Getting there from here...

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by farechofisherman

What an amazing story!!! Incredible pictures and storyline. Your parents were real troopers to undertake this journey, and so culturally rewarding for the entire family-WOW!!!

My kids dread taking my grandkids to visit at the lake for just a weekend. Too much trouble packing all the crap they have to bring and they only have 2 and 3 kids?

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Biggd

My kids dread taking my grandkids to visit at the lake for just a weekend. Too much trouble packing all the crap they have to bring and they only have 2 and 3 kids?

Purpose of the trip is to bring less not more


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[trfour]

Originally Posted by joey2665

Purpose of the trip is to bring less not more

No Such Animal In Our Family Joey!

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Are there any other gearheads out there?

The Dynaflow in our 1949 Buick was not the most efficient, but the incredible torque it took just to get that 7 1/2 ton rig to move, and if anyone used it to tow with the fuel prices of today, they'd probably need to own an oil company! The 1949 Buick was brutal on fuel, 3-4 miles per gallon. Just remember that gas was about .17-.20 cents a gallon back then.
However, the Dynaflow was virtually indestructible and towed our house from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts, and all of the mountains, [Rockies], and in between. It used 1/2 pint of transmission fluid over the whole trip!
Here's some history on it , Credit Wikipedia.
Dynaflow was the trademark name for a type of automatic transmission developed and built by General Motors' Buick Motor Division from the late 1940s to the mid 1960s. The Dynaflow, which was introduced for the 1948 model year only as an option on Roadmaster models, received some severe early testing in the M18 Hellcat tank destroyer, which were built in Buick's Flint, Michigan assembly plant during World War II. It was also used in the 1951 Le Sabre concept car.[1]
The Dynaflow initially used a five-element torque converter, with two turbines and two stators, as well as a planetary gearset that provided two forward speeds plus reverse. In normal driving, Dynaflow started in high gear (direct drive), relying on the converter's torque multiplication to accelerate the vehicle. Low gear, obtained via the planetary gearset, could be manually engaged and held up to approximately 40 mph (64 km/h), improving acceleration. However, the transmission was incapable of automatic shifting, requiring the driver to move the shift lever from low to drive to cause an upshift. Buicks equipped with the Dynaflow transmissions were unique among American automobiles of the time in that the driver or his/her passengers would not detect the tell-tale interruption in acceleration that resulted when other automatic transmissions of the time shifted through their gears. Acceleration through a Dynaflow was one smooth (if inefficient) experience.

[JEEPONLY]

I'm nothing of a gear-head. I am a bit of a history buff. You have managed UP YOUR GAME!.

Thank you- you story is beautiful and intriguing!

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Not A Resume Photo.


Eventually we took the Southern Route and returned to New England, ( some 6 and some change years later ) in a 1947 Plymouth Woody station wagon 9 passenger six cylinder with headers and dual exhaust, a huge luggage rack mounted on the roof, towing a 12' U'hall...
( Yet A Whole nothah story ) !

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After arriving in California, Mom and Dad helped out at Aunt Joan and Uncle Chick's restaurant on Santa Catalina Island, for awhile. Here they are.

Photo's by Life Magazine. in 1952.

PS, And Mother would eventually open her own restaurant in downtown LA., called ' Mom's Kitchen ' and most of the Cheft's, Waitresses and dishwashers that worked at the fancy hotel restaurants in the area would sneak over to Mom's and get into the Literal line's of folk's at any given meal time for her wonderful food and recipe's.
No child labor laws, and I washed all O the dishes, aftah school, at 8 years Hold.

Pic#2. In background, see the Lucky Strike, Yes, back in the 50s smoking was considered normal. Lucky Strike was a valued advertiser in Life Magazine... I also remember that cigarettes were ten cents per pack at the PX, when I served in the Signal Corps in the mid 60s.
For all of those that may read this, ( Do Not Start Smoking )!!!!
A quote from an old friend of ours;
"Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times. ~ Mark Twain".

[trfour]

Originally Posted by JEEPONLY

I'm nothing of a gear-head. I am a bit of a history buff. You have managed UP YOUR GAME!.

You couldah fooled me with that Handel!!

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Sister's Linda and Doña met a pooch, on there way to the store.

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S'more Dad got the Trucking Terminal in Santa Maria running smoothly so show-nuf got transferred back down to the LA. area and we bought a house [without wheels] where we had our first Christmas without Brother Fred, as he served in the Marines.
Pic#1. Magic Carpet delivered for unpacking, by semi tractor. Orange, CAL.
Pic#2. Missing Brother Fred, pictured on mantle from barracks. Sister Doña.
Pic#3. Santa, caught on camera.

The neighbors lawnmower was on the fritz.

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At The Magic Carpet PrimaCare Clinic, Dr. Mom administering cough medication.

The ironing board setup was also used for surgery.
Only kidding!

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I don't miss the LA smog...

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More signatures for Uncle George's painting.

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Tabernacle was Awesome too. Lot's of history and things to enjoy!

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The Paparazzi were around.
However, I could even imagine the interest in so huge a space, although not quite a space ship... Even before The Magic Carpet had her name painted upon, I talked some local paparazzi into letting me borrow their camera so's I could take a picture of them peeping around trying to get a better look see!

Here's what I got...

Pic # 1. Jeepers Peepers

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NO ordinary Adventure, for sure.
Took our Dad's attention with and including having to be aware of Mother Nature, through and over the trek that we traveled in our 4,376 mile 34 day adventure.
From a tornado to a raging sandstorm along our way, Dad new how to keep us all together as a team!

Pic # 1. Dad's Preparation Was Key!
An interesting side note; A wonderful friend of our family at the time, in the checked jacket, ( Jack Lewis, [center], who skated with the late Sonja Henie

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Amazing Grace, and soooo very Blessed to be a part of such Spirituality, also eternally Grateful am I. +

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Pic#1. Lucy thought she had it tough in the movie The Long Long Trailer.

Pic#2. 'The Real Wonder Woman'. 'Mom, and The Real Long Long Trailer'.

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I think that Brother Fred was the only inductee to ever be picked up at his home by the Marines.
They found out that Life Magazine was taking pictures of us, and jumped right on it to get in on the action, sent a Sergent and a 3/4 ton to pick him up, for some PR.

Pic#2. Sister Doña saying to da Sergent, 'Do Ya Wannah Dance'.

Photos by Life Magazine 1952 in Santa Maria California.