by jimhinckleysamerica | Apr 30, 2010 | Uncategorized
The past week or so here in Kingman the weather has been a delightful blend of spring with a touch of early summer tempered with a hint of winter. In short, a typical spring.
I have no complaints, after all I choose to live here on purpose. Having lived in a variety of locals including a few of those nasty places with names that begin with “M” (Michigan, etc.), I have come to the conclusion that there are far worse places a man can dwell than Kingman, Arizona.
As noted previously it will most likely be Monday before posting will resume but rest assured I will have lots of stories and more than a few photos to share. This evening after work we load the Jeep, turn the house over to our son, grab a few hours sleep, and take to the road on a new adventure, an adventure that I am quite sure will enhance our feelings about Kingman.
For this trip I have evaluated possible routes from every angle as is my custom when we are being chased by a schedule. Any way I slice it the only real choice is to run I-40 to I-15, south over Cajon Pass, and then west through Pasadena to Burbank.
I have difficulty finding words to adequately express my disdain for the traffic of the Los Angeles area that begins in Barstow. Suffice to say, in recent years the traffic in Kingman has begun to bother me. When we acquired our fourth traffic signal some years ago I began to feel constricted.
It is my nature to find good in all situations. In this instance I am quite sure that when we return home, Kingman and its traffic will seem like a very minor irritation.
Even better is the fact that the return trip is only constrained by the expense of gasoline versus the allocated budget and the need to be back to work by some point on Monday morning. So, these two old desert rats are headed for the beach for a drive along the coast from Malibut to Oxnard.
From there it is mostly an open ended question. If time is short we catch the main highway in Bakersfield or Barstow and roll with the traffic east toward Arizona. However, if at all possible we will explore Daggett and the follow lonely old Route 66 across the Mojave Desert to Essex.
Well, for those enjoying the Route 66 Fun Run, I hope your stay is a pleasant one. Moreover, I hope that you will return again soon to discover other little gems that make Kingman a really unique place.
by jimhinckleysamerica | Apr 30, 2010 | Uncategorized
This is funny stuff. Okay, I am off to a California book signing at Auto Books – Aero Books in Burbank but the book is sold out, a second printing won’t be available until June, and as a result the store does not have copies available and it is to late to change the circulated press releases. I also have a signing next week and the week after as well with promotion well under way.
In a valiant effort to keep orders flowing, the publisher provided a beautiful promotional post card for Ghost Towns of the Southwest http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=1968adventurer&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0760332215&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrthat I can use at these signings where two previous titles, Backroads of Arizona and Route 66 Backroads, are being substituted. My name is misspelled on the front of the post card even though I just finished my sixth book for this publishing house.
The book signing in Burbank was initially set for April 24th but a conflicting schedule resulted in a change to May 1st. The opening of the Bob Waldmire Memorial Exhibit in Kingman that features our photography as background opens May 1st.
Jay Leno called two weeks ago as I had notified him, as per a previous conversation, that we would be in Burbank. He was planning on visiting the book store – on the 24th. The weekend of May 1st he will be out of town.
Next Friday, I will be signing books at the gallery as the featured author for the monthly First Friday event. The book being promoted in press releases is Ghost Towns of the Southwest.
Om May 3rd, I am scheduled to talk with a reporter with BBC America. The topic will be ghost towns and my new book on this topic.
Jay Leno called on February 1st to discuss the possibility of an interview about The Big Book of Car Culturehttp://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=1968adventurer&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0760319650&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr for the book club section of his website. As the book has had lackluster sales in spite of being awarded the bronze medal at the International Media Awards, the publisher decided to forgo a second printing – on January 31st.
For most folks this would be a maddening turn of events. In the world of Jim Hinckley it is situation normal.
Recent events in Arizona and our nation further enhance my sense that I have walked in during the middle of a French movie with Japanese subtitles. I have some serious reservations about the new Arizona immigration law but am I the only one that finds it surreal to see iillegal aliens protesting an immigration bill with support from elected officials that swore to uphold the constitution?
Long ago I learned that a sense of humor is key to growing old without growing bitter. It would seem that in the coming months I will have ample opportunity for seeing just how well the lesson was learned.
