Editor’s Note: The following is a diary written in 1963, and has been edited minimally to maintain the original spirit in which it was written. Included in the record are photographs taken by the family on the trip, as well as postcards saved by the Eaton children.

In the summer of 1963, Nancy Eaton of Greenville plotted out a cross-country road trip for her and her five children: Betsy, 15, Jane, 14, Chuck, 13 and Susan, 12, and Dick, 10. In their station wagon, the family went from Greenville to California, hitting some of the United States’ most-famous landmarks. This is the sixth installment of 10 in the diary she kept along the way.

In this installment, the family has reached California, and after visiting Disneyland, Marineland and the Hoover Dam, they do some exploring in San Francisco’s Chinatown and visit a pen pal of Jane’s, the Pease family. Notably, Jane connected with this pen pal because she reached out to postmasters and schools in towns with names she found interesting – the Peases living in Weed, Calif. The family sees the Golden Gate Bridge and gets a view of Alcatraz before going to Oregon, seeing Crater Lake and visiting a dude ranch owned by a family whose last name has a spelling Nancy Eaton cannot seem to settle upon.

July 8

Got an early start and called Mary Falconer from the Thruway at San Jose. I told her I felt we could not reach the other side of San Francisco if we came to see her and she agreed it would take an hour or so. She sounded very young on the phone but apparently does not feel very young. She was interested in hearing about all the family.

We reached San Francisco about 12:30 but found no one at the Baptist Chinese Church. A YMCA worker at an adjoining church directed us to a restaurant where we had Cantonese: Lobster, Chicken almond, Mandarin Duck, Sweet and Sour, Egg-flower soup, prawns and fortune cookies.

We took the cable cars to the top of the hill and I was so.glad to be on the trolley instead of driving, only to leave the garage a half hour later and find that was the way to the Golden Gate Bridge — so up I went and the angle is terrific and of course I had to stop several times — stalled etc.

We stopped on the far side of the Golden Gate Bridge for a view of the harbor and Alcatraz then continued to the Muir woods which has a wonderful forest of Redwoods towering 280 ft. as high as a 35-story building. It was lovely — a 5 mile winding drive to get there.

From the Muir Woods to Vacaville at 8:00 P.M. the best accommodations of the trip for $12 but no time nor swimming pool. We ate in a restaurant and to bed. Up early and drove into Shasta, the prettiest mountain imaginable rising to the north.

The mountain reminds me of the volcanic mountain in Japan so frequently pictured. It is quite fully snow covered.

We reached Castle Crags where we had decided to camp while Jane was at the Pease’s in Weed at 4:00. Chuck had been a brat so we left him — a pillow, a book and his briefcase and went on.

Mrs. Pease, Susan and a friend were at Mr. Pease’s office at 5:00 when we arrived. We drove out to their home on the edge of Weed with seasoning lumber on one side a jersey herd on the other.

They had three horses in a small area by the barn near the house. The family is most attractive.

We set up camp had supper and went to the Nationist Talk at 8:30.

July 12

When I got up I found my tire soft so went to Dunsmuir. Hoped to get the muffler fixed too but was told to come back in the morning at 8:00 AM. after staying until 1:30.

We all went swimming in the Sacramento River where there was just a swimming hole with rocks to dive from and a strong current which when you swam down in the current made me think of boats shooting the rapids.

When we came back Betsy had just started making Tacos for us when Jane arrived with the Pease and Chuck. Chuck hadn’t gone swimming and was here when they came. He joined them trying to find us but we were at Soda Creek instead of the picnic area swimming hole so had missed them. We offered them drink and then to share our supper and they left about 8 with just time for us to clean up and get to the campfire.

July 13

It was a few minutes after 8 when I reached the garage, Wanted an hour and then talked with the boss who seemed to think it would be an all-day job because they were busy and was please when I suggested waiting ‘til I reached Portland. Returned in time to catch the naturalist led party to Indian Springs, half way up the Crags. The boys continued to the top and I waited with Susan and Mrs. Thompson, Bonnie and Nona until Mr. Thompson and the boys returned. They are from Redding Cal., the city south of here – very pleasant.

