So, we've been done for about a week and we're still going through our pictures. It is possible that we will have more blog posts at some point, expanding on various parts of the trip. In the meantime, however, you can check out the Flickr photostream at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcbc/sets/72157606414106772/
(NOT WORKING ANYMORE.. Needs to be re-done.)
to see more pictures, some of which have location information. If you create an account on Flickr, you can ask to be added to our contacts so that you can see pictures that are not marked as public.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
This is The End (8/9)
Rather anti-climactically, we drove to the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard (which Route 66 turned onto from Santa Monica Boulevard) and Olympic, said to be the western end/beginning of Route 66.
Santa Monica Pier (8/8)
Although not technically on Route 66, we went to the Santa Monica Pier to celebrate reaching the end of Route 66. We took a ride on the new ferris wheel and walked to the end of the pier. Compared to recent days on the road, it was quite chilly.
Colorado Street Bridge (8/8)
It was very hard to get a picture, while in a moving car, of this gorgeous 1913 bridge in Pasadena that was part of original Route 66. Definitely a place to go back to whenever we're in Los Angeles again.
Foothill Drive-In (8/8)
The drive-in theater is no more, but the sign still stands in Azusa, California.
Excellent! (8/8)
Yes, indeed, this is what at least one Route 66 alignment through San Dimas, California, looks like. Strange things are afoot on Route 66, Dude.
More Wigwams (8/8)
As we made our into the greater Los Angeles area on Route 66 (now a heavily used local road through the various parts of Los Angeles), we passed another Wigwam Motel. This time, however, it was surrounded by palm trees, not old cars and train tracks.
Chopped Up Route 66 (8/8)
There is nothing usual about this, but south of Victorville we were forced onto the freeway because it was placed on top of Route 66. At one point, we escaped the freeway for a while, only to have Route 66 chopped up again, making us get on and then immediately off the freeway. Here's view of the beginning/end of Route 66 where it is interrupted by the freeway.
Bottle Tree Man (8/8)
Between Helendale and Oro Grande, California, is the Bottle Tree Man's place (http://bottletreeman.blogspot.com). We found it in our brief Barstow to Victorville Route 66 excursion almost two years ago after Christmas. We backtacked up from Victorville to pay another visit with Elmer and to see what had changed.
Museum in Victorville (8/8)
On our last real day on the road, we first stopped in at the Route 66 Museum in Victorville. We saw pictures of places we'd been, plus pictures of things we had missed. We got our last Route 66 pin and we checked to see how far back up the road (towards Barstow, not L.A.) the Bottle Tree Ranch was.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Roy's Cafe, Amboy, CA (8/7)
We did not find too much in our trek on Route 66 across the Mohave Desert. One old sign we did see was Roy's Motel and Cafe. It appeared that the gas station was open again, but not much else. The sun set on us out in the Mohave Desert as we made our way to Barstow and Victorville.
Feeding wild burros (8/7)
Second order of business in Oatman was feeding the wild burros. Oatman used to be a mining town and part of Route 66. When this stretch was bypassed and mining was not enough to support the town, it became somewhat of a ghost town. Now, however, it looks like tourism is bringing it back thanks to the wild burros, decendants of the burros used during mining days. Nearly every store sells carrots that tourists can then feed to the burros wandering the streets.
Oatman Hotel Cafe (8/7)
After a very interesting drive over Sitgreaves Pass, we came upon Oatman, California. First order of business was food and so we went to the Oatman Hotel Cafe. Part of the decor is dollar bills signed and stapled all over the walls, doors, handrails, etc. After our lunch, Gillian signed a dollar bill and chose a spot on a handrail to staple it to. There it is.
"Red" (8/7)
Our guide at the Grand Canyons Caverns claimed that an animator from Pixar went on a tour with him once and told him all about the Cars movie, before it came out. He also claimed that Grand Canyon Caverns was the only place around before the Cars movie that had a red fire truck sitting outside. Also, Peach Springs is just down the road, and all of the towns along this stretch of Route 66 were bypassed in a big way (the interstate is not even close).
Friday, August 8, 2008
Greetings from Victorville
We are heading out for our last day on Route 66. We will post pictures from yesterday and today once we have reached the end.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Grand Canyon Caverns
Just as our tour at the Keepers of the Wild was ending, a rainstorm started. We headed back to Grand Canyon Caverns, where we had dinner and stayed for the night.
This morning, we had a bit of fun with the dinosaur in front of the restaurant and after a quick breakfast we went down in the caverns for a tour.
We're now headed out for a long day of driving. Our destination today is Victorville, California, and we probably won't get there until after dark tonight.
