Alice's Drive by Alice Ramsey, Gregory M. Franzwa (2005, Book)

I heard a review of this book on NPR one day and was fascinated by the idea of such an intrepid journey, by car, so early in the twentieth century, and driven by a woman, accompanied by two female relatives and a female friend. Alice's lively personality shines through her writing. Her description of the mechanics of early automobiles is written with stellar clarity. She loved and recorded in great detail the people she met, the changing landscape she everso slowly crossed and all the highs and lows of the adventure.

This a a great "road trip" account that deserves to be read along with the journals and diaries by women of earlier crossings by wagon train, and Least Heat Moon's Blue Highways.

Mr. Franzwa has added excellent accounts of the beginnings if the Lincoln Hwy., one of the first major roads to be created due to the coming dominance of the automobile. Another fine "extra" are the many photographs and maps.

My only complaint is that this account is so short. Wish Alice had written more.