A vintage Austin 7 and a little snow brings a Christmas card-like image to Cuba, MO from Stevenage, England.
The Viva Cuba murals along the Route 66 corridor in Cuba, Missouri bring visitors from around the world to Cuba. In the process, we sometimes forge bonds that outlast a casual stop along the road.
A few years ago a group driving vintage Austin 7 cars that they brought over from the British Isles to drive along Route 66 from Chicago to California stopped at the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. The drivers were gracious enough to give an interview and pose their cars for a photo in front of the A.J. Barnett mural. A snippet of the photo is on the Viva Cuba mural brochure.
The Austin 7 group posed for this photo in Cuba, Missouri in 2006.
When I received an email from Ken and Eileen Cooke from Stevenage, England concerning a Viva Cuba blog post, it brought their visit to mind. The Cookes read our blogs and stay in touch. Ken commented that a photo of the Austin 7s in Cuba hangs in their sitting room. When I originally took the photo, I had no idea that it would end up on a wall in England.
Since the original trip in 2006, members of the group have returned to Cuba on other tours.
Occasionally, an email crosses between Viva Cuba and the tourers in England. News of the Wagon Wheel’s new owner and the death of the previous owner Harold Armstrong brought commiseration from the Cookes. When I commented in an email yesterday that we had a little snow, the Cookes sent these photos of the snow they have in England. With the bright red vintage Austin against the snow, the photos reminded me of Christmas cards.
Stevenage, England with a population of around 100,00 is about 30 miles north of London. According to Ken, “It is a post-WW II new town, grafted onto an ancient town of about 30,000.”
Cooke continued, “We do appreciate hearing from our Rt. 66 friends. We had such a wonderful time with our Austin in 2006 and in 2008 when we did it in a borrowed modern.”
Although there is a 6 hour time difference between Cuba, MO and Stevenage, England, a snowy Saturday was a link between the two places that brought back good memories on both sides of the ocean.
Merry Christmas to all. Here, there, and everywhere.
A snow in England and a snow in Cuba, Missouri brought forth reminisces of earlier times.
For information on the murals visit cubamomurals.com.
For information on Cuba, Missouri, visit cubamochamber.com.
We are very proud to see our little Austin Seven on the Cuba Mo website. We have so many happy memories of Route 66 – and Cuba in particular. We remember Jane Reed, the Wagon Wheel Motel and the 66 Cafe where we enjoyed a ‘cuppa’ with Harold Armstrong a real gentleman. We are so sad that, even if we could come back, we won’t be ale to see him.
Season’s Greetings to all in your friedly little town.
Ken and Eileen
Ken and Eileen,
Visitors like you make our town a richer place to live.
– – – not forgetting the the fabulous Murals
Ken