Some of you (such as Alert Reader Detlef K.) have come across articles and news stories about the 120th anniversary of the cross-country automobile road trip. For those of you who haven’t, I am providing this link to a great story in “Big Think.” It was a big deal, as it took Horatio Jackson 63 days to make the trip along (mainly) dirt roads with a mechanic and a dog. It was a big deal at the time. Now, most of my coast-to-coast road trips have taken more like a week. (Once I did it in a little more than three days….but I was on the lam at the time…) But in 1903, 63 days was lightning fast, considering there were no gas stations, no AAA, no signage, and precious little pavement.
I’m seriously thinking of re-tracing Horatio’s route. Somebody talk me out of this…
Chasing Phantoms 
Not sure we could talk you out of it. Maybe we can just meet you at
Various places via airplane to share the journey. And make
Sure you are still sane.
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It’s a date!
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I’m in!
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Steve, A few months ago I finished a book describing where the U.S. Army completed a coast to coast road trip shortly after WW1. If I remember right, it took them about two months; a young officer named Dwight Eisenhower was in the party and there were about 50 different kinds of cars and trucks. It was a great read; perhaps it was you who suggested the book. If you haven’t read it, I’ll send it to you. We’re in Las Vegas for a couple of weeks. The book is either in San Diego or Tahoe. I don’t recall the book’s title or the author, but I’ll find it. I hope you do the trip! Chris
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Would love to get the title of the book. I’d heard that’s how Eisenhower came up with the idea of the Interstate system.
Enjoy your visit to Vegas–place a bet on red for me!
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Greetings OMOD:
I’m going to talk you into it. You should do it! You probably won’t want to do the full 63 days and you will want to use gas stations, but if you want to recreate Horatio’s team, take Ian since he seems pretty mechanical. And, since you’ll need a dog, Roxy is most definitely available!
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