Women's History Month: Winnebago Escape Part 3

Continuing with the published story of my mother, aunt and grandmother's adventures in the 1970s:

During the course of the trip they stayed at a great deal of campsites for they were in no particular hurry.  They were delighted to find that most of the overnight spots, be they private or government run, were clean and well kept.  Rates varied between four and  six dollars a night,  with the occasional State Park  costing as low as a dollar fifty. 

Hooked to the rear of the Winnebago, the three widows had seen fit to attach a small economical Envoy Epic.  Though they didn’t realize it at the time, this car was never sold in the United States.  But did the little Epic give them any trouble?  Not on your life.  In all they put more than 5000 miles on the car with it never missing a beat.  The only  problem they had with the arrangement occurred when the arrangement when the Epic hit a bump, throwing the front wheels at an angle.  When this occurred, the little car would sway back and forth at an alarming rate scrubbing miles of rubber off the front wheels.  However they knew enough to stop the Winnebago, get out and straighten the steering wheel of the Epic  and all would be fine again. 

But don’t be mislead.  They were prepared for emergencies even though their trip was trouble free.  Each had coveralls and knew how to handle tools.  Though they weren’t about to do an engine teardown by the side of the road, they had taken a course in auto mechanics and knew how to make small repairs, change propane bottles, fix balky stoves and hook the Epic to the rear of the Winnebago.

Indeed the only spot of trouble they had occurred on the streets of  New Orleans where a brazen  young man had the gaul to pinch Mrs. Ruth Bates, the senior member of the group.  Resisting temptation, Mrs. Bates scorned he young man’s amorous advances turning on heel and leaving without saying a word.  Delighted with their trip and quietly  pleased with  their ability to cope with such an adventurre, the threesome have made plans to visit the Maritimes this summer.  We trust that their luck holds up and secretly wish that we were able to do the same thing.

Part 3 of 3

Women's History Month: Part 2 Winnebago Escape: Three Merry Widows Follow the Sun

Part 2 of Winnebago Escape: Three Merry Widows Follow the Sun (the story of my mother, aunt and Grandmother in 1974 as published in Driving Magazine)
 

They took just enough money to last them a month, the balance being held in trust by one  of the daughters to be mailed in given amounts monthly.  By doing it this way, they would be unable to overspend.  If they had no more money to buy gasoline for the Winnebago, then that’s where they’d stay  until the next month’s cheque arrived in the mail.  Naturally hey kept in close touch with the daughter informing her of their whereabouts at all times.  In truth, a perfectly logical plan of action.

Last summer was the height of the fuel crisis in the United States and here were these unsuspecting dears trundling across the border in a 20 foot Winnebago with a 413 cubic inch engine that sucks gas at the rate of l0 miles to the gallon of gas if you’re lucky. So what happened?  Nothing.  Only once were they restricted to a three dollar order which is ridiculous in a vehicle such as the Winnbago – it merely gets out of the gas station so you don’t block traffic.  Throughout their trip which lasted six months, three of which were spent in sunny California, the three widows never ran into a gasoline problem.

Joan McGinnis,  the youngster of the group who thinks hauling a Winnebago down the freeway is fun commented, “When I do the driving I expect someone else to navigate for me.  I like to see some of the scenery and if you drive more than 55 mph you don’t get a chance to see anything.”  As luck whould have it, that was the speed limit instituted during the crisis, so it wasn’t  as if they were holding up traffic.  Joan didn’t drive when it was windy, or when it rained, or on the weekends or when it go dark.  In other words they drove for a few hours at a leisurely pace Monday through Thursday leaving the highways  to the impatient  ones during the weekends.

It would appear that someone up there watched over them for they had no mechanical problems, no flat tires, no emergencies or problems whatsoever .  Oh, the odd time they  got  lost, but again that was no problem as they didn’t even care which road they took.  All they knew was that they were heading for California and the sunshine.

Part 2 of 3

Winnebago Escape:Three Merry Widows Follow the Sun Part 1

This is a copy of the interview with my mother, aunt and grandmother in Driving magazine in 1974. The interview was called Winnebago Escape: Three Merry Widows Follow the Sun. 

Because it is Women's History Month I wanted to share with my readers the story of these adventurous women in my life.  

It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Sell  your house and possessions buy a motor home and spend the rest of your days following the sun.  So many of us talk about it, but sadly never get beyond the dreams.But three people set their sights on such a goal and through determination and staying power, succeeded where most fail. 

Who are they? Three adventuresome widows.  And they’re not young either.  Their ages range from 58  to 82.  At this stage in life, all too many of us would probably be content to rock our hours away on the front stoop of our home. And in winter we’d probably spend the days complaining about our arthritis, afraid to walk to the local store for fear of slipping on an icy sidewalk.  In the meantime the merry widows of this article will be gallivanting around the southern parts of the United States, soaking up all the glorious sunshine.

Joan McGinnis, Lillian Bonar and Ruth Bates made their decision about two years ago.  All three had lost their husbands sometime earlier and thought hey had a steady monthly income, none were wealthy – not by a longshot.  Nevertheless through careful planning and tight budgeting they felt they could make a go of it in a mobile motor home.  Having sold their respective homes and disposed of their furniture,  the three purchased a 20 foot Winnebago and moved in.  Wisely they decided to live in the unit for a number  of months before venturing out onto  the highway.

Mother Drives, Lily Cooks

Anyone  contemplating a similar move would be wise to follow their example as it’s simply amazing how many things can go wrong at first.  Invariably these occur miles from the nearest help putting a damper on the  good times.  During their period of adjustment they modified a few  things in the Winnbago to suit their lifestyles, namely the closets, but for the most part found that few alterations had to be made either to the unit or to their way of life.

The day of their departure, they had made  no advance bookings, whatsoever, in fact they hadn’t even mapped out an agenda.  Why? Because they didn’t to be burdened by silly schedules.  When they became tired hey planned to stop.  If they saw a pretty place, they’d simply pull over  None of this crashing at breakneck speed simply to  comply with an arbitrary schedule.

Part 1 of 3