July 13

This report just in from Scott Piotrowski, on Sundays Events.

Sunday, July 11

8:30am - hit the road, picking up last minute supplies and heading east to meet up with Brian. living so close to 66 has its advantages, that's for sure!

9:20am - get word from Brian's sister, Louise, that he's still at the hotel and his car won't start. a quick phone call to Helen Baker, and the "boys" and her are on the way to meet him by around 10am, I'm in Rancho Cucamonga, at the Sycamore Inn. the Sycamore supposedly opened in 1848, so it's fitting that Brian's current round of car problems would have him pull in there.

several hours later, we're finally on the road, heading west. in the lead is Brian, second is Lloyd, and third is Neil, with Helen riding with him. Kevin Hansel from the California Historic Route 66 Association and I are also following along, the non-Nash representatives of the "caravan."

i begin leapfrogging with the rest of the group, getting ahead and shooting either video or photographs as brian, lloyd, and neil all pass some route 66 landmarks in los angeles county. we pass, among other things, the golden spur and the 50's replica arco in glendora. further down the road, a great shot of the three passing by me, then rolling along past santa anita race track.

it's 2:30, and we're just getting into pasadena. by 3, i'm trying to get to the colorado "suicide" bridge before them. although i make it there, i don't get the camera ready in time. missed my only opportunity to get the best video i could have had.

by 3:30 we've rolled through highland park, past sycamore grove park, and right along the hillside of mount washington, home to the southwest museum. i'm sure while riding through, none of our other caravan members realize the significance of the moment, but i relished it. this was a rare moment when 66 and the southwest museum get so close, at least emotionally.

just before 4:00, into and through chinatown, and then near elysian park. it's a sunday. the dodgers are at home. and that means dodger game traffic is letting out onto sunset. traffic is almost at a standstill. even my saturn was pretty warm sitting there ... i could only imagine how the nash's continued to run. but they did.

a little after 4:00, and we move through hollywood. after rolling underneath a route 66 sign at santa monica and vine, i pull into a gas station ahead of the caravan. mission accomplished ... another good video shot of the cars rolling underneath that piece of hollywood ... a route 66 sign and the "vine" sign!

i leave the group to high-tail it out to santa monica. it's a sunday, and traffic and the crowds are a bare. on the phone with helen, we agree that trying to get parked near the will rogers plaque simply will not work. we head to the pier, with me well in front of the group, trying to set up for some video. i meet up with brian's sister louise, his niece randi, and her husband ray. several others are there as well, specifically waiting for brian. those that happened to be on the pier and at the intersection of ocean and broadway were astounded when, at about 5:30pm, brian made the turn onto the pier. (thanks to the santa monica PD guy that let me out into the road to videotape the moment, and even held up another car so that the now FOUR nash's would be in a line together!)

**********

Scott Piotrowski
Modern VideoFilm, Glendale
(818) 637-6835

July 12:

Good morning Jim.

Completed trip yesterday @ the pier in Santa Monica. Very high drama. Was a frightful experience going through 80 miles of city traffic. Job done, weather very hot, car not running well and wheels about to fall off.

I had two NCCA members accompanying me from San Bernadino. A huge thanks to LLoyd Hardy and Neil Black. Bob Bruner met us at the pier.

Last day was a real experience. I'll write when I can get proper access. Thanks for helping to get the NASH name spread around a little bit more.

Hard to believe it has been 50 days today since I went into the city (Chicago) that first day and then went to the game.

Thanks,
Brian....

July 12:

Brian was interviewed while visiting the California Route 66 Museum on Saturday, July 10, 2004.

Helen Baker

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the Barstow Desert Dispatch
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Route 66 fan pays rolling tribute to Great Depression
By JOHN GALAYDA/Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE -- If you ask Brian McKay, Route 66 isn't just a road.
"It's a series of events that occur between a town, the people and the traveler," the British Columbia native said Saturday during a brief stop at the Route 66 Museum in Victorville.

