Guest Russell S. Rein Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 Hi Cindy, The Red Arrow Highway was Old US 12 before I-94 was opened. It is called Red Arrow Highway starting approximately midway between Oshtemo and Paw Paw. It runs into Territorial Rd. on the East side of Benton Harbor, then a jog south on Water and continue west on Main St., then another jog on Wayne to Port to continue south on Main St. through St. Joseph. South of St. Joe town Main turns into Lakeshore. This whole section is marked as Business I-94 and is easy to follow. Further south of St. Joe the road turns back into Red Arrow Highway. It crosses I-94 a couple of times and continues to New Buffalo at the SW corner of the state, and eventually runs into the few miles of original US 12 in the southwest corner of the state. Old US 12 started in Grand Circus Park in Downtown Detroit and ran west with US 16 on Grand River until it split off at the eastern beginning of Plymouth Rd. It went through Redford, Livonia, Plymouth, Dixboro, Ann Arbor, Lima Center, Chelsea, Sylvan Center, Leoni, Jackson, Sandstone, Parma, Albion, Marengo, Marshall, Battle Creek, Lakeview, Galesburg, Comstock, Oshtemo, Paw Paw, Teapot Dome, Lawrence, Hartford, Watervliet, Coloma, Twelve Corners, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Shoreham, Glen Lord, Stevensville, Bridgman, Shorewood Hills, Bethany Beach, Sawyer, Birchwood, Hazelhurst, Harbert, Turner Shores, Lakeside, Lakeview, Union Pier, Gordon Beach, Sokol Camp, New Buffalo and Grand Beach. Except for a few jogs virtually the entire Old US 12 in Michigan is still there and driveable. When I-94 was finished they decommissioned the old US 12 route and redesignated the southerly US 112 route as US 12, in June of 1961. This is very confusing to most people. Except for the last two miles or so, everything in Michigan that now is marked as US 12 either was Old US 112 or some other road or improvement. For more info. on this see Marc Fannin's Michiana Roads web page at: http://www.roadfan.com/michroad.html Robert Droz's US Highway pages at http://www.us-highways.com/ And read the article on US 12 by the Federal Highway Administration's Historian Richard F. Weingroff: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us12.htm This New US 12 (old US 112) follows the route of the Old Chicago Road and the Old Sauk Trail, and has recently been awarded Heritage Trail Status by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). For more info. about this see: http://www.swmicomm.org/SWMC/US12.htm.. Three Oaks is on new US 12, about 5 miles east of the Red Arrow Highway and New Buffalo. This section was never part of the Original Old US 112 which jogged south into Indiana at Elkhart (now MI 205 to Indiana 19) then ran west with US 20 through South Bend and ended in Rolling Prairie, IN near the famous Bob's Barbeque. US 20 / Old US 112 west of South Bend was also the Lincoln Highway Route. So the original Old US 112 never went all the way west across Michigan. I study and collect Old US 12 and Old US 112, and have a large collection of ephemera, road maps, postcards and souvenirs of these two routes. I have the domain names US12.org and US112.com and eventually plan on having two web-sites to display my collection. I drive these routes all the time. Everyone get out there and drive these roads now, there's lots to see, do and eat, and stay off that nasty I-94!! ypsi-slim On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 14:00:12 -0000 "krtntt" <ceto11@yahoo.com> writes: I am a new member. Wanted more information about the red arrow highway in Michigan. Tried to search the archives before I posted this question but the results kept focusing on narrow highway. Have any members traveled this highway? Think we traveled a portion of it to a town called Three Oaks to visit the Three Oaks Spokes bicycle museum. As our guide, we had an outdated version of Michigan's Off the Beaten Path. We discovered that the museum was no longer in the historic depot. Fortunately, there was a note redirecting us to the library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Russell S. Rein Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 Hey all - hope you're stayin' cool this summer. It's time for your Lincoln Highway e-newletter! Bob Lichty, President of the Lincoln Highway Association announced some great news last week: "Last Tuesday, Jess Peterson, received and deposited a check for $100,000.00 (yes the decimal point is in the right place) that was sent to LHA from an anonymous donor. The money came from the Fund for Charitable Giving from the PNC Bank, in Pittsburgh, PA. It is a donor directed fund, with no receipt or restrictions necessary.....We both were very skeptical and did not want it to commingle with other club financial information. I called the bank in Pennsylvania to find out if the check was real and not some sort of mistake or scam. I can tell you it is real. Our long term poverty stricken club now has some money, thanks to someone. I repeat, this is not a spoof. We really have $100,000. While I really wanted to tell you I raised it myself during my first month of Presidency, it came in all by itself." Jeff Kitsko has updated his PA US 30 website. Check it out at: http://www.pahighways.com/us/US30.html That DARNED Lincoln Highway!! Brian Butko sent this link about gridlock on our favorite hwy, who knew? http://xrl.us/grea I found even more complaining!! What's goin' on? http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/15399 Carson City buys part of the old LH - Kings Canyon Road - to stop development: http://xrl.us/greh Woodbine, IA is sprucing up: http://xrl.us/grej Another article about, and interview with, Brian Butko, author of Greetings ftom the Lincoln Highway: http://xrl.us/grem and at PennLive.com http://xrl.us/gxoy and another from Cantonrep.com: (requires login): http://xrl.us/greq Newly published book on Fulton, Il history, House by the Side of the Road includes tales of the old LH: http://xrl.us/gren More on the Pile to Pike Bike Trail, which will include an a bypassed PA Turnpike tunnel: http://xrl.us/grep Mike Buettner in Lima reports some good new - The missing 500 lb granite historical marker from the Gomer, OH bridge on the LH has been recovered: http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=15783 An epsiode of the HBO show Carnivale which aired earlier this spring was titled Lincoln Highway: http://xrl.us/gu7n Will Cindy's Diner in Fort Wayne be forced to move from it's prominent LH corner? http://xrl.us/gu7p Jess Peterson sends a link to another LHA member's tribute to the Lincoln Huighway Garage in York, PA (click on the mural link on the menu at the left): http://www.automasters.com/ A New Haven, IN couple restores their Victorian home on the LH: http://xrl.us/gu7u On June 6 the City of West Wendover, NV rededicated "Wendover Will". Read more about it at the city's web site: http://www.westwendovercity.com/ ...and the Carson City Mint has produced a Wendover Will commemorative medallion: http://xrl.us/gu7z A story about Middlegate Station on the LH in Nevada: http://xrl.us/gu72 Help save the Columbia, PA Drive-In Movie Theatre on the LH: http://ydr.com/story/letters/78473/ Google has a new hybrid satellite pics and mapping program. Try the beta at: http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h (why is Indiana gray?) Another article about LH cross-county bicyclist, Don Dauphinais from LimaOhio.com: http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=16286 