February 16 -17, 1947

Sunday February 16, 1947

Leaving at 8:00 Thru Sinclair - the home of Sinclair Refinery.  Drove from 8:30 to 9:30 in fog.  Laramie, Wyo.  Thru Laramie Mt. range, Elevation 8,835 south east of Laramie.  Took a picture by “Tree Rock.”  This tree haas been growing out of this solid rock since 1868.

Ate dinner at Cheyenne.  We sure wish the stores were open.  This is a truly western town.  About 5 mi. our of Cheyenne we came to W.H.R. ( Wyo. Hereford Ranch) so of course Roy & D had to drive in having seen “Visitors Welcome.”  We took a couple of pictures of the $100,000 bull.  

Saw 4 deer up over a hill at ranch.  Got a cabin at Ogallala, Nebraska $4.00 (Not so good)

Monday February 17, 1947

Postcard dated Feb. 1947 

Dear Geneva:  Stayed at Ogallala, Neb. last night. we should almost make it home today altho that’s farther than we have gone in any one day yet.  We went to a grand concert at the Morman Tabernacle (that’s the dome shaped b’l’d’g.)  the temple is for Mormon only (and only good one).  Heard and organ concert and 2 Metropolitan opera stars and the movie star Miss O’Driscoll.  Proceeds went to “March of Dimes” our tickets were $1.20.  Weather and roads still fine.  Mother

Leaving at 7:10 (but we change time pretty sone so it’s about 8:10)  Lots of cattle.  Lots of alfalfa around Gothenburg to Kearney.  Took a picture of D. by oxen and covered wagon.  Had dinner at Grand Island, Nebr.  Stopped at Lyons, Neb. for an hours visit with Guy and Mollie S. (Sanford probably a first cousin to Roy)  Just before we got to Soo City Dwane just have dozed off anyway he said “Say have I got a shirt on?”

Crossing the Missouri bridge at Soo City at 6:30.  Ate supper there.  Home at 10:00 Monday evening Feb. 17.

Expenditures and miles covered

7,110 miles driven

374 gal. gas used average 19 miles per gal.

bought 5 - 10 gal of gas at a time

$1.05 for 5 gal

$2.05 for 10 gal

$2.25 for 10 gal etc

.35 for a quart of oil pretty consistent for the trip

repair costs were not listed in Grandma's little book

cabins $2.50 - $5.00 per night total $80.00

nights with relatives 1 at Aunt Mabel's, 9 at Lillian's, 2 at Ed's, 1 at Carrie's, 1 at Maggie's, 1 at Ted's, 1 at Belle's, 2 at Ebba's, 3 at Ida's and 1 at Ada's.

February 14 - 15, 1947

Elevation 4,319

February 14, 1947

Leaving at 9:10 Couldn’t get oil leak fixed as it was in main bearing.  Will try and make it home.

Brigham

Ogden

Salt Lake City — in time for 35 min. organ recital at Tabernacle in Temple Square.  Wonderful!  Taken for a tour of grounds.  Only Mormons (and not all of them) get into the Temple itself.  They have to have a reference from their “ward” and from the “stoke.”  Went to a concert in the Mormon Tabernacle in evening.  350 voice Mormon choir and 2 Metropolitan guest artist — Jennie Tourel - soprano  John Carter - tenor and Martha O’Driscoll — movie actress and _______________ - who plays on Columbia B.S.  CBS Proceeds of concert went to “March of Dimes”.  

Got a cabin early ($3.50) close enough so we walked to “Temple Square”  Brigham Young laid the city out in 10 acre squares so blocks here are rather long.  Drove out to the lake in afternoon.

Saturday  February 15, 1947

Leaving at 7:00  Went past cement plant.  Sun is coming over the Mts. (all covered with snow.)  Much colder than in Salt Lake City Valley.  (Castle City Mts.)  Echo Canyon  Saw 3 deer.  Took some pictures of Castle formations.  Entering Wyo. at 10:10 Elevation 6,850  Wyuta cafe on line.  Snow fences had really caught the snow.  Higher than fences in places.  Stopped at Free State Historical Museum, at Fort Bridges.  Quite a place, open, but no one anywhere.  First school house, built in 1860, many other log buildings, some older of course, but still in good condition, considering age.  One building of old things - very interesting.

We have come thru hills and badlands today that were red for miles, gray for miles, yellow for miles and now green.  Church butte  - very pretty formation with cathedral like spires with shades of green and tan. Had dinner at Little America.  Have 2 mounted penguins caught by Ad Byrd at the South Pole.

Got car greased at Rock Springs, Wyo.  — coal mining town.  Leaving here at 3:35.  Saw lots of big sheep herds.  Crossed Continental Divide at Creston , Wyo. at 5:20  El. 7,178.  Got a cabin at Rawlins, Wyo for $4.50 (double with kitchen)

February 12 - 13, 1947

Wednesday February 12, 1947 

No cabin available so we stayed in a hotel in Moscow, Idaho last night.  Double beds $5.00 has supper there too $2.80.  Leaving at 7:30.  Rained all night ands still raining this A.M. Quit at 8:00.

Came down the 11 mile long hill (famous spiral drive) into Lewiston, Idaho.  (Clarkston, Wash. across river.)  Lewis & Clark explored and camped there.  Big lumber mill but we did not take time to go thru it.  Had breakfast at Lewiston $1.95.  Came up hill 11 miles, around and around.  Chevee boiled!

Grangeville — and then more Mt. climbing.  Sign we saw:  Warning! icy roads.  Chains needed.  Slow

Raining to beat the band, summit elevation 4,460(?) coming down Dwane counted 9 roads below us.  Twenty miles downhill and actual distance to the town is 5 miles.  

White Bird (town) 75 miles up hill to Mc Call.  Lots of snow here at Mc Call.  Still raining!  Roads have been cleared but still plenty of snow and slush. 

No cabin at Cascade so we went on.  Got to Boise at 9:30 altho our watches said 8:30.  No cabin but we got a room for $3.50 in a tourist home.  

Lots of passes had just plenty of snow.  And rocks and snow balls had rolled down in many places.  Some great big rocks!  Hiway crews must have had to be on duty all night.  We straddled one that was a little too big!

Thursday February 13, 1947 

Postcard dated Feb, 12, 1947

Dear Geneva:  When we left Ada’s yesterday the weather did not look too good & Merle & Lucy were on a side road so we passed them by.  Stayed at a hotel in Moscow,Idaho.  Rained all night.   Feb. 13.

Stayed at Boise last night.  Rained all day yesterday.  Cane through places where there had been lots of snow, roads have been cleared tho.  Came gradually up hill for 75 miles yesterday and then when you get up & over it’s downhill. Chevee boiled a couple of times.  Mother.

Leaving Boise at 8:45.  Didn’t even get into a dime store.  Using our spare gallon of gas — had thought there was enough to get to Mt. Home but nix!

Saw lots of springs and waterfalls in lower Idaho.  No snow today — nice sunshine.  Crossed into Utah at 4:45.  Have seen snow in Mts. but just like spring in the valley all day.  Have seen ever so many sheep and cattle today.  Stopping in Tremonton, Utah — we are leaking oil so will have it fixed in A.M.