HH A car trip

Our Trip to Friesental by Car

Because it was so close to Easter we thought it to be a good idea to go there for the Holidays and do my proposing. The car was gone over thoroughly and fueled to the top. We also took a five-gallon can of gas with us in case of emergency. There were no filling stations nor highways. Gas was only available at a few depots or in a drugstore. The road in spring at the time was dry and very spongy. I therefore used a lot of gas. I could have fueled up in Alexandrovsk , which is about halfway but it was a holiday and all businesses were closed. I hoped to make it to Smolinskaja where grandfather always kept a supply of gas whenever he came with his brother-in-law’s car. Therefore, the manager Engbrect always had some on hand. But everything was to come out different than planned.

I was not familiar with this area and shortly before Zacharisasfeld, I took a wrong turn and ended up in a very narrow valley along a small stream. The road finally ended all together and crossing the stream would have taken us further away from the destination. So we decided to go up the steep bank and head in the general direction. We were not able to turn around so we had no other choice, but were afraid the motor would not make it. We were fortunate to have two rods on the bottom of the car that I could lower down to hold the car as emergency brakes. The motor had to work extremely hard but after a lot of tries we finally made it. We used up a lot of gas and were hoping to make it at least to Zachariasfeld. And we just made it. This settlement was owned by three brothers, Gerhar, Isaak and Wilhelm Zacharias. The inhabitants had heard the noise of the motor for quite a while and were all gathered on the street expecting us. Mr. Isaak Zacharias invited us to stay overnight at their place, which we gladly accepted. I turned in at their place and the last drop of gas was gone. Mr. Zacharias offered to send a vehicle to Smolenskoja to fetch some gas. Now the question remained if Engbrecht would have some gas available. Trofin, my driver, went alone with the empty can and was back with a full can before lunchtime. The family was very hospitable to us and offered us a very good dinner.

I was very tired from the exhausting trip and went to bed early and fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow. Father talked to Mr. Zacharias for a while and told him the plan of our trip. I was rather embarrassed as the plan was still in the making and not yet a completed fact and I was still unsure of its outcome. But it did not really matter since the Zachariases were related to the Friesens.

After our car had been refueled, we took our leave of Mr. and Mrs. Zacharias with many thanks and good wishes and left for Smolinska. Here we could drive on a well traveled road.

I was worried about how to present my proposal. I had no idea how such things were handled. Nobody gave me instructions. I finally decided to be as natural as possible and leave everything in the hands of our Lord. He would give me the right words to say. I would have loved to have gone to Friesental right away and get this critical embarrassing situation over with.

But I could not very well present myself in a dirty car as a prospective groom to the future bride.

There, Trofin washed and checked the car all over and found that both of those brake rods were badly bent during our climb of the river bank. They had to be removed and straightened in the blacksmith shop. Trofin greased the car and checked it all out again.

At the same time, Engbrecht sent a vehicle for a supply of gas again. The weather was just beautiful. Everything was green and the wild violets were blooming in the field and sending their aromatic breath through the whole valley.

Next morning, Father, Trofin and I drove to Friesental, where we arrived right after they had completed their morning service, which was held at the widow Jeri Friesen’s place.