And since his departure on May 23 from downtown Chicago, McKay said he's had his fair share of memorable experiences during his travels from town to town along Route 66 in his 1930 Nash automobile, which he restored to resemble a Nash he saw in a famous 1936 Dorothy Lange photograph.

The photograph shows a poor migrant family in Abilene, Texas, traveling in a rusty and dusty Nash.

"I restored the Nash to represent the era when it was used," McKay said. That era was the Great Depression.

McKay said his travels along Route 66 in the rusty Nash is a tribute to the Great Depression and its victims.

McKay camps out each night under a lean-to set alongside the Nash, a common sight during the Depression, he said.

The authenticity of the Nash does have its drawbacks, McKay said.

"She's 74 years old, so she needs a lot of attention," McKay said. "Everything on her is 74 years old."

The Nash only drives an average of 35 mph, but the slow, leisurely and scenic drive is just how McKay said he'd like to view Route 66.

"It's just beautiful coming through the desert," McKay said. "I didn't know what I expected, but the geology and geography is just amazing."

When his trek is over, McKay said he plans to store the Nash in Los Angeles and travel back to British Columbia by train. He will then return in September and he is thinking of driving the Nash back to Chicago, along the 2,300-mile Mother Road.

"My trip is almost over," McKay said. "And I don't want it to be over yet."

July 11:

Brian drove his 1930 Nash out on Santa Monica Pier at approximately 5:30 PM PDT on July 11, 2004, to the cheers of thousands of well wishers. Needless to say, it was a very emotion day for Brian, and for all of us who have been following Brian's incredible journey.

Look for additional reports when we all come down from Cloud 9.

Helen Baker

July 10:

Date: 7/10/2004 9:02:47 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Brian arrived at the Barstow Route 66 Museum! Visitors thought he was part of the museum decor with his unique Nash parked directly in front of the door. He briefed us on his travels and people he'd met. We thoroughly enjoyed Brian's visit, amusing, thoughtful, easy manner. A volunteer and he shared a serious "Nash" conversation while others including me were taking pictures. We have lots of pics! On his way out, he stopped under the shade of the First Street Bridge by the historic Harvey House and quickly changed spark plugs. She, the Nash, averages 35 MPH slowing as needed for rough roads. He cannot believe his 48 days on the road is coming to an end so soon as he reaches the end of the Route 66 Sunday.

Debra Hodkin
Route 66 Mother Road Museum
Historic Harvey House
681 N. First Ave.
Barstow, CA 92311
760-255-1890
http://barstow66museum.itgo.com/
Open Fri-Sun 11-4 & by appointment

July 10:

Places, Places, Everyone!

Brian just called (7/10), he's in Barstow and plans to be in Santa Monica tomorrow afternoon (Sunday 7/11). I think that it's great timing as he'll come through LA on it's slowest traffic day and hit Santa Monica during it's maximum visitation time.

Great exposure. A press agent's dream!

And, yes Scott, Brian does want to visit Santa Monica Pier!

Brian camped last night (7/9) under a clear desert sky somewhere between Ludlow and Newberry Springs. He said that the road between Amboy and Ludlow was rough and he had to keep his speed (?) down to 5 miles per hour. Brian said that his original concept of the Mojave Desert, that of a landscape similar to the pictures he'd seen of the Sahara, was shattered. He was astounded by the mountains and vegetation that he saw, with each new rise in the road bringing a more spectacular sight. The rain that was promised to the area yesterday, never arrived, but there were a few moments of shade from passing clouds. Brian said that several times, the views actually took his breathe away and he had to stop in order to take it all in. One particular time he came through a draw and saw two roads stretching far out before him only to disappear in the mountains on the horizon. One of course was Route 66 and the other may well have been an old wagon road. In a touch of whimsy, Brian mentioned that his Great Great Grandfather left Canada in 1848 for California and was never heard from again, he wondered if perhaps, long ago his Grandfather may have traveled some of this same terrain, perhaps even on that other elusive road.

