New Britain herald., 1926-08-24
ROAD EXPLODES IN | PATH OF TOURISTS
Mud and Canyon Rims Also
 Take Joy Out Of Life

IHlliiS anu adventures QrlVlnB across the Rocky Mountains are described in a realistic manner by Mrs. F. L. Brooks. wife of a former local pastor. Mir. and Mrs. Brooks and daughter, Miss Edith, are in AL hambra, Cal.
 APO N. Stoneman Ave.
 Alhambra, Cal.
 Tt is wonderful here and we will like it so much. We had a great many thrills on our trip-thrills that l never want to experience again. The first one was in Ohio where most of the roads are made of brick.
 As we were going along all of a sudden the bricks flew out of the road just few feet ahead of us Edith stopped as quickly as possible but we landed right on top of all that mess. We thought at first the car was all smashed but after look ing it over found it all sound. They say the heat blows the bricks out like that very often. In some states | the roads were awful There had been heavy storms in some places and we had to drive through mud holes and terrible ruts. The ruts i were so deep in some places that We never could have passed an auto had we met one. In one place the road was covered with water and a pond on each side. We got about half way over and the auto just skidded l around. When Edith tried to back the wheels wouldn't catch, just went round and round. Autos came on the other side and couldn't cross un- til we got out. Some men got out ! of their cars and started towards us but they slipped and finally went back on dry land. There wasn't house or barn for miles. We'll, after we sat there a while Edith started again and tried to back and finally 1t took hold and she very slowly turned around. Then We just crept through that hole. By this time there were six cars on the other side. The men all took their hats off and waved at Edith. We stopped 10 see how those cars got through. They finally get over after some trouble.
 We drove one day 3S miles with out seeing even 6 shack of any des- cription. The roads in Wyoming were the worst of all. We always camped at one of the tourists camps. Some times we rented a little cottage and other times we put up our tent. Well, never realized what the Rockies were. They are rocky all right. We had to wind our way around over those mountains on roads scarcely wide enough to pass an auto. Along the edge were deep canyons. They were so deep that l couldn't look. it scared me so, but 1 never made a peep for I knew Edith was having all she could dc to keep the car straight.
 "When we finally got off the mountains her nerves were worn to a frazzle. When we got into Salt Lake City we stayed a couple of days to rest up. We heard that wonderful organ in the Norman temple. It was an immense audi torium and they make all the visit ors go up in the gallery. After the gallery was full they closed the doors and no one. else was allowed to enter. The or5anist was fine. One piece he played was old Black Joe, and he made the organ sound as though one man was singing a bass solo. It really was wonderful.
 While in Salt Lake City, we met some people from California who had just come across the desert VIC were expecting to cross. They told us not to try it as the heat was something dreadful. l. was 125 or the desert. They told us we had better go over the mountain 10 Sar Francisco but that would be SC : many miles out of our way. My sister was afraid to go either way and so we decided to ship the cal and take the train. We had to gC . through Death Valley and. tall about heat. On the train at mid night it was over 105. The hea' came in the windows just like { furnace. It made by sister sick. , don't know when I ever put in suCl night. She is just now feeling , quite we'll or as well as usual bu pretty weak yet. This is wonder full country. The nights and morn ings are real cool. Mir. B. is looking fine.
 GRACE BROOKS"