Keep the Show on the Road!

I always appreciste new photos! Thanks for sharing! And by the way, did you notice that one of your party was behind the tree. apparently watering the forest Tell him he was spotted. Keep the Show on the Road!

I enjoyed your great description of this section of the Dixie! I also enjoyed your photos. You are a keen observer and obviously relish real road travel where the fun is in the travel, not just the destination! Let’s Keep the Show on the Road!

I think you are right! I don’t know if this is helpful, but when I got home I looked in my Automobile Blue Books (ABB’s) published before and after the 1921 regional issue (the one I had with me in on the road). The 1918 Volume 7 does show a road between Holbrook AZ and Gallup, NM, and then another on to Albuquerque, even though the early 1920 books don’t. The Gallup route is identified as the National Old Trails route (and is also so identified in my 1926 ABB). 1918 Map When you read the description (below) of the section between Gallup and Albuquerque in 1918, it is clear why the ABB recommended taking the Springerville route instead! I have never read such a negative description in a time when mud, sand, washes, rough spots, rocks, and the like were routine. 1918 Gallup to Albuquerque 1918 Holbrook to Gallup Perhaps (and this is pure speculation) they got scalded in 1918 by the Automobile Club of Southern California who I recall was a supporter of the National Old Trail and rather than alienate the National Old Trail folks and the clubs, they ignored the route until later when it was improved. Incidentally, the 1921 Volume T (Transcontinental) identifies the Holbrook to Springerville and Springerville to Magdalena segments as part of the Santa Fe Trail and doesn’t show the Holbrook Gallup Albuquerque route at all. Thanks for all your help and advice.

While Rose of the Road and Bo, the Malamute Wonder Dog were out exploring the countryside, I took some 3D photos of a few sites along Route 66. I regret now that I didn’t take more, but perhaps American Roaders will enjoy these few. To view them, stare at the two side by side images and cross your eyes until there is a third image in the middle. It will be in 3D! It may also help to tip your head slightly left or right. Two Guns was a popular stop along the old road. It is located about 23 miles west of Winslow. The Mountain Lions zoo was just one of the attactions at the site. The 66 Motel is on the outskirts of Needles, California as you come into town from the east. The old café in the photo is in Essex, California on that great section of the Mother Road that now lies below I 40 west of Needles. I described Roy’s in another posting. It is in Amboy, California. If you have a problem viewing these, I can put the same images up in Red/Blue viewable with glasses. If you enjoy these, I'll post more on my next trip to Keep the Show on the Road

The last leg of the Route 66 adventure is behind us now. It was between Needles and Barstow, as we returned home. Needles was an interesting overnight stop. The El Graces, an abandoned Harvey House was an interesting site. Leaving Needles westbound we stopped at Goffs. The old schoolhouse at Goffs has been restored and the surrounding grounds made into an outdoor museum. Inside the schoolhouse we met John who serves as a volunteer. John is an enthusiastic and well informed source of old road information. The community, such as it is, is lucky to have him share his time with them. John is 25% of Goffs population! He is a road traveler who has settled in Goffs for an indefinate period to help keep the exceptional museum facility open and prospering. Goffs would be worth a stop if only to see the fine collection of Route 66 and older National Old Trails Signs on the wall. Goffs began to lose its importance after 1931 when Route 66 was rerouted. The schoolhouse closed and the children were bussed to Essex, several miles away. Every time I have picked up a map of Route 66 I have wondered about the section that swings down through Essex, Danby, Amboy, Bagdad, and Ludlow. I wonder no more. On February 3 we had that section of the Mother Road practically to ourselves. Westbound between Essex and Amboy the road is as smooth as a baby’s bottom, but after the traffic bound for 29 Palms turns south at Amboy, road maintenance takes a dive. None the less it is still a good road and incredibly better than the National Old Trails Road of the teens and early 1920’s. We explored a section of the National Old Trails roadbed southeast of Ludlow where it crossed newer Route 66. The 1921 Automobile Blue Book suggested taking this road at night during the summer months to avoid the heat. It must have been quite an adventure, following a narrow winding trail through sand and volcanic rock in the dark. The road was marked only by the volcanic stones thrown off the roadbed along each side of the one lane track. We took photos of Route 66 landmarks along the way. Some are posted under the topic Route 66 in 3D. Roy’s at Amboy lived up to its advanced billing. The restaurant and motel were closed, but remain an impressive roadside artifact. I understand that Albert Okura, owner of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain is attempting to revitalize Amboy, and Roy’s. The current sign and motel only date back to 1959, but the original owner operated a thriving buisness here during the depression years. At Newberry Springs, the Bagdad Café where the movie of that name was filmed, turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. It was closed, and as I took a photo a fellow wheeled a dirt bike out the front door. Not exactly what I was expecting! We met the freeway at Ludlow, and headed to Barstow and on north, ending our Route 66 adventure.

