THE LONELIEST HIGHWAY IN AMERICA

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Around 1986 to 1988, Life Magazine is said to have ran a very negative article about Nevada State Highway 50 titled “The Loneliest Road.” An AAA spokesperson had described Nevada State Highway 50 route through Nevada in these words: “It’s totally empty. There are no points of interest. We don’t recommend it. We warn all motorists not to drive there unless they’re confident of their survival skills.”   NOT TRUE!!

THE FIRST TOWN ALONG THIS HIGHWAY IS BAKER. THERE YOU CAN PICK UP A PASSPORT. IF YOU GET IT STAMPED AT FIVE TOWNS BETWEEN BAKER AND THE END OF THE LONELIEST ROAD WHICH IS CARSON CITY, THEN YOU MAIL IT IN AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A FREE TEE-SHIRT AND HAT. OK, THE CHALLENGE IS ON.

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THIS HIGHWAY RIBBONS THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST HISTORIC AREAS IN THE WEST AND LOOSELY PARALLELS THE PONY EXPRESS ROUTE. WE STARTED AT GREAT BASIN NATIONAL MONUMENT WHICH IS NEAR BAKER, NEVADA. HERE WE CAMPED ALONG THREE MERGING BROOKS, DROVE UP THE MOUNTAIN WHERE BRISTLECONE PINES ARE GROWING SOME 13,000 FEET UP, HEARD A RANGER TALK ABOUT MOUNTAIN LIONS AND LOOKED OVER OUR SHOULDERS AFTER THAT. WE WENT TO AN ASTRONOMY LECTURE, AND TOURED THE LEHMAN CAVES

AT GREAT BASIN WE DROVE JUST BELOW WHERE THE BRISTLECONE PINES GROW, AT THE BASE OF MT. WHEELER

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GB4.MTNOUR CAMPSITE (below) IS ONE OF OUR ALL-TIME FAVORITES.  THREE BABBLING BROOKS CONFLUENCED JUST A FEW FEET FROM OUR FIRE PIT.

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SO, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THAT ICY WATER AROUND? MEET THE CHALLENGE OF COURSE.

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TOURING THE LEHMAN CAVES IS ANOTHER ADVENTURE IN THIS PARK.

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LEHMAN CAVES IS A SINGLE CAVERN PENETRATING A QUARTER MILE INTO THE LIMESTONE AND MARBLE THAT FLANK THE BASE OF THE SNAKE RANGE. IT IS ONE OF THE REGIONS MOST PROFUSELY DECORATED CAVES.

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NEARBY IS THE WARD MINING DISTRICT WITH LOTS TO EXPLORE.

WARD1.CEMETERYWARD2.CEMETERYWARD3.CEMETERTWARD4.MINEWARD5.MINEWARD6.CORESAND ALAN DISCOVERS GOLD (the fool)WARD7.GOLDBELOW IS THE TOWNSITE.WARD8.TOWNSITEWARD9.CAFEFOLLOWING A SIGN TO A “CAFE,” THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND.  AFTER GOING INSIDE WHERE THE OWNER WAS ON A COUCH WATCHING TV, WE DECIDED NOT TO EAT THERE.

GB6.CAFE GB7.BUFFALO GB8.CAFEINSIDE BUT THERE WAS A REWARD.  OUT BACK OF THE “RANCH” WE SPIED A PRONGHORN ON THE FIELD.

WARD11.ANIMALAND THEN TWO PRONGHORNS IN AN X-RATED ACTION.WARD12.ANIMALS DOING ITNEARBY WE VISITED THE CHARCOAL OVENS STATE HISTORIC PARK WHICH IS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS 8 BEEHIVE SHAPED OVENS.  THEY CONTINUE TO REPRESENT A UNIQUE CHAPTER IN NEVADA’S MINING HISTORYWARD13.KILNSWARD15.KILNS

FLOWERSWHEN YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE THAT WITHIN THE HARSH LANDSCAPE THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF FRAGRANT SAGE AND COLORFUL FLOWERS SUCH AS THE PRICKLY POPPIES ABOVE.

