[Midwest Magazine's Best Small-town Getaways]

RoadDog, looks like you started a thing here! Great! Now I can mark my map in advance of a trip to the Midwest. This really helps trip planning!

 

I'll post this here, because I said I would but since it is Northwest, not Midwest, I'll post future Northwest lists under a seperate thread.

 

This is just a quick Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Idaho) list. I’ll add more as time permits.

 

Joseph Oregon

 

One of the best, it combines an historic main street with an art community focused on brass sculptures. This is the ancestral home of Chief Joseph of the Nez Pierce and his Wallow band. There are several good places to eat and down a brew, which will be evident when you are there. We have stayed in the Indian Lodge motel and been pleased. The Gem of the area is the Wallowa Lake Lodge at the head of Wallow Lake. It is hands down the finest old time lodge in the west outside a national park. It overlooks the lake, has the big lodge fireplace and all the lodge ambiance you want. The Wallowa Mountains are at Joseph’s doorstep and dominate the skyline like the Alps. Perhaps a little touristy on a mid summer visit, but quite charming all year round.

 

Enterprise ,Oregon

 

Enterprise is Joseph’s less touristy neighbor. It has the feel of a western farm town. A visit at county fair time will take you back 75 years. Accommodations are a little more plentiful than in Joseph, but it has fewer eateries. To reach either town you will first take the Oregon Trail to La Grande then follow the Wallow Highway along the Minam River through several small and charming villages to Enterprise then Joseph.

,

Union Oregon

 

Union is on the old Oregon Trail Highway east of La Grande. It has a renovated 1920’s hotel, and some nice places to eat. It isn’t a big tourist destination, but it is getting more attention because of its charm and the location of a Brass Foundry and Art facility at ** just out of town.

 

Waterville, Washington

 

The old and renovated Waterville Hotel alone is worth the trip. The village is not a tourist destination, and in fact pretty much rolls up the sidewalks at dusk, or before. The one Steak house closed before I got hungry, so I had pizza at the tavern. Highly recommended! Right on the 1925 Yellowstone Trail, and as original and unchanged as it comes. Stay at the Hotel. It’s a charmer.

 

Dayton, Washington

 

I like Dayton. It definitely has the Norman Rockwell feeling, but I feel it might be a little self conscious (which isn’t a bad thing). We have never stayed in Dayton, but the renovated Hotel gets high marks in guide books. In my many trips through Dayton in the past 35 years I have watched it change from a town built around a Jolly Green Giant packing plant into a tourist attracting community that delights in showing off its assets. As a consequence it has a vitality sadly missing in some neighboring towns.

 

Wallace, Idaho

 

Wallace ranks high among my favorite small towns. It has the flavor of a late 19th century, early 20th century town, complete with its original brick buildings in amazingly good shape. It is on the Yellowstone Trail which adds to its virtues. You definitely feel like you are visiting a working small town, not a tourist trap. The railroad station is restored and lovely, but my favorite sight is the huge Polar Bear in the taxidermists shop. It is right out of the 1940’s. Silver mining made the town, and a drive through the residential streets reveals many tiny charming mining era houses, restored and carefully tended.

 

Hood River, Oregon

 

Hood River is right on the Columbia River, and is home to some of the best wind surfing around. It is an old town with a young crowd. At apple and pear harvest time it is worth a trip to stock up on every imaginable variety of fruit. Plenty of nice places to stay, and to eat. A big bonus of visiting Hood River is the opportunity to drive the old Columbia River Highway.

 

I had to erase Yachats on the Oregon Coast because I just learned my favorite restaurant there, complete with 1960 - 70 music provided by a great singer and guitar player closed two weeks ago after 30 years. I am still in shock. But even without music, Yachats is worth a visit.

 

I’ll add more as time permits. I have just scratched the surface.

 

Keep the Show on the Road

[Old Maps]

American History magazine had an article of vintage road maps in the June 2007 issue. There was not a lot of text, but a nice few pages of graphics. They also have now posted some map artwork on their web site. Check out http://www.historynet.com/photogallery/6850362.html if you are interested.

Thanks for the tip!

 

The old maps and travel ephemera often have beautiful travel graphics. Many of them are collectable in their own right.

 

When I was a kid, Chevron was publishing maps with touring scenes on the face and touring destinations with tiny graphics on the inside non map panels. I think they helped make me a roadie!

 

You have given me an idea. I think I will put a few map and travel graphics in the gallery.

 

Here’s a quick sample over the years

 

1906 Grays Southern California tour atlas

1927 Clauson’s Atlas cover

1937 Richfield Oil map

 

 

 

I’ll put a few up in the gallery.

 

Thanks again!

 

Keep the Show on the Road

[Midwest Magazine's Best Small-town Getaways]

The Midwest Living Magazine just released its top ten best getaway towns of under 20,000 population. They were:

 

Ephraim/Fish Creek, Wi.

Petroskey/Charlevoix, Mi

Galena, Il

Madison, Wi

Saugatuck/Douglas, Mi

Nashville, In.

Bayfield, Wi.

Put-In-Bay, Oh.

Stillwater, Mn

Mackinac Island Area, Mi.

