The Long, Long, Trailer by Clinton Twiss

[TRfour]

Will be remembered forever out here! My thanks to everyone that welcomed me!
Love, Terry

[wheel interested]

Still loving your pictures Terry! Great shot.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I'm still surprised that it didn't take two Buicks, connected, to tow that trailer.

[TRfour]

Hi Carol! I'm so thankful for your comments, interest, and unique enthusiasm. I appreciate you very much!
With Love,

[TRfour]

Yup Bobby, The 1949 Buick Roadmaster with the Dynaflow automatic was one tough unit, to say the least!
Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada's was a trip in itself, at 7'085 feet above sea level, and the lowest point of traversing them huge mountains! Thank God the snow Gods were resting!
At the time, we were the lagest trailer to cross through there back in 1952!...

Amazing how come older folks did what they did, with what they had back then.

[Airslide]

Back in the day the victory was to just crest the summit. Today we want to do it at 58 mph.. flawless handling.. ipod playing our favorite tunes with power to spare if we need it. Oh.. dont forget cell phone coverage the whole way over. lol

Vinnie

[worldinchaos]

Originally Posted by Airslide

Back in the day the victory was to just crest the summit. Today we want to do it at 58 mph.. flawless handling.. ipod playing our favorite tunes with power to spare if we need it. Oh.. dont forget cell phone coverage the whole way over. lol

Vinnie

While I think this does represent the unfortunate trend of "entitlement" in younger generations, there is also something to be said about the concept of us ever having crested the summit. I bet back in that day, there were people saying things like "Back in the day the victory was just to move our houses around with personal autocars. Today we want to crest summits with them...with giant trailers...with stoves, and electricity, and plumbing."

The way I see it, our perspectives haven't changed, just our frame of reference.

[Airslide]

True Peter... well said.

So whats next? I myself would love to go back and ride in that Ol Buick as she pulled that grade at 25 mph keeping a close eye on that temp guage with the wind in your hair and a BIG smile on your face.

[TRfour]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, I'm still surprised that it didn't take two Buicks, connected, to tow that trailer.

I know how tough it can be for some of the younger folks to fathom an old 19 and 49 Buick's abilities to tow such a Large trailer ( The Magic Carpet ). Well trust me, that old Buick straight eight cylinder had the torque required to tow us very comfortably at the posted speed limits of the day and we were never pulled over for going under the road speed limits anywhere!
However, we were over length and pulled over many times for permit checks.
Dad hadn't picked up a permit for Illinois........ and don't you know that we were pulled over by Illinois's finest. He measured with his ruler, tape measure and found that we were 215 inches over length!
A justice of the peace was wakened and Mom & Dad were taken off to court.

"One dollar an inch"! was the penalty.
Dad said, "Well your honor, we don't have that kind of money so you will have to put us and our 9 children in jail."....

"Twenty dollars, and get out of here." was the judge's response.

So we payed the fine and traveled on to California.

[Globie64]

What a great story! I know the old highway over Donner Summit well, and there are carcasses of vehicles in a couple of places that didn't make the turn. I can't imagine descending those grades with non-power single circuit drum brakes and Dynaflow for engine braking, but I guess you just did what you did? Amazing, and what a fantastic way to see the Sierras! Thanks for sharing

[TRfour]

Originally Posted by Globie64

What a great story! I know the old highway over Donner Summit well, and there are carcasses of vehicles in a couple of places that didn't make the turn. I can't imagine descending those grades with non-power single circuit drum brakes and Dynaflow for engine braking, but I guess you just did what you did? Amazing, and what a fantastic way to see the Sierras! Thanks for sharing

I hear you, and thank you! Truth be known, my Dad was the only pilot ( if you will ) that I could trust enough to fall to sleep while he was at the wheel. This includes Air, Bus, Taxi and all other forms of travel.

And also, I can tell you that the what they call the Black Hills in South Dakota, want no puppies either!!!!

[Fly at Night]

The way I see it, our perspectives haven't changed, just our frame of reference.

What a great idea for a documentary. I'd love to see TRfour and his siblings retracing their steps (with two "long, long" Airstreams, sponsored by Airstream?) reflecting how those frames of reference have changed, but the magic of "little moments looming large" have not.

Journalist Mike Leonard did a similar series for NBC years ago. Wonderful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_HexIMAOs0

[TRfour]

And all of the wonderful folks here!!!!

I assume the feeling of a wish fulfilled! We get to share our journey's and soooo much more!!!! Noth'in better than that!!!!
With Love,

[TRfour]

At what my Dad Knew how to do!

[TRfour]

While Mom was preparing dinner after a long day over the road, some were told to go out of doors and play...

Picture this; from left to right. Brother's Bob, Mel and Dad playing catch!



PS; Yours truly must have still been on KP Duty in the kitchen for setting off that crude home security devise in the desert.
With Love,

[TRfour]

Another antique photo taken on our way to California after a rest stop and lunch, before hitting the trail some more.

From left to right, brother Brynn, Dad, Mom, sister June, brother's Fred, Bob and Mel, sister's Linda and Dianne, yours truly, and sister Doña.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, such a fantastic family photo.

[TRfour]

Hi Bob,

Thank You! And yes, we were truly blessed and shared many wonderful memories through life's journey together!
With love,

[TRfour]

Hello All,

I wanted to thank everyone for there interest and fallowing of our families trek west. We are saving the rest of the story for the book.
When it is published, I will be back here with the details for anyone still interested.
Thank you,
With Love,
Terry Rugg

[Airslide]

I will order a copy for sure...

Vinnie