This page provides details about the pictures that comprise the slideshow. A link to the slideshow itself is at the bottom.
I picked the photos to represent various elements of the book. The pictures here fall into three categories:
- Actual photos of or by Patsy or Virgie; taken at the time of the story
- Pictures we took on our 2011 “book trip” in which we retraced the route taken by the girls in 1939
- Pictures, gleaned from various other sources, of people, vehicles, and locations evocative of episodes in the book
In the description of each photo, I identify the above category to which it belongs. Click on any picture to activate a “Carousel” which you can scroll through to see larger versions of the pics. Tap on a photo in the carousel to toggle the description on and off.
Patsy at 19
(1) Best solo shot I have of her from that period. In real life, this was snapped two years after the story ends.
Downtown Baywater
(3) This is actually Stillwater, MN. The town of Baywater in the story is a fictional combination of the real towns of Stillwater and Bayport, MN.
Virgie
(1) Sadly, the only period photo I can find of Virgie.
The girls' first ride
(2) This restoration is no doubt in much better shape than Nehemiah's original in the story
Fibber McGee and Molly
(3) Virgie relives fond memories early in their journey.
Daisy's Car
(3) 1921 Ford Model T Center Door. This is the vehicle that took them to Felicity, ND
Daisy
(3) She gave them a ride to Felicity. She proved to be an inspiration and roll model, particularly for Patsy.
St Catherine's
(2) Home of Sister Bertha in Felicity, ND. This is where the girls found a meal and some much needed supplies.
The grounds at St. Catherine’s
(2) Sister Bertha lived in the styructure on the right.
The Park
(2) Footbridge over the river to the park in Felicity. The girls spent one night here. The night was peaceful, the following morning was not.
The Bench. Site of a very rude awakening.
(2) Just to the left of the bush in the center is the bench where Virgie experienced some unwelcome attention..
Felicity constabulary
(2) Less helpful than one would have hoped.
Patsy & baby. First job on the road.
(1) 4-day housekeeping and baby-care job got the girls past a rough time.
The Endless Highway
Upon leaving the job in Sanders, ND, the girls faced uncertainty and immediate danger.
The Yellow Roadster
(3) 1939 LaSalle. Bright 'n shiny outside. Dark and ominous inside.
Lew's Truck. 1937-ford.
(3) Lew Hart picked the girls up outside Spring Woods, ND and brought them to his ranch near Belgrade, MT.
Leaving the flatlands for the Rocky Mountain Foothills
(2) "The west is a big place, Pop."
Happy Hart
(3) First look at the Ranch as they arrived with Lew. "The sweetest little spread you've ever seen," according to Lew. When they saw this, they were inclined to agree.
Dortha and Patsy
(1) Good-hearted Dortha took the girls in and renewed their spirits.
The common room at the Happy Heart
(3) The girls found a welcome rest and sorely needed employment here. Their room was around the corner at the end of the hall on the far side of the room.
Patsy and the Hart girls, Evie, & Bella
(1) Taken by Virgie during a rare moment of congeniality on Evie's part.
Kim, the Riding Instructor
(3) Competent and self-assured She was another role model for the girls.
Out with the ranch hands
(3) The day of the mountain picnic and snake encounter.
Rubin's car at Tom and Tressa's
(3) Not quite the way it's described in the book (roof and fenders were black in the story).
Deke's Bain
(2) Deke's truck had an unfortunate trip down this embankment.
Lost in the Forest
(2) The creek. Careful, you never know what might live over there.
Oh, oh.
(3) Lost in a Rocky Mountain forest, the girls encountered a mama bear in an ornery mood.
The ranch house at the Lazy S
(3) A lot rougher than the dude ranch. The competition was ferocious.
Site of Guy Sanderson's ranch in western Montana
(2) The welcome respite offered here ended in disaster for the girls' relationship.
Selma's "iron"
(3) Virgie's mode of transportation to Aunt Rose's.
Spats' new 1939 Packard
(3) He traded in his old Studebaker after being assigned to head up the Minnesota expansion for Tommy “Gun” Malone. Ended up driving it to Omakogan.
Salem Selma and a few friends
(3) Part of the crew of free-wheeling women Virgie hooked up with after leaving the Lazy S.
Spotted along the route in Washington State
(2) We thought this apropos given the nature of the girls' transportation
Lonely road in Montana
(2) What Virgie faced leaving Guy's place.
GMC-6x6. USFS Truck
(3) Patsy got a ride with a newly formed Forest Service crew in this vehicle.
Montana Roadside View
(2) Place where Patsy got a lift with the Forest Service guys.
The Coffe Cup Cafe from the back
(3) This side view shows the family entrance. Parking lot and customer entrance is on the other side.
McGonagall's Boarding House in Omakagan
(2) Both Rubin and Spats stayed here.
View across Main Street from Slim's
(3) Typical 1939 Omakagan daytime scene.
Front Cover
The Long Road under a Strawberry Moon
The score accompanying the slideshow comes from a wonderful source for royalty-free music, www.incomptech.com. The site has thousands of musical offerings indexed by type and mood. All they require is that you give credit when using a piece. I chose Living Voyage by Kevin MacLeod because for me it evokes the feelings of mystery, adventure, and discovery I tried to portray in the book.