Sorry to not continue my writing on driving around from my work from the past until I find writing that but not sure if I can. For now I'll write today's writing with dropping in now and then on. Thanks for reading, especially the stories of driving in the 80's. I'll also keep writing now about stories now and then. But getting older get's older will find stories now and then.
After driving for 13 hours straight, I've gotten my second wind and I feel like I can drive all night. I've gotten all night. This ought to last for an hour or two - then will see. And once again, I'm driving towards Canada on an American route, in this case Hwy 52, coming up to Bowbells, ND, in this case is getting Doesn't that sound like an inviting place. Anyways, the is getter narrow place lonier and snow drifts across the roads. Looks like a really cold night out there. I wouldn't want to stall with the sweetheart. Sure hope she makes it. Perhaps I should slow down, not overwork the engine. I slow down a little, not overwork the engine. Well, once again, I'm in your hands.
How come the roads are so much smaller when you come to Canada, then when you get on the Canadian side, it's like a huge expressway, just reminds me of how isolated it is in southern part of Canada is driving through here the first part of driving the first time you would expect to find Canada as in isolated willderness with fur trappers and miles of nothing. Rather it's the opposite of here, cities, cable and expressways. ND has a population of just over 700,000 while Saskatchewn across the border has nearly 1 million, most of which are spread out, it's southern part even though it's over four times as big.Now, just to make things a little more interesting, if it wasn't, if wasn't snow and cold to the border with snow, or ice fog or ice fog that clouds across the road so thickly you can't see the ground.
Following 83 again, I know where it ends. Almost as of now. Almost as of now, we are right at this point, back on the same road that old sweetheart was on in 1977 on her maiden trip in June 1977 almost March entering and Minot and we're talking expressways here. I mean this is a town of thirty thousand people vitually in the middle of nowhere (there's a lot of nowhere on the plains). It's got an expressway that rings the town, it's got big green freeway signs, MacDonalds. There's people making money here. Just at highway 52 6:33, about I saw a coyote standing in a gulley watching, watching traffic go by. Seemed very calm and thinking about the same things I'm thinking about the town, it's got big green freeway signs, McDonald's and then both of us are what the hell all these cars doing on the road here. After driving for 13 hours here?
Ruled rules for two-way highways vs: about road rules, why is it some people think that rules are meant for other people and not them. I'm driving behind a behind a car truck and we go up a hill where there is a slow lane. He stays in the lane that says slow traffic keep even though there. The greatest sin is man kind. It's an insult to a man to be considered slower than the car behind him. It's not possible . That lane is only for women, children, handicapped handicapped , Chinese. Maybe we should change change the sign something else. It's weird. After driving for 13 hours straight, I've gotten my second wind and I feel like I can drive all night. This ought to last for an hour or two - then we'll see.
The old Towne House Cafe and Lounge - chicken fried steak. I passed on the 32 oz Townhouse Sirloin special. I don't I can two pounds of beef at one sitting. The chicken fried steak, a standard of road travel comes the way should, breaded as opposed to chicken gravy, american fries, side of vegetables, salad bars, no de-caf coffee, cowboys don't drink decaf. Outside dusty dirty main street, trucks and cars dragging the gut. Somewhere here, is the corn Palace , having seen 2 great blondes by the street on the street, Chevy passes by, looking, 2 Chev passes by looking as old as a 62 should look look. Inside the cafe, Interesting place, across the street and called the Majestic , there's a hundred or more people playing a dart turnment, there having fun playing a dart tournement they're having fun.place
Outside, dusty, dirty main street, trucks and cars "dragging the gut". Somewhere here, is the corn Palace, haven't seen 2 great looking blondes pass by on the street. I'd marry either of them - or both. Tuesday night passes by a 62 Chev passes by - or both. looking as old Chev should look, it hasn't been redone - suppose the question here why, it runs.. Interesting place across the street there's a hundred or more, they're having fun. The waitress told me about a store open at night - Shopco, just up the street so were going there. I pass by the Corn Palace Hall, inside there's a hundred and more people so we're going. Press by the corner, there station is KORN, get it. The Palace is closed and dark. A whole car load of girls pass me, dragging the gut. Check the plates, can't see the forty-is half balding guy give a look maybe. But they like the car feels good at attention.
