Alex Burr - hester_nec

2 votes for the long eared one - I got my "Aunt Hester" to vote on my other email address. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

If the photo of the Gateway to Monument Valley looks familiar to viewers - it should. It appeared in many of the John Wayne movies shot in this area!!!! And probably a few more. Great report - havn't had time to really read thru it yet - working on it. I love these old guide books - I just bought a1926 Automobile Blue book, Vol. 2, covering middle Atlantic from Pa/NJ south to FL and west from KY to Eastern LA. Over the past few years searching for these guide books I've found this area to be the hardest to find - yet, in the past year or so I've found several, both AAA and Automoblile Blue Book. Now I'm working on the western U S - I have a 1941 AAA tour book, Western Edition, but looking for earlier ones. Everybody have safe travels. Y'all take care now, hear. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Half the building is the muesum - the other half is the city center. Some sort of deal that got it built; The website was supposed to be up lastl September; Hudson Car Club members were invited to a preview opening in July last year during the National meet in Auburn - The museum officially opened October 5th last year, according to a post on the Hudson forum. The address is: Hostetlers Hudson Auto Museum. 760 South VanBuern. Shipshewana, IN. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

And while you're in the area, drop over to the Hostetler Hudson Museum in Shipshewana!! The main part of the exhibits are from Eldon Hostetlers personal collection - and Eldon had a hell of a collection!!!! Museum is brand new - I believe it just opened not to long ago. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Maybe one of those rotating licence plates that James Bond had on his Aston Martin................????? Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I read this road trip report the easy way - I went to Harold's report, then printed it out (love the B&W laser printer). That way, this morning, I could sit down and read it while I had breakfast This is an excellent look at our country from a foreigners perspective. Harold isn't afraid to write as he sees it, ie, his descriptons of the decay of by-passed towns, burned out buildings, yards full of trash and abandoned cars. But he also writes, vividly of riding his "beloved" Yanaha MS thru torrential rains with vivid descriptions and even better descriptions of riding solo thru the high country. All in all a great road report and well worth a half-hour of reading time. I put this in a binder and will put it on my shelf - I finally found the photo site and I think I'll print those out as well and put them in the binder. Thanks, Harold, for a great trip report - you're another who can bring the reader along with you on your trip. Looking forward to reading about your next one. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I solved that problem - I live in Memphis; she lives in Maine. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

And another breakfast delayed while we ride along with the boys on their National Road trip. But it's worth missing a meal for - we can always eat later (ignore the skeleton sitting at the keyboard) Great write-up, as always Jim. Someday somebody needs to put these road trips into book form - would save the info for later generations for sure. Thanks again for the trip. Y'all take care and travel safe. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I just spent a pleasant 25 or 30 minutes reading this road trip - couldn't put it down, so to speak, even tho it was way past my breakfast time. Great write-up and loved the pictures. Another road tripper with the talent of bringing the reader along on the trip. Thanks for the road trip. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Computers work correctly?????????? Hudosnly, Alex Burr

Many places claim Paul Bunyan, but the truth is Paul was born and raised on the coast of Maine!!!!! The many bays and inlets around Penobscot Bay were formed by the waves generated when Pauls mother put him in his cradle in the water near their home, letting the natural wave motion sooth Paul to sleep. How did Babe become blue?? Babe was a normal colored ox when he was born, but one of those very cold Maine winters turned him blue. His exact age that he started cutting trees is not known, but some research suggests maybe as early as 15 - or younger. The problem he had was finding a smithy that could make his axes for him - took a lot of steel to do that. After he'd done away with most of the trees in Maine, he moved west with Babe. At least that's the way the legend goes. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

You notice, in that '59 Chevy add with Dinah and Pat, how well dressed they were. I miss that watching todays bums with the grunge look - and the guys are just as bad . Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

