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The Call of the Open Road
D Day -2
"Red" Redding: I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.
Over time the means of travel evolves. To Paul Revere the world unfolded as he rode Brown Beauty. To Samuel Clemens the riverboat was the key that unlocked the wonder of travel. To the Civil War Historian Bruce Catton it was Waiting for the Morning Train that opened the door to possibility. To Lucky Lindy it was the airplane and to most kids that grew up in the 1950’s it was the automobile.
I know this has changed. Overtime, too many traffic jams, too much time on interstate highways, too much daily commuting has turned the love affair into a marriage of convenience with more and more Americans looking for another way.
But, hitting the open road in a car built in the 1950’s was an adventure. The Interstate system was only about half build and the homogenization of road side amenities had hardly begun. In 1960 there were only about 200 McDonalds in America. Most of your eating places would be in a local establishment, possibly in the shape of a hot dog and bun or a railroad car. By 1960 there were only 100 Holiday Inns. Eight years later that number would increase 10 fold. In 1960 when looking for a place to spend the night the choices would be A to Z. Cabins, motels, country inns and a plethora of unique imaginings of the locals. The 60’s choice opened the adventure of the unknown. You might get the best burger you ever had, or it might make you sick. Lodging was no exception.
Consider this, in 1960 Holiday Inn had 100 establishments, that represented 8 years of development. 8 years later, Holiday Inn had a 1,000. Did anything happen in 1960 that might explain why the promise of No Surprises at the Holiday Inn suddenly looked so good to the road tripper? Might I proffer for your consideration the 1960 movie Psycho. Could that account for why the quaint motel with nice porches, located off the beaten track right beside an old landmark home, suddenly lost its appeal. Did we mention it was family owned and operated according to mother’s strict standards?
For us old duffers, the ghosts of the past are everywhere if you have the inclination to look. What does not change is the beauty and variety of the American landscape, nor the spectacular sights which have been protected and nurtured by our government or the welcoming spirit with which you will so often be greeted by your fellow Americans.
So tomorrow it is Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio. Please, bloggers share your road trip adventures. How many times have you run out of gas, What is the most unique eating establishment have you stopped at. Did you ever stop anywhere the counter person looked like Lana Turner? Has your dog tangled with a wild animal while on a road trip. As usual please include pictures.
