It has been a relatively cool summer even though the temperatures still hover around the century mark as they have for weeks. This is about five to ten degrees below normal but still not cool enough to make long walks in the desert enjoyable.
So, we either enjoy the sunrise or find projects that can be accomplished while savoring the breeze from a fan. This weekend those projects including finalizing a complete outline for a guide and history book profiling U.S. 6, gathering material for Route 66 Ghost Towns, a little research about the sale of domain names, and some promotion for the book signing in Flagstaff on the 12TH.
Another project is to delve into black and white photography. These photos were taken in the old mining town of Chloride, a favorite of ours that is fast vanishing as folks discover its charm and build new homes here.
The first photos are of the train depot. Few who visit discover this hidden treasure and those that do think it is a recreation built to promote this place as a ghost town.
The fact is Chloride was once the most promising community in Mohave County. In addition to a railroad, it was the first community in the county to incorporate, and featured a very diverse business district that included billiard halls, a Chinese restaurant, a laundry, garages, service stations, banks, and lumber yard.
This little town is just one of a number of neat little detours for the Route 66 traveler rolling through Kingman. Simply turn north on U.S. 93 and drive about 18 miles to the well marked Chloride turn off. The town is about two miles north of the highway.
There was a time some thirty or forty years ago when Route 66 was fast becoming the road less traveled. This was a unique time in the history of that illustrious highway, an era when it and the businesses that depended on the ebb and flow of traffic for survival hung suspended between vitality and abandonment. Today, this old highway is in many locations almost as busy as it was when the neon lights were as the beacon of a lighthouse. Its popularity is now overflowing and prompting adventurers in search of vestiges from the past, a break from the sterile generic age to rediscover the wonders of the Lincoln Highway and US 6, US 50 and US 1. In turn this has prompted a new generation to rediscover the adventure of time travel that is cruising the old highways in vehicles manufactured before they were born. When I was a kid this meant the vehicle were from the 1930s, the 1940s, and even the 1920s. Now it is cars of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Still, it is the Harley Davidson and the rental car that spearhead the voyages of discovery in the old two lanes. More often than not at the wheel or in the saddle are drivers for whom English is a second or third language. This has truly added a unique, exciting, and fascinating dynamic to life along the venerable old two lane highways. This advertisement for a rental company that specializes in Harley Davidson rentals says it all, “We rent Dreams.” http://www.eaglerider.com/?gclid=CKmxq4G8yZwCFVhJ2godk22zKg One of the problems with growing older is dealing with change and continually needing to adapt to new technologies, societal evolution and all that this entails. Those who can’t become old and bitter. Those who can, thrive and grow old with a smile. In between are those who toss aside convictions based upon truth and wisdom garnered from years of living to embrace a never ending childhood that results in emptiness. In recent months I have read bitter tirades about the fact the first generation mini van now qualifies as an antique vehicle, that senior citizens are tearing down the highways on Harley Davidson’s, and that the younger generation is going to hell in a hand cart. It is so easy to forget that when ever we live it is a blending of the best of times and the worst of times. I found this bit of wisdom from a ninety year old quite refreshing and a delightful opportunity to renew my perspective about the future. Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio “To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me… It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more: 1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone… 4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone. 8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. 12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks. 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful. 18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger. 19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer. 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ’In five years, will this matter?’ 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive everyone everything. 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give Time time. 31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do. 35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 42. The best is yet to come. 43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 44. Yield. 45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
In recent months Car Tech has been publishing a number of detailed and heavily illustrated guide books on a variety of automotive topics. Their latest, Muscle Car Interior Restoration Guide, is another home run.
Everything from tools required to electrical system restoration are covered in this 160 page hand book packed with 419 color photos. The detailed and concise text is easy to understand but still reflects the professional hands on experience of the author, Daniel Strohl.
If you have a muscle car and want to get that new car smell back check out this book!
