Pa Gillespie may sing the praises of Glen Spey, N.Y., but Henri will give three cheers for her native state-
"I love thy hills and mountains high
Thy valleys rich and wide;
May heaven in love watch over thee,
Fair Pennsylvania!"
At Latrobe, we visited more relatives, had several picnics, painted the car and assembled our camping equipment. This being our first camping experience, and not knowing where we might "settle down," we had the Honeymoon Express well loaded.
Sister Mary arranged to have her vacation while we were in Latrobe so we had a guide on our journeys.
When July 8th arrived, we again packed up and headed for Ohio. Arriving at Mt. Pleasant, we called on Jimmies roommate of Seminary days - The Rev. Paul T [Shorty] Gerrard, with whom we spent the afternoon. That night we stayed at the home of another Seminary friend, Rev. George H. Rutherford, in Dillonvale, Ohio.
The next morning we traveled to south Chester, West Virginia, following the "Beautiful Ohio," much of the way. The scenery was beautiful along this valley. The chestnut trees were white with blossoms and everything was lovely until night approached and we looked for a camping spot. In several towns listed as having "tourists camps", we were informed we would find better accommodations at some of the service stations outside the town and each time, we started out hopefully in search of one of them and drove for miles and miles, but all we could see was a steep mountain on one side and the River on the other. We had about decided our first nights camping would be done in the car, when coming to the top of a hill, we found a Service Station well above the fog and dampness of the river and with sufficient ground for comfortable camping. It was not long 'ere two weary travers were in the land of dreams.
Next day was Sunday, July 10th, and checking up our mileage, we learned we had driven 300 miles Saturday and were now 30 miles south of Charleston, W. Va. We started out to find a church, but soon discovered we were nearing the "Suthern Mountains" where churches were few and far between and by the time we reached civilization again, the church services were over.
We had mountain traveling all afternoon, with numerous showers of rain, so we camped early, some few miles south of Bluefield, Virginia, in a school yard, which seemed to be the only available cleared ground. Jimmie hiked half a mile to a farm house for water and while we were cooking supper, a couple from New England, traveling home from Florida, joined us to spent the night.
Monday we had mountains and more mountains, but soon left Virginia and traveled pretty well thru Tennessee, in a south-westerly direction, keeping west of the Smokey Mountain Range. As we passed thru Knoxville, we turned our watches back and lived an hour over again, for we were now in the Central Time Zone. Passed a Confederate Battlefield and Cemetery. There are many reminders of Civil War times as one goes thru Tennessee. This night we camped at Sweetwater, having driven about 270 miles.
July 12th, after driving around in circles trying to find our way out of Chattanooga, we finally had to ask an officer on a busy street for directions. He very graciously outlined our route which meant we must go in the opposite direction from the way we were headed. Jimmie always doing things in a hurry, wanted to turn right around, whereupon the officer informed him he couldn't do that. "Well I just did," said Jimmie. "Don't do it again," replied the officer and we didn't. Leaving Chattanooga behind us, we were soon out of Tennessee. Passed Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain in the Northwest corner of Georgia and before long found ourselves in Alabama. How did we know it? - By the roads! The farther we went, the worse they became and they were nothing to boast of before reaching Alabama.
Our first night in Alabama, we camped at a place called "Seven Springs". Thirty-three miles north of Birmingham. We had long since abandoned the hope of finding regular Tourists Camps and were glad to find any place near some drinking water where we could "pitch our tent".
The Seven Springs were rather interesting, for there were truly seven springs within a few rods of each other, six were mineral springs and one was fresh water.
One of the natives came out to look us over and talk "Politics.". Speaking on voting, he said, "Well, I reckon I'll vote the straight Democrat ticket, I always do." Judging from his easy-going attitude, I don't believe he would have exerted enough energy to read the ballot.
July 13th and it wasn't Friday. We wondered how roads could be any worse, but they were! In addition to everything else that might be the matter with roads, Alabama's are corrugated. We decided we were going up and down as much as we were straight ahead. We drove what seemed like ages this evening trying to locate a place to camp. In this part of the country all kinds of domestic animals roam at large and it is not infrequent to find a cow, pig or mule lying in the middle of the road - even the animals didn't recognize the roads as such! The pigs, -Razar backs- just run everywhere.
At 8:30 we camped in a farmer's front yard, just north of Jackson. Early the next morning we were awakened by the Barn-yard Symphony plus the farmers children who had come to examine the tent. At Jackson the morning we were ferried across the Tombighee River and headed south to Mobile.
We reached Mobile at 2 o'clock and about three; found ourselves in Grand By, and not until that instant did it occur to us that Henri had neglected to get directions for the Hartman Ranch. Well, resourceful Jimmie found a way and within an hour, we had arrived, and were greeted by the last group of relatives. Mother, Dad and Grayce Hartman. So ended the first 2900 miles of our honeymoon.