Keepers of the Wild
Since our drive was a short one for the day, we spent the afternoon at the Keepers of the Wild, a rescued animal shelter on Route 66. Although they've only been here for two years, they seem to be taking advantage of the returning popularity of tourism on the route. It's all for a good cause, though, since the animals that live here have been rescued from being euthanized.
Seligman, AZ
We stopped for lunch in Seligman at the Copper Cart. Many Route 66 shops lined the street.
BurmaShave signs
On Route 66 on the way to Seligman, many BurmaShave signs lined the road. All of them were road safety related, but still amusing, such as:
If daisies are your
favorite flower
keep pushin' up
the miles-per-hour.
Ash Fork, AZ
Ash Fork is another town where Route 66 was basically cut off by the interstate. We drove the business loop, saw this neat beauty and barber shop, hit the end of Route 66 in town, and had to go back on the interstate.
Williams, AZ
We wandered around Williams for a little bit after breakfast. A lot of Route 66 places still thrive in Williams, probably due in large part to Grand Canyon tourism.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Heading out of Williams
We have a relatively short day today. We'll be driving to Peach Springs, Arizona, near the Grand Canyon Caverns. If we have time, we'll drive a bit past there and see an animal park before calling it a day.
Grand Canyon Railway
The Grand Canyon Railway is near Route 66 in Williams, Arizona. We took the train to the Grand Canyon yesterday, saw some of the canyon, dodged (or enjoyed) rain showers, and came back on the train.
Twin Arrows (8/4)
Twin Arrows used to be a rest stop on Route 66. Now there is just an exit off the interstate and a road with a loop especially for going to see the ruins of it.
Jackrabbit Trading Post (8/4)
Back on Route 66, a bit beyond Holbrook, we stopped at the Jackrabbit Trading Post. Gillian got to ride the giant hare and Dada got to buy glass insulators from the telegraph poles we've seen nearly the whole way along old Route 66.
What's left of 66
The road was torn up, but the telegraph poles still line the route as it passed through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest.
Painted Desert (8/4)
The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Parks encompass land that used to have sections of old Route 66. This is a view of the Painted Desert.
Leaving the wigwam (8/4)
Here's the wigwam we stayed in. It was cozy and comfortable and we even slept in a little!
Holbrook, Arizona (8/3)
With much of newer Route 66 (as opposed to older dirt road Route 66) under the Interstate in this area, we made pretty good time to Holbrook. However, we did not make good enough time to see the Petrified Forest National Park along the way. Since Holbrook is only 25 miles or so from the park, we decided we'd head back there the next morning, after a night in a cozy cone... er, we mean wigwam.
El Rancho, Gallup, NM (8/3)
One of our last stops in New Mexico was El Rancho Hotel and Motel. It was very nice inside, in a westerm sort of way, and there were many pictures of movie stars on the walls.
El Vado Motel (8/3)
We spotted the El Vado Motel on our way out of Albuquerque. It looks like there is work being done on it, so the predictions of its demise might be wrong. We ate at a New Mexican / American restaurant next door, which coincidentally enough had been moved to its location on Route 66 when its old location was taken over by the Rio Grande Zoo.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Rio Grande Zoo (8/3)
Although this is not strictly on Route 66, it's only a few blocks from Route 66 in downtown Albuquerque to the Rio Grande Zoo, so we went there before heading out. The mountain lions were probably the most active of all the animals, since they are used to the heat.
Albuquerque sunset (8/2)
We looked up an old friend who lives in Albuquerque and we went on the tramway up to Sandia Peak. Apparently it was an unusual Saturday night, much more crowded than usual. The sun set as we stood in line for tickets and we didn't make it back down until after 10pm.
Bobcat Bite, Santa Fe (8/2)
We grabbed a bite (ha, ha) at the Bobcat Bite on our way out of Santa Fe. Dada says the burger was "really, really awesome". Mama says that a grilled jalapeno is "really, really hot".
On the way to Santa Fe (8/2)
We followed an early original section of Route 66 along a dirt road to where we could see it switch-back up and over a mesa. We did not attempt driving it up the hill.
Arriving in Albuquerque (8/1)
We saw a strange sight along Route 66 as we arrived in Albuquerque as night approached...
Longhorn Ranch ruins (8/1)
This is pretty much all that's left of the Longhorn Ranch tourist stop on old Route 66. It is at Exit 203 off of I-40 in New Mexico.
Tunnel under the interstate (8/1)
On one of our many crossings of the interstate while following Route 66, we had to take a narrow tunnel that is really a culvert for rainwater.
Blue Swallow, Tucumcari, NM (8/1)
Tucumcari (two-come-carry) had lots of neon. Unfortunately we were passing through in the middle of the day.