TIME TO LEAVE GREAT BASIN AND BRAVE THE LONELIEST ROAD IN AMERICA WHICH, FOR US, BEGINS IN BAKER

LR2.SIGN.CARWE GOT A LITTLE WORRIED WHEN WE SPIED THE CARS BELOW JUST OFF THE ROAD.  MAYBE THIS WASN’T SUCH A GOOD IDEA. LR4.CAR LR5.CARSKULL

ON TO ELY, NEVADA VIA THE LONELIEST ROAD

Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and the Central Overland Route. Ely’s mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50 with the discovery of copper in 1906. Though the railroads connecting the First Transcontinental Railroad to the mines in Austin and Eureka have long been removed, the railroad to Ely is preserved as a heritage railway by the Nevada Northern Railway and known as the Ghost Train of Old Ely.

OF COURSE WE HAD TO TAKE A RIDE ON THIS HISTORIC TRAIN.

CLICK ON TRAIN VIDEO BELOW.  IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO START.

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IT WAS A SPECIAL NIGHT COMMEMORATING THIS RAILROAD’S ATTEMPTS AT REFURBISHNG THE ANTIQUE TRAIN PARTS THAT HAD BEEN STORED.  THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL PIECES RESTORED ON THE TV SHOW “AMERICAN RESTORATION.”

BELOW IS THE INSIDE OF THE STATION. TRAIN5.INSIDEAND THE EXTERIOR TRAIN6.STNWE GOT OUR TICKET….READY TO RIDE! TRAIN7.TICKETALL ABOARD TRAIN8.ALLABOARDTHE BEST VIEW IS ON THE OUTSIDE CAR, BUT WHEN THE SOOT STARTS FALLING IT CAN COVER YOU IN BLACK GRIT. TRAIN9.ME

WE MADE A STOP TO SEE SOME OF THE RESTORED EQUIPMENT. TRAIN10.RECONSTRUCTBACK IN THE TRAIN WE CONTINUED UP-CANYON. TRAIN12.INSIDE TRAINAS THE SUN STARTED TO SET, EVERYTHING TURNED PINK. TRAIN13.SUNSET TRAIN14.SUNSET TRAIN15.WORKERHEADED BACK TO THE STATION WE GOT A GOOD VIEW OF DOWNTOWN ELY AND THE NEVADA HOTEL AND CASINO. TRAIN16.HOTEL

RIDING THE TRAIN WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH FOR ALAN.  UP EARLY THE NEXT MORNING WE RUSHED TO THE STATION, TOOK MORE PICTURES THEN HEADED UP THE HIGHWAY STOPPING AT STRATEGIC SPOTS TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE TRAIN AS IT PASSED.  WE WERE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE DOING THIS!

HAD TO STOP FOR A PICTURE OF THE LAST REMAINING BROTHEL IN TOWN:

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UP THE HILL FROM THE TRAIN ROUTE IS GARNET HILL – WE DECIDED TO GO GET RICH!

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CONTINUING ON THE LONELIEST HIGHWAY WE TOOK A SIDE TRIP TO CAVE LAKE. ACTIVITIES AT THIS PARK IINCLUDE TROUT FISHING, BIRD WATCHING AND HUNTING.

CL1.LAKE CL2.CAVEDRIVING HIGHWAY 50 TAKES YOU THROUGH MANY MILES OF WIDE VISTAS WHERE YOU CAN SEE MILES OF TUNDRA ON BOTH SIDES.  HIDDEN AWAY ARE MINES AND OLD TOWNSITES AND CAMPS.  BUT THERE ARE TOWNS, AND EUREKA IS ONE OF THE SPECIAL ONES.  WE STOPPED AT THE EUREKA MUSEUM TO GET ALAN’S PASSPORT STAMPED, AND WALKED AROUND TO SEE THE RENOVATED BUILDINGS SUCH AS THE 1879 COURTHOUSE BELOW.