 

I've been to Ephraim, Galena, Madison, Saugatuck, Put-In-Bay, and Stillwater.

 

Keep on Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog

 

 

 

OK, the magazine likes them. What about you? Of those you have visited, which are worth a trip. Or in other words, lets have your opinion. In fact, why not give us your Midwest Llst of small towns worth a visit. I'll do the same for the Northwest.

 

Keep the Show on the Road

[Car Show (syracuse Nationals)]

Well it's that time of the year again, the Syracuse Nationals will be having their annual car fest. Anyone who likes cars will love this show.

 

http://www.rightcoastcars.com/shows/syn/

 

Looks great! The web site has a sweet little movie with sound that made me want to jump behine the wheel.

 

Thanks for the heads up!

 

Keep the Show on the Road

[Last Leg-kingman To Barstow]

Another set of great shots. I like them all. It is fun to see how a pro sees a scene I recognize.

 

I recall the deserted station but I dismissed it. Had I taken the photo I would probably have cropped the tires, but when I see your composition, the tires really work. I like the composition of the roy's shot as well, I needed to walk around to the other side of the sign.

 

Are you shooting Raw files? Your shots have a snap (clarity) that isn't just in the size or sharpening. I assume you use a SLR. Could it be in the quality of the lens?

 

Funny story about the donkeys. They must be well fed!

 

You gotta subscribe to American Road, the magazine. You wouldn't have been surprised by Cool Springs. And it is a great magazine for anyone who enjoys road travel. I was a "charter" subscriber and have enjoyed every issue.

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Keep the Show on the Road!

[Some More Great Car Songs]

RoadDog,

 

Great idea. Thanks! I am going to put together a “road mix” CD from your list for my next trip. There is no better legal high then a top down cruise with the volume cranked up and a great set of road songs on the player.

 

Keep the Show on the Road!

[Photographing Worlds Largest Auto Collection]

We live near the LeMay auto collection located in Tacoma, WA. It is said to be the largest in the world. They conduct tours of the collection on arrangement, and I am planning to schedule a visit in the next week or so. (Incidentally, they are planning a grand open house event for August 25th 2007 with over 700 cars on display, which I assume will include indoor as well as outdoor display.)

 

I am not a pro at photographing anything, classic cars included. I will be shooting indoors, probably under artificial light, and I assume with cars close together. I know all the basics (tripod, depth of field, watch for the highlights, etc) but does someone out there have some insiders hints, particularly as to subject (hubcaps, steering wheels, emblems, etc.)?

 

Any thoughts or help will be appreciated.

 

Keep the Show on the Road

[Let Everyone See The Photos]

I agree with you 110%. And thanks again, and again for considering and acting.

 

The attachment route would be perfect. It puts a nice thumbnail into the post at the place you want it, it downloads fast for dial up folks because only the thumbnails download, and if someone wants to see the bigger image it is easy to get one without leaving the story line. Besides it is easy for anyone to use, even beginners. The “downside” is that attachments use forum storage which right now is scarce. So I hope Becky is able to get more storage for attachments from the Invision hosting folks.

 

I don’t choose to use the gallery a lot because it suffers from the opposite of a sea of text, it is a sea of photos. I think you lose the context when the text and photos aren’t together. It is like a book with all the photos in a separate section at the back. But it has its place.

 

And although I have other sites where I post photos, I don’t choose to lead folks there because they leave the forum and may not return. Plus it suffers from the problem above with the gallery. I do like DennyG’s site layout and I may go that way myself. It nicely combines text and thumbnails. But again, that takes the viewer away from the forum.

 

This may sound a little something, but my motivation in posing concerns and in being an active forum member is at least 75% based on a desire to see the forum succeed. So let me step back from my pixel width issues and ask “What can I do as a member to help the Forum grow and prosper?” And “How can I help American Road continue to be the best travel magazine around?”

 

Keep the Show on the Road!

[Let Everyone See The Photos]

As to photos in posts not being visible to guests, we never had a policy disallowing that and I did not find a setting in my control panel which allowed / disallowed that. We allow guests to view all posts, but they cannot not post new messages or replies, nor can they see the member list/details.

 

I just logged out and viewed the forum as a guest. I browsed over to the thread which contained the photo contest entries, and I was able to view them. I saw the thumbnails, and was able to click on each one and view them. So, I'm not sure about that issue.

 

I did change our settings so that guests can now view the photo galleries. Hopefully that will be an inducement so that they will want to post their own photos, since I know everyone just LOVES sharing their photos. And we love seeing them!

 

Hope this helps,

 

Jennifer,

 

Thanks so much for listening and addressing the concerns of members! That is a sure sign of effective leadership! I really appreciate it and second Dave’s thanks to you. Now if Invision would provide more storage (as Becky is investigating) we will have solved another important concern.

 

Regarding the issue you are not quite sure about, you can see the problem if you view Rick’s (roadhound) post in the US66 forum titled “Heading West Kingman to Williams" as a guest.

 

His photos will appear as links, not images.

 

Next, sign in as a member. Now view the same post. Bingo, the images appear!

 

So guests get what I have referred to as the “sea of text” display, and no hint that by joining they could see the images as Rick (or I) intended.