Helen Baker

July 10:

I got word that Brian passed by Goffs, CA, sometime yesterday (7/9). Denizens of the desert community reported that they missed seeing him, but that he'd left a note at the bulletin board.

In a previous message, Brian said he planned to stay in Ludlow, so best guess is, that's where he was last night (7/9). Ludlow is about 50 miles east of Barstow. Today (7/10) should find Brian passing by the Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs and then visiting the Mother Road Museum in Barstow.

Please post any 'Brian sightings,' as there are members of The Nash Car Club of America and the Route 66 community waiting to welcome Brian as he heads down from Cajon Summit and makes his way toward Los Angeles. They also plan a celebration in Santa Monica, when he reaches the end of his momentous journey, but are having trouble gauging his ETA.

All I can say, is that Brian is just, HAVING TOO MUCH FUN, LIVING HIS DREAM OF A LIFETIME ON ROUTE 66!

Helen Baker

July 10:

66 Productions
PO Box 60463
Pasadena, CA 91116-6463
Phone: (818) 207-0358
www.66productions.com rt66prods@yahoo.com

July 8, 2004
For Immediate Release

Contact:

Helen Baker: (818) 705-3930
Neil Black: (818) 767-1919
Scott Piotrowski: (818) 207-0358 or (626) 796-8554

"Dust Bowler" Relives Migratory Journey Canadian Brian McKay will Complete Route 66 Trip in Santa Monica

As if straight out of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath," the 1930 Nash "450" Single Six Sedan rumbles along Route 66. Canadian Brian McKay is at the wheel, seeking to reenact the hundreds of thousands of trips families made westward on Route 66 to find work in California during the 1930s, driving the Nash over ground they traveled 67 years ago.

Back in the 1930s, automobiles like the Nash were driven westward out of Oklahoma. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl that Steinbeck wrote about had forced many Oklahomans from their homestead, their livelihood. The owners, some of whom had once been relatively successful, decided to head west, resting their hopes on California, the land of dreams.

The Nash, dubbed the Dust Bowl Refugee, was found by McKay, on a farm in Alberta, Canada, over 30 years ago. McKay, who had been raised on stories and photos of the hard times of the 30s, decided it would be a fitting vehicle to make his own dream of traveling Route 66 a reality. By taking his journey along 66, McKay sought to relive a piece of history and pay tribute to those people who packed everything they owned into their cars and headed west to find work and a better life.

McKay has restored the Nash to its 1937 condition. This includes a mattress atop the vehicle and a stainless steel colander and cast iron skillet strapped to the outside. McKay has even been sleeping in a lean-to pitched next to his car during the trip. McKay has been averaging about 100 miles per day traveling America's Mother Road, Route 66, and has largely avoided freeways. McKay left Chicago on May 25, with the vow, "California, here I come. Following old Route 66, or bust!" He is due to arrive in Santa Monica in mid-July.

The California Historic Route 66 Association, the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation and the National Historic Route 66 Federation are all proud to welcome McKay to the symbolic end of Route 66. All three organizations will be represented, along with The Nash Car Club of America's local chapter at Santa Monica Boulevard and Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica when McKay reaches the Promised Land.

McKay is tentatively scheduled to arrive in Santa Monica around the 14th of July, depending on his traveling conditions. Unfortunately, due to the nature of his journey, a specific time cannot be determined. For more details about his travel plans, please contact Helen Baker or Scott Piotrowski for the most up-to-date information. For more information about Route 66 in Los Angeles County, please contact Scott Piotrowski. For more information about The Nash Car Club of America, contact Neil Black. Photos of McKay's "Dust Bowl Refugee" can be acquired through Bob Moore at Route 66 Magazine, hwyrovr@yahoo.com or (702) 299-0856

# # # # #

July 9:

Brian,

We all are enjoying your travels westward toward the end of Route 66 in Santa Monica.