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AND THE 1880 OPERA HOUSE EUREKA2.OPERAAND THE MUSEUM EUREKA3.MUSEUM EUREKA4.MUSEUM EUREKA5.MUSEUM

The town of Eureka was first settled in 1864 by a group of silver prospectors from nearby Austin, who discovered rock containing a silver-lead ore on nearby Prospect Peak.  Mining, especially for lead, supported the town and is still the town’s mainstay today.

AUSTIN

THIS TOWN FORMED WHEN SILVER WAS DISCOVERED IN 1862.  TODAY MANY HISTORICAL BUILDINGS REMAIN.  BELOW IS THE CHURCH

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AUSTIN IS ONE OF THOSE RARE PLACES THAT IMPRESSES, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.  WE WERE LUCKY TO KNOW SOMEONE IN TOWN WHO PASSED ON SOME OF THE TOWN’S SECRETS.  CINDY, SISTER OF OUR GOOD FRIEND RANDY KING, GREETED US AT HER HOTEL.

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THERE IS A VERY IMPRESSIVE TURQUOISE SHOP IN TOWN.

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THE RUIN SHOWN BELOW IS WHAT IS LEFT OF THE BUTTERFIELD STAGE STATION AND LATER ALSO A PONY EXPRESS DEPOT.

LONELY1 LONELY2.OVERLANDTHE POST BELOW MARKS WHERE THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES WERE ONCE SITUATED: THE OVERLAND STAGE STATION,   PONY EXPRESS STOP, THE BUTTERFIELD AND WELLS FARGO EXPRESS ROUTE AND LATER THE OVERLAND TELEGRAPH TRANSCONTINENTAL LINE, EACH MARKS AN UPGRADE IN TRAVEL AND COMMUNICATIONS AT THE TIME. LONELY3.POST LONELY4.TRAILER

SAND MOUNTAIN FORMED BY QUARTZ PARTICLES GROUND BY GLACIERS FROM HARD SIERRA GRANITE AND WASHED DOWN THE WALKER RIVER.  THE PARTICLES WERE CARRIED BY THE WIND TO THIS LARGE BASIN BELOW THE STILLWATER RANGE.LONELY5.SAND

THE NEXT “TOWNS” WE HIT WERE FALLON AND DAYTON.  NEITHER HAD STAMPS FOR ALAN’S PASSPORT SO WE WENT ON TO CARSON CITY WHERE HE GOT HIS LAST STAMP THEN RAN TO THE MAILBOX TO SEND IN FOR HIS TEE SHIRT!

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AND SO ENDS OUR TREK ON AMERICA’S LONELIEST HIGHWAY WHICH WAS ANYTHING BUT LONELY.  TRUE, THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY IS FRAMED BY MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS AND ENDLESS VISTAS, BUT IT IS ALSO THE KEEPER OF MINING HISTORY,SAGAS OF THE WILD WEST.AND PERHAPS WILD HORSES AND PRONGHORNS.

COMING HOME ON HWY 395 WE WERE ON FAMILIAR TERRITORY, CAMPING AT JUNE LAKE AND THEN BOULDER CREEK RV PARK IN LONE PINE. SOUTH OF LEE VINING AT THE JUNCTION OF THE TIOGA PASS HIGHWAY WE STOPPED AT OUR FAVORITE RESTAURNT IN THE EASTERN SIERRAS:  THE  MOBIL STATION WHICH SERVES EXCELLENT FOOD AND A GREAT VIEW OF MONO LAKE. MOBILCAMPING AT JUNE LAKE IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE:

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JUNE3.DEERAND SO OUR CAMPING BUDDY, MR. TIKI, SAYS GOODBYE.  SEE YA NEXT TIME. JUNE4.TIKITHE LONELIEST ROAD WAS THE LAST LEG OF A THREE WEEK JOURNEY WHICH BEGAN IN KINGMAN ARIZONA WHERE WE ATTENDED THE INTERNATIONAL ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION FESTIVAL.  TO SEE THE FIRST PART OF THIS TRIP, GO TO THOSE BLOG ENTRIES.

