Like Bob Seger said, “I’m a ramblin’ man…” I have rambled many places and I have lived in a few. Born in California, I now live in the upper Midwest. This page is about another type of rambling…rambling thoughts and senseless musings. I hope you enjoy!
Looking westward in central Nebraska as day comes to an end.
Colorado
The wide open plains of northeastern ColoradoRanch land and grass as far as one looksIn the distance, the Rocky Mountains riseRising out of Denver into the RockiesThe upward grade is constantThe Eisenhower Tunnel bores almost 2 miles through a mountainFrom where I have comeTo where I am headed
Utah
Utah is a land straight out of an old time western.The canyons just seem to reach out into infinitySad moment in historyThe beautiful mountain meadow todayJust to the right of the yellow trees is the burial ground for those massacred
Idyllwild, CA
Red Kettle – Best café in town!View from Suicide rockLimo for the mayor of Idyllwild – a golden retriever named MaxTahquitz RockBark of a manzanita treeTahquitz Rock as seen from Suicide RockLooking over the valley belowLightning struckMajestic Ponderosa pineDeer Creek trailFor perspective – I am 5′ 10″ and it would take 5 or 6 of me arms outstretched to reach around this trunk“Stairway to Heaven”Wouldn’t want that to fall on your head. NOT the biggest I saw!
Orange, CA
The PlazaOld Wells Fargo Bank buildingOld Orange County Fruit Exchange buildingBanyan tree – Eisenhower ParkTurtles – Eisenhower ParkFire station of my youth – still alive and kicking 60 years later
Route 66 – California
Upland, CARialto, CALudlow, CALudlow, CARoy’s Cafe and Motel, Amboy, CAAs I crossed into Arizona, the California Gateway slid into my rearview mirror.
Route 66 – Arizona
Mountains in the distance leading to OatmanThe Oatman welcome wagonMy personal representativeWhat’s a western town without a saloonOatmanOatmanOatmanOatman localValleys to the west of OatmanGlen Frey forever is standing on the corner in Winslow, just taking it easy!Winslow, AZWinslow, AZJust east of Chambers, AZ, another ghost rises by the roadside.
Route 66 – New Mexico
The red buttes and bluffs signal the entrance to New Mexico.The red buttes and bluffs signal the entrance to New Mexico.Just after crossing into New Mexico, another ghost rises as the highway crosses the Navajo Nation.Just after crossing into New Mexico, another ghost rises as the highway crosses the Navajo Nation.West of Grants, the tableau of forgotten dreams continues.Now a “museum piece” of Old 66, I recall driving across this bridge in the 90’s.The old Rio Puerco bridge just west of Albuquerque.
Route 66 – Texas
An abandoned Phillips 66 gas station silently reminds Adrian, TX of better days, when gas was 39 cents per gallon.Just up the road from Adrian, the town of Landergin’s abandoned grain silo shows it hasn’t fared any better.The Leaning Tower of BrittenOld Conoco station and café hanging tough in Shamrock
Route 66 – Oklahoma
This is oil countryThe field of chairs.The chair for Baylee Almon, who had turned one just the day before.Looking across the reflecting pool to the field of chairs.9:019:03Read for next pictureThe granite walkway that encircles the pool is granite salvaged from the Murrah Building.Part of the old Murrah building walls still encircle the site.Read for next pictureSurvivor TreeRead for next pictureFirst responders marked the wall of a nearby building and it remains for all to see.The museum and memorial building.A once thriving service station, now just another ghost in Afton, OK.Downtown Afton is just a memory of what once was.
Route 66 – Kansas
Rainbow Curve Bridge, outside Baxter Springs, KS
Route 66 – Missouri
Another old Phillips 66 station along the road. This one is a museum, but in the gray light of day looks abandoned.Next to the old museum, this was the last iron bridge I would cross on this adventure.
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