“Reckless automobile driving arouses the suspicion that much of the horse sense of the good old days was possessed by the horse.” – Unknown
High up on a pole, this bright yellow vehicle advertises the Route 66 Auto Museum. — Photo by Pat Bean
Running Board Back in Time
After a night spent at the Santa Rosa RV Campground, where you can order a western-style barbecue dinner be delivered to your motorhome, I decided to check out the town’s Route 66 Auto Museum.
The running board on this old vehicle took me back in time. — Photo by Pat Bean
One of the spiffy, polished cars on display here had a running board. Not writing it down in my notebook at the time,, and not being a car buff, I can’t recall the make of the car, just as I can’t remember the make of the old car with the running board that my dad owned.
While my dad’s car never looked anything at all like the flashy, polished-to-a-reflective-shine, ivory-colored car on display at the museum, the sight of the running board sent a jolt of memory through my body. I clearly remembered standing on just such a running board many years ago.
The thrill of that brief moment, when I was about 6 years old, was relieved in all its Technicolor excitement. I remembered holding onto the car door for dear life as my dad drove his car down the driveway of my grandmother’s home.
My dad would probably get arrested for child endangerment today.
Route 66 heydays: When Elvis was hot, wild and young. — Photo by Pat Bean
Of course so would I.
The first cars I drove didn’t come equipped with seat belts. I remember once driving to the store, holding a baby on my lap with one hand, and with a death grip on the steering wheel with the other hand.
I also remember frequently flinging my right hand out to keep a child sitting next to me from doing a death plunge into the windshield when I had to stop suddenly. Back in the 1950s, a lot of moms were expert at this maneuver.
Thankfully I survived, and so did all my kids.
The upside is that my canine traveling companion, Pepper, who occupies the passenger seat of my RV today, gets the benefits of my youthful right-hand-flinging practice.
Bean’s Pat: My Life is a Scream: http://tinyurl.com/6vrdpbl A hilarious take on Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” selling for $120 million dollars.
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That is one type of museum I never miss.
It was fun, even for a non car buff like me. Thanks for commenting
Loving your Route 66 stuff. Vicarious travelling to see the sights.
Happy days,
Jim
Thanks Jim
You never fail to bring back a flood of memories of my own childhood!
We must be from the same era Jim. i think it was a fun one to grow up in.
Pepper needs a doggie seat belt! Thanks for all the pictures and for sharing your travels. Love that car. It’s gorgeous.
Thanks Helen. It’s fun to share.
Looks like a place the DH would absolutely love to visit! And the cars are in such beautiful, shiny condition!
Morgan Mandel
http://spunkyseniors.blogspot.com
I love the old cars, but I think I’m most impressed with the barbeque dinner delivered to your RV. 🙂
And you can’t resist the smell of the meat barbequing when you check in. Thanks for commenting Diane
I’m with you on BBQ smell. Meanwhile, keep on moviin’ on the famed highway.
I never knew this place existed, if I had I’d have insisted that we stop to see it on our cross country move!!! Too bad for us. Thanks for sharing, Pat.
~ Lynda
You’re welcome Linda
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com