 

 

LAKE POWELL, NO. RIM GC, LEE’S FERRY AND THE GEM: CORAL PINK SAND DUNES AND BRYCE CANYON

 

THE CAMPGROUND AT WAHWEAP MARIINA IS ONE OF  OUR FAVORITES.  A LOVELY VIEW OF THE LAKE AND BIG CAMPSITES.  WE CAN SIT IN CAMP AND WATCH BUNNIES AND SQUIRRELS SCAMPER ABOUT.  THE NIGHT SKY IS AMAZINE.

LP1  WAP5.POWELLYour campground stay includes use of the hotel pool.

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Someone has to do it!!

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DSC_0557WE TOOK A BOAT RIDE AND ALTHOUGH THE WATER LEVEL IS LOW ,THE SCENERY IS STILL AWESOME, A STARK BEAUTY OF SUBTLE COLORS AGAINST AN ARIZONA SKY.LP2.BOATLP3.WALLLP4.COVELP5.SUNSET

LEE’S FERRY IS A TINY SETTLEMENT ON THE BANK OF THE COLORADO RIVER.  IT IS NAMED AFTER THE MORMON SETTLER, JOHN LEE, WHO ESTABLISHED A FERRY THERE IN 1871.

LP6.RIVER FROM NAVAJO BRIDGEBELOW IS NAVAJO BRIDGE WHICH SERVES AS A VIEW POINT. LP7.NAVAJO BRIDGEBELOW YOU CANSEE NAVAJO BRIDGE AND THE HIGHWAY BRIDGE OVER THE COLORADO. LP8.BRIDGESTHE TINY LEE’S FERRY SETTLEMENT IS VERY PICTURESQUE, AS YOU CAN SEE! LP9.SIGN LP10.LEES1 LP11.WHEEL LP12.RIVERA PARTY OF RAFTERS WERE GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF FOR THEIR EXCURSION DOWN RIVER.  WE LEFT FROM THIS POINT MANY YEARS AGO WHEN WE RAFTED THE CANYON. LP13.RAFTS

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LEAVING THIS PHOTOGENIC AREA, WE HEADED THROUGH THE VERMILLION CLIFFS FOR JACOB LAKE – THE KAIBAB CAMPER VILLAGE – ABOUT 40 MILES FROM THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON.  IT WAS A TREK TO THE RIM BUT THE RV PARK WAS LOVELY, SHADED WITH PINES AND SURROUNDED BY MEADOWS LUSH WITH FLOWERS, MUSHROOMS AND GRAZIING HORSES.

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SPENDING A DAY AT THE RIM, WE HAD SUCH A PERFECT PICNIC TABLE.THAT PEOPLE WALKING BY STOPPED TO JOIN US AND COMMENT ON THE MAGNIFICENT VIEW. NR4.VIEW NR5.VIEW NR6.viiew NR7.TREEVIEW NR8.WINDOW NR9.VIEWTHE VIEW WAS EVEN BETTER FROM THE LODGE WITH A GIN ‘N TONIC IN HAND! NR10.VIEWHOTEL NR11.VIEWHOTEL NR12.BLDGNRALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END.  THE SUNSET AND WE LEFT THE RIM FOR CAMP. NR13.SUNSET  .LP14.CAR

ON THE WAY TO CORAL PINK SAND DUNES, WE STOPPED AT THE MOQUI CAVE – HOME TO THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF DINOSAUR TRACKS IN SOUTHERN UTAH.  OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CHAMBERLAIN FAMILY FOR OVER 50 YEARS, LEX CHAMBERLAIN GAVE US OUR TOUR.   (HIGHWAY 89).

