The Trip: 1966

August 3, 1966 Wednesday
After a rather slow start due to trailer hitch trouble, Bill, mother, Billy, Barbara, Bob, and I left 243 Wayside Dr. at 9:40 for a three and a half week jaunt to the Canadian Rockies. We'll be pulling a fifteen foot travel trailer that is supposed to bed down five people -- if three of them are midgets. We will be having four people sleeping inside most nights and two outside.

The ride today was rather uneventful. We ate a picnic lunch in the hill country, read Joan Aikens's, The wolves of Willoughby Chase, and enjoyed each other's company. We got to Odessa, Texas, our first stop, about six.

We put mother in a motel and got out to Dot's, had supper and a good talk with everyone, and were in bed about 10:30.

August 4, 1966 Thursday
Away from the Dick Brookses by nine. We picked up mother and went our merry way.

During the day today we read The Mystery of Long Barrow House. It got three good votes and three very good votes.

Today was a hard driving day -- 450 miles. It was seven before we got to the Aqua Piedra Campground, New Mexico.

This was a beautiful campsite! The river was rustling and noisy. we had a good supper (dehydrated soup, Bounty chicken stew, asparagus, and water melon). Billy and mother slept outside. Billy slept well, mother not so good. It was down to 50 last night and felt pretty good.

August 5, 1966 Friday
Everyone was up and around by 6:30. It was rather chilly! Billy and Bob climbed quite a cliff by our campsite. they found a flashlight there but left it. After breakfast, we found out that the camper who had left the flashlight there had decided it wasn't worth going back for, so Bob and Billy hiked all the way back up up there and got it.

It took us two hours to breakfast everyone, break camp, and start on our way. It was so beautiful and cool that no one wanted to leave.

We reluctantly, left Carson National Forest, enjoyed driving through quaint Taos, and settled down to traveling. I read Jim K.'s book, Hidden Valley today. Finished it in our Maroon Creek Campgrounds. We got to camp about five and had more time to fix camp and beds. even so, mother and Billy got quite cold last night.

August 6, 1966 Saturday
At five this morning mother came up to the trailer and cried for sanctuary. She was frozen! And about fifteen minutes later Billy came in -- also cold. When he saw mother in bed with me, he said, "Gramma! Are you in here ? The only reason I could stick it out as long as I did was that I thought you were still in your bed, and I thought if you could take it, so could I". He said he ever got up and did jumping jacks and then got back into bed hoping it would warm him. The dew was so heavy last night that Billy and mother's beds were wet and that, coupled with the high altitude, made for much coldness! We joked about it, but they were pretty miserable.

This Maroon Lake Campground in Colorado is beautiful. The lake is shallow but it reflects the Maroon Bells beautifully!

We were up and away by 7:30. We're reading Stevenson's, Treasure Island now, and Bobby, especially is enjoying it. I am, too.

We got to Dinosaur National Monument about two. At two-thirty we heard a ranger lecture about the dinosaur quarry. 'Twas most interesting. The dinosaur bones in the rock wall were quite unique. We enjoyed it, but rather than stay there, we moved on through Vernal, stopping to shop and let the boys see the Utah Field House of Natural History. Then we journeyed on through Sheep Rock Canyon, expecting to spend the night in one of the National Forest campgrounds found there. However, all the canyon campgrounds were closed. Last year a flash flood in the area took eight lives (in June, 1965); so the campgrounds are no more. In fact, the road is being rerouted, since it was all torn up by the flood.

We began to worry about a place to camp, but we stayed at the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in the Flaming Gorge Recreational Area. The campground was called Lucerne, and it was rather barren, but quite clean and nice. The fishing appeared good. We saw lots of trout.

We were home and all in bed by 9:30. Mother stayed home and slept. She slept inside tonight; Bill and Billy slept outside. Everyone slept well.

August 7, 1966 Sunday
Up and away from Lucerne camp by 7:30. It was cool this morning but not cold. had a good breakfast (Bob ate a pop-eyed sandwich -- but under great protest) and "battened down" and left.

Two "funnies" have happened that I don't want to forget. One was the Maroon Bells incident with Billy and mother sleeping outside. Billy was most indignant when he found out mother was in a warm bed; he didn't want to be considered a sissy.

