After our cost saving wedding and reception on 24th of July of 1971, we took off that evening on our first honeymoon in our 1964 VW van.
We had just purchased the van for $800, first selling my Mustang which my folks had bought from cousin Bill. My folks- (especially my Mom) – made sure we paid my parents back for every penny with which they had paid for my used 1968 Mustang. The VW had a “lawnmower” engine in it, at least that’s what I called it, which some mechanics had put in for us on the spot, and it needed the valves adjusted every few hundred miles. The top speed for our van was about 50 mph. It wasn’t painted and just had primer on it. We never did paint it. It looked iffy and temporary like a gray box on wheels. You would’ve laughed seeing it. We loved it.
Ken had gotten reservations at a lovely inn up north that we never used. Instead we stopped somewhere in Santa Barbara and slept in the van our first honeymoon night. Next we headed north to Big Sur, first camping at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park which is an exceptional California jewel of nature. The redwood trees tower over you and the river runs through it, all making you wonder how God and Mother Nature could’ve created such majesty. We were enthralled.
HIGHWAY 1 WINDS ALONG THE PACIFIC OFEAN LEADING TRAVELERS TO BIG SUR AND ALSO ACROSS BIXBY BRIDGE.
We camped at the lovely Pfeiffer State Park then went on up to Lake Shasta north of Redding. We were cooking our own meals on a used gas stove and eating cheaply. A can of chicken noodle soup and crackers tastes pretty decent when you’re on the road traveling. We liked eating simply.
A vivid memory I have of our first and second honeymoon was being in the Slow Lane with all the trucks. I kinda missed my zippy 1968 Mustang but the van offered a free bed, travel and chance at camping in interesting places
During this first idyllic honeymoon, I called home from time to time and mailed picture postcards. My Mom informed me on one call that the school district had been in touch and wanted to know if I would be back when school started as a teacher’s aide. She kept urging me to let them know. She couldn’t do it. I had to come home and contact them in person, filling out paperwork. She wasn’t taking “no” for an answer and I wouldn’t ever say that to my Mom anyway.
So we drove back home at a snail’s pace. I took care of signing up to work next school year as an aide in my parent’s neighborhood school. We spent a couple days regrouping and getting food ready to take on our continued camping trip. Now we would have a partial steady income with the promise of my side job in hand, and with the rest of the summer free, off we went on honeymoon two.
HONEYMOON TWO: ME DRIVING THE VW VAN TO THE GRAND CANYON AND ZION AND BRYCE. AHHH, LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE.
Ken had me close my eyes until he led me up to the rim of the Grand Canyon because I had never seen it before. Honestly, it was eye opening and supremely satisfying to see that natural wonder.
KEN COOKING DINNER ON OUR USED COLEMAN STOVE AT CAMPGROUND IN ZION NATIONAL PARK – JULY 1971.
We kept driving and camping with the goal to visit our friend, DAVE, who had been our best man at our park wedding ceremony. He was in the Marines but had recently been discharged and lived in St Louis, Missouri. He was an all around good player.
KEN GETTING HIS HELMET ON AND DAVE IN ST LOUIS READY TO TAKE A RIDE ON HIS MOTOR CYCLE. OUR 1964 VAN IS IN THE DRIVEWAY AT DAVE’S MOTHER’S HOUSE.
We kept traveling to friend’s and family member’s houses so we could save money and take showers. We also wanted to see them. Iowa, South Dakota and Chicago were on our itinerary. Love leads you on to interesting places and to interesting people.
WITH GREAT AUNT TET IN IOWA WHERE WE SPENT ONE NIGHT. SHE WORKED FOR MANY YEARS AT THE FAMILY GENERAL STORE IN SD AND RETIRED TO A SMALL TOWN IN IOWA WHERE SHE HAD RELATIVES. SHE AND GREAT AUNT MELITHA SERVED US A BIG BREAKFAST THE MORNING WE LEFT. IT WAS DELICIOUS & GREATLY APPRECIATED.
KEN AND GRANDPA SANDERSON FISHING IN THE BLACK HILLS. WE STAYED WITH HIM AT HIS APARTMENT IN SPEARFISH AND OF COURSE WENT TO THE PASSION PLAY AND HIKED UP TO SEE THE THOEN STONE, WHICH IS A LONG STORY.
Next we headed to Murdo. Grandpa went also in his own car. Ken went fishing again with him and was more tired than Grandpa at day’s end.
WE STAYED AT AUNT ELNA AND UNCLE JERRY’S HOUSE. THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN LATE AT NIGHT IN THEIR DRIVEWAY.
After a few days of rest,we drove on, being refreshed and ready to get on to Chicago where Ken had been born and raised.
This picture shows Aunt Elna reading a letter, Ken and I and cousin Stephanie. I wore one of the 1970 style cheap shorts. You would take an old pair of pants and cut them off, then fold up the bottom part. This was taken the morning we headed out for Chicago.
ONTO CHICAGO.
Ken and I stayed with his grandmother in her old brick house in Chicago. She lived alone. She made fabulous homemade meals for us and let us stay as long as we wanted. We visited some of Ken’s old school chums. They partied a lot. I rode the EL with Ken and broke down crying riding through the slums. Poverty wasn’t anything I had seen before. It saddened me. I recovered. It was a muggy, hot time in the city in summer, but we enjoyed it all.
KEN’S GRANDMOTHER AND I OUT FRONT OF HER HOUSE IN CHICAGO.
We eventually got home and rented a small apartment by our college to finish up classes for teaching. We were back to reality and life, at a faster pace. A young man bought our van promising to pay the full amount later, but he never gave us the full price we had asked. It was sad to see it go. We rented an apartment at $90 a month.
AN OLD VW BUG WITH A TRAVEL RACK ON TOP. THIS BUG IS NOW WORTH QUITE A LOT.
AN OLD VW VAN WITH A STICKER THAT WE NEEDED IN 1971. OUR OLD VAN DID NOT HAVE A BUMPER.
Today, now in my 70’s, I went to a car show downtown and saw those old Volkswagens displayed by VW van and car clubs with their shiny fixed up older models. It took me back to our two honeymoon’s in 1971 and driving our old VW van, being in the slow lane, always in the slow lane….loving every minute.
Those 70ish Girls 