Again, I feel the dust of the town trying to find the Shopco store and I end up in the darkness, remembering again I'm on prairie with the town behind me. I stop the car to turn around, cursing I missed the Shopco and suddenly see the full moon behind me. Large enough to throw a lasso around. Maybe some have arrived. Coming through the clouds. And above me - stars but not a few stars - I'm talking hundreds of millions of stars. I've just broken a major rule of travel - I've critics the town I'm in. Waterloo. I'm sorry, I don't know what it's like to live there so I should complain. As a critisized traveler I feel guilty.
The morning of the 23rd, through South Dakota - 1-90 west of Mitchell. Ducks, through South Dakota everywhere, it's just incredible. They're all flying northwards - hundreds, maybe thousands. I feel sad that many will end up in the sits of hunters and realize this is the way things are. But somethings so free and so purposeful shouldn't complain. I eat. A farmer shooting a few ducks to eat doesn't bother me, but wealthy corporate heads from Chicago or Los Angeles paying to come up and shoot something they really don't need bothers me. Listening to a S.D. radio station, the dj's talk about seeing the geese last night and at morning. Refreshing change from murder, accidents and pollution index's.
Just above me is a flock or whatever of ducks/geese, probably is about 2 - 300 flying overhead. It's incredible. They turn, they fly forward, such precision . It's incredible, they turn, they fly forward, such precision something very powerful about the image, sounds of them another year, they like another about the image, sounds of them another, they like me, . I realize are returning over and will continue to go until they 're shot or old. Now I don't feel so bad about repeating my life. There must be a purpose to it. Ducks don't think of dying and therefore aren't plagued by self-doubt or meaning or purpose in life. They just live it every day.
The old Towne House Cafe and Lounge - chicken fried steak. I passed on the 32 0z Town House Sirloin special. I don't think I can eat two pounds of beef at one sitting. The Chicken Fried Chicken, a standard of road travel, comes the way it should, breaded chopped beef, comes the way it should be, au jus as opposed ( chicken gravy), American fries, sides of vegetables, salad bar (not too big). No de-caf coffee, cowboys don't drink decaf.
Outside, dusty, dirty main street, trucks and cars "dragging the gut". Somewhere here, is the Corn Palace, haven't s seen the the Corn Palace, haven't seen it yet... 2 great - looking blondes pass by the by the street. I'd marry - or both Tuesday cowboy night, a 60 Chev passes by, looking as old and more but we get. Inside there's a hall - called the Majestic Hall, inside - they're having fun. The waitress told me about a store open at night - Shopco, just up the street, so we're, just up the street, so we're going there. Pass by the Corn Palace, there radio station is KORN, get it? The Palace is closed and dark. Sure enough there's a corn enough, here the sound of cornhusks in the wind, mixed with the sounds of teens doing the ritual.
A whole carlead of girls pass beside, dragging the gut, give me the once over, checks the plates, can't see the fortyish balding guy inside dark. But they like the car. The car feels good at the attention. A whole carload of girls pass me, dragging the gut, give me the once-over. Again I feel the dust of the town, I guess that hasn't changed since the cowboy days of the 1880,s. Feel good, full, saw the corn palace, teenagers still being teenagers still being teenagers, life is good.
Passing World's largest completed animated cowboy town - world famous of course. Looks like it's closed, too. West of Humboldt, up in the air, a flock of about forty geese going south. Maybe it's too cold. One of the difference (going south. Maybe it's too cold for them. Flying in their V-formation. They're turning around. As I speak I saw them. In mid-air, they just turned around, get back into formation. Slowly get back into formation, get that V fellas, get heading north again. For a moment it was, ah' theres it was just not sure but then but then
One of the differences between now and then I was taking this car on it's virgin trip is the amount of FM stations FM stations now, and how strong they are, they're stronger than they used to be. , used to get about get about twenty miles outside of a town if you're lucky, now you can get them fifty, sixty, eighty, a hundred miles out of town. Why is this? I'll have to find out. As the geese fly overhead, Dan Seals sing a pretty song called RAGE ON. I aim my partner into the setting sun straight ahead of us across the flat prairie . A big fireball at the end of the highway, try to catch it, try it catch it and I don't and never will -who does (they have a theory that the sun (or moon) always stays the same size even though it appears bigger until it catches me again and passes, always ending ahead of me.