MC1.DOOR MC2.DOOR MC3.INSIDE MC4.ROCKSGREETING US AT THE GATE WAS MY FAVORITE TOTUM, KOKOPELLI. MC5.KOKO

OK, WE ARE DRIVING ALONG AND SPY A SIGN “CORAL PINK SAND DUNES STATE PARK NEXT LEFT.”    ABOUT JACK KNIFED AS ALAN MADE THE TURN AND HEADED FOR ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS ON OUR TRIP AND ONE OF THE TOP 5 CAMPGROUNDS WE HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO CAMP IN.  AND…VERY FEW PEOPLE AROUND.  OUR CAMERAS WERE CLICKING.

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ALL THAT BEAUTY INSPIRED ALAN TO PLAY THE FLUTE.  NO BOB GOODWIN, HE’S NOT SMOKING A PEACE PIPE.CPSD1.FLUTE

ENDING THIS LEG OF OUR JOURNEY, WE CONTINUED ON TO BRYCE CANYON, FOR MORE ORANGE ROCKS, HOODOOS, BLUE SKIES AND RED CLIFFS.

 AND ON TO BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

HEADED FOR BRYCE WE DROVE THROUGH A TOWN CALLED ORDERVILLE AND STOPPED AT THE ROCK SHOP.  ALAN WAS WOWED BY THIS TUB OF BLUE GLASS ROCKS..

BRICE1.ROCKSMADE IT THROUGH THE TUNNEL BRICE2.TUNNEL  BRICE4.TUNNEL EVERYWHERE IN BRYCE WE SAW HOODOOS BRICE5.HOODOOTHE CANYON IS AMAZING AND REFLECTS VARIOUS COLORS DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF DAY.  FIERY COLORS AND ENDLESS VISTAS GIVE WAY TO A DREAMY LANDSCAPE. BRICE6.VIEW BRICE7.VIEW BRICE8.VIEW BRICE9.VIEWTHE RIM TRAIL OFFERS HORSEBACK RIDERS AND HIKERS A CLOSE UP VIEW OF THE MAJESTIC FORMATIONS.  THE TRAIL BOSS KEPT YELLING BACK TO THE TOURISTS FOLLOWING HIM:  “DON’T LOOK DOWN!!!”BRICE10.HORSE

WITH ALL THESE AMAZING PLACES BEHIND US WE WERE ABOUT TO ENTER NEW TERRITORY WHICH PROVED TO BE A GREAT ADVENTURE. ON “THE LONELIEST HIGHWAY IN THE UNITED STATES.”

EXPLORING THE MYSTERIES, LORE AND GORE OF TWO GUNS & DIABLO CANYON

Headed for Flagstaff and our usual visit to Black Barts, we made the obligatory stop at the Route 66 town of Seligman.  The entire town is a museum celebrating Route 66.  Memorabilia shops and restaurants abound and the street is thick with tourists from all over the world.

IMG_1759 The angel of Route 66, Angel Delgadillo, is often at his barber shop in Seligman to welcome fellow Route 66 fans.  Below is his barber chair.  Angel received his barber’s license in Pasadena, California! IMG_8432 IMG_8434 ON TO TWO GUNS! IMG_8438