Well, today its a mixed bag indeed, a reflection of the strange times we live in. I know some of this is way off the Route 66 topic but perhaps a few tid bits may brighten your day. Some years ago Will Rogers noted that we had the best politicians money could buy. It would seem politics, the American brand of politics specifically, is still full of opportunity for comedic fodder. This little gem was sent to me this morning and I felt the need to share it. Let me get this straight. Obama’s health care plan will be written by a committee whose head says he doesn’t understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn’t read it and whose members will be exempt from it, signed by a president who smokes, funded by a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that is broke. What could possibly go wrong? Sadly, this joke is on us. Touring on Route 66 and touring on Route 66 via motorcycle continues with no sign of slowing in spite of the current economic debacle. This morning it took at least five minutes to cross Route 66 as I waited for a veritable parade of motorcycles to pass. Harley Davidson was very astute in tying Route 66 to its advertising campaigns and efforts to promote motorcycle rental. I have heard through the grave vine they may be expanding those efforts by adding the Lincoln Highway to the promotional efforts. I wonder how long it will be before they discover US 6? I really don’t understand the fascination with touring via motorcycle. Still, videos like this really are alluring. Perhaps its the stunning landscapes. http://rwarn17588.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/red-rock-country/ The learning curve in regards to the promotion of books written continues unabated. To say the very least this is almost as interesting as the research involved with writing a book. It is also about twice as much work. After establishing a blog on Amazon.com to keep in touch with readers of my books, to garner new ideas, and to get first hand feed back I decided to set up a similar relationship with those in the UK in buy my books. As it turns out the British version is an entirely different animal. On one hand there has been a bit of frustration in this endeavor. On the other I met Mat Archer as a result of my trials and tribulations. Mat is associated with MBI on the other side of the big pond and rode a motorcycle the length of Route 66 some twenty years ago. Through his patience and efforts we are well on the way to breathing new life into Backroads of Arizona as well as Route 66 Backroads and laying the groundwork for promotion of the forthcoming Ghost Towns of the Southwest. Needless to say I am rather intrigued about where this trail may lead. A British book signing tour? Perhaps a gallery showing or two? Whatever transpires I am meeting some fascinating folks and learning something new. That is difficult to pin a price on. Then there is the Adventure Expo hanging over my head like the sword of Damacles. A visit to Chicago in January does not head my top ten list of vacation ideas. The second issue is that public speaking is not my stong point and in the past as many as 14,000 people attend these little seminars! For a fellow who thinks a town with one stop light and 500 people is crowded this is difficult to envision. http://www.adventureexpo.com/ However, there is an even more intimidating speaking engagement hanging over my head – the journalism class at a high school in Tulsa. Both events are still in the pending column with the school gig being a part of our Route 66 adventure in early October. With that trip in mind I would appreciate some input in regards to ghost towns of Route 66, lodging suggestions, etc. Moreover, if you would like to grab a cup of coffee as we roll east, or west on the return leg, drop me a note. It is always good to put a face with the name and I would really enjoy meeting some of the folks who send notes. Our initial plan is to leave work on a Saturday at noon and make it to Winslow for a stay at the La Posada, a surprise for dearest friend on our 26TH anniversary. Other than that I am open to knowlegable input. The whole trip is still in the planning stage with the biggest issue being time constraints. At best we will have eight days and need to at least go as far as St. Louis. Then there is the possibility we will also need to do a little US 6 examination. That would give me an opportunity to share the wonders of Pioneer Village with my dearest friend but it also transforms this into a whirlwind tour of the heartland. http://www.pioneervillage.org/ I suppose if that is the only worry I have then we are truly blessed!
The latest installment of my series about the rise and fall of the American auto industry is now available in the on line editon of the Kingman Daily Miner. This time I attempt to add a bit of perspective to the “green” car revolution by providing historic background with snippets about the Olds steam car, circa 1880, the first hybrids, circa 1917, and what really killed steam as well as electric vehicles. http://kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=33183&SectionID=74&SubSectionID=114&S=1 The next item on the docket pertains to an informal Route 66 cruise taking place in September. Cort Stevens, an afficianado of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, will be motoring west from the Windy City and is looking for fans of Route 66 or vintage cars, or any combination thereof, to join in for all or just part of the drive. Here is is his loose schedule as well contact information.