We, of the Southern California Region, NCCA, want to help make your arrival a welcome one. Several of us would like to link up with you out in the San Bernardino/Rialto area to help herald your arrival or at least provide you an escort, with your approval, of course.

Our problem is, of course, knowing when to expect that possibility to occur and where we could meet you in route. We will also be joined by other Nashes in Santa Monica on your arrival there.

I know that this may be putting too much strain on the free schedule that you have enjoyed on the trip. We just need as much advance notice as we can get to be able to call up the troops to welcome you to our "nice and cool" city.

I look forward to meeting up with you and hearing more about your travels (in and out of rivers), etc. I promise that we will not have any hailstorm here for you.

By the way, It was good meeting you, your lovely wife and your baby 1930 last summer in Mt. Vernon at the Grand NASHional. I was the one hobbling around with a big boot on my foot from a skydiving accident.

Safe driving and welcome to California.

Neil Black #388 NeilB39@aol.com

July 8:

Here's an update on Brian from Bob Moore at Route 66 Magazine in Laughlin, NV. As you read his assessment of the damage to Brian's car from the hail storm in Texas, imagine Bob, and the size of his fist!

While his car is soaking in the river, Brian is about town, as a call to his room at the Edgewater found him out. Best guess is that Brian will stay in Laughlin again tonight (7/8). Somehow, I doubt that the migrating family that he's emulating, stayed in a hotel, but in Brian's case, I believe that he's earned the right!

Helen Baker

Subj:Brian in Laughlin
Date:7/8/2004 10:20:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From:hwyrovr@yahoo.com
To:Bakerhab@aol.com

Helen, We met with Brian in Laughlin this morning (7/8) and took him over to Davis Camp on the Arizona side of the Colorado River where he is currently soaking his wheels in the water, in hopes of tightening the wooden spokes.

(Photo Courtesy of Bob Moore - Executive Editor - Route 66 Magazine.)

I put a full fist into the hail dent on the front fender from the storm in Amarillo. To put that kind of a dent in "real steel" it must have been one heck of a storm!

He is doing well - has had a great time meeting with people along the road (Day 44 now) and he expects to leave early in the morning (7/9) from Needles heading west. He is planning to stay in Ludlow tomorrow (7/9) night. So there is the Brian update for now - BTW, he is still having a, "GREAT time."

Bob Moore

Bob Moore - Executive Editor
Route 66 Magazine
PO Box 66
Laughlin NV 89028
702.299.0856
www.route66magazine.com
"Dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Mother Road"

July 7:

I just spoke to Paul Taylor at Route 66 Magazine. He said that Brian is in Laughlin, NV, and will be there until sometime on Thursday (7/8). Brian is soaking his wheels. They plan to do a photo shoot tomorrow morning of Brian driving into the Colorado River.

Laughlin weather at noon, Wednesday (7/7) is 102 degrees with 11% humidity.

I just got this message from a reporter at the Needles Desert Star. I'd say that Brian has gotten his money's worth from these wheels. Let's hope they can go a few more days on Route 66, and then, a few more weeks on Hwy 101, as Brian completes his trip home to British Columbia.

Once Brian gets to Needles, he's only about 270 miles from the western terminus of Route 66. That's about 4 hours by modern car or almost 4 days, by 1930 Nash.

Helen Baker
Bakerhab@aol.com

From: needlesdesertstar@citlink.net
7/7/2004

Brian called me this morning (7/7) and said he planned to head down to Needles on Friday (7/9) morning. He will call me when he gets here. He said that the heat was rapidly drying out his wooden wheels, which were originally meant to last only 15 years.

July 6:

I just got a call from Brian McKay. He was in Kingman, AZ. He traveled there today (7/5) from Williams with a stop in Seligman, he was very pleased to find the Sno Cap open, and he spent some time talking with the folks at Hackberry. He plans to go to Oatman tomorrow (7/6) and then he may make a side trip to Laughlin or go directly to Needles.