OUR NEW FRIENDS FROM FLORIDA, JOE AND LANYING ZEIGLER, FOLLOWED US TO THE SITE OF TWO GUNS WHERE ALAN LECTURED ON THE HISTORY OF THIS FASCINATING SPOT.  IT WAS ONCE A FAMED STOP ALONG ROUTE 66, BUT THE TRUE STORY INVOLVES THE APACHE DEATH CAVE AND STARTS LONG BEFORE THE MOTHER ROAD WAS A CONCEPT.TG1.signTHIS SPOT IS EASY TO MISS.  WHEN WE TOOK OUR SANTA MONICA TO CHICAGO ROUTE 66 TRIP WE MISSED IT COMPLETELY.  IT WAS ONLY LATER WE LEARNED THE GRUESOME STORY AND VISITED THE AREA TO INVESTIGATE. TG2.mtn.lionMOUNTAIN LIONS (ABOVE)???? WHAT IS THAT DOING HERE?  LOCATED OUTSIDE OF FLAGSTAFF BETWEEN THE TWIN ARROWS AND METEOR CITY,  THE CRUMBLING ROCK SHELTERS WERE ONCE CAGES IN A TOURIST TRAP ZOO ALONG THE ROAD.  TWISTED BARBED WIRE FENCES REMAIN.  QUITE PHOTGENIC, ESPECIALLY UNDER AN ARIZONA SKY.TG3.window TG4.cages

ACOSS THE BRIDGE MORE RUINS MAY BE EXPLORED. TG5.bridge TG6.rockwall TG8.rockBUT THE REAL STORY THAT DRAWS VISITORS INVOLVES THE APACHE DEATH CAVE.  THE CAVE IS LOCATED BELOW THIS ROCK SHELTER.  YOU CAN PROBABLY CLIMB DOWN TO ENTER, BUT IT LOOKS PRETTY DANGEROUS.  AND WHY WOULD YOU ENTER A DEATH CAVE ANYWAY? TG9.caveAS THE STORY GOES, HOSTLE APACHES ENTERED THE CANYON, SLAUGHTERING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.  THEY CARRIED OFF NAVAJOS FOR SLAVES.  ALTHOUGH NAVAJO WARRIORS BLOCKED OFF THE EXIT TO THE CANYON, THE APACHES NEVER SHOWED.  WHERE WERE THEY?  HOW DID THEY ESCAPE?  THE ANSWER WAS EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED:  THEY WERE HIDING IN A LARGE CAVE WITH THEIR HORSES AND CAPTIVES.TG10.caveABOVE IS THE PRESENT DAY CAVE ENTRANCE.  WHEN THE NAVAJOS REALIZED THE APACHES WERE HIDING IN THE CAVE, THEY BUILT FIRES TO SMOKE OUT THEIR ENEMY.  TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, THE APACHES KILLED THEIR HORSES, STUFFING THE BODIES INTO THE CREVICES TO STOP THE SMOKE.  IT DID NOT WORK AND THEY ALL DIED.  AND SO, TODAY WE ARE LEFT WITH REMNANTS FROM THIS GRUESOME STORY OF THE APACHE DEATH CAVE!

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TG11.US AFTER EXPLORING THE AREA AND TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF TWO GUNS, WE TAKE OFF FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE, ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY.  SOON THE BLUE SKY TURNS GREY AND AN APPROACHING STORM HURRIES US ALONG.  THIS IS NOT AN AREA WHERE YOU WOULD WANT TO BE CAUGHT IN A FLASH FLOOD.

EXPLORING DIABLO CANYON

AFTER A FEW MILES OF DIRT ROAD WE FIND THE SIGHT OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS AT DIABLO CANYON.  LOOKING AHEAD THINGS APPEAR ROSY, BUT WHEN WE TURNED AROUND….DC5.bldgWE COULD SEE THE STORM APPROACHING.  PHOENIX WAS JUST WIPED OUT BY MANSOON FLOODS, SO I WAS A BIT CONCERNED!  OUR FRIENDS JOE AND LANYING STUCK WITH US. DC4.stormFROM 1880 TO 1882, THE RAILROAD CAMP CALLED DIABLO CANYON SUPPORTED CONSTRUCTION CREWS “AND A BEVY OF RUTHLESS CHARACTERS.”   IT IS SAID THE MAIN STREET WAS DUBBED “HELL STREET” FOR THE FOURTEEN SALOONS, TEN GAMBLING DENS AND BROTHELS.