Just a few miles west, I see a drive-in movie theater, something else made for cars and the people who own them. Funny how the more cars we've gotten, the less drive-in 's. One of the bad things about TV is that you stay home to do. Maybe that's why neighbors don't talk to each other. They stay inside too much and eventually lose the skills of communicating . MacDonalds now has a menu that all you do is order 1,2, or 3. MacDonalds. I like to ask McMuffins. Just east of Woodbine, I'm the only car on the toad, 2 -lane and I'm alone windy towards to Elizabeth, Illnois and I'm alone for the first time since I left this morning. Ahead the Mississipi. The big thing here, I'm on the east side. Once I drive the next thousand or so feat or so feat the drive side. Once or so feet. I'll be in a different world, the west. This is what divides the country.
About 7 pm I'm rolling through the hills of Iowa myself (Field of Dreams country), twilight, sun's should be down in fifteen mintes or so and I'm by myself, nobody else sight, not even a house. It's cold outside. This is no time for the old girl to break down, not that she would. This would be take me a little further. I hope she Karma comes into play in this kind of situation, I'm sure and look ahead. I look again and probably see a light. Finally a farm house maybe a mile away. Finally a farm house maybe a mile away. Probably a vicious dog who's ready to rip my lungs out if I have to ask for help. Speed limit - 65.
Just east of Rockford, I paid the last toll on this tollway and I hear a commercial for Crysler on the radio and to the right of me is a gigantic Crysler factory covering probably hundreds if acres.. It's like a mini-city, people getting off work too, it's 3:20 pm .Same time as when I was working at Chrysler and used to get off at this time. Sign says this this the Belvedere assemby plant making Imperial , New New,, Fifth, Avenue and Dynasty.. My cousin Bob's (or Uncle Nick's) Dynasty may have come from here. Idea of a car.'s home came home from my dad... cars are born in places, just like us. Restautsand watch the traffic pass under them. How's that for a car society pass under them. How's that for a car society, huh? interesting point - have very little thoughts of Toronto or people of the place I'm leaving behind. Like a kid.on a trip.
Finally , about forty or fifty miles out of Chicago, fields. Farmers, no more suburbs or busy freeways. Like I've passed a gate or something,as opposed Chas opposed Cargo is end of a lifestyle that;s urban. Freeway still has cars on it but traffic isn't as urgent or fanatical. As aposed to now, 19, had a whole lot of stuff in my life of stuff. But I'm still, good stuff badstuff, a lotta stuff. But I'm still alive. March is a good time to be alive. There's a lot to look forward to in March. Listening to the Eagles. Funny how music fits into cars so well. Just outside of Freeport , I'm on a two lane road. ! -90 has gone away.. not as flashy, they're sedans, trucks, practial practical cars like my dad's'. Farm cars with dirt along thed skirts and rocker panels, Outside of Freeport, I'm on a two lane road. I't's kind of symbolic, Just as passing truck nearly wipes me out.. I recover and check they highway signs. I realize I have to be careful of traffiic now as it's hurling towards me at sixty mph, with only a yellow painted line keeping it from myside.
Realize I have to be careful of traffic now, as it's hurling twowards me at 60 mph, with only a yellow painted line keeping it from my side. I turn my headkughts on to give them keeping it from my side. I turn my head lights on to give them ample warning of my presence . In Utah Arizona oncoming cars always asume.. I forget my lights are one and lights are on they pass and flash theirs at me, Don.t they know it's safer with lights on. Americans will argue about their rights just about at this point, telling me able too choose whether to be safe or not. Always-takers. I am not - I choose to be safe.
