Hi 66ers, Family & Friends,

This account of Cheryl’s last road trip had to be written. Not only to inform all of our family and friends, but I know she would have done the same for me if the situation had been reversed. As everyone knows by now, Cheryl died on May 18, 2001 following an unfortunate accident here in Ogden, Utah. It’s been nearly a month and this all seems utterly impossible to believe. All of us here are still in a state of shock. There is not a moment that goes by that I’m not reminded of Cheryl. 

Cheryl was cremated in Salt Lake the day after the funeral and her ashes returned to the mortuary here in Ogden. Her sister Cindy picked up Cheryl late that afternoon. From the very beginning there was no question as to our carrying out her wishes. Jay, my brother-in-law, spear headed the effort, planning the whole trip. Of course, from previous discussions with Cheryl, I knew the exact spot she wanted to be for her final resting place. These discussions usually centered around my desire for my ashes to be spread along old Route 66. This will probably change for me now due to what has transpired in the last month. 

Cheryl’s last road trip was not in our Corvette that she loved so much. No, we traveled in real stile in her sisters new Lexus. I’ve always been a Chevy man, but the Lexus is a great ride. We left Ogden early on Thursday morning on May 24th. With the Memorial Day weekend fast approaching we had to get to our destination quickly and complete Cheryl’s wishes. We traveled south on Interstate 15 until the cut off to Page Arizona. In the past, Cheryl and I have traveled this route many times and I’d forgotten just how beautiful southern Utah and northern Arizona  were. The mountains were still green and blooming. Of course the red mountains and rocky terrain of Arizona is as breath taking as ever. Traveling south on Highway 89, we turned  west to   the Grand Canyon south rim on Highway 64. 

Fortunately we arrived by mid afternoon with plenty of daylight remaining to complete our task. The first order of business was to park near the south rim/west tour area. The west tour is closed to private vehicles so we must ride a shuttle bus out to Cheryl’s final resting place. Cindy and Jay had not been to the Grand Canyon since they were kids, so they were overwhelmed at the spectacular views. We could not have asked for better weather. The crowds were minimal this day before the long holiday weekend. Up to this point, the backpack with Cheryl’s ashes had been in the back seat with Cindy for the whole trip. The trip was very emotional for all of us. I carried an old photo of Cheryl and I from 1983 on the trip as well as a neckless she wore on the night we met.  Cindy carried Cheryl’s wedding ring and an emerald birth stone ring.  At more emotional times Cindy gave me the rings to hold onto. 

When we hiked the short distance to the shuttle pick up area it was my turn to carry the back pack. I know it sounds strange, but this gave me a comforting feeling knowing that we were about to carry out Cheryl’s wishes. We arrived at “Pima Point”, the last stop before Hermits Rest on the south rim. 

 Cheryl and I had visited this very spot in April and she again reminded me that “this is the place”. Of course at the time, I could have only dreamed of what was to happen in only a few short weeks. Jay was great throughout the whole ordeal, making sure everything was just right.     We had worried about tourists and even park rangers being around, but neither was a problem.      There was a large raven hanging around for the longest time, just sitting a few feet from us and the cliffs below. Maybe this was Cheryl’s spirt letting us know that she was ready to glide on the wind?   When the time was right, Jay said a few words and emptied Cheryl’s ashes into the gentle breeze. As the ashes were floating down, a stronger wind came up and carried her in three different directions. From, this spot just a few feet east of the Pima Point observation deck, you can see the river below and the colorful cliffs of the north rim. In Cheryl’s words “this is the most beautiful spot on earth”. And she is right! Even though this is  the saddest time in my life, a burden had been lifted from our shoulders. All three of us had carried out my wife’s wishes. And it was no easy task. 

It was getting late so we decided to travel the sixty-six miles south to Williams and the old highway route 66. Jay and Cindy had never been to Williams or traveled the old highway. Cindy especially wanted to see what Cheryl and I had been experiencing for so many years. We first stopped at the Route 66 Magazine Store to visit with Paul and Sandi Taylor. They, along with Bob Moore had attended Cheryl’s funeral and have been friends for years. It was an emotional time for all of us as Cheryl was looking forward to working at the store in the near future. That evening we stayed at the old Westerner Motel right on old 66. The next day(Friday) I decided to show Cindy and Jay some of the old highway and experience some of what us roadies are up to. 
We first traveled east to Parks with me showing them where Cheryl and I had looked a t property. We then went to Seligman and I introduced them to Angel Delgadio. He was shocked to hear of Cheryl’s death as we had been stopping here for the last ten years or so. Of course we had to go into the Snow Cap for a frostie. Juan was a jewel as usual.   

After a second evening at the Westerner we were up early Saturday for the long trip back to Ogden. We had said our goodbys to Paul, Sandy and Bob at their radio station the night before. 
It was hard to leave a place that Cheryl and I love so much. But we all had to get back to reality. Life without Cheryl. 
 

Cheryl & Earl Cory(with Kalli)
Getting Our Kicks
RoadCorys@aol.com
“The Road to happiness is paved in Portland concrete.”
“Happiness is not found at the end of the road, but all along the way.”