 

I don’t know what Invision setting would correct this. It might be the “Allow guests to view posted images” described on page 132 of the Invision documentation, but I’m not sure.

 

One last quirk I know you can solve, if you think it appropriate. We limit the number of links (not attachments) per post to 10, which is probably the default. Page 127 of the documentation describes how to change that. It is “Max. no. images per post.” Ten gets in the way. Fifteen would be better. Its logical purpose is to shorten the download time for dial up users, which is a worthy goal, but that might be better achieved by keeping image file sizes small.

 

I know you have a lot more important things to do then tweek the forum settings. If Becky can get substantially more storage from Invision, then the gallery, photo contests, and other photo related issues will be solved.

 

You are doing a terrific job solving the concerns.

 

Thanks again for your leadership and great efforts!!

[Boone's Lick Road, Buckeye Style]

After twice being scared off by snow, I finally reached Boone's Lick Road. Kip, Bliss, and others did this in February and got me thinking about it. The threat of rain almost scared me away this time but it turned out not to be much of a problem. While in the area, I also stopped by some other places like Boone's Grave & Fort Osage plus I ate at the Stein House (largely to make Kip & Bliss jealous) in Boonville. My report's at http://www.dennygibson.com/blick0507/

 

Great write up and photos, as usual! Too bad about the camera and GPS. I hope you managed to fix them.

 

Great grandfather slept at the City Hotel in Lexington the night of October 21, 1864, no doubt at the Government Rate. His regiment (7th Kansas Cavalry) was on the way to do battle with the Confederates under Gen. Price. His position as Quartermaster Sergeant gave him some minor privileges, like a place to sleep out of the rain. To quote his diary for that date:

 

Friday, 21st. We had just got our beds made down last night when orders came to get ready to march immediately. In half an hour we were in column, a battalion of Mo. cavalry in advance, our regiment next. The night was very dark and cold and a sleeting storm was falling and altogether made an unpleasant night.

At one time a party of rebels approached our advance and we captured six of them. About midnight we reached the suburbs of Lexington and companies A and G of our regiment were dismounted and moved into town on foot, followed by the column. Six rebel soldiers were captured as they were passing through the town. Our regiment picketed all roads leading out of town. Brigade and our regiment headquarters were established in the City Hotel.

The brigade camped in various parts of town. I hitched my horse to a street post and got lodging at the hotel. At 9 A.M. Gen. McNeal with his brigade moved out of town on the old Independence Road. Price had left town on that road yesterday. We reached Wellington seven miles distant at 1 P.M. where we halted near an hour, then moved on and are camped tonight on Five Bottom Prairie 12 miles from Wellington. It was cold and unpleasant all day. We are now in Johnson county.

 

Just like great gramps, gotta Keep the Show on the Road!

[Alexander Bay New York]

Since our start of the trip will be starting late (after eating the evening meal) on a Sunday, it will probably be I476 to I81 to Binghamton NY without much chance to sight see. The next day we will meander north to Alexandria Bay. It looks like we can do a good part of this on US 11 instead of I81, but in Watertown we would branch off onto 37 and then 26.

 

After our time in Watkins Glen and Corning, I plan to head down on US 15 to Mansfield, go west on US 6 to Wellsboro, and then double back on US 6 to Scranton before heading home.

 

At least that is the tentative travel plan, although weather can always change the course of our trip as well.

 

It sounds like a fun trip! We have the US expert on US6 among us, Russ L. He is the executive director of the US6 association, so he should be able to connect you with the great sights along that section of your route.

 

As you probably are aware there is a Pennsylvania US6 tourist web page at http://www.paroute6.com/index.cfm.

 

You will be briefly on the Susquehanna Trail between Painted Rock, NY and your junction with US6. I’ll see if there is anything of interest there.

 

Keep the Show on the Road!

[Let Everyone See The Photos]

I have found from several groups that more members participate on email lists than on forums. I have been opposed to changing most lists to the forum format, and for the most part I participate on a forum for a day or two, than disappear for days at a time. I only read the emails that get forwarded to my regular email, and I am sure I have learned a lot less since the change. I belong to half a dozen forums or more, but only check three regularly, but I read most emails from each of the 40+ that I get individual emails from as they are posted.

 

As to the photos, it would be great if my friends to check out my gallery on American Road without having to join. Instead I have ended up posting photos on my web site, and post fewer photos or duplicate those in the gallery...

 

Dave, I agree. And I see no reason for our other practice of not showing photos in posts to guests. I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but I will.

 

How does a guest know that by joining they could see photos in line, displayed along with the text without having to click a link?

 

Said a different way, how does not showing the within-post-photos to guests induce them to join if they don’t know that by joining they get to see the photos?

 

Said another way, how is an inducement of which you are not aware, an inducement?

 

I acknowledge that guests will discover they can’t get to the gallery without joining, so conceivably that is an inducement to join. But not showing in line photos to guests serves no purpose except to dissuade members from posting photos.

 

Since photos on my server place no demands on the forum disk or storage space allocation or band width, the only “advantage” to not showing the photos is to guests with dial up modems. And if that is an “advantage” to guests, it should apply to members also, and they shouldn’t get to see the photos either. If that sounds illogical, it is.