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DC3.tressle DC2.tressleTHE BRIDGE SHOWN ABOVE IS THE CURRENT BRIDGE OF MORE MODERN CONSTRUCTION.  IN THE CANYON BELOW ARE REMNANTS OF THE ORIGINAL TRESSLE BRIDGE FOUNDATIONS WHICH WAS HIGHER AND VERY PRECARIOUS.  THE TRAINS (AT&SF AND TODAY BNSF) TRAVELLED TO FLAGSTAFF AND ALL THE WAY TO LOS ANGELES IN A PATTERN FOLLOWED BY ROUTE 66 WHEN IT WAS INITIATED.  DC1.tressle

DC6.TWIN ARROWS HEADED BACK TO FLAGSTAFF WE STOPPED AT THE TWIN ARROWS CASINO TO MAKE OUR DONATION TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS!

BUT THE DAY’S ADVENTURES WERE NOT OVER.  HEADED BACK TO FLAGSTAFF WE DROVE OUT TO WUPATKI SUNSET CRATER VOLCANO NATIONAL MONUMENT.

WAP1.viewHERE REMNANTS OF THE  DWELLINGS OF PUEBLOAN PEOPLES ARE PROTECTED AND A VISITOR CENTER AND MUSEUM OFFER EXHIBITS AND A MOVIE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.WAP2.paintingTHE PEOPLE OF THE WUPATKI PUEBLO STRUGGLED THROUGH HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS AND POOR SOIL.  RAISING CORN WAS DIFFICULT UNTIL THE LAND RECEIVED A BENEFICIAL ASH FALL FROM NEARBY SUNSET CRATER.  HOWEVER, THAT SOON DIMINISHED AND EVENTUALLY THEY MOVED ON. WAP3.VIEW2 WAP4.PAINT AND SO ENDS OUR ADVENTURES IN AND AROUND FLAGSTAFF.  WE WERE READY TO HEAD ONWARD AND EXPLORE IN AND AROUND LAKE POWELL. WAP5.POWELL

 

INTERNATIONAL ROUTE 66 FESTIVAL – KINGMAN AZ

The movers and shakers in the effort to celebrate Route 66 internationally were all in one place at the festival in August, 2014.  Authors, producers, foreign guests, musicians, and just plaiin Route 66 lovers gathered, shared stories, and networked.  What fun it was and well attended!  We didn’t sell many books but enjoyed the company!

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What a treat to talk with Angel Delgadillo – a humble and loving man.  This small town barber is one of the most recognized and beloved characters along the Route.  Drop in to see him at his barber shop in Seligman.  He’ll even give you a shave.fest.angel fest.bagpipeHotel Beale below:  Once the premier hotel in Kingman, it catered to the many passengers of the Santa Fe Railroad.  In 1906 it was purchased by Tom Devine, father of Actor Andy Devine.fest.beale.hotel

What a great concert by The Road Crew – spreading the history and lore of Route 66 through their music.  They are known as the official musical ambassadors of the Mother Road. fest.concert

Below I have the honor of talking with Dries Bessels and his wife.  Dries is the head of the Amsterdam Route 66 Association and a true fan of the Road.  Every year he leads car and motorcycle tours and has investigated every nook and cranny of Route 66.  We have communicated for years, but this was the first time I was able to meet him in person.   fest.dries

Jim Hinckley (below) is one of the Road’s biggest champions.  He has authored a number of books including Ghost Towns of the Southwest, Backroads of Arizona; and Backroads of Route 66.  I have found him to be kind, humble and more interested in helping fellow authors than competing with them.  He was a driving force behind this Festival.  fest.hinckley fest.kingman fest.mr.Ds.carr fest.mr.Ds fest.red.carWe enjoyed the festival and meeting fellow Route 66 fans, but when it ended we were off to new adventures beyond Kingman.   So much to see, so little time!  Our ultimate goal was to cruise The Loneliest Highway in America (Route 50, Nevada), but there are adventures to be had en route to the lonely road – and we are ready!