The other had to do with Bob. He went to the rest room and somehow got into the little single room where campers empty their chamber pots. Later when he went with Bill & Billy, he was amazed at all the accommodations. He told us that he sure thought the girls' part must be big 'cause the boys' was so small.

We arrived at Craters of the Moon National Monument about five and had a little trouble finding a camping spot; however, we ended up with an ideal one. It was close to the rest rooms and the campfire talk area.

After supper of bar-b-queued beef, noodles Romanoff, and green beans, we cleaned up and went to the ranger's talk.

This is a fascinating volcanic area. The boys really enjoyed climbing over it. In fact, Bobby said he'd like to live here.

August 8, 1966 Monday
Up, breakfast, and away by 8:30 to take the scenic loop in this park. We stopped at Big Craters Trail and looked at the spatter cones and interesting formations of lava. Billy found examples of AA, spindle bombs, bread bombs, rope, basalt, and all sorts of lava. He wanted terribly to bring them home, but we compromised by letting him take a picture of them.

After our first stop, we went to the caves and took in all of them. Indian Cave, Boy Scout Cave, Beauty Cave, and Surprise Cave. They were rugged and interesting -- fatiguing sometimes. Oh, we also went in Dew Drop Cave. They were all cool -- some were icy.

After a visit to the visitors' Center for post cards, a drink, and a rest stop, we started on.

We stopped tonight at Twin Creeks Campground in the Salmon National Forest off US93. it was a beautiful place -- a small rippling stream and a beautiful, clean, new, uncluttered camp. We popped corn over an open fire and were in bed by 8:30 (mother and I) to 10 (Bill). There are lots of chipmunks and squirrels here.

August 9, 1966 Tuesday
I liked this camp! it's quiet and we had very few neighbors. The campgrounds are new and there were not many people. We're not sure why. Could it be that people were avoiding the construction area on this highway 93 ? It wasn't bad, however, just about five miles of graded gravel road.

We went along a canyon that Lewis and Clark traveled along on Sept. 3, 1805. It was beautiful, but I'm delighted that I'm going it in an automobile with a trailer attached.

One time, outside Missoula, we stopped at a smoke jumpers training school and took a tour of their place. It was great. we saw the airplanes they jump from, the equipment they use, the food they carry and eat. We watched them pack their chutes. They are mighty rugged characters! I said this was a school, but it was more than that, although it is a training area, it's also a place for full fledged smoke jumpers to live.

About mid-afternoon we got to the National Bison Range and took a mile loop around some display pens that had buffalo, antelope, and one magnificent elk with a tremendous spread of horns. We couldn't take the longer 17 mile loop around the range and pull the trailer; so this had to be enough for here. Bill was disappointed.

Then we headed for Flathead Lake. We arrived about 4:30, and several people had arrived before us. however, we did squeeze in a place. Then we fixed up the trailer, and while mother took a bath, Bill, the children, and I took a swim in the lake. It was cold like the dead mouse, but once you got all wet, it was wonderful.

August 10, 1966 Wednesday
Up and away from Flathead by 8:30. We kept looking for more cherries (we bought three pounds last night). We stopped at Margaret Scherf's place. She is a murder mystery writer with about twenty adult mysteries and two children's to her credit. At least one, The Corps in the Flannel Nightgown, was a Crime Club selection. Mother bought this book and had it autographed. It has a setting at Flathead Lake. The Rev. Martin Buell is the sleuth.

We ate cherries all morning. About ten we crossed the Canadian border. The crossing was very easy. We were asked how many cartons of cigarettes we had and how many bottles of liquor. other than that, we had nothing to answer to -- oh, yes, if we were all U.S. citizens.

We stopped and got fishing licenses (Gramma, Billy and Bill). Grandmother said it was worth the dollar she paid just to have it as a souvenir.

Finally, we were in our first Canadian Park. We paid a $2.00 car fee and a $1.00 trailer fee and got $.21 back because the rate of exchange makes our dollar 7% more. In the stores it was only 6%. We were told banks would give us the best rate of exchange, but we probably won't be spending enough to make much difference.

