Travels with Charley

On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:08:10 -0500, hchickpea@m wrote:

>I'm re-reading this after at least 30 years, and enjoying almost every
>page. How many folks here found it an influence in their choice of
>lifestyles and/or opinions?

Isn't he an amazing writer? I first read it when I was a teenager....
since then one of my dreams has been to go to Montana.

I reread it a couple of years ago, buy all the copies I see in thrift
shops and used books stores and give them to friends.

Actually, I think it may have been a big influence on my present
choice of lifestyle. Right down to the dogs <g>

Pfffft.

Hunter

<hchickpea@m> wrote in message
news:vjgun2t6j8rt0v1vr8tm3bl5dn0ukfqbru@...
> I'm re-reading this after at least 30 years, and enjoying almost every
> page. How many folks here found it an influence in their choice of
> lifestyles and/or opinions? Was Steinbeck just tapping into something
> we all know, or was he a trendsetter (trendpoodle?) ?
>
> I find a certain amount of elitism in his writings, and yet there is a
> connection to the real 'mericans of the era. Just guessing, but I'll
> bet Charley dislodged a kidney stone in Yellowstone, and passed it in
> Montana.

Good book. I also enjoyed, "Life on the Road" by Charles Kur

Max

Janet Wilder wrote:
>
> Isn't it amazing how friendships made on this group can last so long?
>
I mailed a stack of Christmas cards today; one to a friend from gunnery
school in 1952,
a few from Korean War days, some (at the time) strangers that were
witnesses at our wedding at Camp Rucker in '55
friends in Spain that we made in 1960, hunting friends
and neighbors from our stay in Germany '64-'67, along with quite a few
of the troops I served with there, a Swiss couple and a German couple
that we were able to help out at the Lake Corpus KOA in 1989, some
former neighbors from the same camp and more from Why and Ajo when we
wintered there. Many more get only internet greetings.

The punch line? I've found I made long term friends everywhere I've
spent any length of time, including RORT.
LZ

"Janet Wilder" <kelliepoodlem> wrote in message
news:458038dd$0$30581$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Parts of Montana are incredibly boring, IMO.

As are parts, or most, of New Jersey. IMO.

Tex

"Janet Wilder" <kelliepoodlem> wrote in message
news:4580409a$0$17914$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
>
> I am quite curious as to the motives behind your posting. I was not
> denegrating Montana, just stating my opinion from having traveled there
> many times.


Because I love Montana and all parts of the West. Sometimes the scenery
isn't cute but the people are incredible. The East has a lot of the
opposite.

Tex

On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:14:59 -0600, "Advocate54" <llafrin@m>
wrote:

>You've never been to Montana? Montana and Wyoming are two of my favorite
>places.

I've been there a couple of times now... it's one of my favorite
places too.

The thing is I read the book as a teen and didn't get to Montana until
2000.

Hunter

On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 12:01:49 -0600, Janet Wilder
<kelliepoodlem> wrote:

>
>I have traveled through most of Montana on blue highways and the
>southeastern part of the state as well as a lot of the middle is boring.
>You might think endless dry grass, coolie hills and the most barbed wire
>I've ever seen in my life are exciting. I don't.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love open spaces and lots of
bare landscapes.

I love "big sky" country.

Hunter

"Hunter" <HHamp5246@> wrote in message
news:e5k0o216ubmaa5t92pni6io6hvai9khmb3@...
> On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 12:01:49 -0600, Janet Wilder
> <kelliepoodlem> wrote:
>
>>
>>I have traveled through most of Montana on blue highways and the
>>southeastern part of the state as well as a lot of the middle is boring.
>>You might think endless dry grass, coolie hills and the most barbed wire
>>I've ever seen in my life are exciting. I don't.
>
> Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love open spaces and lots of
> bare landscapes.
>
> I love "big sky" country.
>
> Hunter

What I really like is the amount of sunshine much of the West gets. I don't
know how I survived five years in mostly overcast Europe even loving the
place as I did.

I really thought Janet was slamming Montana but she not knowing I don't have
a serious bone in my body went ballistic. I'll have to quit teasing
her...she's too easy.

There's a wonderful drive on US14 between I90 and Greybull Wyoming via
Burgess Junction and Shell. Hunter, it will remind you of the climb out of
Aspen over Independence Pass. Not for trailers.

Regards,

Tex

Hunter wrote:

> On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:14:59 -0600, "Advocate54" <llafrin@m>
> wrote:
>
>
>>You've never been to Montana? Montana and Wyoming are two of my favorite
>>places.
>
>
> I've been there a couple of times now... it's one of my favorite
> places too.
>
> The thing is I read the book as a teen and didn't get to Montana until
> 2000.
>
> Hunter

Oh my! I made my first visit to Montana in 1952, Been back many times
since then.
LZ