More 1967

As I said, the chains were breaking on the car. your Dad would get out and with one arm , try to repair the chains. Heck, he even tired to take them off, nothing worked. We left the car running, and I got out to help. It was so cold, our hands immediately felt frost bite. We had no gloves to wear in the ice. We barely had coats good enough to wear in icy weather. We were from California and a person does not usually need extreme cold weather clothing.
We would eventually have to give up and go to the next town. There we would have the chains replaced. It was a long trip. We still could not find a place to stay.
Again once on the road, we would hit patches of ice and snow and patches of pavement. Again the chain would break, Finally we drove with the noise, pounding under the car. We had to yell to talk to each other.
We finally found a place to stay. The snow was so deep they closed Route 66.
We were in Joseph City Arizona. A little no where town in no where. I think we were the only travelers to make it there.
We found a little motel across the road from a restaurant. The motel was drafty and we cranked the heat all the way up. I took towels and stuffed them in the windows to seal the drafts and add more insulation.
We now had to sit out the storm. It blew for a day or two. It was so cold all you wanted was something hot to drink.
We would cross Route 66 every morning and eat breakfast .We kept milk and soda in the car in the cold. In subzero temps noting was going to ruin.
As soon as the storm let up, We took walks around Joseph City. It was a quiet little town, mostly Indian and Mexican inhabitants.
We marveled at the Christmas lights at night. Charles went with us on our treks but Mom kept Ken in the motel. She was content to do that.
We saw a 15 foot snowman, at the very least he was that tall, the family had put a big sign on him. "Big Tex"
I bought a chain belt, it was gold colored and Indian styling. I wore that belt for over 38 years at different times, The style would come in and go out, My belt was always a part of my wardrobe and It reminded me of harder times.
David would sit in the car every day with the motor running and check the weather and road conditions, He said, Which ever way it opens first we are going that way.
We spent a week in that motel, it was not bad, just not home, I had to do laundry , I had to wash diapers but the motel helped me with that.
Finally the road opened to the east. We were on it as soon as we gassed up and checked everything out.
We had to drive pretty slowly until we were out of the ice and snow. It was beautiful, but deadly. So many accidents were caused and the farmers were losing their cattle, due to lack of food. There were lots of free range cattle. Hay was being flown in by helicopter to the outlying areas.
We made our way to a larger town and found out, Had we made it that far, the Red Cross would have provided our food and lodging. Darn and it cost us so much.
Finally we saw clear driving ahead. We had the chains removed. We now could make time getting home.
David had no intention of stopping until we were in my Moms driveway.
When we arrived, I walked to the door with Baby in arms. Charles was brought in by his dad.
As soon as I opened the door, I saw Mama in the kitchen, She literally ran to me, kissed me then said, "Hand me that baby."
She sat down, then grabbed Charles to hold and cuddle.
We had a wonderful home coming,
Mama had her tree up, it was an aluminum tree. LOL
It was, she never had to go find a tree again and it was easy for her to put up. Actually it was pretty, So shiny.
We stayed a couple of weeks, after all David was not working and we had nowhere to be any time soon. The weather was bad so we stayed until it was good enough to travel, safely.
When we went home,We took a new route.
Through Interstate 10 across 900 miles of Texas. I thought we never would get out of Texas, then 900 miles of California, leaves only 400 miles of the other two states.
We did not like that route but Death Valley was not hot that time of year, It was clear but cold.

I was so glad to be home again, Home in California, That was a trip we never made again in winter.

More 1967