We got to Tunnel Mt. Campgrounds about five and had to park in the perimeter parking of the camp as all the trailer accommodations were taken. We could however, use the fine rest room accommodations.

This is a huge, perpetually crowded park, but it is beautiful and clean, and we are most pleased with it.

Rather that eating in, we went down to Banff, had the car serviced, and ate downtown. We window shopped a while and then washed clothes -- and washed and washed We had eight washers full and kept three dryers going. it was quite crowded, but apparently everything in Banff is.

We came home, bedded Barbara and Bob down in the car, and went to bed. it was a cold, blustery night. We all slept well.

Oh, yes, things happened today. Billy spent several hours of his travel time pitting big black cherries for a pie. Gramma said she'd make it if Billy would pit. Well, he did. Then they spilled in a box in the trailer.

[note]
I remember pitting the cherries for the pie. I got so sticky I couldn't wait to wash up after I was done. I pitted the cherries in the car as we drove along. It was a mess. I even got cherry juice on the roof (head liner) of the car. It was all worth it, though. Grandma's cherry pies were the best! It was sure a shame when diabetes hit family members and put an end to the greatest home made pies in the world.
Bill Brooks

August 11, 1966 Thursday
We didn't get up until eight this morning. It was wonderful sleeping.

We breakfasted and then Bill, the children, and Gramma went back to Banff (Bill for a hair cut, the rest to sight see), I rearranged the goods in the trailer, washed our ten pounds of cherries (less those pitted and eaten yesterday), and caught up in my journal. It was a nice, quiet time, and I enjoyed it. I even took a bath!

We got only as far as Honeymoon Lake, where we spent the night. Because it was so cold, everyone slept inside tonight. Barb and I over Bill and Billy, Gramma in the breakfast nook, and Bobby on the floor on the air mattress and in a sleeping bag. it worked out real well, all things considered. Again, everyone slept well.

August 12, 1966 Friday
Then, after letting Bill and Billy fish some at Honeymoon, we went on to Horseshoe Lake and while the boys fished, mother baked a fresh cherry pie. We had that and soup and sandwiches for lunch.

Bill was pretty pooped; so we got a trailer space at Cottonwood Park (with electricity, yet), and pulled in.

By four mother and I had had bathes and were comfortably settled in the breakfast nook with things to read, Bill and Barbara were knocked out on the beds, and the two boys were hiking.

August 13, 1966 Saturday
Today is my birthday, and i was reminded of it early by Barbara. After breakfast, everyone sang "Happy to me" and gave me some presents! Mother gave me a beautiful plaid shift that I will enjoy muchly for putting on after school. Barbara gave me a wooden cat with "Banff" on it, and Bill and the boys gave me a wooden Canadian maple leaf with "Banff" on it. It was quite a birthday -- up in the wilds of Canada -- but it was only starting.

We went into Jasper and noticed the trailer hitch wasn't doing so well, some bolts had broken. We had to get them fixed.

While we were waiting, we got some groceries and I started Henry Reed's Journey. We finished Rocket Ship Galileo, and it ended with a flourish.

After we got the trailer fixed, Bill came back all enthusiastic with a key in his pocket to a boat at Viril Lake -- in the "back country". We didn't know how "back" it was until we started going to it. We saw a map that showed our road as a fine blacktop, but after we got started, the road became pretty rough. Then it became a detour (we thought all the time we were on a detour). I was driving, and over one little hill I couldn't make it, started rolling back, and almost let the trailer go over the edge. Bill got us over that hill and two worse and we finally arrived at the start of the foot trail to the lake. There was no good place for the trailer, but we finally settled on a little turn around right before a rushing river and behind a very active railroad.

Bill and Billy outfitted themselves with their gear and we fixed them a sack picnic lunch and they started for their lake, three miles back in the mountains. Gramma, the other two kids, and I ate a leisurely lunch. Bob and I played a couple of games of "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" while Barb embroidered and Gramma slept. Then the kids and I decided to take a small hike. Little did I know that we would end up at Viril Lake!