 

I know I am being a bit of a “smart a**” but we seem to have a practice that doesn’t serve the intended purpose, which also works to discourage members from sharing photos, and it presents the forum as a sea of text to guests. I don’t see the upside, and I see several downsides.

 

I’m willing to bet that the decision makers here don’t realize the problem exists because they don’t sign in as guests.

 

Sorry for rejoining this issue, but I really don’t understand the benefit and I do understand the disadvantages. I probably just don't understand the issue, so would someone enlighten me.

 

Keep the Show on the Road!

[Alexander Bay New York]

Just north of Scranton on US 11 is the town of Nicholson. There a truly dramatic railroad viaduct jumps between two mountains. and you won't have to hunt all over the place to see it. It's just east of the highway. I about dropped my teeth when I saw it back in 1982:)

 

That’s a terrific bit of information!

 

I looked at some old postcards of the Lackawanna Trail and that bridge or viaduct is a prominent feature along the old road. Your description is quite apt as I think it is 240 feet high! I didn’t know it still existed.

 

It is also known as the Tunkhannock Viaduct and is quite an engineering marvel. It was started in 1913 and finished in 1915 and it is still in use according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (asce) website. I hope Dave manages to visit it, as he is quite a good photographer.

 

Your knowledge and information help Keep the Show on the Road!

[Yellowstone Trail Teapot Station & Old Bridges]

Another splendid writeup with magnificent photos! Thanks for sharing!

 

I remember seeing a picture in the Ntl. Geographic of a fan of Hanford High School (whose team is called the "bombers" with a mushroom cloud drawn on his forehead with the slogan: "Nuke 'em 'till they glow!" Oak Ridge High chose not to reflect its nuclear roots and chose the name "Wildcats". A pity, IMHO. "Smashers" (as in atom smashers) would have been a much cooler name:)

 

Thanks for the compliment and your story! It’s a great addition to the description. I agree, Smashers it should have been...unique and most fitting!

 

I enjoy the travel and photography, and even like putting the story together and posting, but the real icing on the cake is when someone like you takes the time to comment and add to the thread. It is much appreciated!!

 

Keep the Show on the Road!

[Alexander Bay New York]

Thanks so much,

The Allentown information was fun to read. I remember the Comfort Station in Center Square, but it has been sealed for years. The Hotel Traylor still exists, and with some work could again be elegant. The Shankweiler Hotel was just a restaurant when I grew up, but was known for its Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken and Waffel dinners. Alas, it now is a very nice looking bank branch, but the building is still basically still complete.

I will start to print out and study the route to see where it matches up with our plan so I can do a good bit of two lane travel during our jaunt.

I have stayed away from the collection of old maps and tour books, mainly because I already collect local school yearbooks, auto history and racing history items, and way too much other stuff. So your resources are Greatly Appreciated.

 

Sounds like a plan! When you have decided your basic route, let me know. THe Lackawanna poped up because my mapping program connected your start point and end point with a route along the interstate that follows the Lackawanna and US11.

 

I have plenty of stuff, so it is likly that I will have something that fits whatever route you take.

 

The old stuff doesn't tell you where the best places to eat might be (I enjoy the suggestions we often get here) but it does give a little ambiance to any two lane trip. And when you toss out that "We went to Alezendria Bay, following the Lackawanna" it is sure to get you attention in any conversation!

 

Keep the Show on the Road

[Us 61 A Trek To The Cave Winery, St. Genevieve, Mo]

On Saturday, we took a trek down Highway 61 to see the Welborn Clan at the Cave Winery near Ste. Genevieve. MO. A little wine, a little fellowship, and a lot of fun!

 

http://www.kodakgallery.com/rudkipon66

 

Tsingtao, Kip

 

Thanks for the photos & trip description. Pretty country! Your efforts to share are apprecisted!!

 

Keep the Show on the Road

[Alexander Bay New York]

I used to drive US 11 through Central PA in my the mid-70's, but often at 5 am on the way to a job when I worked out of Harrisburg. I normally did not go north of Williamsport, and have not driven it in NY at all. I did not know that this was known as the Lackawana Trail. Thanks for that information. As we are starting out around 6 pm on Sunday after I sing in a concert Sunday Afternoon, we will have some time to explore on the way to Alexandria Bay on Monday before checking in. It will be about a month till we go, so resource materials will be appeciated. I will email you directly and hope that I can come up with some good reports and photos when I get home.

Thanks!!!

 

That’s great! I’ll do a little research on the Lackawanna. I have so much stuff around here that I forget what I have! I vaguely remember buying an original Lackawanna Trail guide a few years ago, but even if my memory is off, I can still provide maps and the like. I’ll enjoy doing a little armchairing.

 

The 1925 map I was looking at labeled the road all the way between Easton PA Watertown, NY on your route as the Lackawanna (or maybe I misread it), but the 1926 Hobbs guide says the Lackawanna “strictly speaking” runs between Delaware Water Gap and Binghamton NY, which I am inclined to accept.

 

The 1926 AAA Official Tour Book of Pennsylvania and New Jersey has some nice old ads for places along the route. You might pass one or more in your travels. For example, Allentown where you are starting has 5 ads. I see that there was a comfort station located in the southwest corner of Center Square at 7th and Hamilton Streets!

