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.