Lincoln Highway Days is coming for Nevada, IA - since 1983: www.lincolnhighwaydays.com An article about the OH LH statewide "Buy-Way" garage sale featuring LHA's Larry Webb: http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=16016 More OH LH Garage Sale "Buy-Way"publicity: http://xrl.us/gxo3 Here's the official press release: contact: Mike Hocker, Executive Director Ohio Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor 419-468-6773 120 Harding Way East, Galion, OH 44833 Packgpwr@bright.net Group Yard Salers Number Well Over Fifty; Ready for 241 Mile-Long "Buy-Way" Yard Sale The Ohio Lincoln Highway's Historic Byway decided to throw a yard sale across the state, and look who's coming! On August 11, 12 and 13, over fifty group yard sale, parking lot and other festive events are set to happen from East Liverpool to the Indiana state line west of Van Wert, by organizations like Kiwanis, volunteer fire departments, scouts, church groups, historical societies and just about anybody who has an empty lot along the Lincoln Highway in Ohio. Executive Director Mike Hocker said, "we have been amazed by this first year's responses...both from organizations wanting to participate, and people planning their summer travel schedules and wanting to include this 'Buy-Way' Yard Sale. “And people are getting really creative. I can't wait to get out there, myself and see," he said. "For instance, the Minerva Scenic Railway is running a special event and boarding and deboarding shoppers at a large yard sale along the tracks. Wooster is talking about a chain saw carving event, and some towns have moved their community-wide yard sale week to this one." Martha Starkey, President of the OLHHC and Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau Director commented, "This three day event is a win-win event ideal for many smaller communities along the Lincoln Highway to bring in loads of tourists, bargain-hunters and collectors from all over. This brings even more business to restaurants, gas stations and other retails along the way." Communities along all alignments of the highway's history include East Liverpool, Lisbon, Hanoverton, Kensington, East Rochester, Minerva, Robertsville, East Canton and Canton, Massillon, East Greenville, Dalton, Riceland, Wooster, Jefferson, Reedsburg, New Pittsburg, Rowsburg, Reedsburg, Jeromesville, Hayesville, Ashland, Mifflin, Mansfield, Ontario, Crestline, Galion, Leesville, Bucyrus, Oceola, Nevada, Upper Sandusky, Forest, Dunkirk, Williamstown, Dola, Ada, Beaverdam, Cairo, Lima, Elida, Gomer, Delphos, Van Wert and Convoy. Starkey noted that the Lincoln Highway generally follows U.S. Route 30 but had several alignments over the years of its heyday as America's first transcontinental paved road from 1913 to 1928. "Tourists who are unfamiliar with the road should watch for the red, white and blue signs with the large "L", and if all else fails," Starkey emphasized, "it doesn't hurt to stop and ask the locals if you get confused." Currently, almost every community has at least one group activity planned. Some yard salers are carrying Lincoln Highway souvenir items, too. Starkey added that there will be a special Lincoln Highway Trading Post memorabilia sales trailer featured at Galion's Park Square on Thursday, Shisler's Cheese House at Kidron Road east of Wooster on Friday and at the Classic 57 Diner in Minerva on Saturday. For an updated list of group events, visit the website, www.lhbuyway.com or call 419-468-6773. Ebay Auctions: An LHA OH member caught us all napping when he was able to snag an LH Army Convoy medal for only $39.95!!!: http://xrl.us/gska A 50's era color postcard of Eddie's Diner in Quincy, MA went for $455 last month! (sorry no pic) Aero Filling Stations Motorist Guide of Wyoming from 1922 went for $78.89 http://xrl.us/gu73 A nice real photo postcard of the Albuquerque Auto Court and Gas Station went for $214.39: http://xrl.us/gu75 A real photo postcard of the Tower Coffee shop in Lake Tahoe went for $55.35: http://xrl.us/gu76 A replica set of Burma Shave signs went for $235: http://xrl.us/gu79 A scarce real photo view of the Coffee Pot Restaurant and Atlantic Gas Station on the LH in Bedford, PA went for: $92.29: http://xrl.us/gu8c A never before seen Tips to Travelers - 1941 Edition - U.S. 30 (U.S. 50 in Utah & Nevada) The Lincoln Highway - The Main Street of The Nation - San Francisco to New York, hand drawn, went for $154.49: http://xrl.us/gu8d A real photo of the Twin Bridges store on US 50 on Lake Tahoe went for $94: http://xrl.us/gu8e A real photo postcard of a horse and buggy at Donner Lake went for $82.56: http://xrl.us/gu8f A nice printed black & white postcard of the New Yorker Diner in Reno went for $72.85: http://xrl.us/gu8g A nice real photo of an old auto on the dirt road Donner Pass went for $62.99 http://xrl.us/gxo9 A set of six nice poster art postcards for Newark NJ's 250th anniversary celebration went for $103.50: http://xrl.us/gxpc A scarce Bill's Place real photo view on the LH in PA went for $47.60: http://xrl.us/gxpd A supposed LH view of Laurel, MD went for $52.00: http://xrl.us/gxpe The LH never went thru Maryland but I have seen a few postcards that insisted that it did, plus a token from the Lincoln Highway Seafood Company in Baltimore!? A nice condition cardboard LH cigar box went for $80.75: http://xrl.us/gxpf that's all for now.........stay off those interstates! ypsi-slim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Claudette Seamon Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 I agree with you. Claudette >From: banks413@aol.com >Reply-To: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com >To: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com >Subject: Re: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Re: Blue Ridge Parkway >Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2005 17:50:30 EDT > >The Smokies are the prettiest part of the parkway and the highest >mountains. >Very beautiful >Ann > > > > > > > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gail Mello Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 My daughter lived in Seattle for a long time (she just moved to Eugene, Oregon) and she raved about Ivor's ... we visited her several times, but never went there. Gail (a newbie on the list and have been having internet problems so have not posted an intro or a hello ... I live in central Arizona just outside of Sedona ... Gail rudkip@sbcglobal.net wrote: I am not real knowlegable in this area but there is a fish place in Seattle called Ivor's (I believe it is on Puget Sound) which, if it is still there is very much worth experiencing...for those out there who have been to Ted Drewe's in St. Louis, in my mind it is the Ted Drewes of fish joints...the fish was good but the experience of watching a bunch of people serve a bunch of people made it even more worthwhile! Tsingtao Kip ----- Original Message ----- From: "dgildor" <radicaladventure@gmail.com> To: <AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2005 12:01 PM Subject: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Suggestions in Oregon and Washington? > I'm on the midst of a roadtrip along the West Coast on my motorcycle > and wondered if anyone had any particular suggestions of things to > see, places to eat, etc. along the roads in Oregon and Washington. > > Thanks. And for anyone interested in following allowing virtually, I > am maintaining a blog of my "adventure" at > http://radicaladventure.blogspot.com > > Thanks. > > -Dan > > > > > > > > Visit our homepage at: http://www.mockturtlepress.com > > To subscribe to AMERICAN ROAD magazine, PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-877-285-5434 WITH YOUR ORDER TODAY! > Or send payment to: Mock Turtle Press, PO Box 3168, Lynnwood, WA 98046-3168 > SUBSCRIPTION RATES: > 1 year (4 issues) for $15.95 > (save $3.85 off the newsstand price!) > 2 years (8 issues) for $27.95 > (save $11.65 off the newsstand price!) > > > For questions about the list, contact: AMERICAN_ROAD-owner@yahoogroups.com > > To SUBSCRIBE to this group, send an email to: AMERICAN_ROAD-subscribe@yahoogroups.comTo POST a message via e-mail, send it to: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > Visit our homepage at: http://www.mockturtlepress.com To subscribe to AMERICAN ROAD magazine, PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-877-285-5434 WITH YOUR ORDER TODAY! Or send payment to: Mock Turtle Press, PO Box 3168, Lynnwood, WA 98046-3168 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 year (4 issues) for $15.95 (save $3.85 off the newsstand price!) 