___ SUN 09.13.09 ___ ~ 7a-9a = breakfast, TBD Holbrook AZ ~ 9a-10:15a = travel ~35 miles Holbrook AZ – Winslow AZ ~ 10:30a-12p = visit Cowboy “Standing On The Corner”: http://www.standinonthecorner.com/ http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/12603 ~ 12p-2p = lunch LaPosada Hotel 303 E 2nd St/Rt 66 Winslow AZ http://www.laposada.org/ ~ 2p-6p = travel ~60 miles …&… visit Winslow AZ to Flagstaff AZ Meteor Crater Visitor Center http://www.meteorcrater.com/index.php ~ 6p-8p = dinner, TBD Flagstaff AZ ~ 8p = overnight (possibly) King’s House Hotel 1560 E Rt 66 Flagstaff AZ http://www.kingshousehotel.com/ ___ MON 09.14.09 ___ ~ 7a-8:15a = travel ~35 miles Flagstaff AZ – Williams AZ ~ 8:30a-10:30a = breakfast Pine Country Restaurant 107 N Grand Canyon Blvd Williams AZ http://www.pinecountryrestaurant.com/ 0A ~ 10:30a-11:30a = travel ~20 miles …&… visit Williams AZ – Ash Fork AZ find Monte Carlo AZ, E of Ash Fork AZ, including the Monte Carlo Truck Stop ruins &, on the other side of I-40, the truck repair facility named Monte Carlo: http://www.theroadwanderer.net/RT66ashfork.htm ~11:30a = at Crookton Rd exit in/near Ash Fork AZ: start longest uninterrupted stretch of RT 66, to Topock AZ http://www.legendsofamerica.com/AZ-AshforkSeligman.html ~ 11:30a-12:30p = travel ~25 miles Ash Fork AZ – Seligman AZ ~ 12:30p-3:30p = lunch Snow Cap 301 E Chino Ave/Rt 66 Seligman AZ http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/101 http://www.route66giftshop.com/angel.html ~ 3:30p-7p = travel ~95 miles …&… visit Seligman AZ – Kingman AZ Hualapai Lodge Peach Springs AZ ~ 7p-9p = dinner, TBD by Jim Hinckley Kingman AZ (perhaps will have a local turnout/gathering join us) ~ 9p = overnight (possibly) Hotel Brunswick 315 E Andy Devine/Rt 66 Kingman AZ http://www.hotel-brunswick.com/ 0A ___ TUE 09.15.09 ___ ~ 6:30a-9a = breakfast, w/Jim Hinckley (possibly) Silver Spoon 2011 E Andy Devine Ave Kingman AZ ~ 9a-11a = travel ~50 miles Kingman AZ – Topock AZ Including the Black Mountains, a very scenic portion of RT 66: http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/route_66/topock_kingman.html ~ 11a-1p = lunch, TBD Topock AZ ~ 1p-3p = travel ~45 miles Topock AZ – Goffs CA ~ 3p = at Goffs CA, start the earliest alignment of Route 66: swings under I-40 & follows part of the National Trails Highway http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Old_Trails_Highway ~ 3p-9p = travel ~150 miles …&… visits …&… dinner, TBD Goffs CA – Essex CA – Amboy CA – Ludlow CA – Barstow CA http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/goffs.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex,_California http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amboy,_California http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barstow,_California ~ 10p = overnight (possibly) California Inn 1431 E Main St Barstow CA ___ WED 09.16.09 ___ ~ 8a-10a = breakfast, TBD Barstow CA ~ 10a-3p = visit …&… lunch, TBD Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum 681 N 1st Ave Barstow CA http://www.route66museum.org/ ~ 3p-4:15p = travel ~35 miles Barstow CA – Victorville CA ~ 4:30p-6:30p = visit California Route 66 Museum 16825 S D St/Rt 66 Victorville CA http://www.califrt66museum.org/ ~ 7p-9p = ending dinner Johnny Reb’s 15051 7th St Victorville CA http://www.johnnyrebs.com/JR_Main.html ~ 9p = overnight, TBD Victorville CA ___ THU 09.17.09 ___ ~ 8a-8p = travel Victorville CA – Albuquerque NM (via I-40 E) ___ FRI 09.18.09 ___ ~ 8a-8p = travel Albuquerque NM – Denver CO – ~Kearney NE (via I-76 E …to… I-80 E) ___ SAT 09.19.09 (my birthday) ___ ~ 8a-8p = trave l ~Kearney NE – Elgin IL (via I-80 E …to… I-39 N …to… IL RT 64 E)
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The first photos are of the train depot. Few who visit discover this hidden treasure and those that do think it is a recreation built to promote this place as a ghost town.