For fast road trips in relative comfort and 25-27 mpg the '97 Caddy I have is a good road car, for the interstates - which it was designed for. It's a little bit much on narrower roads, such as two lane older roads, but still it's comfortable if you don't push it to fast. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Can't beat a 1948-1954 Hudson for comfort and handling on them two lane roads!!!!! Now ..... if I could only afford one!!!! Hudsonly, Alex Burr HudsonTech Memphis, TN

To paraphrase an old song - there's only 4 things in life worth buffalo spit; older whiskey, younger wimmen, faster cars and more money!!! I guess we could add a 5th one - enjoyable snippets from the past!!!! Great little road trip. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I know going thru a disaster, like a tornado or a forest fire (been there done that) or a hurricane (once to often thank you) is not funny - but, it is in the nature of man to find humor in adversity. I see these tornado damage pictures and all to often a cartoon from WWII by Bill Mauldin flashes thru my mind. His characters, Willy and Joe, are standing in mud beside a house all blown to hell and back, trees down, ground chewed up - all from most likely an artillery barage. An old man sits in the rubble, sadness and resignation in his face - Joe, says to Willy, "Tell him to look at the bright side of things - his trees is pruned, his ground is plowed and his house is air contitioned!!" Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Memphis started out yesterday morning with rain (couple nights back we had freezing drizzle with numerous accidents on the interstate, including a couple 18 wheelers jacknifed). By noon, the sun was out and it was up to the mid-60's. There were predictions of high winds. Around 4 the local TV stations were posting tornado warnings for much of this area. Around 5 the wind started picking up - and in my neighborhood we had sustained winds of 40-45 mph with gusts 60-65. That lasted about 15, 20 min's. Then it died down, but winds remained around 10-15. There were black clouds all around, but it looked more like smoke. Interesting that the winds were coming out of the west, but the clouds were moving north to south. Couple reports of trees down, but not much damage and I didn't see anything on TV news about any tornadoes, so I guess we dodged that, again. Eveybody take care and y'all have a great day. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Driving up the side of a mountain in Pennsylvania, in dense fog, around 1am - and no guard rails on the open side of the road. When we came down in the morning we figured the drop off to be at least 1000 feet. Or maybe driving down I-81 between Hazleton and Harrisburg, at about 40 mph, in a zero visibility snow storm with 18 wheelers going by doing at least 60, if not more. On the other hand, that one turned out ok - I found a great motel in Frackville and an equally nice diner nearby for both supper and breakfast. Decided longevity was better than getting run over by an 18 wheeler. I've done so much driving around this ole country over the years and had so many weather related close calls that it's hard to say which was worse. That I'm still here after 55 years of driving in all kinds of weather I attributte to stupidity (for not getting off the road) or just plain dumb luck. Now-a-days I sort of tend to stay home during bad weather - simply because I can and also because I don't know how much luck I got left!!!! Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

"I’m happy for the freeways so I can travel the two laners in relative peace!" Goes right along with TV commercials - ain't they the greatest these days. Why comes a commercial on that favorite show you watching you can go get dinner ready, take a shower, run downtown and pickup something your forgot, chat with your friends on the 'net - and never miss a single thing on your show!!!!!!!!!! LOL ROF LMAO Hudsonly, Alex Burr MEmphis, TN