2 years (8 issues) for $27.95 (save $11.65 off the newsstand price!) For questions about the list, contact: AMERICAN_ROAD-owner@yahoogroups.com To SUBSCRIBE to this group, send an email to: AMERICAN_ROAD-subscribe@yahoogroups.comTo POST a message via e-mail, send it to: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com --------------------------------- YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "AMERICAN_ROAD" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: AMERICAN_ROAD-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. --------------------------------- --------------------------------- Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brian Butko Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 That was Rachel Morris. Last I heard, she is teaching English in Korea, but here?s her website: www.lomohomes.com/silvertoes Of interest to roadies on her site are some road photos and this: ?Between 1998 and 2002 I co-founded, edited and contributed to the magazine 'Traveller's Times'. My first book, 'Gaining Ground: Law Reform for Gypsies and Travellers'....? Brian Butko (The guy in the video at Wigwam Village with wife Sarah, 3 kids, and 1 bed!) http://www.brianbutko.com (made on a Mac) From: "Chris" <chris@experiencenascar.com> Reply-To: <AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com> Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 16:53:04 -0000 To: <AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com> Subject: Spam:[AMERICAN_ROAD] Re: Wigwam in Holbrook, AZ and Rialto, CA I noticed the PBS program that showcased travel oddities, including the Wigwam, was making the rounds of our local TV listings last week or so. Who was that "friend of the road" touring with the Apple iBook? "I think, therefore iMac" . . Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bakerhab@aol.com Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Distribution August 26, 2005 Title: Route 66 Roadies, Authors, and Artists to Gather at Wigwams Wednesday, September 14 will be a special day at the Wigwam Motel in Rialto. The very finest of Route 66 Roadies, Authors and Artists will be having an all day poolside gathering at this historic lodging location along Route 66. These well versed Mother Road enthusiasts will be having this informal and friendly get together gathering as a 'meet and greet' occasion for guests and visitors who stop by the day before the kick-off of this years San Bernardino Route 66 Rendezvous celebrations. Artists and authors will display their works at the Wigwam Motel and also during the Rendezvous events at the "Route 66 Authors and Artists Expo," located at the City Hall Turnaround, at D and Third Streets. Fellow Route 66 roadies and enthusiasts are invited to drop in at the Wigwam Motel anytime during the afternoon to early evening of September 14. This would be a great time for a personal meet and greet photo opportunity with some of Route 66's finest roadies. A large number of the roadies will be in attendance, some of whom will be: David Knudson, president of the National Route 66 Federation Jim Conkle, founder and president of the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation. Kathy Anderson, former president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association Bob 'crocodile' Lile, current president of the Texas Route 66 Association Kevin Hansel, president of the California Historic Route 66 Association Debra Hodkin, director of Barstow's Route 66 Mother Road Museum Manoj Patel, family owner of the historic Wigwam Motel. The Patel family has done a true justice for Route 66 with all of their hard work in completely restoring and preserving this vintage beauty icon along the Mother Road. Scott Piotrowski, author of "Finding the End of the Mother Road: Route 66 in Los Angeles County" and is also known for his fine photography and video's. Ken Turmel, artist who mastered the first Route 66 artwork that actually traveled the entire length of the Mother Road while it was being created. The art is a Route 66 Tribute masterpiece to see! Turmel's work has become known worldwide as PostmarkArt. Jim Ross, a well versed and award winning historian who authored "Oklahoma Route 66." His extensive research travels along Route 66 are unparalleled, and they are evident in his writings. Jerry McClanahan, water color and oil paintings extraordinaire! Jerry has a special touch with his talents as he poses new and vintage automobiles with famous vintage Route 66 icon locations. Swa Frantzen, of Belgium, webmaster of the very first web site dedicated to Route 66 www.historic66.com The famous 66 icon Wigwam Motel location was especially chosen for this roadie poolside gathering for a very good reason. The Wigwam Motel is recognized as California's most famous Route 66 motel, built in the city of San Bernardino during the later half of 1949. The Indian inspired motel features a life like village style arrangement of nineteen 30 foot teepees, complete with all of the traveler's essentials including a barbecue and swimming pool. The original developer of this retro motel was a man by the name of Frank Redford, who was heavily influenced by the native Indian art and culture. He brought his imagination to a reality in the early 1930's, as he built a prototype of his creative teepee shaped cabin. A total of seven Wigwam Motels were built throughout the nation, only 3 of which exist today. This newly restored and renovated classic and cozy motel continues to live on, going on its 56th anniversary, through the support of car enthusiasts, roadies, tourists, travelers and most importantly preservationists. No doubt, this is a very good reason to stop by and gather around the Wigwam Motel. Further information can be viewed online at www.wigwammotel.com Contact Manoj Patel at 909-721-3949 or e-mail at wigwamrte66@yahoo.com to make any lodging arrangements, or contact Ken Turmel at thelandrunner@hotmail.com with any questions about the Route 66 Roadie, Authors, and Artists Poolside Gathering at the Wigwams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ken - Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 Hi. I used to live in El Paso and visited Juarez frequently. If you want to visit there, don't be afraid to, however there are precautions to take. First, I reccomend parking in El Paso and walking across. If you do drive across you will need to