When I was 7 or 8 Mom and Dad took the 5 youngest kids on a trip to the grand canyon. The trip was cramped to say the least, 2 adults and 5 kids in a 1929 ford coup built to carry 5 at the most. Our gear was carried by a large, early 50's, 2 ton truck with boards on the sides and a tarp on the top. at one stop we all piled out and had lunch.
When we were to get back on the road the driver of the 2 ton truck offered to let some of the kids ride in the back of his truck. Grateful to get out of the back of the 29 Ford Cody, Me, Jason Thomas and several others piled into the back of the 2 ton truck and lounged out on the piles of sleeping bags and luggage. The tarp flapped above us as we drove down the road. After what felt like hours the excitement of a change of surroundings had wained and it grew slightly cold and I remember wishing for the next stop. A light sprinkle started and at 55 miles an hour it felt like a down pour. The front of the tarp had come loose and was flapping in the wind.
Cody Jason and I all grabbed the tarp and a conscious decision was made to try to keep the luggage and us dry. We pulled the tarp down and rolled ourselves up near the front of the truck bed. In my mind I thought we would be hero's for saving the luggage from getting wet. After what felt like an eternity the truck pulled over. Jason Thomas was one of the first to go, taken by an unknown Old car club member. Slowly all the kids were farmed out to other cars, until it seemed like Cody and I were the only ones left. I was farmed out to the Thomas car who took me because Jason was gone. I was dripping wet so they pulled towels out and covered the seat before they let me sit down. They bought me a cup of hot chocolate at the gas station, which I promptly spilled on their towels.
We arrived at the camp and I remember listening, in the background, as the adults talked about how the kids in the back of the truck got all their stuff wet. I was appalled, I couldn't believe they couldn't see how we had saved their luggage. Mom came and told us all the adults were mad at us. Privately Cody and I complained but publicly we sheepishly accepted the blame.
1 comment:
I remember that trip, and it was cold and wet in the back of the truck. I also remember that at one point, while in the model A, the brakes went out, and dad had to pull the emergency brake to keep us from crashing into another car at a stop light. Last but not least, I got hit in the head with a baseball, while playing baseball at the camp ground. On the way home from the grandcanyon, the Model A kept overheating. What a great memory!!!
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