 

http://www.pair.com/davepaul/americanroad/...AAAllentown.jpg[/url]

1926 Allentown, PA Ads

 

These copies are a little large so I will not have them show in the post unless you click on the link.

 

Just for the sake of information, the Hobbs Guide is for 1926. The Mohawk – Hobbs was sponsored by the Mohawk Tire Company for some period of time. The two sections of their guide here cover the Lackawanna “strictly speaking,” to use their term.

 

http://www.pair.com/davepaul/americanroad/...Lackawanna1.jpg

http://www.pair.com/davepaul/americanroad/...Lackawanna2.jpg

Lackawanna Trail in 1926 Hobbs

 

I enjoy the Hobbs guides because they list so many old establishments and often give charming descriptions of towns along the way. They typically are relatively inexpensive on Ebay and I think undervalued, primarily because they are relatively unrecognized.

 

The 1926 AAA Official Tour Book for Pennsylvania and New Jersey from which I took the Allentown item, and will later take strip maps and ads for towns along the Lackawanna is also inexpensive. It has the strip maps characteristic of AAA guides up through the early to mid 1940’s

 

Well, you see my weakness. I have a sizable collection of old maps and travel guides, and too little time to travel everywhere they show (not that I don’t try). Maybe they will spark a discovery in your travels.

 

More will follow if you are interested.

 

Let’s Keep the Show on the Road!

[Alexander Bay New York]

I will be driving up from Allentown PA to Alexandria Bay New York during the last week in June. We plan to head up pretty directly and will spend four days on the Saint Lawrence in a cottage type motel. If you have any restaurants or sights to suggest, please let me know. We have a few days to meander on our way back, and I am considering Watkins Glen as a possibility, and maybe Corning NY or the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Please add any alternatives you have found interesting that we can consider.

Thanks.

 

Please note that the title should be AlexandRIA Bay, not Alexander. This aging is causing more brain fade than I like to admit.

 

Dave,

 

I suppose you know that you will be traveling the old Lackawanna Trail route of the teens and 20’s. It parallels the “direct” interstate route so it might be a nice substitute for all or part of the trip.

 

I have never set rubber to road on the Lackawanna, but how bad could it be with a name like that? I can send you a map (both 1920’s and modern) of the route if you are interested and are not already familiar with it. I may have a guide or two to the old road, and I certainly have descriptions of the route in one form or another from the “old days” which I would be happy to share.

 

BTY, in New York it is also US11.

 

I hope you will share your adventure will those of us “less fortunate.” As I look at your planned travels, it make me want to plan a trip to visit my wife’s family who live in upstate New York.

 

Let’s all Keep the Show on the Road!

[Heading West-williams To Kingman]

Well, I guess there is the difference between an “advanced amateur” and a pro. I wouldn’t have seen the mail boxes photo. And it really says “ranch country” or “back country,” where you come out to the road to get your mail.

 

Three roles of toilet paper for 2,000 people! I don’t see the problem. At a 1,000 sheets per roll, there’s paper to spare!

 

I spent a night at the motel by the caverns in about 1962, but we didn’t tour the caverns. The motel is the same color today that it was then, and the bar/ restaurant looked the same from the outside as it did 45 years ago. In fact, I think the only thing I recall that has changed is that the big dinosaur is gone from in front of the motel. The place was closed when we went by this last January.

 

It was sad to see the Beale in the shape it is in, but the Brunswick next door looked healthy, and I think both are of the same period.

 

Do you have more photos to post?

[Does Anyone Know What "history On A Stick" Means?]

Could that be the historical markers along the highways that are about 5 ot 6 feet high with something like

"On this site in 1765, Mabel Johnson made the first Shoo-fly pie in the state of Delaware"?

How was the phrase used?

 

I think Dave Wins the Best Answer Prize! Here is a quote from the Topix site that tends to confirm his answer:

 

"The North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, aka "history on a stick," recognizes Pender County history as far back as 1663. via StarNewsOnline.com"

 

Is this forum the source for all road knowledge, or what!!?

 

Keep the Show on the Road!

[Twin Arrows]

Unfortunately I didn't get the sign from the east side as I would have been shooting into the sun (which I usually try to avoid). I didn't take notice of the price either. Sounds like they made a mistake that was captured permanently.

 

Even though it is right of the Interstate the location of the trading post was not ideal as far as capturing west bound travelers. Approaching from the east (heading west) on the Interstate you don't see the site until your past the exit. From the west (heading east) your still close enough to Flagstaff that anybody needing gas would have stopped and topped off. Not hard to see why it didn't make it.

 

As usual, nice shots! I missed them when we were through.

 

Keep um coming, and Keep the Show on the Road!

[Massive Floods On The Yellowstone Trail]

That was one spectacular writeup! One of these days I hope to explore the Scablands at some length. But for now, looks like I'll have to stick closer to home:) Thanks for sharing!

 

 

Thanks for the kind comment!

 

Eastern Washington is unique in the world for the scablands. You probably are far more knowledgable on the subject than I am, but there are some great books to read before you visit. They add greatly to the understanding and enjoyment of what you see.