purchase insurance. Mecican law requires you to have Mexican insurance. Your US insurance won't be valid. Also, Juarez for the most part is very poor and like any US city I would not advise daytime trips only (or atleast don't leave the main drag). Juarez is the largest city on the US/Mexican boarder and has a lot to see, including the bull fights (if you are into that) and everything is cheap. Just remember that you are not in the US anymore and mind your own business. I would not advise travelling out of Juarez. There really is nothing there to see. All dessert and breaking down would not be good. I would go and have fun, but be careful. Ken ----- Original Message ----- Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 18:41:20 +0100 From: "UKRoads" Subject: Re: Re: Travelling Less? Thank you all for your suggestions regarding our trip into Southern New Mexico & Arizona. As always both groups , American Road and Route 66 have come up trumps and given us plenty to think about. It is greatly appreciated. We are going to stick with the Southern route as we want to visit Bisbee & Tombstone, so I'm afraid Show Low & Globe will have to wait another time. Any further suggestions about the roads around the Roswell, Artesia, Almogorordo & Ruidiso guys, I'm still not sure where we should be going in that area? Also, should we just go west on I-10 at Las Cruces or is it worth going south to El Paso and Ciudad Juaraez? You input will help save my wife from endless miles of driving to the wrong place in the wrong direction, she thanks you! Regards Walter from Glasgow -- ___________________________________________________________ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mike shadman Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Just to let you know the 2006 Rand McNally Atlas is at Wally for $4.97. George --------------------------------- Yahoo! for Good Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rwarn17588 Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Michael Wallis, author of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road," gave us some potentially big news regarding the Vision 2025 Route 66 project in Tulsa. The National Historic Route 66 Federation, based in California, is very interested in establishing a travel center in a Route 66 interpretive center that would be built near the historic 11th Street Bridge. "Since founding the Federation, we have believed a center that is a nationwide resource for the Mother Road would serve several important purposes," wrote David Knudson, executive director. "Tulsa, because of its geographic location and its commitment to the history of the route, would be an excellent choice for the center." In return, Wallis has promised Knudson his involvement in the day-to-day operations of the center. The involvement of the National Historic Route 66 Federation is a big sweetener for the proposed interpretive center. The federation has taken a large leadership role on Route 66, including staging major events across the country, providing tourism advice and products, and playing a vital role in the passage of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. A federation travel center would be a key addition to a building that would house a cafe, museum, high-tech interactive displays, meeting rooms and other attractions. A Route 66 interpretive center would be a good thing for Tulsa and the historic road. It would attract travelers that would ordinarily bypass Route 66 via Interstate 44 and 244. It would bring more visitors to downtown. The site would be easily accessible from the interstate and Riverside Drive. In general, it would create more interest in Route 66 and help the entire road, especially in Tulsa County. For this project, Wallis and Route 66 need your help. You need to snail-mail letters of support for the proposed Route 66 interpretive center near the 11th Street Bridge. Letters should be addressed to: Mayor Bill LaFortune 200 Civic Center Tulsa, OK 74103 and also to: Route 66 Design Committee 111 S. Greenwood Ave. Tulsa, OK 74120 You folks who wrote letters urging the preservation of El Vado Motel in Albuquerque helped stop the bulldozers. To help Route 66 have a brighter future, Wallis is asking you to help again by supporting the Vision 2025 Route 66 recommendations. Ron Warnick Tulsa, OK www.route66news.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vikram_h2 Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 Hello all, Been here for about 3 months now. Studying at College park, Maryland. I was wondering if i could get any inputs on the kind of places that could be visited in this part of the country during the winter break. 1. Not more than 8 hours drive. 2. Group of 6 travelling. 3. Not much money need be spent. 4. Game for any kind of topography. Appreciate it, Cheers, Vikram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest adpoole_2000 Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Only 7 months before the Ride Thru Time Galaxie Club and the Ford Classics Touring Club hit the road-we'll be spending June 10-25, 2006 on Route 66 with 20 cars. 2007 will see us traveling the northern plains over to Idaho, then north and east through 7 National Parks and Monuments, and some of the twistiest 2-lane roads west of the Mississippi. You can find more information about our trips at www.fordclassicstouring.org Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dorothy Thompson Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 I'm wondering if someone can help me. In the second week of February, I will be flying out to Las Vegas for a week-long vacation. We have a room and everything and will be doing the full tourist thing while we're there. However, what I want to do is go to California and have my picture taken in front of the sign just as you enter the state and go back to Vegas. What I would like to know is...is there anything within the state line at that point that would be fun to see without having to go all the way to LA? I don't want to get too far from Vegas, being as we'll have to turn around and go back to the hotel that night. I'm into anything related to parks and mountains as I want to take some good scenery shots to take back home with me. Are there any parks nearby? Thanks! Dorothy Dorothy Thompson ROMANCING THE SOUL Do you believe in soul mates? http://www.dorothythompson.net http://www.overthehillchick.