In 1940, the year I was born, it became their temporary residence while a home was under construction. Nine years later, when the photograph was taken, we traveled for a month through the United States on the way to our new place of residence in Alberta. A 1933 Buick was selected as the tow vehicle. It was a gas guzzler! We were not accustomed to the freeway travel routine and ran out of gas often.
I have fond memories of a swim in Lake Michigan at the Indiana Dunes State Park, Mount Rushmore, Badlands in South Dakota, Yellowstone and my first rodeo experience in Cody, Wyoming.
Another picture I have from my mother’s album was taken at the Frank slide area in the Crowsnest pass in southern Alberta, while on our way to the west coast. This time the pull car was a 1949 Chevrolet. It had been shipped west on a boxcar to make its first trip west, but now it would have its opportunity to become a tow vehicle. It met its match under the weight of that old trailer. I remember waiting several days for a clutch replacement in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho after it failed while descending the long hill on the approach to that town. We were off to the side of the road on the descent using the loose gravel for some added drag.
We traveled that same hill on a modern highway just this winter after a ski trip in the area. It brought back memories to see how the slope of the hill has been tamed.
Yes, you could say the camping love was in my blood. In Europe, in 1965, we camped in a Sprite. It was purchased in Folkstone, England. Our first experience was a drive through London pulling the newly purchased “caravan” on the left had side of the road with a left hand drive Volkswagen station wagon. Not to worry, once my father was in the right seat to guide us on our way we were in good hands. My parents and youngest sibling, my sister, joined us and our two sons on a cathedral hopping journey up the center of England from, Coventry, Lincoln, Yorkminster and Durham. The trip took us all the way back down to Canterbury and back to the continent, Baden-Baden, Germany.
Our first purchase after immigrating to the United States in 1966, was a truck and camper. The memorable trip from Denver to Seattle is a whole other experience to relate. Even when we can’t take our own rig we prefer this mode of travel. Two years ago we rented a similar camper van for a month of touring in the Maritime provinces which are a featured article in this latest May edition of Highways.
We love the ocean and the mountains of the Northwest. With retirement in 1997, we purchased a 19ft.Travelhome. It has taken a trip to Alaska, numerous times to the Trinity Alps of northern California, Canadian reunion visits and the Canadian Rockies. It will be going back to Glacier this summer for the 100th anniversary event taking place in that National Park. What a significant way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of RV travel.
Submitted by Sarah Hope of Ocean Shores, WA as a part of the RV Centennial Celebration “Share Your Favorite RV Memory” contest.
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