 

When I was at Dry Falls a fellow was explaining to two of his passengers that a river cut Dry Falls. Some River! Too bad to be standing right there and so little appreciate the events that shaped what he was seeing. I simply suggested he might enjoy the displays at the visitor's center, but he drove off having no idea what he had seen.

 

It is truly astounding to see the consequences of those massive floods, from the air or on the ground.

 

Thanks again for your interest. It helps Keep the Show on the Road!

[Yellowstone Trail Teapot Station & Old Bridges]

I realize that a map may help locate sites in unfamiliar areas so I have numbered the photos in my four related Yellowstone Trail posts on the map. You will find the number in the caption of each photo.

The Yellowstone Trail before 1925 took a loop south from Spokane through Rosalia, Colfax, Dayton, Walla Walla, Richland, Grandview, Yakima, and Ellensburg, then converged with the later 1925 route at Cle Elem to cross the Snoqualmie Pass toward Seattle.

Spokane has much to offer, but as recent former residents we didn’t feel on a short trip like revisiting places we already knew by heart. So we skirted the metropolitan area and turned south off the 1925 Yellowstone at Davenport and headed for Rosilia on the 1915 route of the Yellowstone. We followed some great roads, paved or graveled. Our faithful Delorme GPS and laptop keep us from making wrong turns.

Monument Where the 1860 Mullan Road Crossed our Path (Map Location 9)

I urge you to register so you see the photos displayed with the text!

We intersected the old Mullen Road of 1860-61 at a monument placed beside it in 1926, then followed a small sign that advertised “Dine on the lake” to a charming resort (47.3246, -1176981) on one of the lakes in a basin scoured out by the Missoula Floods. Lunch was in a pleasant restaurant seated beside the window overlooking the lake, surrounded by pines and the green grasses of spring. Bo, the Malamute Wonder Dog lounged on the grass in the park, while we enjoyed the view.

I have driven Interstate 90 between Spokane and Seattle on business at least 30 times, and until we got off the flyway, I never knew this lake and resort even existed. Aren’t the two lane roads great!! When is the last time you had lakefront seats at a cookie cutter restaurant on the interstate?

I won’t digress too much, but the Mullen was like the western Yellowstone Trail of its time. It ran between Walla Walla and Fort Benton, Montana on the Missouri River where river transportation became possible.

It was the earliest surveyed long distance road in the Northwest and touched several places the Yellowstone later traveled. As you follow the Yellowstone between Walla Walla and western Montana you will encounter the Mullen in road names and even town names.

But this is a forum about two lane roads, so let’s return to the story where we reach Rosalia on the 1915 loop of the Yellowstone. As a quick reminder, prior to 1925, the route of the Yellowstone took a large 300 mile long dip or loop from Spokane south to Walla Walla, west to Richland and Grandview, north to Ellensburg through Yakima, then west again through Cle Elum where the two routes again coincide.

On the noth side of town is what appears to be the Model Garage advertised in the 1919 Automobile Blue Book. I can’t be sure and the local museum was closed, so I couldn’t confirm the identification. In any evet, it is a nice old garage.

Probably the Model Garage Advertised along the Yellowstone Trail in 1919 (Map Location 10)

Rosilia has restored an old service station in town, complete with a period gas pump. They were in the process of doing some paving around the building which spoiled the photo op, so I am including a photo from a year ago.

(Photo to Follow)

The highlight for Yellowstone Trail aficionados at Rosalia is probably the black arrow on yellow background sign on the abandoned Milwaukee Railroad bridge just south of town.

Yellowstone Trail Sign on Beautiful Milwalkee Railroad Bridge (Map Location 10)

While it has nothing to do with the Yellowstone Trail, just east of town on a hill is the site of the Battle of Steptoe Butte (May 17, 1858), where Lt. Col. E. J. Steptoe and his men got their clocks cleaned by the local residents, members of the Spokane, Palouse, and Coeur D’Alene tribes.. As you read western history, the Colonel pops up all over the place, usually in a favorable light. But this was not his finest hour. Much of the blame for the ignoble retreat rests on his shoulders, as he left Walla Walla ill equipped to fend off an attack. Had he been just a bit less lucky he might have enjoyed Custer’s fame, posthumously.

Of course the Indians paid very dearly for their success when Col. George Wright and his men later in the year retaliated and ruthlessly subjugated the tribes, killing all their horses and hanging Indian leadership at the peace parley. Wright got many locations named after him in the area, including parks, streets, and a fort. The Indians got Hangman Creek named to commemorate their participation.

I think Rosilia has the potential to be a real Yellowstone Trail stop, with the service station, the garage, a number of great buildings and a genuine old sign. I hope they recognize the potential. The town has a Norman Rockwell feeling, and with a little coordination they could do it up nicely. It continues to be one of my favorites along the old route.

You are now in the great Palouse wheatland of Eastern Washington. We drove for miles through the rolling hills covered in green springtime wheat, interrupted from time to time by another white house and red barn set back from the road among some trees. Between Rosilia and Colfax where the 1915 route turned southwest to cross the Snake River, you can easily spot the old road, and follow it if you like through Thorton and other small settlements.

