It was a l-o-n-g tedious drive across Arkansas, Oklahoma and north Texas, against blasting hot headwinds every step of the way. No features that I wanted to fly over, and not flying weather even if I had wanted to.
Pushing against such a hot and strong headwind like that with a trailer in tow is a likely way to ruin an engine or automatic, so I pulled off the I-40 onto a side road looking for a place to rest. I don't remember the name of the faded and run down settlement, but it turned out to be on part of the original Route 66. Not one of those places promoted for Route 66 tourism these days, but definitely genuine. Pulled into a bare and basic camp ground that hadn't changed since those days. Thinking of all those poor desperate migrants in the 30's, pushing their way over that same road, against the same relentless wind, with suffering old vehicles loaded down with the whole family and all possessions, and no money...... It must have been a very long and tedious and desperate trip for them, not the romantic image of Route 66 that we have today ......
These days the I-40 that replaces the old Route 66 is a fine fast interstate highway, with everyone rolling along in powerful vehicles in air conditioned comfort. There sure are a lot of big trucks on the highway; sometimes they're almost head-to-tail, like a long train.... You can really feel that it's a vital flow of east-west commerce in this very dynamic country, quite impressive!
The choice of Airstream trailer really proved itself in these conditions. It was light and streamlined and easy to tow, and very stable in any wind, even blasts from all the big trucks.
I depend on the radio for company when on the road,
but this is the 'Bible Belt', and it was election year,
so only Bible prophesy and electioneering.....
.....It was a really l-o-n-g way.....
Pushing against such a hot and strong headwind like that with a trailer in tow is a likely way to ruin an engine or automatic, so I pulled off the I-40 onto a side road looking for a place to rest. I don't remember the name of the faded and run down settlement, but it turned out to be on part of the original Route 66. Not one of those places promoted for Route 66 tourism these days, but definitely genuine. Pulled into a bare and basic camp ground that hadn't changed since those days. Thinking of all those poor desperate migrants in the 30's, pushing their way over that same road, against the same relentless wind, with suffering old vehicles loaded down with the whole family and all possessions, and no money...... It must have been a very long and tedious and desperate trip for them, not the romantic image of Route 66 that we have today ......
These days the I-40 that replaces the old Route 66 is a fine fast interstate highway, with everyone rolling along in powerful vehicles in air conditioned comfort. There sure are a lot of big trucks on the highway; sometimes they're almost head-to-tail, like a long train.... You can really feel that it's a vital flow of east-west commerce in this very dynamic country, quite impressive!
The choice of Airstream trailer really proved itself in these conditions. It was light and streamlined and easy to tow, and very stable in any wind, even blasts from all the big trucks.
.........................................................................
No comments:
Post a Comment