all ---- "The Long Ride: 23 States in 22 Days in a 1951 Hudson" chronicles adventures on the road to and from the Spokane National Meet in 2010 as I complete my goal of driving the Hudson in every one of the lower 48 States. Includes thoughts on growing older, changing times, and much more.
The book is $24 (well worth the price) postpaid - order from:
Charles B. Woodruff
DoDDS-K, Unit 14459
Box 141
APO AP 96205
For more info, if needed, contact Charley at cbwoodruff@hotmail.com
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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I've done a number of local drives here in the Memphis area digging out old alignments of U S 51 and U S 61. Trouble is there isn't a whole lot of things to provide pictures - unless you like shots of corn and cotton fields!!!!
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Seeing as your going to be in the area visit world famous Wall - just be aware it's one big tourist trap (you can hear the trap snap shut as you drive into town!!!
You can get far more than a glass of water - but your wallet's gonna be a lot lighter when you leave!! But, if you approach it from that point of view it's interesting to visit.In 2002 my daughter and I on a father/daughter trip drove thru the Badlands from the eastern end - and as I recall we wound up in Wall just following the road thru the park.
From what I could see of the Badlands a crow would starve to death trying to fly over it - it's the wildest looking place I've ever seen.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Given the announcement of the stops I would say this trip began in eastern Pennsylvania and ended in Pittsburg - I've been over the Pennsy numerous times over the years. I got a kick out of the fans on the steering column and one pointed toward the right side windshield. For you "you'uns" that was the defroster system back in those days.
Bus trips were pretty good back then - and not to shabby today. Last one I made was back in Dec 2007 from Memphis to Jackson, MS. Interesting - especially when you find talkative passengers to share the miles with.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Right again. The 1917 wireless "telephone" was a radio transmitter and receiver.
And to also digress, I won't need to see a World War II movie
. I recall real Army surplus stores after the war (that's WWII for the youngins). You could buy aircraft gauges and altimeters, ammunition boxes, tents, field glasses, life preservers, bayonets, folding shovels, K rations, canteens, batteries, clothing, and just about anything else used by the military, including walkie talkies. Of course they were gigantic by today's standards. Everything was dirt cheap and it was a candy store for a kid. Of course it couldn't last. Eventually they ran out of the real thing and started to manufacture cheap imitations for sale as "Army surplus."
Dave
Keep the Show on the Road!
Yeah, those WWII Surplus stores outfitted a lot of Boy Scout troops!!! I remember one in Portland, Maine, that also sold surplus trucks and jeeps - and if you wanted a tank, the guy probably could get one for you.
Alex B
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One of the Hudson car club members posted the following about a family whose been on an extended road trip in a 1928 Graham-Paige Model 610.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42381709/ns/today-todaytravel/?gt1=43001
I love this line from the write up - " They must stay away from highways because the car can't go faster than 40 miles per hour."
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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I looked in a couple of period touring publications, but, alas, no Beacon Motel in Brazil.
A small suggestion: It was common practice for motels in the days past to print post cards and leave them in your room (in that drawer with the Gideon Bible and phone book) or to give then out free at the registration counter. You might scout Ebay or some of the big post card dealers for a Beacon Motel post card. A little bit of a long shot, but perhaps it will turn up a real memory booster.
Another small suggestion. Local libraries often have old city directories or telephone books that would help locate an address and maybe even an ad.
Most of my stuff is packed away due to some house remodeling, so I can't do a thorough search, but another suggestion would be to look in a period AAA Tour Book, especially, if your folks were members and used the recommended motels. Good luck!
Dave
Keep the Show on the Road!
I just checked a 1941 AAA Tour Book I have on the shelf - no Beacon Motel listed in Brazil, IN. Nor the April 1938 edition.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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I'm planning a road trip either on the way to Oklahoma City in July for our annual Hudson car club National meet. Or on the way back. Planning on driving at least from Oklahoma City to Fort Smith, AR, on U S 62, U S 266 and U S 64. I've already driven 64 from Alma to Conway, AR - might follow it back from Conway to Left Memphis, but we shall see.
It might be time to take this route again - the last time was in 1956!!!!! By bus. I had just spent 4 months at a Navy prep school in Norman, OK, and a bunch of us were transferred to the Naval Air Station Training Department in Millington, TN, for further instruction on various specialties - thus the bus. I'm not really sure exactly which roads we took, but I do know 64 between Webers Falls, OK and somewhere around Little Rock - because that was pretty much the only way you could go back then. Between Norman and Webers Falls I have no idea, but it was probably north to OKC and then 62 east to pick-up 64 somewhere in eastern OK.
It'll be a nice drive anyway, even tho, like my several trips across U S 40 in Ohio after 50 years I know it will be all new to me. Memory fades and the changes are radical.