We spent the night in Colfax. Not far out of town on the new road (exit north end of town) you pass the fair grounds. If you turn left (south) on Colfax Airport Road, and travel perhaps half a mile you will see on your right some county road buildings and out front a horse drawn road grader (46.8585, -117.4255). Graders such as this were common in 1915. They were usually drawn by horses (but later by trucks). Look carefully at the side photo to see the spring and seat for the teamster/ driver.

You are looking at the American Big Winner, Model 33. This was the big iron of 1915. Is it any wonder the roads were barely cut from the prairie or hillside? It would be fun to know if this baby worked the Yellowstone. Odds are it did, given its location.

This Old Road Grader Just Outside Colfax Possibly Worked the Yellowstone Trail (Map Location 11)

To view the images in 3D, stare at them until a third 3D image appears in the center. If you have problems, let me know and I will substitute red /blue images and send you a free pair of glasses.

The old road left town on a 12% grade at the south end of Colfax and wound its way through the burglet (smaller than a burg) of Wilcox and eventually to the Penawawa Ferry landing to take the ferry across the Snake River. We did the same, along a well graveled but little used road, throwing up a huge cloud of dust. The last half mile down to the ferry site is alternating rock and deep sand. We immediately high centered in the first section of sand and beat a hasty retreat. This is one place a small sedan does not belong!

However, you don’t get stuck in low clearance sedans. For very obvious reasons. When you hear the sand dragging on the crankcase of a sedan, you know its time to retreat. And retreat we did, back to the graveled road and on to the later Yellowstone crossing at the Central Ferry on a paved road.

There are at least a couple of old pre 1928 bridges just off the current road. One I spotted is at Meadow Creek Road (46.5966, -117.7826). The other is at 46.5241, -117.7835. Both can be viewed on Google earth. The second bridge represents an interesting lesson in road construction, new and old.

The new road crosses the draw on a massive fill in a little over a tenth of a mile. The old road makes a half mile loop to stay on an acceptable grade and crosses the head of the draw on a short bridge. It is clearly visible on Google Earth. When you see big cuts or fills you can be confident you are not on an old road alignment! Remember that grader?

The Yellowstone travels on to Dayton with its depot and historic main street and to Waitsburg, both small towns on the Trail and worth a visit. The Lewis and Clark Trail Byway runs through Dayton, and the expedition camped a couple of miles from here on May 2, 1806 on its way back from the Pacific Coast.

Railroad Depot in Dayton (Map Location 12)

As we drove around Dayton we heard the sound of a band playing. Heading toward the sound, we saw and heard a group of local kids marching down the street....shades of Music Man! You gotta love the American road!

Still Photo Of Dayton Kids doing the Music Man Thing (Map Location 12)

If you have broadband, hear and see a little bit of two lane Americana as the band plays on in Dayton. It is about 1MB so wait a bit for it to download.

http://pair.com/davepaul/americanroad/Sequence02.wmv

The Marching Band!

Walla Walla is a bustling city with an interesting downtown. We had planned to stay in Walla Walla. But even this early in the travel season it was hard to find a place, especially when you have a 130 pound dog to accommodate. So we drove on to Richland, also on the Trail, and the site of the WWII atomic bomb development at Hanford.

We had breakfast at a small restaurant in Benton City, across the street from what was evidently an early garage/ service station. You can follow the Yellowstone in this area on the Inland Empire Highway, the name given to the road by either the state or the auto clubs.

We stopped in Grandview to see an old section of the road on the national register of historic sites, but didn’t find it. I should have looked at a map, but I thought for sure my nose for old roads would suffice. It didn’t. But now I have something to look forward to the next time we come through the area!

With some sadness we stopped at the Teapot Dome service station (46.3891, -120.2381) outside Zillia, its gas pumps forever frozen at $1.77 for regular. I recall a happier day only a few years ago when you could enjoy a fill up at the historic site, located just off exit 54 of the interstate on the Yakima Valley Highway.

Historic Teapot Dome Service Station. Visit it before it Moves! (Map Location 13)

We can report that the City of Zillah plans to raise the money to buy the building, and move it closer to Zillah. If successful, it will become a tourist information center. No doubt that will provide the 85 year old building, said to once have been the oldest operating service station in the country, a longer life.

The Teapot Dome station grew out of the Teapot Dome scandal of the Harding administration and was created by Jack Ainsworth. It began its life in 1922 in Yakima, was moved to the Zillah area in the early 1930’s, and moved again in 1977 for better access from I82. It is a shame that the station is not commercially viable any longer, and a credit to Zillah that it will not die an ignoble death at the hands of a drunken vandal.

I’m 99.9% confident that when the Teapot sold its last drop of gasoline in 2004, it was the oldest service station in at least Oregon and Washington operating out of its original building. If you use the 1922 date (others have placed it at 1928) I certainly am not aware of an operating station that is older anywhere in the Northwest.

The Yellowstone goes on to Yakima and Ellensburg, then to Cle Elum where it converges with the 1925 route through Waterville. But alas, we preferred US12 and White Pass over the shoulder of Mt Rainer with its terrific vistas and great little restaurant at Rimrock Lake. So we bid the Yellowstone goodbye for this time. We’ll be back!