Chicago - what to I remember. 1969 (20 years ago) ago here to stop the war. Stayed at a very old hotel, went to the Universary of Chicago, had my first encounter with the DSD then with the weatherman and racial part pf tje SDS and there and talking bombings and violence. To this little Canadian kid , it was an was an eye - opener, the real, the reality of the reality movement.1969 December, cold, wind blew the wind off Lake Michigan like hell frozen over.. Prettty goddam cold. Just on the west of Gaary, Indiane. Just on the west of Gary, Indiana, more heavy traffic tracfic and lost trucks. People driver faster now, drive faster now , I'm doing 70 in a 55 zone and behind, tailgatting me is a woman in a station with three children. I move over to the other lane and she passes me ..Back in 1977, when the old sweetheart was young. I drove 50 - 55 all the the way because it was a new car. But she can still keep up .In I passed by some cars abandoned in the fields, one in an an empty lot.
Here in Chicago the automobile by product is noticible the automobile by -product is noticicable air pollution. Although the automoble not entirely mobiles, they certainly, contribute entirely substantiallilly to it.. Not a positive aspec. . Expressways are just as busy here in the but they move faster. Expressways are just as busy here in the USA but they move faster. People .People know how to drive them. At 1:39 we crossed into Cook County , which is .we,re in March. In Chicago. In Chicago Heights state troopers pulled over a car for speeding.radar ars pay for traviiing, a tool booth - 40 cents. Interesting - there.- there's a town in iii ooiss called IIiinois several more. Pass south of Chicago, heading for Rockford. Now I'm in the midwest . Behind me is the last of the really big cities. From now on itst small cities and towns, population that thatch averages .. Traffic is heavy but it will lighten up inan hour or two until it's small town traffic and we leave the freeway for the "high way".
I also has the "oasis' rest area which whice provides travellers with a gas station and and of which used to be independant , now are MacDonalds, Wendy's or Popeye's Chicken.. The interesting thing about these is that they are an overpass the highway so people can sit in restaurents and watch the traffic pass under them.. How's that for a car society. Interesting - point have very little thouts of Toronto or people of the place I'm livving behind . Like it never existed about where I was going... like a kid on a trip ,Finally, about forty or fifty miles out of Chicago, fields with Rockford, about a mile. I was here 1with Wayne Dupious in the old Mustang, old 68 Mustang..Yeah,, that's where because we wanted to. We could drive all night and did several times that trip. Funny how you had all the energy those days. Remember Northern Lights between between Edmonton and Saskatoon, even over over the Mustang. Also came by here 81 headed up to Madison where I bought t-shirts at the the Univerersity bookstore for Carole's kids. University towns are al ays interesting, mostly safe and have neat places with cheap places on Campus like the time my Camaro and went to Berkeley and we stayed there with Carole..
Jackson Michigan - two things - a prison and this is where the Republican Party was founded. So there you go. BUMPER STICKER - I LUV MY AMERICAN CAR. Most common name for a town for America .there's also of Lebonnons . Battle Creek is traffic is lessening for now, till I get to Chicago which is a nightmare I'm sure. Good rook and roll on the station. What is it about most Canadian stations that they don't get it, maybe because it's not our music. Vancouver stations seem to get it., as Windsor, of course to Detroit. Country.music stations begin to take over after I leave the urban areas. One complete no talk stations like a USA or TODA format travelers. limits changed now. Finally from 55 to 65.
Radio stations seem to be divided into three basic groups. You got contemporeyrock, pop , 40 what ever.. There are countrie stations, and your oldies and goldies stations. They seem to be everything still playing sixties. Well about 11:38 we witnessed out first casualty on 94, just witnessed first of Paw Paw, Michigan, a trailer-tractor seemed to just take a r to just take a curve a bit too wide. Could be the guy just fall asleep and drorve into the side of the road. Spilled out the contents of the trailer, let me see, they were packages. Photograph there, taking pictures, probably insurance so something. Some merchandise isn't where it was going. In entering this Burmuda Triangle of trucking there's lots of trucking and exprespress everywhere. And also areas for prostitution and gay meetings. I notice the amount of new cars. Now that this car is old and rusty and dull paint. I seemed to be grouped with similar cars of Chicago and Detroit.
