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.
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