We started down the trail, and I took a picture of a deer. Then we just kept hiking -- mostly uphill, I might add! I suggested about three times that we turn back, but old Bobby kept us going. After a while, even Barb was willing to go back. However, when we got within 1/4 mile of the lake, we all decided to continue. It was a pretty rigged hike however. The man who rented the boat to Bill said it took 55 minutes to walk in to where the boat was. Fifty-five minutes maybe for Daniel Boone! It took us an hour and fifteen.

It was a beautiful lake, though, and the fish were feeding all over it -- popping up and flipping their tails at us. Bill and Billy had thirteen brook trout on their stringer when we got there. They were small -- 8 or 9 inches long.

Bob and Barb went out with Billy in the boat while Bill and I sat on the bank and talked with a couple from California.

Barb caught a fish and got fish fever and decided she wanted to stay. So did Bob. Billy was sick; so he decided to go back with me. Billy had had a sore throat, and it was getting worse. His temperature was coming up, too.

It took us an hour to hike out. we took the thirteen fish, and Billy was going to clean them, but he was not able by the time we got back, so I did.

[note]
The fishing picture was taken near a lake where we hiked in to fish. The fish were trout. Mom hiked back to the trailer earlier than the rest of the family to get started cooking the fish for dinner. I went with her. Turns out I was getting sicker and sicker. By the time we got back to camp I was too sick to clean the fish and mom had to do it (and she wasn't too happy about that.) Didn't much matter to me. I was in bed with a fever.
Bill Brooks

I got down to the river and established myself on a slippery bunch of rocks. I tried just squatting down, but that got too rough; so i sat down and one foot kept sliding into that ice water! It was a bit chilly; I got my feet wet and my britches dirty, but I cleaned 13 fish.

Just as I was finishing, Bill and the kids came with five more -- three caught by Bobby Brooks! We cleaned them and put them on ice and started back to Jasper. Billy was feeling pretty rocky, but he insisted he didn't notice it while he was fishing. I believe him. He doesn't notice piddling little sicknesses when he's fishing!

The drive back wasn't quite as rough as the drive over had been. One of the worst hills had been circumvented by the road gang during the day -- but one of the hills we almost didn't make it over. We burned rubber, bounced, pushed (mentally), and floor boarded the car, and our good old Chevrolet came through for us and we made it!

When we got back into town, it was almost eight, but we decided Billy should see a doctor. We went to one we had noticed when the trailer broke down earlier that day, but he was gone and we were referred to the emergency room of the hospital. They referred us to Dr. Venner who was on call. We went to his home, and he gave Billy a prescription. He had, incidentally, been to a convention in san Antonio in '59. In fact, he said he had bought the suit he was wearing from there -- at Joskey's. Small world!

After getting the prescription at a drug store and getting back to Cottonwood Camp, it was almost nine. However, we fried ten of our trout, fixed canned macaroni and cheese and English peas and had a good supper.

Barb, Billy and Bob went to the ranger movies (real motion picture movies) while Billy stayed in bed and mother and I washed dishes and made beds all around. We have all slept in the trailer since we got in Canada, and it really works quite well.

When everyone was down for the night, I went over and had a hot shower and came home to bed. it was quite a birthday!

August 14, 1966 Sunday
Up about eight. After everyone had breakfasted, we just lolled around until eleven -- letting billy rest as much as possible. Then we packed up and went in.

While Bill and Gramma washed, the children and I went to the Jasper Fish hatchery. It was great. We saw trout the size of top minnows to the channel cats. The fingerlings were so thick in some of the tanks the water looked like something alive, shiny and slithering black.

We spent about an hour ohing and ahing over the fish; then we went back in to jasper, picked up mother and Bill, and went back to Horseshoe Lake. While we fixed lunch, Bill and Billy fished a bit more, but they had no luck.

After lunch we went to the Columbia Ice Fields. We had to unhitch the trailer to go up to the glacier where the snowmobiles were, and it was cold, rough work. The trailer wouldn't crank down to support the front end; so we had to use the jack. The wind was blowing from across the glacier; so we felt well "air conditioned". I had on three layers of clothes, and I was none too warm.

