The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-11-17
Describes Trip to Florida.

Editor ~Pleasantville Press:
Dear Sir. | promised several friends
to write you about our trip from Plea
santville to st. Cloud, Fla. In compa-
ny with Charles Collins and wife, Mr..
and Mrs. Job Stebbins, Mr.. and Mrs.
Leroy Collins and children, Louisa
and Ralph, Mr.. Westcott, Hugh and |
left Pleasantville, Tuesday, October
23rd, at Z a. m. First stop, Philadel-
phia, for gas and oil; next stop, Balti-
more; then on to Washington, D. c.,
for the night. Left Washington Wed
nesday at Z a. H., passed through AL
exandria and Mt. Vernon, and on to
Fredericksburg, Va, where the splen-
did 25th New Jersey Regiment fought
a gallant fight during the civil war.
Both Mr.. Westcott and Mr.. Job Steb-
bins were in that fight. We passed
through Quantico, Va, where the Ma
rine Barracks are located, and on to
Petersburg, where we passed the night.
We left at Z O'Clock next morning,
passing through Lacrosse and on to
Raleigh, N. C., where we spent the
night. Next morning we left at Z o.
clock, passing through Hamlet and
several other small towns, and passed
that night at Columbia, S. c. From
there W. left the mex morning and
rode through Augusta, Ca, and on to
Bailey, Ga, where we passed the
night. Left the next morning at z
o'clock, arrived at Way Cross, Ca, at
nine, where we stopped for breakfast;
on from there about 80 miles to Jack
sonviile, Fla, where we arrived at 2
p. m. The Collins party left us here
and went on to West Palm Beach, and
we came on up the River road to Pa
latka, where we passed the night.
Left Palatka Monday a. m. and passed
through Deland, Sanford, Orlando and
Kissimee, arriving at ST. Cloud at 8
o'clock that afternoon.
In all we had a very enjoyable trip
1t rained from Pleasantville to Wash
ington and cleared off that night. The
roads in Virginia were very muddy,
but we got through all right. We
skidded there in Virginia and got in a
ditch, but were there only a few min
utes, when we were pulled out. This
was the only thing that happened to
us all the way. We did not have n
tire trouble at all. Charles Collins
car picked up a tack, so he had a
puncture-changed in a few minutes.
All the way from New Jersey to Flori-
da there were gas stations every five
or six miles, and people and houses all
the way through. We crossed nine
states. The whole 1900 miles there
were auto camps, and cars everywhere
on the road bound for Florida. One
car had on it San Francisco-coast
to coast. Some people had houses on
wheels, and everybody nearly had a
trailer with camping outfits. l think
we were on the top of the world, as
we did nothing for four days but climb
hills. The scenery was gorgeous, and
we were all so thankful that we were
not on the stuffy cars, but were enjoy
ing Gods glorious sunlight and air and
beautiful autumn scenery.
1t cost us just half that the Railroad
companies charge, that includes gas,
oil, meals, hotels, and everything. We
crossed the Roanoke river on a ferry.
1t looked (the boat) like a big garvey,
like we have on our bay. 1t carried 8
autos, and it went day and night, so
we were told. We crossed s bridges
where we paid toll. In all we paid Sc
for toll on bridges. We paid so cents
to cross the ferry. We were guided
by a cable across the river. We all
compared the southern roads u%nfavor-
ably with our beautiful free roads in
New Jersey. We passed by thousands
of fields of cotton and tobacco in the
Carolinas. 1t seemed everybody was
growing these crops.
The weather is perfect. We are
certainly enjoying this superb climate.
My husband stood the trip fine. He is
feeling somewhat better than when We
left home. | have received two copies
of The Pleasantville Press, and oh!
how good it looks to US so far away
from our home town to have the paper
with us, and learn what's going on in
and about Pleasantville. Charles Col
Inns and party were all SO kind to us.
We expect to drive back in the
spring. If any of your readers think
of driving down, tell them to come
ahead. 1t will be the trip of their
lives. E. c. WESTCOTT.
st. Cloud, Fla.