"Horatio's Drive" - America's First Road Trip

"Horatio's Drive" is a film directed by Ken Burns for PBS and tells the story of the first successful road trip across America from San Francisco to New York in 1903.  Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson decided on a whim (and as the result of a $50 bet) to drive a car across country.  He hired a mechanic to make the trip with him at a time when there were no real roads for car travel.  This DVD is the story of their adventure -- many breakdowns and delays along the way -- and their success despite two cars sponsored by Packard and Oldsmobile who started the trip after them.  These drivers had better equipment and regular supplies enroute while Jackson paid for his journey and supplies himself.

It's a fascinating look at early road trips and the unreliability of early cars.  If it had been me, I would have given up after the first day probably but his letters home to his wife in Vermont are upbeat and always optimistic as well as full of love for his wife.  Adding personal appeal to the film is input from two of his granddaughters.

Dr. Jackson is a fascinating man in many other ways as he goes on to be a successful businessman in many fields and volunteers to serve as a doctor in World War II even though he's in his 40's at that time.  He returns home decorated and lives on into his 80's.

Although I don't remember where I first heard about this film, it was well worth watching (and listening to the voice of Tom Hanks as Horatio)!  pazt