The snowmobile trip across the glacier was exciting -- a highlight, I suppose, of our trip. It was rough, but startling and beautiful. One place we stopped over a 35 foot crevasse that had broken open just last month. Looking down into it, you could see the beautiful shade of blue that is characteristic of glacial ice. It was beautifully menacing.

When we got to the turn around point we were allowed to get out of the snowmobiles. We had the guide take our picture by the snowmobile. Then, just as we were returning to the snowmobile, a big landslide occurred over on the mountain. It rumbled like a jet flying over, then huge blocks of the mountain fell. It was awesome, and I thanked the guide for timing it so well. He told us that was a rare treat not seen on every tour.

It took us until after six to hitch the car and pull out. Bob wanted to stay in the Columbia Ice Fields campground because the guide said it would probably snow tonight. But we had had enough cold and wanted to come down some; so we drove some eighteen miles further on and stayed at Cirrus Mountain Campground.

The camp was primitive, but clean and comfortable. We saw a tiny furry animal that no one could identify. Billy got a picture of it.

I read some of Henry Reed's Journal to everyone tonight, but we were tired; so I didn't read long.

Our mantle in the trailer didn't give out enough light, so Bill lit the Coleman lantern. It really puts out a good light -- and some welcome warmth, too.

Although everyone was tired, no one slept too well last night. I guess we were over tired, or something.

August 15, 1966 Monday
We didn't get away from camp until ten o'clock because we were just slow today.

Billy still has a scratchy throat, but he isn't running any temperature. As a matter of fact, he's about half a degree sub-normal. He seems to be feeling pretty good.

We finished our first roll of 36 slides today and started the second. Putting the new film in the camera was quite an undertaking. I read the directions to Billy while bill, Gramma, and Barb kibitzed. Bob just watched.

As we drove on toward Lake Louise, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Unfortunately, it has been a little too cloudy and rainy for good picture taking, but we have taken some anyway.

We stopped by one lake, Water Fowl Lake, I believe it was, and took some pictures of a moose cow and calf feeding in the lake. The mother would have her head under the water so long that you'd think she had drowned herself and then she would pull her head out of the water with quite a splash. The calf was looking at us as curiously as we were looking at her. They are pretty awkward, ungainly looking creatures.

We journeyed on to the town of Lake Louise and checked on mail. Norman and Rena's letter, saying they would arrive in Washington today, was there, but there was no news from sis. we shall see Norman and Rena tomorrow evening.

We went out to Lake Louise to look it over, and it is the most beautiful place we have yet seen! It was gorgeous -- quite picturesque. We ate lunch in a picnic campground and then started on down toward Banff.

We stopped and took the Marble Canyon Nature Trail. It was quite a sight. The river has cut a deep, narrow canyon. At the start of the canyon, 1/2 mile down the trail, the falls roared like an express train. The rock formations were interesting. Billy found a trilobite and was most unhappy because he couldn't bring it out of the park.

After that, we drove 1 1/2 miles to the trail to the ochre beds and paint pots. The stream has brought to the surface mounds of red ochre. The Indians used to come here to get their red paint. Bobby muddied one end of a stick in the paint pots. then he threw the stick and spattered Indian paint on Bill's coat and pants. When we got back to the car and Gramma, Bill had the only evidence of having gone all the way to the paint pots.

We continued on down the highway toward Radium Springs. I drove part of the way and let Bill rest a bit.

When we got to Radium Hot Springs, we bought milk and ice and post cards and went to Redrock Campgrounds -- only to find then full! We checked with the tourist-ranger-information center and found there were two more camps about two miles down the highway we were leaving on. We passed up the "dry" one and went in the Oasis Campground, a commercial camp with hot showers. Everyone showered and had a fine supper of hot cornbread, trout, SPAM, green beans, rice-a-roni, and ice cream. This piece-de-resistance came from a small grocery across the highway from our camp.

Bobby and Barb started the night outside, but about four Barb got frightened and we brought them in.

August 16, 1966 Tuesday
Up at seven, but it was nine before everything was squared away and we were ready to roll. Then we couldn't find Billy who had gone off to photograph a red squirrel. In about ten minutes we found him. He didn't get his red squirrel, but he got some sort of bird. We started at 9:10.

