1947 trip to southwest and west coast January 6-8

The travels resume after the war. Roy, Selma and Dwane, 11 years old take a road trip to the southwest, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Nebraska.  I wish I had a road map from 1947 before the Interstates were built.  Sadly I do not have photographs of this trip but I did find post cards that were written home and saved which I have included.  Mom was in college at the time and Arlene was teaching in a country school.

January 6, 1947

Left home at 10:30 Jan. 6, 1947 to Luverne, to Soo City, Lincoln at 5:15.  Had no trouble finding Aunt Mabel.  Grand supper and visit with Aunt Mabel, Uncle Murray and Vera at 2917 N. 52nd St.

Aunt Mabel ( Melvina Mabel Arnold ) was a sister to Great Grandma Sanford. Same birthday as Grandma Selma Oct. 2, different year 1879. Married Murray  L. Ross

January 7, 1947

Left at 9:15 Tues. morning.  More snow in Kansas than Nebr.  31° below at Waterville, Kansas last week.  Snowplows widening east and west roads, pushing up big snow banks.

Meadow larks and robins in Kansas.  Saw a robin in Lincoln too.  Ate dinner in Junction City, Ks $1.78.

Lots of oil wells around Newton and Wichita.  Cabin at Wichita $2.50.  Had a fireplace so we made tomato soup, toast, also had cookies, doughnuts and pineapple slice and milk.

January 8, 1947

Wednesday Left Wichita at 7:15  Streets in Wellington slippery — slid into back bumper of a guy ahead of us on the stop street locked bumpers and bent over grill a bit.  Dinner at El Reno $1.50.  Tube repair at El Reno $1.25.  Stopped at Cement, Okla. to watch oil well pump oil, right on the street in town.  Oil wells by the hundreds around  here some of these pumping continually, day and night.  This oil well gives 30 barrels of oil per day.  Pumps both oil and water so has to be treated.  3700 ft deep — 2 inch casing inside where oil comes out of.  A bigger casing outside where 115 lbs. of pressure of natural gas comes up.  This natural gas is used for power lights and heat, but not piped out of the burg.  Roy and Dwane wasted (?) 35 minutes here.  It is now 4:15 P.M.  Lots of cedars in Kansas and Okla.  Scrub oaks in Okla.  Lots of very red soil.  Wheat fields and more wheat fields.  Some cotton occasionally.  Saw a herd of  antelope in Ft. Sill Military Reservation.

Stayed in a cabin at Wichita Falls, Texas Wednesday night $3.00  Cooked supper and breakfast on a small oil heater.