He said that Arizona has been very hard on his car especially the wheels. His wheels have wooden rims and spokes and the high temperatures have been causing the wood to shrink so the wheels are rattling. He has to be very careful on rough roads. He had planned to take a side trip to Las Vegas, but doesn't want to put finishing his trip in jeopardy by going the additional miles in the heat. The temperature in Needles is predicted to be 110 tomorrow.

I've given Brian email address for those of you who are in his path, although, he does not have a cell phone with him. He will be traveling on Route 66 across the Mojave Desert, and even though it is not heavy traveled, it is not deserted either.

Brian hopes to find a library tomorrow so that he can send an update for his trip log. If you would like to contact Brian his email is: bmckay@horizon.bc.ca
Helen Baker
Bakerhab@aol.com

July 1;

Received from Jack Kroehnke, a resident of Albuquerque New Mexico.

We did dinner about 8 o'clock (June 30, 2004) but it turned out the easiest way to do it was back to the 66 Diner (and it was on the house!). His problem mirrored part of the Santa Rosa breakdown -- loss of oil pressure. Apparently a screen in the filtering system dropped out of place and some junk got into the line. The Wal-Mart automotive guy claimed he couldn't match the filter on his computer; we drove to an Auto Zone about a mile and a half away and the kid behind the counter punched a few keys, handed Brian a slip of paper and said "Both of these are on that shelf in the back corner." Brian bought two of the more expensive ones.

He's at the ABQ library right now (10:30 MDT or so, July 1, 2004) sending Jim Bracewell an e-mail, maybe you too. He's got a photo shoot, I think with Johnnie, at noonish at the 66 Casino a few miles west of town, then he's off to Grants, and Gallup tomorrow. He said something about a gathering in Flagstaff over the weekend, which should be doable, given no more breakdowns, but beyond that is anybody's guess.

Sure enjoyed him while it lasted! And he's having a ball.

Jack Kroehnke - kronk22@hotmail.com

July 1;

Morning Jim,

Leaving Albuquerque this am for Grants to meet Johnnie to take some photos. Albuquerque has an interesting downtown core that seems to be holding its own. Lots of neon.

Met Jack yesterday and had a great lunch at the 66 Diner. He helped me solve a oil pressure problem and we had a nice visit. Holiday weekend coming up so I don't know what the traffic will be like but the weather is sure nice.

Read the mail from Helen and Scott. I like Scotts note on coming up with something appropriate for the many folks that have had the opportunity to complete the trip. The bottom line is publicity for the R66 and of course for NCCA.
Just thinking.....

Brian..

June 30;

Met Brian at the 66 Diner here in Albuquerque a bit ago...
We're having dinner tonight, not at the Diner probably...they bought his lunch today and, as apparently usual, he got a lot of attention. I took some pics, will e- them later.

Jack Kroehnke - - - kronk22@hotmail.com

June 29;

Morning Jim,

Another beautiful day in Santa Fe NM.
Had a great run up her even though its about 7 thousand feet in the air. Made the pass without any problems, traffic or road.
Wonderful scenery.
Will be in Alb. tomorrow.
Having a great time.

Brian......

June 27;

Brian phoned to give an update:

I spent several days in Tucumcari, New Mexico, which I enjoyed very much.

"I Rolled into Santa Rosa New Mexico, with the car running poorly.
I tried most everything, changing carbs, points and anything else I could think of, but the problem just got worse. Have been here three days working on it. Sunday, I must have done something right, as it suddenly started, and ran pretty good. Have made additional adjustments and I'm ready to head on out now, towards Santa Fe.

When I first arrived here, the Rt. 66 group wanted to do a photo shoot, so got the local law involved and had a bridge blocked off for them to take pictures on. Was quite a bit involved.