Driving in this Illinois/Indiana/Michigan triangle is like driving in the Roman chariot in except Ben Hur,, except that the chariots beside me are ten times my car's size. I notice the amount of new cars. Now that this car is old and rusty, dull paint, I seemed to be grouped in with similar cars (of which to be a fair amount in Chicago and Detroit as well.) passing me in new, shiny cars turn away from me like aI were a serial killer or some thing. Interesting being part of the lower cast. Of course, having a rusty, dull paint. of course having a rusty old car sure keeps away from you, nobody gives me the finger or cuts me off. Driving /Indiana/Michigan triangle is like driving in the Roman chariat race in Ben Hur, except that the chariots bedside me are 10 times my car's size.
March 16 , started off this morning, the doors were frozen headed and rushing like crazy. Traffic had 401 and scared and have to use and binder twine or something but I didn't. I didn't. I looked up to Detroit. 85% of callers in favour of strong fines for misuse of American Flag. Interstate 94 coming out of Detroit now; I'm just past the outskirts getting into Dearborn where I went to school 2 years and left. Car seems to car moving effortless, responsive to the gas pedal, wheels aligned and ready, responsive. It was like this in 1977, same highway, same feeling so far so good in 1977, same feeling. So far so good. Let's see what happens, Scared to say it's scared to say, Coming out of Detroit, now. I'm just past, getting into Dearborn. Car same to be effortless along also. scared to say it's going. It was like in 1977 and when you're flying and you say it's going to be a perfect flight. Nobody ever does that. But we shall what happens.
Passing Detroit Metro Airport, reminds me of 1968, my cousin Bill was married. I spent about five or six hours with a girl at the airport, she was from Los Angeles. Like when your flying and you say it's going to the perfect flight. Nobody ever does that I think. Maybe? But we shall five or six hours and waited for her flight, we talked till 7am. Never saw her again. Passing Detroit Metro Airport. Across the freeway I remembered with my ex wife who I always loved and still do and even wrote about her in one of my film scripts. There will be room to think on the highways .Traffic heavy and lots. There will be room to think on the highways, whereas here, you just concentrate all the time with cars and trucks around you. Across the freeway, the Hilton where I stayed with Brenda when we got married. It'' be different in Iowa, where it's not so crowded, and different in Iowa, not as crowded . About these roads, - will be room to think on the highways whereas you just here you just concentrate all the time on the all the time on the cars and trucks around you.
Breaking another road rule, I only minimally prepare the car for it's long range ordeal. I change of oil and proper in and that's it. This, I figure is the true test. See how far she gets. Maybe on a city street in Chicago. I'm not sure what I would do when or if .After all Lewis and Clark didn't know they'd encounter. this is as close as I can make it. The worst thing that could break it. The worst thing could happen is that it could happen is that it could break down half a mile Toronto. This would not be inconvenient, it could be of us regarding feminists. I've always been ben curious and always cars and ships are referred to the feminists. I remember interviewing a retired train engineer who, when he started describing sweet "old sweetheart" When I asked him why he called it that , he said it was simply she said simply because she deserve could spend a hot evening.
I begin March Windsor. Started off this morning, the doors were frozen, had to melt them, scared I'd have to use binder twine or something, but I didn't. Then WCSX Detroit. 85% of callers in favor of strong fines for misuse American Flag. INTERSTATE 94 - Okay coming out of Detroit now. I'm just past the outskirts, getting into Dearborn, car seems to be moving effortless along, car seems to be effortless along to the gas pedal, wheels aligned , rolling , almost be a new car. It was like this in 1977, same highway. same feeling. But we shall see happens. Scared to say it's going good. At the beginning of the trip, it's like bad luck, like, like when you're flying and you say it's going. Nobody ever ever does that.
Passing Detroit Metro Airport, reminds me of 1968, my cousin Bill was married. I spent about five or six hours with a girl at the airport, she was from Los Angeles. We waited for her flight, we talked about seven a.m. Never saw her again. Across the freeway, the Hilton where I stayed with Brenda, my ex-wife on our wedding night. Traffic fairly heavy. Lots of traffic moving out with lots of things for America. It'll be different in Iowa, where it's not as crowded. There'll be room to think on the highways whereas here, There'll be room to think on the highways whereas here you just concentrate all the time on the cars and trucks around.