"Suicide" lanes were quite common in the 40's and 50's - and probably earlier. And found in many states. Remembering that two lanes roads were rather narrow, even adding a 3rd lane didn't help matters all that much - it was narrow to. Quite a thrill to pass a heavy truck with another coming the other direction and it really got interesting on a straight stretch when two cars, traveling in opposite directions, decided to pull at the same time to pass. I know that most had double lines (ie, two solid to mark no passing zones, generally in each straight stretch. On the other side might be a solid beside a double meaning safe to pass. Oh sure. One direction would be allowed in one stretch; the other direction allowed in the next and so on. But, the temptation was there - "hmmmm, I been stuck behind this slow moron for 4 miles - I can pass him and nobody will know!!" Famous last words because coming in the opposite direction is someone with the same idea. Considering the average speed on the old two lanes (Note I said AVERAGE) was probably in the 45-50 mph range head on collisions were quite spectacular (two cars, traveling in opposite directions, each doing 50 = closing speed 100 mph). Today things have improved. Average speeds are in the neighborhood of 60 to 70 (Not much of an improvement considering the internet highways) so closing speeds are now in the 120 to 140 mph hour range. You veer off the interstate, cross the median and hit a car head on, it gonna hurt - Big time. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I wonder how many of us in the American Road group can claim to have, at least, ridden over the old section. Between 1948 and 1951 I made several trips to Ohio with my folks - we drove the Pennsy from Harrisburg to New Stanton. A few years back I had the occasion to use the turnpike - and later found myself thinkiing, wait a minute; weren't there more tunnels somewhere in there!!!! Not long after I found some internet sites that explained that I wasn't losing my mind (no more than usual - some tunnels had been by-passed. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Great road trip, Jim. I guess it was inevitable that the old roads would be upgraded, straightened and improved. One of the saddest things about the improvements were the by-passes. The idea of a by-pass was to speed travelers on their way by going around towns - the end result was the businesses moved out to the by-pass and the grand old dowtowns slowly died. And with all the businesses moving out to the by-pass, traffic congestion returned. It's actually quicker, in some places, to take the old road thru a town. A drive down old 61 from Walls to Lula will show what a new road can do. Maud, Clayton, Evansville, Tunica, Hollywood, Robinsonville, Clacks, Penton, Lake Cormorant, Walls. With the exception of Tunica and Walls, most of these towns are merely names on a map. Hollywood and Robinsonville are now the hub of the Delta casinos, but the casino's use Tunica's name. North of Memphis, on old 51 north of Covington, the pattern repeats - Curve, Gates, Halls have been by-passed for many years and only Halls appears to be a viable town. Denny and I talked with Frank "Rat" Ratlif, owner of the Riverside Hotel, in Clarksdale when we stayed there the end of Dec. He stated with no reservations that downtown Clarksdale was slowly dying because of the by-pass. And the by-pass has been by-passed with 61 running further east of town. Get out and enjoy the old roads while you can. Safe traveling. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Nope - Kansas ain't flat!!!!! I had the same misconception, even tho I'd been stationed at the Naval Air Station in Hutchinson in 1957 - from the air it does appear flat. In 1990, on the way to Wichita for our Hudson Club national meet, I stopped at President Trumans home in Lamar, MO, then went west on 160, US 59 and KS 400 to Wichita. I wasn't very far into Kansas before I discovered there were BIG speed bumps in the landscape. LOL Ok, maybe not the Rockies, but Kansas is not flat at all. Hudsonly Alex Burr Memphis, TN

"It looks like the Stanley's owner had a liking of John Deere." Actually, that green was a factory color for Stanley cars. And being a Harrah's car it is accurate - Harrah's had a research library that an old car nut would die for. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Great trip - just sit back and leave the driving to (roadman). I spotted 2 or 3 scenes from Stewarts book - and several places along the Ohio/Indiana sections that I drove back in 2001 or 2002. But, now as when I drove it 4 or 5 years ago, I had trouble with most of it. When I drove over it the last time it was the first time since we went that way in the late 40's, early 50's on our way from Maine to Dayton, OH. And I couldn't find anything that even resembled what I saw 50 years ago. Oh, well, trees and shrubs grow, development runs rampant and things have to change for the sake of changing I guess. Maybe that's one reason why I havn't gotten around to taking a trip down old 66 - I know that I would be to busy trying to find what I saw in 1953 to pay attention to what is there today. Such is life. But I do have it in my mind that someday (always that "someday") I'd like to drive U S 11 from NY to New Orleans - I've noticed not to many people drive the north/south roads, like 11, 51, 61, etc.. Sounds like a trip to me. (Hey, Denny - hurry up and retire so we can make a long trip like this. I WILL bring ear plugs next time. LOL ) Safe traveling everyone. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN