Postcard Memories is a new biweekly series on InnisfilToday, where we share stories of the town's people and their history.
Jan. 2, 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the epic road trip from Toronto to Mexico and Las Vegas taken by best friends Eric Whitehead of Gilford, and Murray Jupe.
Their adventure diary is documented in their self-published book, Then There Was One: The Ultimate 70s Roadtrip., which captures the essence of the era, in the raw, tell-all tale.
"I kept a journal, the book is the journal," explains Whitehead, who wrote most of the entries.
"The language is antiquated and it's raw, but it reflected the time," shares Jupe.
In 1971 Whitehead, 19 and Jupe, 20 were living in Toronto. They went to high school together and had been planning the trip for two years prior, originally with two other friends. But as time went on, and circumstances changed, the four-man trip turned into two.
The friends knew they wanted to travel, but where and how was the question.
Europe seemed like a good idea, but with limited funds and concerns about the weather conditions, the pair decided on a road trip instead.
After much deliberation and budgeting, they purchased a used car for $500, packed up a tent and headed south for Acapulco, Mexico, then northwest through Texas to Las Vegas.
"This was the least expensive way to see the world," said Jupe.
It was the first time the pair had been out of the country without their parents. Throughout their travels, they met many unique individuals and experienced life to the fullest: camping in the desert, seeing Apollo 14 launch in Florida, witnessing a near-fatal accident, celebrating Jupe's 21st birthday Vegas-style - some experiences that have shaped them into the people they are today.
"It was a learning expedition really," said Jupe.
They share their shock and frustrations with some of the racist individuals they come across in the southern states and in Mexico.
'I believe that there is a simple formula in relations with the Mexican people. If you treat them with the respect that they deserve (and they deserve a lot of respect) and treat them with kindness, they will almost give their life for you. I honestly wish Canadians were more like that' reads an excerpt from Whitehead on Feb. 7, 1971.
"It (the racism) was just sickening," described Whitehead who says the trip taught him a lot about tolerance of others.
"We were two young guys who didn't know much about life, to be honest with you, and we learned an incredible amount about life in general," reflected Jupe.
On the road, they pair were constantly stopping to have their brakes on the car fixed.
"That was our biggest problem," said Whitehead.
All in all, the pair spent around $1,000 on car maintenance throughout the entire five-month adventure.
Back then, communication was not as instant as it is today and the only time they were able to connect with family and friends at home was through the odd pay-phone call or mail.
"We'd pick up our mail at the central post offices," explained Jupe.
After months of travelling together, a tiff threw a wrench in Whitehead and Jupe's plans, leaving Whitehead in Vegas all alone with Jupe flying to B.C. halfway through the trip.
"If you put two people together in a tent for months at a time, something's going to go wrong," said Jupe.
Looking back, he says resentments are pointless.
"What mattered when we were in Vegas...didn't really matter in life. Our friendship outweighed the animosity."
It wasn't until seven years after the trip, the pair saw each other by fluke while driving in Toronto. They reconnected and have been best friends ever since.
"And that's one of the biggest lessons in life is that we hang onto anger, resentments," said Jupe, who says it isn't worth it. "We've leaned on each other and helped each other out, and that's what friendship is."
After all these years Jupe and Whitehead remain the best of friends.
Jupe and his wife Karen, who live in Mississauga, feel that they have been 'adopted' by Whitehead and his family, celebrating every holiday and special event together (except this year--thanks Covid!).
Whitehead has lived in Gilford with his wife (also named Karen) for the past 36 years. Whitehead says it was the road trip with Jupe that ignited his love and passion for travel. This was the first of many books Whitehead has published about his travels.
Before the book was published in 2010, every year on the anniversary of the trip, Whitehead would bring out the old journal and read it. As the years went by, the pages stared to deteriorate, which prompted him to have them officially published into a book.
Would they do the trip again?
In a heartbeat. It was the most memorable experience. But they don't think it would be possible in this day and age, with Covid, heigtened safety restrictions and all.
"I for one would not go back there now," said Whitehead.
He and his wife have spent the past few years exploring Canada and encourage others to do the same.
"You'll never run out of places to visit in Canada," he says.
To learn more about the book, and to check out some of Whitehead's other travel works, visit https://www.thatroadtripbook.com/.
To purchase a copy of the book, contact Whitehead by email at [email protected].
