What do these two photos have in common? The answer in a moment but first these news updates.

This past weekend was of the type the word idylic was created to describe. The weather hovered around eighty degrees with a slight breeze. A great deal of satisfying work was accomplished. There was ample time for spending with family and I had time to read a bit; a couple of chapters from a book on how to market what you write and a few chapters from the book of Acts. Once again the common thread that tied it all together was Route 66.

The weather was so stunning on Saturday morning it was with extreme difficulty that I left the bicycle parked and fired up old Barney the wonder truck for the drive to work. However, as I needed to move towing equipment around the yard and had a small herd of errands to run after work there was really no other option.

Play the hand your dealt and smile, that is my moto. So, I enjoyed driving old Barney down Route 66 with my AM radio blasting out the best of talk radio.

Work went surprsingly smooth, Barney earned his keep by dragging trailers and tow dollies from the desert into the yard and time flew by.

After work it was a quick lunch with my dearest friend and then a short drive down Route 66 and up Highway 93 to Fort Beale where I met Joe Powsky, a local artist that specializes in native American murals. The Route 66 Association of Kingman is initiating a mural project and this was to be project one; a mural depecting Haulapai history near Fort Beale, site of the first Haulapai Indian reservation.

Next, I finished the editing of a feature profiling the first generation Hudson Super Six for my Independent Thinker column. This will run in the March issue of Cars & Parts. http://www.carsandparts.com/

The rest of the day was spent compiling a list of projects for Monday, a quiet dinner with my deaerst friend followed by a pleasant evening of conversation, another installment in the Soprano chronicles, and a little reading.

Sunday morning dawned with a promise of even nicer weather. To celebrate I cooked some eggs, made some toast with strawberry preserves, caught up on some correspondence and delved into the travels of Paul as outlined in the book of Acts.

My son arrived at our door mid morning with a request for assistance in picking up a washing machine. To expedite the task we drove to the office, on Route 66, and picked up a small truck with lift gate.

On the way to his house we made a couple of detours, one to the swap meet on Route 66 and the other to the gun show at the fairgrounds. I love gun shows, there is a touch of the old southwest that is fondly remembered everytime I attend.

After installing the washing machine we made a few repairs to his Saturn, grabbed a bag of burgers from the local In & Out, and settled in for a quick lunch. My dear grandaughter seems to be a chip off the old block – Kicks, the top bun from a hamburger, milk, a bite or two of onions, a couple of chews on a pickle, and a bit of apple sauce sufficed for her lunch.

I received a call from Penske SOS regarding a down trailer so once again Barney and I, with my wife as moral support and good company, took to Route 66. Again Barney was put to work but the task was a short one and soon we were on our way home.

The remainder of the day I spent on a long walk with my friend, reading, and laughing at old Steve Martin clips on You Tube. Our favorite has to be his video to the tune of El Paso.

Monday was a whirlwind of activity. I returned a book on Hudson history to an interesting collector of everything and anything that will be the topic of discussion for another day, took care of the odds and ends that needed attention at mother’s house, completed an interview with a Sedona radio station, ran a few errands with my dear wife, bought a cherry ginger ale, and settled into the task of taking another step towards being a writer.

I have come to the conclusion a succesful writer is someone who derives their entire income from the written word and still can afford to eat at least once a day!

As the sun sank in the west I was able to enjoy a good but simple dinner with a sense of satisfaction. For my efforts I have four more book signings ( the schedule is posted in the top left column) and at least one more interview. New press releases are about ready, everything is ready for the trip to Burbank (http://www.autobooks-aerobooks.com/ ) and several new projects are on the horizon including a possible series of ghost town features for True West. http://www.twmag.com/

It is weekends such as these that lend promise to the future, place a smile on the face, and quicken the spirit.

Now as to what the two photos have in common. One is of a landmark that looms above Route 66 on the crest of El Travatore Hill and the other is of Fig Springs station on Route 66 in the valley to the east of the Black Mountains.

Sorry for the tease but that’s it. They are both sites on Route 66.