Saturday Stories: Overview of an Epic Journey

For the next few weeks, I am going to try to record an amazing adventure that my grandfather, Bumpa, and his twin brother, Alton had during the Great Depression.  Today, I am giving you the grand overview.  There are so many sub-stories, I am not sure how long I will be concentrating on this, but it all needs to be recorded.

The year was 1933.  The Great Depression was in full throttle.  Bumpa and Alton graduated from high school with few prospects.  There were simply no jobs available, no matter how willing the workers.  The boys didn't want to be burdens to their parents, so they decided to take a trip to see the United States.   

Nonny, their mom, made them each a new suit of clothes and gave them a new pair of shoes.  With about $5 in their pockets, they took off walking.  Their goal was to reach California.  Time was not a problem, as they didn't have anything or anyone waiting for their return.  Like the movie "The Journey of Natty Gann," they hitch hiked in cars and trucks, walked and hopped on freight trains.

They decided that the cheapest, but most nutritious food that they could eat along the way were bologna sandwiches and fig newtons.  Occasionally, they would buy a quart of milk and split it.  Unless they found friends with whom to share a meal, their diet didn't change.  After they returned home, Bumpa never could make himself eat bologna again, but he continued to love fig newtons to his dying day.

They made it as far as Wyoming when they ran out of money.  They had had many adventures. They met many interesting people, had found old friends that had moved away from their hometown and had escaped danger a time or two.  It was time to go home.  That journey was the subject of many story telling sessions.  The trip changed two small town boys into men who had a greater understanding of this vast country and of their fellowmen. 

Over the next few weeks, I will share some of their experiences with you.  Hope you enjoy it.

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