Journal February 28, 1953
We went around in circles in New Orleans The road was torn up and route 90 signs were everywhere (E & W). We used our street map to get out of town.
We were on the road at 6:40 this morning. When we crossed the Mississippi River the fog was so thick you could hardly see the river. About 11:30 am we stopped for gas and promptly had “water in the gas” trouble. We stopped for lunch while Roland drained water from the gas tank. We hit the road again.
What a miserable spot to live. Swamp and stagnant water on all sides. Dead animals all over the road. Flat, flat low country. Towns are dirty and neglected. We stopped for supper beside the road and prepared the children for bed. Then we put them to bed in the car and set out again. We crossed the border into Texas. Stopped for gas in Beaumont, and then for the night in Liberty, Texas. When we pulled in to the trailer park we had another flat tire. Roland jacked up the car and trailer and we all went to bed. After today we have no car registration!
Journal March 1, 1953
What a dirty trailer park. All kinds of bugs in the bathroom – holes in the ground outside the trailer from some animal. It’s swampy and looks like drainage in the yard. Roland fixed the tire and we left about 10 am. Got another flat tire at 12 noon so we stopped for lunch. About 5:30 Lesley spotted a merry-go-round so we stopped so she could ride, then we dined and drove on to Fredricksberg. We stopped at Maughn’s Trailer Park. Very nice and clean. We showered and went to bed.
Journal March 2, 1953
We were off at 8:30 am. The countryside is much more interesting, hilly and looks like the land in a western movie. We went over high hills this morning. We stopped for a picnic lunch in a lovely roadside park just west of Sonora, Texas. There was a windmill to pump water- tables – trees and fireplaces neatly stacked with wood – a style over the fence.
Texas picnic area
We drove on but at 2:25 pm our engine was boiling. We stopped and the radiator was practically dry.
We stopped for the night at Balmorhea State Park. Lesley went swimming. The ducks were swimming in the swimming pool. We were only hooked up to water, no electricity. One candle burned out but we had one small one left. It was hot and oppressive when we went to bed. We felt closed in by all this space somehow.
When we woke up at 5:30 am it was freezing and both children were crying. We took them both into our bed and turned on the oven and the oil stove. Soon it was warm. I had Sandy’s water to boil to make her formula. I had it all boiled and Roland used it for the dishes. Had to start again.