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Denny Gibson Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Sounds like a fun trip. I'm not quite in Memphis but I'm closer than I usually am. I am about 130 miles away in Paris, TN, and hope to be in Memphis tomorrow. My plans aren't as firm as I had hoped they would be by now but the most likely move from Memphis is heading north on US-61 on Friday. But your report and mention of Clarksdale has me looking at the maps again. Denny Gibson Cincinnati, OH www.DennyGibson.com -----Original Message----- From: Alex Burr [mailto:hester_nec@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 10:47 AM To: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com Subject: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Mississippi Road Trip Greetings from the heart of Delta Blues Country; well, in my case I'm sitting on the northern edge of it in Memphis. Yesterday, the 27th of Dec, my daughter and I took a day and drove to Clarksdale, MS, using Old Highway 61, as much as possible - which is most of the way between Walls and Lula, MS. We did get off track a couple of times as the road, whild adequately marked, is easy to miss at times. For me, this was a trip back in time - almost 50 years to be exact. Of course 50 years ago I wasn't really looking at the scenery. It's a tad difficult to enjoy the local color when you're running 61 north at 80 or so with somebody behind you bent on stopping you for the liquid refreshment you are carrying in the trunk of the car. But, I did recognize a few places, such as the Journey Inn and Court (think thats right) on the south side of Memphis near the TN/MS line. Most of the by-passed towns along Old 61 seem to have retreated into stop sign cross-roads, now - the map shows places such as Lake Cormorant, Newport, Evansville, but I didn't see much of what could be called a "town". Tunica proper hasn't changed a lot in 50 years - they do have a wonderful Veterans Memorial on the south side of town that appears to be well cared for and is worth a stop - there's a wide spot across the street where you can pull over safely. Most all of the old road is 2 lane, and narrow. But it is pretty much empty now that the current "New" U S 61 to the east is 4 lane divided for the folks in a hurry. The section between Grand Casino Parkway N and Casino Strip Blvd, in Clack, is 4 lane - for the convienence of the gambling tourists - but that's about it. We actually made nearly as good time on the old road as we would have on the new 61 - if you were just interested in driving from here to there you'd only loose maybe 15 minutes or so. No traffic for the most part, and what was out there was local and light. We almost went to Arkansas coming out of Lula. Wound up on U S 49 and turned right, when we should have turned left. Oh, well, I got a nice picture of a marker telling about the Henando DeSoto Memorial Bridge - did he REALLY get this far north?? However, we discovered our navigational error before arriving at the bridge (should have gone just a little further and took a picture of it) and returned to 61 and south to Clarksdale While we entere Clarksdale on 161 (State Street) we didn't see any signs directing us to the Delta Blues Museum. It seems we should have taken 161 (or you can take the 61 by-pass and turn onto Martin Luther King Blvd, as you should from 161. Turn onto Desoto Avenue and then onto 3rd Street. Blues Alley, Ground Zero Blues Club (Morgan Freeman's place) and several other attractions are just down 3rd on the left. We found it the easy way. There was an old lady standing by the side of the street waving to us. So we stopped, she wanted a birthday hug and $2.99 to buy herself a birthday cake. We asked her how to get to the museum; she told us to turn around, take a right at the stop sign, a left at the next stop sign and another left at a 3rd stop sign. Yeah, right!!!!!!!! So we gave her $3 for her "birthday cake" and followed her directions - right into the parking lot at the Delta Blues Musuem!!!!! I told my daughter we should have gone back and given the lady another $5!!!! The Delta Blues Museum is a great place for Blues enthusiasts to visit. Tons of photos with descriptive texts, guitars of famous blues players, like Pinetop Perkins and B. B. King (the "B. B." stands for "Blues Boy" by the way, and even Muddy Waters cabin from the plantation he was raised on. They also have a audio/video presentation. ( http://www.deltabluesmuseum.com/ ) After we left the museum we traveled south on 49 for about a mile or so to Hopson Plantation, which is also the home of the Shack Up Inn B&B (B&B =- Bed and Beer - the fellow told us they don't cook). Since this narrative is getting rather lenghty we'll just give you a URL to visit ( http://www.shackupinn.com/ ) for more information. Rates are reasonable at $45, $55, and $65 - but you need to make reservations way in advance as the place is very popular. We returned to Memphis via "new" 61 - a lot more stress full, but at least the truck traffic wasn't all that heavy. So if you get down this way someday, take a quiet country drive down Old Highway 61. I'll post some photos when I get a chance to download them. Hudsonly, Alex B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rudkip@sbcglobal.net> Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Denny: A couple of places you might check out on the culinary side...in downtown Clarksdale there is an excellent greasy spoon called the Delta Amusement Blues Cafe (on Delta St. I believe, just down from Ground Zero); if the father of the owner is there it is worth the stop--not to mention great food!) and in Tunica at the corner of 61 and SR 4 is the Blue and White Cafe (you will stop there anyway because of the sign, which is awesome)...there is also a place at the tourist trapsters "crossroads" in Clarksdale called Abe's BBQ--I have never eaten there but it has been there forever (since 1926 I believe)...one more thing; if you happen to take the "wrong turn" onto 49 and head towards the Bridge, right before the bridge turn left on SR 1 and go to Friars Point--the North Delta Blues Museum which is a neat piece of eclecticism which also pays tribute to Friar's Point's favorite son, Conway Twitty...oops one more thing; if you are looking for a guide for this area and all areas blues there is an excellent book called "Blues Travelling: The Holy Sites of the Delta Blues" by Steve Cheeseborough...you can pick up a copy in Clarksdale at Cat Head Delta Blues and Folk Art, 252 Delta Ave (just down from Delta Amusement Blues Cafe)...the owner, Roger Stolle, is worth a chat up....hell I got to go to work! Enjoy the Ride, and REMEBER MOON PIES man, MOON PIES! Friends don't let friends eat Twinkies! Tsingtao Kip ----- Original Message ----- From: "Denny Gibson" <denny@dennygibson.com> To: <AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 2:39 AM Subject: RE: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Mississippi Road Trip > Sounds like a fun trip. I'm not quite in Memphis but I'm closer than I > usually am. I am about 130 miles away in Paris, TN, and hope to be in > Memphis tomorrow. My plans aren't as firm as I had hoped they would be by > now but the most likely move from Memphis is heading north on US-61 on > Friday. But your report and mention of Clarksdale has me looking at the maps > again. > > Denny Gibson > Cincinnati, OH > www.DennyGibson.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: Alex Burr [mailto:hester_nec@yahoo.com] > Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 10:47 AM > To: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Mississippi Road Trip > > > Greetings from the heart of Delta Blues Country; well, in my case > I'm sitting on the northern edge of it in Memphis. > Yesterday, the 27th of Dec, my daughter and I took a day and drove > to Clarksdale, MS, using Old Highway 61, as much as possible - which > is most of the way between Walls and Lula, MS. We did get off track > a couple of times as the road, whild adequately marked, is easy to > miss at times. > For me, this was a trip back in time - almost 50 years to be > exact. Of course 50 years ago I wasn't really looking at the > scenery. It's a tad difficult to enjoy the local color when you're > running 61 north at 80 or so with somebody behind you bent on > stopping you for the liquid refreshment you are carrying in the > trunk of the car. > But, I did recognize a few places, such as the Journey Inn and > Court (think thats right) on the south side of Memphis near the > TN/MS line. Most of the by-passed towns along Old 61 seem