Today our objective is Colbert, Washington, where Rena and Norman have just taken a new job at the Circle Bar J Boy's Ranch.

We got there about five. We talked a while, looked over the beautiful building, and went into Spokane, Washington, for supper about seven. this was my birthday supper, and it was delicious.

August 17, 1966 Wednesday
We woke up this morning as Ray was reving his car at 6:00 to go back to Billings, Montana. he has a job there through Sept. 1; then he's coming back to the Circle Bar J and staying with Norman and Rena and going to school.

We left the ranch about 9:30 and went in to Spokane. Bill had the address of the Sunbeam Corp. and he wanted to get a new head for his razor. It is broken and keeps taking chunks out of him when he shaves. Most disagreeable!

It took only about ten minutes to get the razor fixed; then we took off. Today was just a driving-reading day. We went into three states: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming and ended in a beautiful Wyoming forest campground. Tonight we had one of our foil suppers -- hamburger, bacon, potatoes, onions, and carrots all wrapped up together. It was delicious. then we went to bed.

August 18, 1966 Thursday
Poor mother was cold much of the night and slept poorly. She said from one to six she slept not at all. When bill got up at six, she went in and confiscated his bed. Bill stayed outside and read his maps, Billy explored, and I got up, came to the car, and wrote in my journal. We had planned to get into Yellowstone today, but we may not make it, We'll see.

Bill I can see from the car window. He is stalking a red squirrel. He wants pictures of all the living things we see on the trip. His throat incidentally, remains scratchy. however, he doesn't complain about it. I seem to have an infection of some sort in my right ear. I thought it was a tooth at first, but exploring with my tooth brush didn't reveal anything; and since it just hurts occasionally and in a certain situation, I've decided it's an ear. I hope it doesn't develop into anything!

We drove today through Montana, We got groceries, gas, and ice in butte because we knew things were high and hard to find in Yellowstone.

Outside Butte we finished one of our best books so far on this trip, Farley Mowatt's, Lost in the Barrows, an interesting and exciting story of two boys who survive a winter in Eskimo land. Then we started on Little Women.

We drove on to Yellowstone National Park. On our drive this evening to the south end of the park, we saw four elk, three moose, and six bear. We'll continue our count tomorrow.

When we got down to Fishing Bridge Lake, and other southern campgrounds, everything was full, and we ended up camping in a parking area for the lake boat launching. It wasn't bad, however, and everyone slept well. We had soup and chili for supper, and Bill and the children went to the ranger lecture.

August 19, 1966 Friday
Up and breakfasted by eight-thirty and when mother and I had everything ready to roll, Barbara, Bill, and Billy had all mysteriously disappeared. Bob, mother, and I got in the car and read and wrote. The family began to gather about nine o'clock, and we decided to go to Fishing Bridge Campgrounds to look for a place to stay tonight.

We got in the campground without any trouble. We unhitched in G-29 and then went up and got mother a room at the Lake Resort Hotel. Then we went around to sight see at the Old Faithful and Grand Junction areas of the park. We saw thermal activity and about 20 bear, four moose, and three elk.

We ate lunch at Grand Junction. Then we came back, dropped mother off at the lodge, and went back to camp. After cleaning up a little and getting into long pants (it was cold as all get out), we ate at a cafeteria. Then we came home and went to bed. on our drive today it rained, sleeted, and snowed on us.

August 20, 1966 Saturday
Last night a bear visited out campsite and really disturbed some tent campers. They were yelling and hooting up a storm, beating on their pans, honking horns, and even driving a car around to scare off the persistent bear. He visited our trash can, right by our campsite, and rummaged through the garbage.

I fixed breakfast for everyone this morning; then we picked up mother and drove up to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It was as beautiful as ever.

Bob and Barb were disappointed 'cause there were no horses to ride. Because it had rained here (it sleeted and rained and hailed all this morning while we breakfasted in the trailer), the trails are all closed and the horse rides are off.

We ate lunch on the Hayden Plain or Prairie or whatever it's called and looked for elk, moose, and bison. Billy stalked a big bull bison and got his picture. Billy was thrilled at that.

