Journal March 3, 1953
We all finally had breakfast. Lesley had two dishes of baby cereal, a banana and milk and we had steak, toast and coffee. Lesley had a swing in the playground. Then off we went across the desert, or if this isn’t the desert, what will the desert be like?

We drove through beautiful, towering, jagged rocky mountains. We stopped for lunch in a lovely roadside park with outdoor tables, water, etc., and mountains on every side. It was too cold and windy to eat outside.

We drove through El Paso, saw Mexican adobe houses and adobe bricks.We crossed on a high mountain, snow was on the mountain peaks. Then we drove through New Mexico to Deming. I am amazed at how much the west looks just like the old western movies.

We had no sooner stopped for the night and washed Sandy up when she fell out of her bed. She cried so hard she lost her breath for a second and passed out. We were so frightened. The trailer park man rushed us to the hospital where they misunderstood and tried to put me to bed because Sandy looked fine. There was no doctor on duty so they sent us to the doctors office. He said she was Ok. She did seem to be all right by that time. We returned to the trailer, relieved and exhausted. We washed the dishes, cleaned the refrigerator, made formula and went to bed.

Journal March 4, 1953
It was so cold last night that our water pipe froze but we all had a fine sleep. Our little rosy cheeked alarm clock didn’t go off until 7:10 am (Central time) 6:10 in Deming. (New Mexico time),

Lesley is getting into a cowboy spirit with jeans and cowboy hat. We took off for Phoenix about 8:30. At 9:15 we saw a train that had derailed and smashed. It didn’t look too serious. (A freight train – three or four train cars waiting.)

This afternoon we were stopped for the Arizona State Inspection. We squashed Inky down on the floor and also hoped they would not look at our license plate year. One fellow went into the trailer and made us throw out tangerines and the dirt on our house plant and wash the roots off. Another man took our marker number.. Then they sent us on our way.

After awhile a highway drivers license inspector passed us on the road. Brother, will we be glad to get to Phoenix.

We stopped for supper and had to change tires again. Now the trailer is swaying all over the road. We arrived at Uncle Edwin’s about 8:30 pm. He was glad to see us and so were we glad to see him! We talked until 1 am.

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.

Journal   February 26, 1953
Note: It occurred to us today that our trailer and car registration runs out in two days. What to do??? Can’t make Arizona in two days. Not time for Connecticut to send it. We have decided to send it in with Uncle Edwin’s address for a return address – and cross our fingers.

Roland and I got up about 5 am, jumped into our clothes, made our bed, and hooked up the trailer. Then we carried our “sleeping sweeties” out to the car and tucked them in, but they both woke up.

It was pitch black and foggy. Then it started to rain. We drove away without our doormat, too.

Sandy and Les got dressed and washed up in the car. Sandy had her breakfast – then we stopped for ours at a restaurant after getting beyond the beach (beautiful white sand). The restaurant was dirty and we were sorry we stopped there.

We drove on, and made good time until we stopped for gas. Then we had carburetor trouble (flooding). We got stuck several times and it started to rain again. Finally one mechanic came out and tapped the carburetor with his screwdriver. He said a bit of sand was lodged in it. All this took at least two hours.

We stopped for supper and put the kids in their nighties then drove on to New Orleans. It was hard to find a trailer park with a vacancy. Finally we got settled at Tropical Motor Court.

We have $1.00 left. What will we do if no money is at the post office tomorrow?

Journal February 27, 1953
Showered and cleaned up a bit. Roland did a wash in the automatic machine and hung it up. Then we went to see other trailers for sale. Finally we drove to the post office. First I went to the registered mail window. Nothing!! Then I walked way around to the general delivery window and waited while the man did bookkeeping. Then he thumbed through the letters until he found ours!! Oh boy. What a relief. We received two more – one from mom Ruggles and one from mom Pinel (hers said she was enclosing some money but none was there). Roland said if we hadn’t received our money from the bank it would have broken his heart.

Next I went to the bank where I had a bit of difficulty cashing the check. The bank wanted to know “where’s Braintree?” etc.?

We ate a barbecue lunch at curb service, and then went to see the French Quarter in New Orleans. Quite interesting. Came home for supper and put the children to bed. Then we called Braintree collect. Everyone is fine. Mom and Pop Pinel weren’t there as we were expected to call tomorrow night instead of tonight.