to have > retreated into stop sign cross-roads, now - the map shows places > such as Lake Cormorant, Newport, Evansville, but I didn't see much > of what could be called a "town". > Tunica proper hasn't changed a lot in 50 years - they do have a > wonderful Veterans Memorial on the south side of town that appears > to be well cared for and is worth a stop - there's a wide spot > across the street where you can pull over safely. > Most all of the old road is 2 lane, and narrow. But it is pretty > much empty now that the current "New" U S 61 to the east is 4 lane > divided for the folks in a hurry. The section between Grand Casino > Parkway N and Casino Strip Blvd, in Clack, is 4 lane - for the > convienence of the gambling tourists - but that's about it. > We actually made nearly as good time on the old road as we would > have on the new 61 - if you were just interested in driving from > here to there you'd only loose maybe 15 minutes or so. No traffic > for the most part, and what was out there was local and light. > We almost went to Arkansas coming out of Lula. Wound up on U S 49 > and turned right, when we should have turned left. Oh, well, I got > a nice picture of a marker telling about the Henando DeSoto Memorial > Bridge - did he REALLY get this far north?? However, we discovered > our navigational error before arriving at the bridge (should have > gone just a little further and took a picture of it) and returned to > 61 and south to Clarksdale > While we entere Clarksdale on 161 (State Street) we didn't see any > signs directing us to the Delta Blues Museum. It seems we should > have taken 161 (or you can take the 61 by-pass and turn onto Martin > Luther King Blvd, as you should from 161. Turn onto Desoto Avenue > and then onto 3rd Street. Blues Alley, Ground Zero Blues Club > (Morgan Freeman's place) and several other attractions are just down > 3rd on the left. > We found it the easy way. There was an old lady standing by the > side of the street waving to us. So we stopped, she wanted a > birthday hug and $2.99 to buy herself a birthday cake. We asked her > how to get to the museum; she told us to turn around, take a right > at the stop sign, a left at the next stop sign and another left at a > 3rd stop sign. Yeah, right!!!!!!!! So we gave her $3 for > her "birthday cake" and followed her directions - right into the > parking lot at the Delta Blues Musuem!!!!! I told my daughter we > should have gone back and given the lady another $5!!!! > The Delta Blues Museum is a great place for Blues enthusiasts to > visit. Tons of photos with descriptive texts, guitars of famous > blues players, like Pinetop Perkins and B. B. King (the "B. B." > stands for "Blues Boy" by the way, and even Muddy Waters cabin from > the plantation he was raised on. They also have a audio/video > presentation. ( http://www.deltabluesmuseum.com/ ) > After we left the museum we traveled south on 49 for about a mile > or so to Hopson Plantation, which is also the home of the Shack Up > Inn B&B (B&B =- Bed and Beer - the fellow told us they don't cook). > Since this narrative is getting rather lenghty we'll just give you a > URL to visit ( http://www.shackupinn.com/ ) for more information. > Rates are reasonable at $45, $55, and $65 - but you need to make > reservations way in advance as the place is very popular. > We returned to Memphis via "new" 61 - a lot more stress full, but > at least the truck traffic wasn't all that heavy. So if you get > down this way someday, take a quiet country drive down Old Highway > 61. I'll post some photos when I get a chance to download them. > > Hudsonly, > Alex B > > > > > Visit our homepage at: http://www.mockturtlepress.com > > To subscribe to AMERICAN ROAD magazine, PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-877-285-5434 WITH YOUR ORDER TODAY! > Or send payment to: Mock Turtle Press, PO Box 3168, Lynnwood, WA 98046-3168 > SUBSCRIPTION RATES: > 1 year (4 issues) for $15.95 > (save $3.85 off the newsstand price!) > 2 years (8 issues) for $27.95 > (save $11.65 off the newsstand price!) > > > For questions about the list, contact: AMERICAN_ROAD-owner@yahoogroups.com > > To SUBSCRIBE to this group, send an email to: AMERICAN_ROAD-subscribe@yahoogroups.comTo POST a message via e-mail, send it to: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rwarn17588 Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Ahhh, Kipper. Your post about the Delta has unearthed memories. I've been to Abe's BBQ. I highly recommend it. Was there near the end of a trip to see all the blues sites in Clarksdale and on U.S. 61. If you want to look at Abe's mouth-watering BBQ sandwiches, go here: http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.as...5&RefID=205 Me and a buddy were driving down 61 in a convertible on an unseasonably warm day in October. We were between Tunica and Clarksdale, where cotton fields stretch as far as the eye can see. We were blasting ZZ Top's "My Head's in Mississippi" when we saw a crop duster spraying the fields. To our astonishment, we looked up to see the crazy pilot going right over our heads, UNDER the power lines that line the road. "I don't think that's exactly LEGAL!" my buddy said. "So who's going to pull him over and give him a ticket?" I replied. At the time, the Blues Museum in Clarksdale was in the local library. It was cool, but we cherished going out to the Stovall Plantation north of town to see the remains of Muddy Waters' cabin. The roof of the long-abandoned shack had been blown off by a tornado years ago, but the walls still stood. We noticed that other visitors there had wedged guitar picks into the cracks of the wood. A couple of sharecroppers who lived nearby put the skunk-eye on us initially, but relaxed when they realized we were just blues pilgrims. They gave us a friendly wave when we departed. It was reassuring to see informal caretakers looking over the place. Ron Warnick Tulsa, OK www.route66news.org --- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, <rudkip@s...> wrote: > > Denny: > > A couple of places you might check out on the culinary side...in downtown > Clarksdale there is an excellent greasy spoon called the Delta Amusement > Blues Cafe (on Delta St. I believe, just down from Ground Zero); if the > father of the owner is there it is worth the stop--not to mention great > food!) and in Tunica at the corner of 61 and SR 4 is the Blue and White Cafe > (you will stop there anyway because of the sign, which is awesome)...there > is also a place at the tourist trapsters "crossroads" in Clarksdale called > Abe's BBQ--I have never eaten there but it has been there forever (since > 1926 I believe)...one more thing; if you happen to take the "wrong turn" > onto 49 and head towards the Bridge, right before the bridge turn left on SR > 1 and go to Friars Point--the North Delta Blues Museum which is a neat piece > of eclecticism which also pays tribute to Friar's Point's favorite son, > Conway Twitty...oops one more thing; if you are looking for a guide for this > area and all areas blues there is an excellent book called "Blues > Travelling: The Holy Sites of the Delta Blues" by Steve Cheeseborough...you > can pick up a copy in Clarksdale at Cat Head Delta Blues and Folk Art, 252 > Delta Ave (just down from Delta Amusement Blues Cafe)...the owner, Roger > Stolle, is worth a chat up....hell I got to go to work! Enjoy the Ride, and > REMEBER MOON PIES man, MOON PIES! Friends don't let friends eat Twinkies! > Tsingtao