Great and Ah Shucks! I should have known that you folks would be way ahead of me...and in the process I strained my thought box to the limit! The set up you describe sounds to be just what is needed. I subscribed to American Road before the first edition was published, and you folks just keep getting better and better. I look forward to using the described services on my next road adventure. Thanks for Keeping the Show on the Road!

Excellent questions! At the risk of having too many thoughts in one day, I would think that the information should be accessed by route and/ or by city, at least. I wouldn’t limit the sites to just our already highlighted routes, but even if we did, there would still be plenty of candidates. I think of American Road as about two lane travel, so any vintage place worthy of praise located on a two lane route should qualify….but I’m not hung up on that issue either way. We just got back from a wonderful three week winter trip on Route 66 and on some of the Old Spanish Trail. Beckyrepp and dennyg offered some terrific suggestions en route, but several times by the time I knew the question to ask, and they shared their insights, I was 200 miles past the town! We risked the motel blind choice approach once, and the place will never find itself on my list, historic or not! I had to get pliers out of the car to turn on the hot water facet in the sink as the knob was stripped, and when I picked up the phone, the handset stuck to my hand. On the other hand, dennyg and beckyrepp suggested places that we would never have guessed were great, but they turned out to be. And, while I know nothing at all about the magazine business, I do know that most people don’t carry back issues with them on the road. There are some super places advertised in American Road, but darn, my old brain doesn’t remember what town they are in or their address when I’m on the road. For example, the last issue had a whole series of ads along US 6 (to me, the Midland Trail) and the next time I am close to the Midland, I will drive it as far as it takes me toward my destination. But I won’t remember many of those great advertisers. And I want to. Thanks for the reply, and let’s see where it takes us. That’s the best way to Keep the Show on the Road!

Bbutko’s comments on the loss of the Lincoln Motor Court in Cheyenne and roadmaven and beckyrepp’s replies in the Lincoln Highway Discussion section prompt a thought (Yes, I have one, at least twice a day). Why don’t we start a Vintage Motel (and Meal) Guide? I don’t think it would be helpful to pan dumps, but it would be helpful to share good stays (and eats). The result should be more business and a brighter future for some vintage places. My wife and I are reluctant to try places that are not listed and described in guides like the AAA Tour Books. We don’t like to ask an owner/ manager to show us a room before we check in, so we miss places that are clean and pleasant, but not rated. If we could look on American Road Forum for recommendations, it would help. I do know of some vintage places that are absolutely great, but will never be listed in AAA. Maybe we could create a simple rating system for things like cleanliness, noise, amenities, etc. For example, I know of a place on US 101 in Yachats, Oregon that has an ocean view, is at most 200 yards from the beach, is as clean as a whistle, and goes for under $75 a night with a full kitchen, easy chairs, couch, and dining room table! It is quiet and comfortable. The furniture is vintage 1950’s and there is no telephone or WiFi (Oh Happy Day, use your cell phone.) It isn’t a true roadside artifact like the Lincoln Motor Court, but it is a sweet stay from the 1930’s. And on the weekend the restaurant down the road has a great meal and a guitar player/ singer straight out of the 60’s. This may be an old and failed idea, but if it hasn’t been tried, are we game? Any comments? As a corollary thought…Gees that’s my limit for the day…why aren’t American Road advertisers listed and described on an American Road site…or are they and I don’t know where to look? When I’m on the road with my WiFi I would look up an advertised place and eat or stop there. (You don’t think I carry the magazine back copies with me, do you?). Just trying to Keep the Show on the Road!