National Desoto Club

As we look forward to our 2017 convention in San Diego, the idea of a Westward Caravan of De Sotos is taking shape. We are fortunate to have three time, Route 66 veterans on board to help direct this effort. Les and Sue Fairbanks (NDC #3198) have experienced on three separate occasions and have volunteered to help us flesh out the details of this "Titanic Endeavor". They plan to join the westward trek in Springfield, Illinois. They also highly recommend that anyone planning to join the trip obtain their very own copy of Jerry McClanahans "EZ66 Guide for Travelers" illustrated below.
To be able to establish dates, times and routes, we need to how many members will be planning to join the effort. We can use this message board to share all of the information necessary to proceed.
The idea is for our Eastern members to travel to Ohio where the Buckeye Chapter would host a get-together (and possibly dinner & lodging) and join the caravan. Some folks, due to time and other constraints may choose to head back east at this point.
Then the group would travel to Springfield, Illinois to meet up with the Illinois Chapter to continue Westward the next day. It wouldn't be necessary to join the entire trip. It would be a great opportunity to meet some of the fantastic members that constitute the National De Soto Club even if you couldn't do the whole trip.
Les and Sue have a number of routes and stops to consider depending upon interests and where additional members would be able to join the trip.
We'll need to get as much member input as quickly as possible so that we can outline the routes and dates in the March/April issue of De Soto Adventures. We then would publish finalized plans in the May/June issue.
We need to know your starting location, what you will be driving, anyone else driving, and how far you intend to travel.
You also can email any questions, concerns and/or observations to: desotoadventures@gmail.com or call me.
Geoff Overley, Editor
De Soto Adventures Magazine
526 W. Main Street
Mason, Ohio 45040-1626
(513) 680-0520 Cell or Text
(513)573-9282
"Let's Get This Party Started!"

I'll keep my eye open for the Springfield, MO area on R66.

An NDC friend of mine were talking about this trip. Unfortunately, my friend can't go due to health reasons, and I don't have that much time to be away from home. But here's a couple of things you may want to consider:

1. While you're going through Springfield, MO, you may want to take a detour down to Branson and check it out - there's a pretty good chance that our 2018 convention will be held there.

2. You may want to get walkie-talkies for each vehicle that's going. I know that just about everyone has a cell phone these days, but the walkie-talkies would let everyone hear at the same time any message that this group needs to know. And then you don't risk the message getting changed as it's passed from one car to another - remember the old telephone game?!

Just a couple of thoughts.

Bill

Sue and I have offered to share any knowledge and experience on our three trips on Route 66 to help make this happen. If you plan on attending the convention and have Route 66 on your bucket list this might be the time.
Geoff is right about the EZ Guide. It is a must have to do the Route. The Route isn't a U.S. highway anymore and is not marked so you will need turn by turn directions. It also has a lot of information on things to see and do along the Route. It is about $20 on Amazon.
The Route is about 2400 miles long from Chicago to Santa Monica. It is a combination of 2 lane, 4 lane and some interstate driving. Ten days, or an average of about 240 miles a day, is probably a minimum to do the Route and have some time to see some of the interesting places along the way. I suggest allowing ten days and have put together a tentative itinerary that we can go over and change when we know how many and who is going to make the trip. Any suggestions are welcome.
Bill's idea of walkie-talkies is excellent. We lost our cell phone signal quite often out West so we can't rely on it. Cb's would work to but I don't think anyone has them anymore.
We plan on driving our modern car and Bud and Shirley Tyler are planning on going with us.
Plan on joining us and "get your kicks on Route 66"

An "Progressive Convention" update will appear in the upcoming May/June De Soto Adventures NDC Club Magazine.
In addition to proposed times, dates, etc., we are asking that anyone contemplating joining or intercepting the caravan(s), let us know so that we may spread the word among those already committed.
We would like to know:
Who is driving?
Who is along for the ride?
What vehicle will you be driving?
What will be your starting point?
When do you anticipate leaving?
With what group will you be traveling?
Do you have any lodging preferences?
Do you have any dietary/health restrictions?
Are there any "must see" sites on your list?