Kip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dick Bublitz Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Alex - This and Denny's response go into a Delta Blues Country folder I'd started a while ago. The last addition was an article in the L.A. Times on Morgan Freeman's involvement in his Blues Club. It's a ways from Southern California but will get it into the schedule some day! Great report! Dick Bublitz, Advertising Director American Road 22247 Burbank Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Ph/Fax: 818-992-0366 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ken Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 Greetings All, It's near that time of year again when I would like to make all the major updates to my Two Lane Links page. If any group members here have a Route 66 related website and/or other historic two lane highways, byways and trails related website that they would like to have listed on the links page, please feel free to send me a private email and we can go from there. Also, if you may know of someone else that has a road related website that they would like to have listed on the links page, please let them know and have them send me a private email concerning such. Websites for all Mom and Pop shops, cafes, motels, info resources, personal travel stories, photo sites, preservation groups, "roadie" entertainment sites, etc... are all most welcome to be listed. While on my adventure travels, I am always handing out website flyers everywhere I go. A win-win for the Roadie Family Circle of Support! Looking forward to hearing from ya'll. God Bless and Happy Trails. Ken Turmel <http://www.PostmarkArt.com/links.htm> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest M. Macedo Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 Greener pastures awaits historic diner By David Liscio Wednesday, January 18, 2006 LYNN,MA. - During World War II, Lynn residents seeking a hot meal at a reasonable price flocked to Riley's Diner on Boston Street, one of 75 streamlined, prefabricated structures manufactured between 1936- 1945 by the Sterling Diner Division of the J.B. Judkins Co. of Merrimac. Like other diners of its era, Riley's was an icon of American life and culture, as ubiquitous as the corner store, the barbershop, the bakery and druggist. Riley's is the latest piece of that era to fade from the local landscape, as a flatbed truck from M&M Rigging, hired by the Providence-R.I.-based American Diner Museum, was scheduled this morning to lift and whisk Riley's Diner away to its new home in New Hampshire, where it will be restored According to Daniel Zilka, spokesman for the American Diner Museum, Riley's Diner, and the historic streamliner Salem Diner in Salem, are among the few remaining Sterling-made models. Zilka said the coordinated removal and demolition in Lynn freed up the commercial site and also saved the diner. http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/news/vie...articleid=11093 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest John Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 Tom, this is any easy one: TV and traffic! And computers and video games. There are many families who never leave the house, when they aren't going out to school or work, due to these reasons and so they fill the time and entertain themselves with these passive activities. Going on even a Sunday pleasure drive takes some amount of planning and if you have children, even more so, and the destination has to have the same appeal as the stay at home entertainment, i.e., the trip has to go to Disney World, or some other entertainment destination because TV has taught us that it's that kind of activitiy which is pleasure, and if it isn't that kind of activity, then it's boring. (Lest anyone be mistaken, I don't think that, but I believe that's what has been taught by the content of the TV broadcast/shows, etc.) John in Maine --- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, egyptianzipper@a... wrote: > I've noticed an opposite trend. When I was a kid, we would take Saturday or > Sunday drives in the afternoon many weeks in nice weather. <Snip> > It seems like most families don't do this anymore. And they weren't doing it > prior to the recent runup in gas prices, so it isn't that. Any ideas? > > Tom Hoffman > Pearisburg VA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest D Gardner Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 Seems that as long as I've been married (and even before that), jumping in the car for a drive always seemed to be *therapeutic*--it was a way to sort out my life--a way to change scenery quickly (without having to get up to "turn the dial" or "change stations"! -- unless, of course, you mean *gas stations* <grin>) Even when as newlyweds my wife and I would be having an argument, we'd leave our apartment and continue the argument in the car and drive from Alamogordo, New Mexico through the desert and over the Oregon Mountains to Las Cruces... sometimes the argument was particularly bad, so we'd make it all the way to Deming before calming down and deciding to turn around and head home. Of course, we had a tiny Datsun 210 at the time and gas wasn't as exhorbitant as it is now... but we saw a *lot* of southern New Mexico this way. <grin> But even when we weren't arguing, every Saturday we'd scoot up the road to Cloudcroft or Ruidoso for a *picnic* or just to explore. Or, we'd drive up through Tularosa to Carrizozo and then over the Malpais lava flows to Socorro and then down to Las Cruces on I-25 before heading back over the Oregon Mountains and past White Sands National Monument to Alamogordo. We put a lot of miles on that car. When we moved to Albuquerque a few years later, we did the same thing--except we'd drive to Santa Fe and Taos or over to the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Preserve just to see the scenery and the birds-- whooping cranes, Canadian geese, turkeys, and so on. Every Saturday and even on Sundays after church, we'd pack up our two toddlers and explore the downtown and side streets of Albuquerque (route 66 goes through the middle of town <"Old Town"> and has many interesting restaurants and hotels and other buildings that reflect the 1950's and 1960's--such as the "Owl Cafe" and the Albuquerque Old Town Plaza/Market). Next to the Rio Grand, is the Albuquerque Zoo and the Rio Grand Nature Center... with miles of pathways for walking, bicycling, and exploring. For a while in New Mexico, I was the president and newsletter editor for the New Mexico Outdoor Writers and Photographers Association (NMOWPA)... and I coordinated our annual conferences--all usually involving *lots* of driving (New Mexico is the nation's 5th largest state after Alaska, Texas, California, and Montana). We had a conference in Red River, New Mexico (northwest of Taos--near Eagle Nest, Angel Fire). Part of the conference included a jeep ride up a narrow logging road to one of the mountain peaks. Since the conference was in the fall, the aspens were golden, the maples and oaks were red, and the air was crisp. Great for photography and wildlife watching. When we drove from California to New Mexico for a 10-day vacation in Angel Fire, the kids' gameboys and tape players were *inadvertently* (and conveniently "forgotten") and a backpack that didn't make it into the car <grin>... and so we amused ourselves and the kids with games such as the *alphabet game*--each kid has a side of the car.. you look for signs that have the alphabet letter