Steinbeck 50 Years Ago
50 years ago this coming fall, John Steinbeck embarked on a road trip with his French poodle Charley, on a tour to “find America” in 1960.
Steinbeck traveled the U.S. in a specially built pickup truck with a camper attachment in the bed of the truck. He dubbed it “Rocinante” – after the hapless Don Quixote’s horse (written by Cervantes).
I recently visited our library and found they had an original 1962 issue of Travels with Charley: In Search of America. It showed every one of it 48 years of being on the shelf.
I first read Travels with Charley some twenty years ago. After re-reading it I felt like I saw it with new eyes from a whole new perspective and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Although I can’t take 3 months off to travel the route Steinbeck did, I am planning a long weekend trip to follow the same route Steinbeck did, at least through the New England portion of the trip.
I don’t think I’ll go all the way down to Long Island and start from Sag Harbor, taking the ferry back. I think I’ll just go down to Groton, CT, and start from there. I’ll follow his route through Massachusetts, up into Maine and to Deere Isle of course. Then I’ll go up to the northern most part of Maine, over to NH and through VT. If I have the time (and the inclination) I might head over to Niagara, New York.
In beginning my research to try and replicate Steinbeck’s route as closely as possible, I found an original vintage 1960 Shell Station Northeastern United States Road Map, at an antique store. It only cost $7.50 and I should get it in the mail in a week or so.
I think starting out on September 23rd, as he did, would be a colorful time of year to travel this route in this region of the country.