About these roads - I remember Michigan roads are being all of the best, but right now they are in need of repair. Potholls the size of Japanese cars. A load of new cars pass me, looking down at the old Camaro as they crowd together on a truck, heading for new homes. Someday they'll be driving along a road, much older than today, and a load of new cars will pass them. Once again, I will I have the opportunity to continue my study of shopping malls. I can smell them out now. They are great places to watch people, you learn about the community and it's people. Pass by a STUCKY'S, gas/candy/cafe which was a big deal once. And they're abandoned, grass growing. Worked in it's time - but it doesn't seem to work now. The great thing about American freeways, in most states you can tell exactly by the mile post signs, as well as the exact by the mile posts as well as the exit numbers. Jackson Michigan - two things -- a prison and this is where the Republic Party was founded -- so there you go.
BUMPER STICKER - I LUV MY AMERICA car.
For myself, I felt I owed it to her. With nearly two hundred thousand miles to her credit, whatever the car owed thousand miles the $5800 it cost, the debt was more than paid in full. Friends urged me to send it to the machine that squashes them into cubes but I couldn't do that to her any more than I could do it to her. she deserve one last shot at a grand drive across the country that she crossed so many times so many times before. It would be her swan song.
I decide to keep a journal for several reasons. My original intent is to keep a record intent of the trip for the benefit of future generations. But, in the anticipation that said future generations are not interested. I'll keep it for myself. Kind of an audio photo album where I can hear the sound the sound of the engine as I make as I make what will be undoubtedly profound observations on life.
My premise is simple enough. The Camaro is the last of the truly American car in my mind. Build when GM still had a hold on the industry. Hers is the one design that stands out in the mundane 70's. It's got a V8 engine and a manual transmission . Still, in 1977 not smothered by sensors and electric gimmicks and things that look like black strands. What honor is there ask in a Honda or Toyota with with it's engine pointed to the side of the road.
Breaking another road rule, I only minimally prepare the car for it's long range ordeal. A chance of oil and a lube job, when how far she gets. This, a figure is the true test. Maybe I'll make it as far as Iowa before the engine falls out or maybe before After Lewis and Clark didn't know what they'd encounters. The worst thing that could happen is that it could break down a half an out of Toronto.
There are two things you need when starting a road trip. A clean car and a full tank of gas. My father taught me that. A clean car and a full tank of gas. A full tank of gas will get will get you on the road immediately and you don't have to stop until lunch time. In 1803 Lewis and Clark began with the "Hudson Bay". They leisurely pulled out in the late morning. With only a few Indians to trade with. Shopping malls and discount stores. you can start with an empty car and have it filled after one day of travelling.
I started with a clean car and a full tank. Having packed the night before I was ready to begin. breaking another of my father's many road rules, I started in late afternoon. Just as commuters jammed into the freeways heading home. Just a little. I never had liked Toronto, never seemed to fall into it's a great great city. It is that, just not for me. I started with a clear clean car and a full tank. Having packed the night before I was ready to begin. Begin another of my father's many road rules, I started in late after noon just as commuters were heading home. Just a little more agony to insure I really wanted to live this city. I never had liked Toronto it's not a great city, it is that. Just not for me.
Two months earlier stuck in heavy traffic, I thought only about the road ahead. Down two Windsor and Detroit, west to Chicago, Iowa, upwards to South then to the prairies of the Canadian west, finally crossing over the Rockies and crossing to the coastal rainforests of the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver. It's more than a simple road trip. It's the last trip. It's the last trip for my best friend. She won't be making many more after this she's simply too old. She is a 1977 Chevrolet Camaro, built in Norwood, Ohio originally dark blue. She's suffered vicious attacks of eastern rust. The bottom of the doors are rusted out a hole jabs out of the hood and a fan jabs where a fan blade tried to escape a year or two before. The paint has the dry mud.
Women have great difficulities understanding men at the best at times, but two areas continue baffle them. Firstly they can't. Firstly they can't what we see in the Three Stooges, and secondly, they can't more explain why why they continue their as long as they can. They' are funny. The second area is a little complex, more than my two years of Psych at Henry Ford College could hope to achieve.
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