There is a North and South (Old) Rt. 66 at this point, where it was changed, rerouted, at some point in its life, and since I want to visit several things in Santa Fe, I want to follow that route at this time."

As told by Brian.

June 24;

Morning Jim

He is 91 years old. He is a bony old weathered character. He walked into the library here in Tucumcari and hollered out "who has that old Nash out there?"
I admit it and go out to the car with him. He has a smile on his face a mile wide. He is really happy to have seen this Nash. He proceeds to tell me all about the cars from his youth and his dads first car a Overland. Telling these stories allows him to relive the time and place.
He was a rancher in N.M. all his life. He would like to take a picture but his camera is at home. He offers to walk home to get it but I insist on taking him in the Nash. His smile threatens to break his face in half.
At home where he still takes care of himself mostly, he proudly shows me a photo of his ancestral home in Spain that he took last year when he returned for a visit. I asked when he came to this country and was suprised to hear him say his family came her via South America in 1605. They moved to what was then Mexico. He was very proud of his Spanish heritage and also of his early American roots. He tilts his weathered hat and tilts his head and looks at me with those bright, clear eyes sparkling as he remembers his youth. His ancestors have played a role here in North America for 400 years.
Juan Francisco de Bodega E Quadra, who discovered Vancouver Island, where I live, in the 16th century may have been a relative of this old man. It was a special moment we shared thanks to the old Nash.

Brian.....

June 23;

Morning Jim
Sorry for the big gap in news. I must be on the road to hell instead of r66 with all these good intentions. I'll give you the latest news first.
I'm in Tucumcari NM. I arrived here yesterday after a nice drive from Adrian OK, the half way point. Fran wishes all well. I drove for 38 miles without meeting a car coming or going. Thats my kind of road, eh? I had left Amarilla late in the day and was heading west. I stopped to watch a storm building. It was soon evident to be a large one indeed. It covered 180 degrees of the sky and winds were up to 80 mph at that time. The wind forced me to seek a safer location. I moved about a block away next to a hospital and put her rear to the storm as a horse in a field would do.

As things worsened, I realized the storem was not moving on but was rotating overhead in a counter-clockwise rotation. Humidity was up and my imagination said this thing was about to spawn a tornado. The rain started then heavily, the sirens started to go off and hail was beginning to fall. Normal hail at first and progressed to pea size. I grabbed my box from on top of the roof and sat in the front seat. I grabbed two blankets and put them over my head. Hail went from pea size to marble size and the noise was deafining. I had the tape running . Now they were golf ball size and the ground everywhere was covered. Poor old girl, getting hit like that. Then a series of tremendous impacts. I looked out and saw hail the size of a tennis ball or a baseball was now striking us. A deafening blows and at the same time I felt the hail striking my shinns. Oh oh I thought the windsheild had gone now. It hadn't, but the attack was still in progress. It was coming in through one of the cowl vents which was partially open. This carried on for what seemed like an eternity and then started to abate. The heavy rains started and soon everything wasd in water several inches deep or more. That ditch I was going to lay in if a funnel had formed was now 2 feet in water. LOL

All my glass held. Both headlight lens were destroyed. When it stopped enough for me to get out and survey it was .....WOW. There were dents all over the old girl. On the hood, the roof, the radiator, the fenders, the water/oil/gas cans. The front fenders had dents that would hold a baseball. There are about 5 major strikes and 25-30 smaller(2 inches or so) ones. Banjo destroyed.

Kerosene Gas can on the roof damaged, even had dents on the brass knobs on the bedstead. A major hit on the sunshade over the windsheild. Saved the window. A big dent in the Texas licence plate which would have had to have been a horizontal strike.

