FINALLY! LIFE ON ROUTE 66 IS PUBLISHED!

60174-COVERREDUCED.jpgOUR BOOK HAS LAUNCHED.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY YOU MAY ORDER DIRECTLY THROUGH US AND WE WILL MAIL YOU A SIGNED COPY.  FOR MAILING, THE PRICE IS $23.00.  JUST SEND A CHECK PAYABLE TO CLAUDIA HELLER AT P.O. BOX 1251, DUARTE, CA 91009.  WE WILL MAIL THE BOOK TO YOU RIGHT AWAY.

BOOK SIGNING AND PRESENTATION AT PASADENA VROMAN’S, 7 P.M. ON

AUGUST 21!  PLEASE JOIN US.

What’s it about?

“Winding through the rugged heartland of the American West, Route 66 has resonated for generations in hardscrabble stories of hopeful seekers of new homes and lives.  The Mother Road has inspired books and shows by the dozens, exploring the mythology and anticipation of freedom road.  But here is something new. Coauthors Claudia and Alan Heller, longtime
 residents of Duarte, California along Route 66, hitched their trailer to a retirement dream and traveled the road again, in their home state and back to Chicago.  They collected stories about the iconic highway and what it means to the people who live along it.”

 

60176-66stencil.small.jpg
This book is not exactly a guide, but if you are thinking of traveling the road, we hope it will encourage you to take the step and enjoy all it has to offer.  We lived in our small trailer for a month and stayed married!  Armed with guides and maps we took our time and kept in mind that it was the journey that was important,, more than the destination.  We hope you will learn from our mistakes and gain from our experiences.  

We are indebted to HistoryPress and their courage in undertaking the publishing of our book, their professional and friendly guidance.  This book is our legacy and the product of a dual effort:  Claudia the writer, Alan the photographer.

We also thank all of those who followed our articles in the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, and the many readers who took time to share their memories of life along the road.  Their stories and photos are at the heart of the book.

We do not consider ourselves to be experts on the history of the Road but we have done our best to do careful research and have made an effort to be accurate.  However, much of the road’s history is contested, dates and events may be fuzzy, and some people may disagree with the “facts.”  We urge you to enjoy the spirit of the road and travel with us along the highway of flight, of hope, of escape, of new opportunities. 

If you have questions or comments, feel free to email us:  famheller@msn.com.

Claudia & Alan Heller

OUT OF THIS WORLD! AREA 51 AND LITTLE A’LE’INN

60104-sign1.ethwy.jpg

 

No need to catch a spaceship – just head for Area 51 some 2 hours out of Las Vegas.

60105-Area51.road.jpg

The road to the gate of Area 51 is long and straight and seemingly deserted.  But don’t think you are alone!  The camos are watching. Mind the rules, or else…..

 

 

 

 

Below is the black mailbox which is white.  This is where things seem to happen

60106-mailbox3.bluealien.jpg

60107-mailbox4.yellowalien.jpg
60108-mail1.jpg
60109-mailbox2.alien.jpg

Next a stop at the research station.  Rumor is there are some alien autopsies being performed in the back room.  We settled for a bottle of alien tequila and some postcards.

60110-research1.jpg

60111-rsearch2.IBelieve.jpg

Lunch time, so on to the Little Al’e’Inn.  The only aliens we meet are from Germany.

60112-aleinn4.sign.jpg

60113-alleinn1.jpg

60114-alleinn4.tow.jpg

All is friendly inside the famed Little A’le’Inn and there are stories to tell!

60115-alllein2.inside.jpg

Leaving Rachel Nevada we head for Hawthorne and Walker Lake, then on to Mono Lake, lunch at the Mobil Station, then a few days of fishing at Silverlake on the June Lake Loop and a one-night stop in Lone Pine. A nice week’s trip.