[Four Roads In One On The Yellowstone Trail]

I realize that a map may help locate sites in unfamiliar areas so I have numbered the photos in my four related Yellowstone Trail posts on the map. You will find the number in the caption of each photo.

The 1925 Yellowstone Trail followed the route of the Sunset Highway between Spokane and Seattle and maps are more likely to show the name “Sunset” than “Yellowstone.” One day I will have to research who named the Sunset Highway, the Inland Empire Highway, and the Central Washington Highway. Was it the Automobile Clubs or State officials? I don’t know, and perhaps someone on the forum can tell me.

In any event, road signs and motel names along the 1925 Yellowstone Trail (Pole symbol: Black and Yellow, often with an arrow pointing toward Yellowstone NP) alignment are much more likely to carry the name Sunset than Yellowstone. No matter, I like both names, and since the highways are one and the same, we get two for the price of one. Or more correctly, four for the price of one, as this was also the National Parks Highway (Pole symbol: NPH on Red, White, Red bands) and the National Park to Park Highway (Pole symbol, two P’s facing).

For many miles the Yellowstone travels the Scablands described briefly in an earlier post. In 1925 the road was gravel, with only the last 20 miles into Spokane paved. The countryside was described as alternating farmland and unimproved prairie, with small towns all along the route. The towns along the old road hang on today through some farming and ranching, some tourism, usually centered on the lakes formed in the coulees, and some small town pride.

When we leave Dry Falls headed east on the Yellowstone we travel through small towns that are at best in transition, and at worst dying or dead. Some have nothing but abandoned buildings lining their once busy streets, but some have found a basis for prosperity.

One of my favorite stops is Coulee City. We spent a night there in 1962, and unless my memory is shot, the place we stayed is still in business. I have some old photos of the family taken there.

Coulee City Hotel (Map Location 5)

This trip we stopped and had a picnic next to the public library, on a grassy little spot, and I took a photo of the hotel. It was probably built after 1925, but it looks like so many of the hotels that used to serve the traveling public, I thought it worth the picture.

The next stop is my favorite on this stretch of the Yellowstone, only because the old Hartline service station has, in its dirty window, a vintage map rack complete with free maps. They have been there for as long as I remember, and I always stop to check that they haven’t been moved. They have been in the sun so long now that they actually appear burned. When do you last remember getting a free map at a service station?

Hartline Garage with Old Pumps (Map Location 6)

For the many folks who have begged for a photo of Sheila, rose of the Road, and me, take a look at the reflection in the window. I am crouched to take the photo and Sheila is posing for the photo. There, now stop your pleading!

Old Free Maps Stand with Maps, in Chevron Garage, Hartline, Washington

The town of Almira is next with a vintage hotel, garage combination. The hotel is trying for a comeback as a B&B. The Edsel sits alone across the street. Both Hartline and Almira have seen better days, but hope springs eternal, and I wish them the best of futures.

Edsel in Almira, Washington (Map Location 7)

To view in 3D, stare at the images and slowly cross your eyes until a third 3D image appears in the center.

Leaving Davenport eastbound, turn left and then right at the east edge of town onto the old Sunset Highway alignment on the north side of the rail tracks. Stay on the Sunset for about 6.25 miles and you will find an old concrete section for a few miles, complete with the curved gutters of the 1920’s and 30’s. I looked for a date stamp on the gutters but found none.

It may be too esoteric for some, but there is a lone old style billboard on the right side of the road at about 8.75 miles. The Spokane Davenport Hotel of mid last century is advertised in fading paint. Considering that there would have been no sane reason to erect the sign on an abandoned highway, it must have been put up while this old section of road was still the main route.

Yellowstone Highway and Old Davenport Hotel Billboard (Map Location 8)

The Davenport Hotel has been beautifully renovated. I mentioned the sign to the owner a few years ago, but apparently nothing came of it. No surprise. What do you do with a faded billboard?

We didn’t travel beyond this point on this trip. The Yellowstone Trail between here and Spokane is quite interesting because it does the zig zag typical of the days when roads followed section lines. However, we wanted to visit a couple of towns off the Yellowstone, so we cut across on two lane paved and graveled roads to Rosilia on the 1915 Yellowstone loop south of Spokane, where we will pick the adventure up in the another post.

[Canyon Diablo And Two Guns]

I didn't cross the bridge and explore the other side of the canyon. It may not be too apparent in the photos but the wind was blowing hard and those clouds that give the image such a dramatic look were soon upon us. As I got near the bridge, and was going to walk over it, the the rain started and I ran for the shelter of my vehicle. I did attempt to take some pictures before the rain got too heavy but they all have horizontal streaks on them caused by the raindrops falling sideways.

 

Here's a couple of shots of the bridge.

 

 

 

Rick

 

Rick, you have been holding out! The first of these two shots is superb! It makes me want to go back and see that site again. The lighting is exceptional.

 

I really enjoyed the Mountain Lion building at Two Guns, but I didn’t cross the bridge. But about 10 minutes after we arrived, a little Volkswagen bug zoomed across the bridge to the big ruin, so I know it was safe to do so.

 

I have said before that I dismissed Route 66 as over rated until we did the winter trip. Now I am thinking about doing it again with more care, and going further east.

 

I hope you will add other photos.

 

Keep the Show on the Road!