A quick lunch, swim and time to relax before a fine steak dinner prepared by Betsy. Another lecture in the evening followed by coffee with the Thompsons.

July 14

A long time breaking camp this morning because the tent stakes on both tents were stuck. Unable to call Archie because we were so late. Due at Peases at 10:00 and it is already 5 of. They are taking us to visit a ranch this a.m. and then dinner there before we go on to Crater Lake. The Pease son, Tom, is just a few months older than Betsy.

The blue jays here are quite different metallic blue to black.

There were six on the tree above me this morning before I got up. We reached the Peases about 11:00. She had the chicken cooking on the outdoor grill. It had been soaked in barbeque sauce over night. Strawberries were ready for sponge cake shortcakes and she fixed rolls before we left to visit the Zwandigers ranch.

Mr. Zwandigil showed us around the 1,200-acre ranch where he raises hay and 350 Hereford cattle. Friday Dat and Tom Pease had brought in 700 bales of hay. I never asked how many bales they made in a year but they get two good cutting. He sells 140 head a year and hopes to do better. They breed their heifers to Angus bulls for smaller first calves. They have a sizeable pond and then a water way from higher up which is diverted to the higher elevations and then diverted to run down hill and spread over the land for irrigation. To grow grass there must be irrigation.

Susan Zuandigil wants a 4th grade pen pal. They have four children Susan is the oldest of four. She was as excited as the Peases about Jane’s visit with Susan and the origin of this form her pen pal. Mrs. Zwandegir would like to travel east with her children when they are the age of ours.

Susan Pease and Jane returned home with me. I thought it was so that they could help get dinner on the table and the rolls in the oven. I think it was more so that Susan and Jane could contact the boys they had been to the movies with and so that Betsy could be with Tom. It was successful both ways.

We had a wonderful dinner and left for Crater Lake.

At 6:00 when we reached Crater Lake the Rim Village was filled and we camped at Mazama Camp Ground. Mazama is the name of the Mt. on which the crater formed.

Chuck and I went to the church service at 7:00. An Alabama man who graduated from Yale and is presently attending Union Theological Seminary gave an excellent sermon. Then the boys, Susan, and I went back to the 8:30 Naturalist, Ranger talk. It was interesting but long.

Crater Lakes Mazama Camp Ground seems to be more highly cultivated than any park we have seen. A macadam amphitheater with fancy stage, fancy edged paths. There were many camp sites. They were working on roads both north and south of the area.

Sidebar from the diary of Jane Eaton, age 14

July 8

We left Cappelle’s and drove to Marineland. There we watched a diver feed fish underwater through a window built below the water surface. Then we saw Bubbles and the other whales do their tricks. With the whales were the dolphins.

After that, we went to the Sea Arena to watch the seals and porpoises who were really something!

We spent the night in Ventura at the Viking Motel, where we got two adjoining rooms for $12!

July 9

We drove to Big Sur State Park to camp but the camp had been filled since 3, so we went on to another privately owned camp called Big Sur further along the way.

On the way from Ventura, we stopped at San Simeon, where the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument is. We toured the castle which was really quite a project. There were three guest houses, two swimming pools (one indoor and one outdoor), tennis court, and beautiful gardens. I especially enjoyed the gardens, but I disliked the type of decoration and the construction of the buildings. 

From San Simeon, to Big Sur, we went along a lovely road that was built into the cliffs along the ocean.

The light meter on my camera is stuck or broken.

July 10

We left Big Sur after having another flat tire in the park.

San Francisco was wonderful, though we only saw Chinatown, really. We ate a delicious meal at a Chinese restaurant. Then we went to a camera place to see about my camera. It is guaranteed for a year, so I can have it fixed for free if I send it to New York when I get home. Meanwhile, I can work it!

We shopped in Chinatown. I got some water flowers, colored chalk and some mats for Mrs. Pease.

The ride up and down the hills in the trolley was fun.

We drove across the Golden Gate and saw Alcatraz.

A few minutes were spent in the redwood forest, where the tallest trees in the world are.

We spent the night in a motel so I could get ready for Susan’s.