I have listened to the tape a little bit but all i can hear over the noise is my voice saying "incredable ' over and over and over again. WOW

When it stopped I moved further west since I could see another front comming. I found an overpass to hide under which is not supposed to be a good thing to do when it comes to the wind. The hail was on my mind. I found that I had no lights so I slept in the front seat of the car. I had a visit from Bill from Amarillo at 2;30 in the morning. He is a member of the E Group of the R66 people and we had a nice visit. I didn't get a chance to go into Amarillo that morning since I wanted to put a few miles on in a westerly direction. My time has run out here at the library but I will do it again tomorrow. I found a lens here and have repaired one light.

Brian......

Day 16;

Brian phoned this evening, the 9th of June, to report he was in Claremore Oklahoma, where he had taken the time to visit the Will Rogers Museum. His plans were to head on into the Tulsa area for the Rte 66 festival car show being held there over this coming weekend.

Brian reported several newspapers had interviewed him as he passed across Missouri. Also, while in Joplin MO, a local TV station interviewed him. He said the next day as he headed down the road, people would slow down while passing him to hollar out that they had seen him on TV. Many folks would pull way ahead of him, then pull over and wait for him to pass and ask him to stop so they could get a closeup view of the car.

Hi Jim and Dorthy,

Here I am in Springfield MO on sunday June 6,pm. I have just returned to R66 here after a side trip to Branson Mo. It was a great trip through the Ozarks going down one way and returning the other. Traffic is moderate and not a single incident as of today.

I have met so many wonderful people that it is difficult to remember them all.

Car is running well and of course, as I get further from Chicago, the comment that I started in downtown Chicago draws more and more expressive ....."in this car???, no way...." People are getting a big kick out of it and I have been able to spread the word of NASH of course.

While camped in Branson, the camper beside me and I had a nice chat. He invited me to stop on my way back today for a ride. No charge. He runs the Helicopter tours in Branson and insisted on taking me up for a ride. It may not have been R66 related but it sure was a thrill for me and it shows how the people who see her are happy to take part in our adventure. That goes from the Ferry Boat Engine room tour in Annacortes to the engineers locomotive tour on the Burlington Northern.

Thanks Jim..
The peppermint tea is holding up well.
Take care,
Brian.........

First Email; Am in Springfield Mo. Will spend a few days here. Everything going good. Car running great. Good Weather.

The trip to Hannibal went well and I spent some time in Pitfield IL at a State bluegrass weekend with players from all over the State. One of the participants even took the banjo down off the roof and got it in tune and played it. I recorded the song that her band played just for proof. Very much fun. Horrific weather though. All the way through IL including a touchdown in Pitfield which left most trees in the town with a haircut. Great pictures.

Second phone call to say he'd been caught during the night by a sudden thunder storm, and everything had gotten soaked. Tent, bedding, mattress. He had to spend the rest of the night in the car and found it quite uncomfortable, so was taking a day out to dry things out.

His plans were to lay over in the St. Louis area over the holiday weekend. Then he wanted to travel North along the Mississippi river to Hannibal MO.

Brian phoned to say he was 40 miles short of St. Louis. Was staying at a fairgrounds where they had provisions for 4H'ers to stay with their annimals overnight, with all the facilities he would need.

He reported all was well. Car was working just great. Had one other experiecnce with the law, as the side road he had been traveling suddenly ended, into Rte 55 Interstate, and with no other choice he entered the expressway. He'd not gone far before the police pulled him over, and insisted he do 45 or get off the highway. No driving on the shoulder at 35.

While traveling through the Joliet IL area, Brian was seen by the editor of the local Herald News. He phoned his reporter and asked that she try and catch Brian and get some photos and an article.

Brian reported that a car pulled along side him, window down, driven by a lady, with a child in a car seat, calling out to him that she wanted to photograph his car, and that she was a reporter, and could he pull over?

Brian pulled into a driveway and the two stopped. While both were visiting, they heard sirens screaming, and soon saw police cars traveling in their direction. Three squad cars pulled up, police exited with guns drawn, and immediately asked for identification and an explanation of their presence at this location. Seems Brian had pulled into a drive on the grounds of the Braidwood Nuclear Power Plant.