Entering New Mexico (8/1)
This is Dada causing a stampede. Apparently cows hiding in the shade of a bridge are afraid of a camera click. Who knew?
We had just passed the ghost town of Glenrio on the line between Texas and New Mexico and were on a very early (i.e. dirt road) section of Route 66.
Now in Williams, Arizona
Well, after a brief downtime in Albuquerque, where we kept very busy seeing the sights and driving to Santa Fe, and where we didn't realize that there was an Internet connection if you were in the hotel lobby but nowhere else, and after a night in a wigwam, we're now in Williams, Arizona, for two nights.
We will be posting pictures for the last four days (Friday through Monday) while we are here. Tomorrow we are taking the Grand Canyon Railway up to the Grand Canyon. Good thing, too! Our rental car needs an oil change...!
We will be posting pictures for the last four days (Friday through Monday) while we are here. Tomorrow we are taking the Grand Canyon Railway up to the Grand Canyon. Good thing, too! Our rental car needs an oil change...!
Friday, August 1, 2008
On our way through Texas
We made it to Amarillo last night after deciding to take much of the way along I-40 since the route was a little rough in spots.
We did our laundry this morning, so we'll have clean clothes to wear for a while longer.
It looks as though it's going to be very hot. Our SUV keeps us nice and cool though. And we still have our memories of Meramec Caverns where we were a very chilly 60 degrees on the hour long tour.
We did our laundry this morning, so we'll have clean clothes to wear for a while longer.
It looks as though it's going to be very hot. Our SUV keeps us nice and cool though. And we still have our memories of Meramec Caverns where we were a very chilly 60 degrees on the hour long tour.
Pedestrian Tunnel, Sayre, OK
Here we are underneath Route 66 in Sayre, where they still have a pedestrian tunnel.
Route 66 Museum
In Elk City, Oklahoma, we stopped for a brief visit to the National Route 66 Museum.
Lucille's Roadhouse
After a failed attempt to follow the really old Route 66 off of US 270 out of Geary, we finally did make our way to Lucille's Roadhouse in Weatherford, Oklahoma, for lunch.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Rock Cafe, Stroud, OK
With our bellies full from that good breakfast at The Little Brick Inn, we were holding out for having late lunch at The Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma, another restaurant featured on The Food Network. Unfortunately, when we got there, we discovered that it had been damaged by a fire. The person at the gas station across Route 66 from it said that it had happened two months ago and the owner (the real "Sally") was waiting for the insurance money to rebuild the cafe.
Steel Truss Bridge, Sapulpa, OK
It took a bit of doing because of road construction, but we made it to this steel truss bridge over Rock Creek west of Sapulpa. It was very hot and lying down on the red brick pavement was a dangerous proposition in more ways than one!
Blue Whale, Catoosa, OK
We almost missed this one, but we backtracked to visit. It used to be a swimming hole with a diving platform off the whale's tail and slides from the sides of its head.
Totem Pole Park
A few miles off the route at Foyil, OK, is Totem Pole Park. We looked around, took pictures, and bought some souvenirs to support the park.
"Sidewalk" Highway
Making our way through northeastern Oklahoma, we drove on the really old sections of "sidewalk" highway. In the 1920s, they had only half the money they needed, so they only paved one lane.
The Little Brick Inn
We stayed at the Little Brick Inn in Baxter Springs, Kansas. It is a bed and breakfast and it's on the second floor of an 1870 bank building. The bank was robbed by Jesse James in 1876. The Cafe on the Route on the first floor was featured on The Food Network. Breakfast was so good, we didn't need to eat lunch/dinner until after 5PM!
In Oklahoma City
We made it to Oklahoma City after some detours and a disappointing discovery. More about that tomorrow morning.
We had fun at a minor league baseball game for a change of pace and now it's time to sleep.
We had fun at a minor league baseball game for a change of pace and now it's time to sleep.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Day 4 (and a bit about Day 3)
On Day 3 we made it to Baxter Springs, Kansas. We went to look for the spooklight, but we didn't have any luck.
Today, Day 4, we will be heading to Oklahoma City. If we get there in time, we might see a minor league baseball game.
Today, Day 4, we will be heading to Oklahoma City. If we get there in time, we might see a minor league baseball game.
On the way to Joplin
On a very old abandoned section in western Missouri, we came across this gas station after crossing a narrow bridge. We were making our way to Joplin in the waning daylight hours.
Plano, MO
On a long straight stretch away with little interaction with the interstate, we read the section on Plano just as we were passing through. We read the part about an old vine-covered masonry building right next to the road just as we arrived here.
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