Please forward the info to me:
Geoff Overley
526 w. Main St., Mason, Ohio 45040
513 680-0520 Cell
513 573-9282 Fax
email: wrxprt14@gmail.com

Also, be sure to let me know how best to get the info back to you.

Hi Geoff,

Gee, I hope one of the travelers takes a laptop and a digital camera along. It would be great if someone could post to this thread your daily adventures as well as a photo of a participating DeSoto in a scenic spot. It would serve to inspire those of us who, like me, are stuck in our garages wrenching on ailing DeSotos!

_________________
Brent Jacobsen
Owner of a 1952 Desoto Firedome

Brent,
Astute observation! We'll make sure every group has a "recording secretary"!
Ir will also be great "fodder" for our De Soto Adventures magazine!
Thanks for the suggestion!
Geoff

How is the itinerary for the cruise to the convention sorting out?

There are people on Facebook that are looking forward to meeting up with the folks traveling to San Diego when the group is in their area, but they need to know when that might be.

The suggestion that someone actively updates those of us left behind so that we know where they are, and where they hope to be next, etc would be great for us to participate vicariously!

_________________
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)

Tim,

The Maryland group has put together a LARGE spreadsheet showing where they plan to be each day and what all the plan to see and do. I'll send this to you in a separate e-mail; I don't know how you would be able to post all of the spreadsheet within this message board. Perhaps it could be posted under the Convention tab on in left margin? Or maybe you should just forward the e-mail on to those who you know are wanting this info.

Bill

Here's the schedule converted to a jpg image.

_________________
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)

Our itinerary has changed from what it was last week. We have our rooms booked now so this shouldn't change unless something drastic happens.
Aug. 13 staying in Springfield, IL.
Aug. 14 staying in Lebanon, MO
Aug. 15 staying in Tulsa, OK
Aug. 16 staying in Shamrock, TX
Aug. 17 staying in Tucumcari, NM
Aug. 18 staying in Albuquerque, NM
Aug. 19 staying in Holbrook. AZ
Aug. 20 staying in Flagstaff, AZ
Aug. 21 staying in Laughlin, NV
Aug. 22 staying in Barstow, CA

We are starting Route 66 in Joliet. Plan on staying on the Route except for a side trip to the Grand Canyon and a short detour to Laughlin, NV where we plan on winning enough money at the casino to pay for our trip. That is the plan anyway. We also plan on taking the Santa Fe loop in NM and taking the Turquoise Trail from Santa Fe down to Albuquerque. We are going to leave Route 66 at Barstow and take the interstate down to San Diego. On one of our previous trips we done the Route from Barstow to Santa Monica. It is one of those things that we can say we done it once but don't care to do it again. It is about 65 miles from San Bernardino to Santa Monica but about a five hour drive because it is very congested. Les

I would love to meet up in Albuquerque to say hi with my '56. Is there any way I can stay in the loop to see if that's possible? Thanks!

Amanda, Great to hear from you again! I remember your article in the De Soto Adventures.
I'm forwarding your email address and phone number to both Bob & Kathy Baer of the Maryland group and Les Fairbanks of the Michigan contingency to have them contact you.
I'm unable to attend this year but am having a blast hearing of the Route 66 adventures as they occur.
Conjure up another article for me!
Geoff Overley NDC 4543
Editor, De Soto Adventures Magazine

Amanda, We will be staying in Albuquerque Aug. 18th. at Econo-lodge East on central Ave.. I remember meeting you at one of the conventions I think the one here in Albuquerque. My cell is 269 759-4367. Les

Hi Les,

If you link up with Amanda, take a photo of the group of you with her '56 and post it here! We'd love to see what's going on!

_________________
Brent Jacobsen
Owner of a 1952 Desoto Firedome