Then we went back to the trailer and hitched up. Some New Jersey people had setup camp next to us. We talked a bit, said our good-byes, and started out the south entrance of the park. We saw few bear. Saw one big moose.

We didn't get any scenics of the Tetons because it was too cloudy and rainy. We also almost ran out of gas as we left the Tetons; we planned to get gas at Moran just outside the Teton National Park, but it turned out to be just a post office. However, from the edge of the park, it was only eight miles to the first filling station, and we made that.

Then we went on until we came close to Lander. We camped in a KOA campground and had hot showers, washed clothes, and fell into bed.

August 21, 1966 Sunday
Up and away from camp by 8:45. We stopped in Lander for gas and goods and bought some delicious plums and huge grapes -- white and red -- the size of mammoth olives. We ate fruit and read Little Women as we traveled the 127 miles to Rawlins.

We finished Little Women. It got two fair votes, two good, a very good, and one excellent. We started Swiss Family Robinson.

This was just a driving day. We ended up in Ft. Collins, Colorado, the home of Bill Rutherford. It is a beautiful college town.

We drove around the Colorado University campus, took the car to be serviced, and ate delicious hamburgers, soup, tossed salad, French fries, onion rings, shakes, and sundaes. It was a good supper.

We had a little trouble with the plug in the oil pan, and we didn't get back to the trailer until almost nine.

We are parked in a little Ft. Collins city park. It's pretty, but the rest rooms are very dirty.

August 22, 1966 Monday
The children have enjoyed this Ft Collins city park; there are all sorts of rides around it. Bob, especially, has enjoyed them.

Out from Ft. Collins we got on a beautiful Interstate Highway (IH-25) and headed toward Denver. We stayed on this highway through Colorado and into New Mexico.

We read almost half of Swiss Family today as we drove on almost to the Texas border.

We stayed in Clayton, New Mexico, courtesy of the city, at the airport! We even had electricity.

August 23, 1966 Tuesday
It was raining this morning when we got up and pretty chilly. we decided, since Iris isn't expecting us until tomorrow, to go by Jean today and Anson tomorrow. It will be a long drive. I should get a lot of Swiss Family read. Bob keeps looking for gourds. He's been inspired by our current book and wants to make some gourd dishes.

We finished our book just as we approached Olney. We went to a grocery store and got some bar-b-que, beans, and salad to take out to Uncle Jess and Aunt Eula's. We had supper and a visit with them and Bill and I slept in a real bed!

August 24, 1966 Wednesday
Up and a fine breakfast of oatmeal, biscuits, bacon, and eggs was had by all. After a bit more talk and quite a hassle among Bob, Barb and mother about a little silver cat that they wanted very much to take home, and I didn't see how, with six people in the car, that we could manage.

1966	Western Canada
	Brooks Family Agua Piedra Campsite Carson National Forest
	Bob Brooks Dinosaur bones
	Brooks Family Craters of the Moon National Monument
	Bill Jr. Cherry Pie, hand pitted by Bill Horseshoe Lake [note] I remember pitting the cherries for the pie. I got so sticky I couldn't wait to wash up after I was done. I pitted the cherries in the car as we drove along. It was a mess. I even got cherry juice on the roof (head liner) of the car. It was all worth it, though. Grandma's cherry pies were the best! It was sure a shame when diabetes hit family members and put an end to the greatest home made pies in the world. Bill Brooks
	Brooks Family & Travel Trailer
	Bill Brooks Jr [note] This picture was taken near a lake where we hiked in to fish. The fish were trout. Mom hiked back to the trailer earlier than the rest of the family to get started cooking the fish for dinner. I went with her. Turns out I was getting sicker and sicker. By the time we got back to camp I was too sick to clean the fish and mom had to do it (and she wasn't too happy about that.) Didn't much matter to me. I was in bed with a fever. Bill Brooks
	Brooks Family In a "Snow Cat" Glacier Bay
	Brooks Family & Travel Trailer Oscar & Iris Anson, TX
	Bill won 1st place (and $10) in a national photography competition with this photo. The competition was sponsored by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
	This was the first year we shot with a 35mm camera & color film. But, we still carried along a B&W Browney camera!