Cars Make The Road Shine

If the roads of today had been available to the pioneers there would have been a lot less suffering.  The first "paved" roads in the United States were corduroy affairs, made of wood.  After cars became more popular the government began offering contracts to pave decent roads for the public.  The first contractor had the brilliant idea of paving his roads in sections that "almost" made it to town.  It was his hope that some of the cities and counties would pay for their own paving.  Sure enough, it worked often enough for him to turn a good profit on his construction.

Eisenhower launched the modern Interstate system   Trips that once took ten days to complete then took only three.  Big rumbling trucks were able to haul the wonders of modern technology to every corner of the country at 70 miles per hour.  Suddenly families in New York thought nothing of DRIVING their new cars all the way to California for a vacation at Disneyland.

Gasoline was often less than 30 cents a gallon in those days, and you could spend the night in a good motel for just $6.  WOW!  Of course, us poor people had to work twelve hours a day to earn $6!

New cars today are sparkling and bright.  Not only do they look good, they are good.  They hold together with a minimum of maintenance while air conditioning wraps the owner in sheer comfort.  Muscle cars can hug the curves close enough to make the blood pound in an observer's covetous heart.

But still, to see the old cars still perking on the highway also brings a glow to every heart.  To see them all shined up and sparkling like a new drop of dew in the morning sun is a genuine thrill no one should miss.

Every year for the past 30 years there has been a hot rod run up on the mountain at Wilhelmina State Park, near Mena Arkansas.  The road up there is worth the trip even if there was no Wilhelmina Lodge at the end of the trail, and no old cars to see when you get there.  Put all three together and you've really got a treat.