Anyway, safe driving to all. Enjoy the coming summer.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Hmmm, hadnt thought about that. With the kind of traveling I'm thinking about doing, that might be better anyway. How wide are school busses, generally speaking? I'm trying to get a rough idea of what I can do inside. Can anyone say "Partridge Family?"
Here's a site on someones conversion:
http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-main.shtml
or if that scares you to death, try your local school board - they may have a bus or two they're thinking of flogging off into the sunset.
A school bus is anywhere between 9.5 and 11 ft tall. Generally 8 ft wide. The length varies between 12ft and 40 ft, depending on what type of bus it is. The "regulation" is 40 ft, and that is a 72 passenger bus!
Amazing what Google turns up!!!
Hudsonly,
Alex B
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Just a thought - how about converting an old school bus into an RV.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Re cell phones. I have a Jitterbug cell phone. It don't take pictures, it don't communicate with Mars and it don't cook breakfast in the morning!!! What it does, ta da, is allow me to call AAA when the car decides today is the day to quit. It simply makes phone calls.
For $31 and change I get a 100 minutes a month with roll over to 300 - I've probably lost some minutes because I really don't use it that often. It is, however, great for what I want. I do pay extra, $3 a month, for voice mail and I did take the option for handset replacement in case I drop it in the swimming pool. I have a simply 19-monthly program that costs me $19.99 a month, so with the options its $27 a month - surcharges and other charges boot it up to $31.88 a month, which I consider very good.
It has an address book - it's very simple to use by going online and adding contacts that way. And it even has something most cell phones don't have - it has a dial tone to let you know, yes, I'ts working. With the initial package I got a free car charger, and it did come with a house plug in charger.
Not a bad deal for $31 and change. Peace of mind on the road on the cheap.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Nice thing about that arch on the AR/MO border is there is room enough to park a half-dozen 18 wheelers if you want to take a closer look at it.
And if you're following 61 south from the I-55 thru Steele you won't be going out of your way at all. In fact following 61 from I-55 in Steele all the way to Left, er, West Memphis you are literally paralleling 55. In fact I doubt if you're ever more than 5 miles from it. Like U S 70 from West Memphis from Little Rock running along I-40.
Hudsonly,
Alex B
Memphis, TN
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Doubtful but never say never. I spent several years with a Chevy van with a bed in the back that saved me many motel bills. It was a great expressway cruiser but it handled like what it was -- a truck. With careful driving, I approached but never crossed the 14 MPG barrier.
I just used Dodge as a generic example. I remember a few nights sleeping in my car. Back in my day in the 50's (and probably earlier and later) Dad's looked askance at boys who drove business coupes - I had a 39 Dodge business coupe for a while. I can remember more than one dad coming out as I picked up his daughter for a date and telling me to open the trunk (much to daughters embarrassment) so he could see if there was a mattress back there. LOL And if you were stuck with a Nash-can, as I was for a while, forget about going out on a date. Dad's wouldn't let their daughters within a mile of a Nash-can. I often wondered why. hehehehe
Hudsonly,
Alex B
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I got a chuckle from that myself. Of course the chuckles diminished when I considered my waistline and realized that blocking some roadways is possible.
Could a Dodge van be in your future, Denny.
Hudsonly,
Alex B
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Now that Denny's among the retired folk he doesn't have much else to do with his time except go and block highways,
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Thanks for the bedbug registry url. I'm heading for Oklahoma City in July for our Hudson car club National. I ran our hotel (the Biltmore on South Meridian in case you're wondering) and found that it has no reports. I'll check again in June just to make sure. I had experience with this problem at our club national in Wichita, KS, in 1990, I think it was. Fortunately I didn't bring any home with me. Strange part was I didn't get bit until the last night - when I checked out the next day I told them about it.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Don't know if anybody has tripped over this site - http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM500C_El_Camino_Real_Kimmswick_MO - I found it with the usual Google search.
Also found this one - http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM46FC_El_Camino_Real_Marker_Ste_Genevieve_Missouri
File in the "for what it's worth" file folder.
And anybody driving 61 into Arkansas drop me an email @ NEChesternec37@yahoo.com (drop the NEC) - south of Blytheville there's a section of old alignment that is still driveable. But there's nothing out there - except a now defunct radio station in Stacy that's closed.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
66 The Hard Way
in U.S. Highways & Auto Trails
Posted · Edited by Alex Burr - hester_nec
I've been following Denny's latest road trip with interest. Way back, further than I care to remember, between 1949 and 1952 I made several trips with my family from southern Maine out to the Dayton area to visit friends and relatives. We took 22 from New York to Harrisburg where we picked up the Mother of all Roads (at least to this at the time 12 year old!!) the Pennsy (Turnpike) which we followed to New Stanton for overnight. 12 hours - about the same as today, actually. In more recent years I've traveled U S 209 between Milford, PA and I-87 and have taken 44 thru New York a few times so paved the way for Denny's trip - so to speak..
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN