February 28, 2020 Sedona

Today we headed to Sedona where we will be exploring, hiking, and taking lots of pictures of red rock.
On the way, we stopped in Kingsman where there is a Route 66 museum.  In 1985, Route 66 was dropped from the US Highway system.  Not wanting to let the memory fade away, since 1987,  sections have been designated as Historic Route 66, which is both an Arizona Historic Road and a National Scenic Byway.

  Since the designation of a historic highway, the town of Kingman has grown.

 We stopped at the Powerhouse Visitor Center which has the Arizona Route 66 Museum inside of the center.  They have license plates there from many states which are priced at $13.95 and go higher depending on rarity.

 There is a DVD titled Route 66 Arizona that mentions the towns along the way through the state.

 Edward Beale was awarded a contract to survey and develop a route for the people emigrating  to the west and the route had to be away from the harsh winter conditions.The 35th parallel was used as a guide.

 People traveling west had to take whatever they would need to establish a new home.

 There were a few mentions of the author John Steinbeck...and his book  Grapes of Wrath.

 Imaging paying almost 50% tax on gasoline. 

 We decided on a short break from walking around the museum.

 The museum also featured some electric vehicles.  After looking at the simplicity of an engine, it makes sense to own one.  Why pay $80 per hour to have someone work on your engine.

 The rest of the vehicle.

 Even a motorbike was adapted to be electric.

 Leaving Kingman, we headed to Flagstaff where the air is cleaner, and colder for sure.  Today when we were there it was around 52 degrees...but that is what you get when living at 7000 feet.  Humphreys Peak, with an elevation of 12,633 feet is only 11 mles away.

 Leaving I-40, we headed down over the hill on US 89A until we got to Sedona, which was a drop of about 2700 feet.  The road down, although still winding, has been much improved and widened.

It was a fun day riding along routes 66 and I-40.

Feb 26 and 27, 2020 Lake Havasu City

On the way to Lake Havasu City, we traveled beside the Old Route 66...and as luck would have it, we were passing through on the wrong day.

On several street corners, there was a sign, and usually an era car to help you remember when.

Even the streets were marked.

The older couple in this car were just out cruising.

After finally arriving in Lake Havasu City we followed signs to London Bridge. We thought were kind of far away from the real London Bridge...

...until we learned that this is the original.  This was great, because instead of Grammie going to London to see it...she was already there...so to speak.  Check out the story here.  London Bridge

McCullough did many wonderful things for the town.

When the London Bridge could no longer hold the weight of cars, it was put on the auction block and McCullough won the bid.  The bridge was labeled, disassembled, transported to Lake Havasu and reassembled again.

 
 Plenty of warm day activity going on down below the London Bridge.  People were taking the Casino cruise.

You could rent your own pontoon boat to head down to the lake, but only at wake speed.

Governor McCullough even purchased the lamp posts that went with the bridge.

This is the 2nd time on this trip that we saw locks on a bridge.  Some have been there for decades.

Adventurous Grammie rode an a Segway before but, she didn't have her bathing suit today.

Grammie couldn't wait to get inside.

Tom, enjoying his Ice Cream in a dish.

And the best boat craft of this  beautiful day was the hut boat, complete with bar.

If you ever get the chance to stop by in Lake Havasu City, stop by.  Grammie might still be here.

Feb 25, 2020 Randsburg

Today we went to Randsburg, which identifies as a living Ghost Town.  Although when we walked up and down the street, there was only a little activity.

The census of the town of Randsburg from 2000 to 2010 dropped by 10%.  The population dropped from 77 to 69.  However, there is a full time fire department there with a nice living quarters for 3 people, and a nice truck. The Flag at the station was at half staff to honor 2 firemen that lost their lives fighting a fire in Porterville this last week.

Many of the houses displayed at least one skeleton in their front yard decoration.

Some even displayed an article that once identified the town's reason for it's  prosperity.

This place was actually open with 1 early morning customer.

Konrad, where ever you are, this one's for you.

The general store was quite small in size for a town that was once a prosperous place..

                           To the pickers out there, you would like something in this picture.

Some Red wagons up on the roof.

Grammie wasn't really out to shop, she was just admiring the uniqueness of the front yard.

If you still burn firewood, this home would be great.

A unique adaptation for extra room.  Notice the extra in the back.

When mining for Gold, sometimes the term stamper was used.  This is what it looks like.  It breaks apart the ore to help extract the gold.

On the way back to Ridgecrest, we stopped at the Red Rock Canyon.

When we arrived, there was a ranger in the area.  We finally figured out why he was there.  Apparently there was a crew there to do some filming and were having a lunch break.

This is part of the scene they were using to film. 

We were hoping they were looking for stand-ins but they weren't having it.

Grammie had a fun day. Thanks for looking.

February 23, 2020 Death Valley Day 3

Today was a busy and full day going to different areas of Desert Valley National Park.  It is about 3.4 million acres in size.  It is bigger than our 2 smallest states together.

Before breakfast, our morning view.

 The Borax Works.  The famed 20 mule team wagon, fully loaded weighed 36 tons.  Its main wheels were 7 feet tall and was about 100 feet long.

 This is where sand and soil ended up in the Death Valley canyon due to flooding and movement of the sediment down a side valley.

 The Salt Creek area is naturally salty due to the dissolving of salt into the water.  The distance across was only about 10 feet and maybe 2 inches deep.

 This is the same area with the camera at ground level.  It only looks wider..

 This stream contains Pupfish, which have the ability to survive in salty water which can at times be as salty as the ocean.

 Next to the stream is a plant called Pickelweed.  When you squeeze it, it gives off a liquid.

 The liquid has a salty taste and adds to the saltiness of the water.

 Grammie, Grammie...Where's Grammie.

 Some of the flowers still bloom under harsh and low water conditions.

 Next we drove to the Sand Dunes area of the canyon.  The dunes are about 14 square miles.

 Dan and Mary have been the ones to drive us all over the desert.  Even though they drove us in their vehicle, they have added another 400 miles to our travels.

 Tom decided to walk in the sand in his bare feet...and why not.  His T- shirt now has 34 blue squares for the National Parks that we have visited.

 Next, we were in the Rhyolite Ghost Town.  This building had glass bottles included in the outside walls.  It was made out of over 10,000 bottles.

 This building was the school in Rhyolite.

 The Rhyolite Power and Light company eventually shut down.  It is believed that the town had about 10,000 residents.

 The train station.

 Only a caboose remains near the station.

 This cross country bike trail looks steep from this angle but is really about 25 degrees when looking from another angle.

 Finally we passed by a sign when coming back to California from Rhyolite Nevada.

This is the best view we have looking up the length of Death Valley.

Same picture, just zoomed in a bit.

A panograph picture from the same spot.

The Keane Wonder Mine.

Because of it's success in using a horizontal shaft instead of a vertical shaft, it was able to mine over 1 million dollars of Gold in 13 years.

A Chuckwalla lizard

Again, more color from the desert.  Not a lot, but still color.

At the end of the day, we walked up Titus Canyon for a stretch.  In this picture you can see the resulting mud packed into the walls of the canyon when it had previously flooded.

We had another great day in Death Valley.  Grammie thanks everyone for watching.