you need ... the first kid reaching *Z* "wins"... and the game can start over or you can do something else.. like "counting cows" (don't try this in Coalinga, CA or in Montana... sometimes you'll be overwhelmed with herds of thousands! <grin>). License plate watching, in which you try to come up with the most different license plate locations <state/province>, is also fun and sort of "educational". Since we've moved to California, we still took (and take) weekends to drive around. We've driven up 101 to Mendocino from Marin (San Rafael and Inverness by way of the Richmond Bridge) and then through the redwoods back to I-5 and then down through Sacramento back home. We've driven over to highway 17 and down to Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Monterey, and Carmel. Beautiful scenery--especially with the wind-blown cypress on the rocky coast overlooking the Pacific waves. We recently drove to Oakley (on the 120 road from Manteca heading toward Yosemite) to spend an evening on the Sierra Train (Sunset Dinner). It was raining at the time, so we didn't catch much of the scenery, but the dinner and trip were fun, interesting and a neat way to enjoy each other's company. I hope this provides some ideas... Regards, Dave Gardner Senior Specialist/Writer-Editor Pacific Consultants Group http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/davidgardner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Harmon Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 I agree, John. TV and computer/video games do a lot to fulfill the "instant gratification" need in a lot of people these days. Of course, there's also the pressure on kids to take private lessons for everything under the sun and play every team sport imaginable. Other than what mom and dad insist on, why get up off the couch if you don't need to? And mom and dad often agree. But I think your post gets at another basic reason, too. It seems to me (from what I hear from friends and certainly what I see on TV -- I, too, occupy the couch part of the time!) that most vacations these days are destination-oriented. The only purpose of travel is to get from here to Disneyland or wherever as quickly as possible, whether the travel is by road or air. Now, to a lesser degree that was also the case with vacations in the 50s and early 60s, but it seems that most vacations then were taken by car, and the interstates had not yet taken over the landscapes. The trip was part of the entertainment, regardless of the destination, and even poor old dad, who had to put up with "Are we there yet?," etc., could still stop -- though not as often as the kids wanted -- to see the rattlesnakes, look at the view, buy the kids a rubber tomahawk, and grab an ice cream cone now and then. As bored as the kids got, there was still something to see outside the car window: "Did you see that dinosaur?" "There's the giant Indian!" "I saw it first!" "NO you didn't - I saw it first!!" Travel isn't fun anymore -- whether it's by car on the superslab or (even more so!) by air through all those horrible airports. People who are convinced that the travel itself *should* be part of the enjoyment are the people who become the "roadies." And people like me are preaching to the choir -- people like you! Bob Harmon ----- Original Message ----- From: John To: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 9:17 AM Subject: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Re: What state? Tom, this is any easy one: TV and traffic! And computers and video games. There are many families who never leave the house, when they aren't going out to school or work, due to these reasons and so they fill the time and entertain themselves with these passive activities. Going on even a Sunday pleasure drive takes some amount of planning and if you have children, even more so, and the destination has to have the same appeal as the stay at home entertainment, i.e., the trip has to go to Disney World, or some other entertainment destination because TV has taught us that it's that kind of activitiy which is pleasure, and if it isn't that kind of activity, then it's boring. (Lest anyone be mistaken, I don't think that, but I believe that's what has been taught by the content of the TV broadcast/shows, etc.) John in Maine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Harmon Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 Let's face it, Dave. You're a confirmed Roadie! Congratulations! My kids (now grown) still joke about my yelling out "Vista! Vista!" -- no, not the credit card! -- and swinging off the highway to see a panoramic view. Ah, yes, the license plate game. It's addictive. My wife and I still record them and see how many of the 50 we can find in a trip. Would you believe this? We found *both* Hawaii and Alaska in a drive-in parking lot off Route 66 in Waynesville MO several years ago! Last summer we got 49 (!) on the way back from San Antonio -- avoiding as much as the superslab as possible. Bob Harmon ----- Original Message ----- From: D Gardner To: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 11:18 AM Subject: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Why not weekend drives? Seems that as long as I've been married (and even before that), jumping in the car for a drive always seemed to be *therapeutic*--it was a way to sort out my life--a way to change scenery quickly (without having to get up to "turn the dial" or "change stations"! -- unless, of course, you mean *gas stations* <grin>) Even when as newlyweds my wife and I would be having an argument, we'd leave our apartment and continue the argument in the car and drive from Alamogordo, New Mexico through the desert and over the Oregon Mountains to Las Cruces... sometimes the argument was particularly bad, so we'd make it all the way to Deming before calming down and deciding to turn around and head home. Of course, we had a tiny Datsun 210 at the time and gas wasn't as exhorbitant as it is now... but we saw a *lot* of southern New Mexico this way. <grin> But even when we weren't arguing, every Saturday we'd scoot up the road to Cloudcroft or Ruidoso for a *picnic* or just to explore. Or, we'd drive up through Tularosa to Carrizozo and then over the Malpais lava flows to Socorro and then down to Las Cruces on I-25 before heading back over the Oregon Mountains and past White Sands National Monument to Alamogordo. We put a lot of miles on that car. When we moved to Albuquerque a few years later, we did the same thing--except we'd drive to Santa Fe and Taos or over to the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Preserve just to see the scenery and the birds-- whooping cranes, Canadian geese, turkeys, and so on. Every Saturday and even on Sundays after church, we'd pack up our two toddlers and explore the downtown and side streets of Albuquerque (route 66 goes through the middle of town <"Old Town"> and has many interesting restaurants and hotels and other buildings that reflect the 1950's and 1960's--such as the "Owl Cafe" and the Albuquerque Old Town Plaza/Market). Next to the Rio Grand, is the Albuquerque Zoo and the Rio Grand Nature Center... with miles of pathways for walking, bicycling, and exploring. For a while in New Mexico, I was the president and newsletter editor for the New Mexico Outdoor Writers and Photographers Association (NMOWPA)... and I coordinated our annual conferences--all usually involving *lots* of driving (New Mexico is the nation's 5th largest state after Alaska, Texas, California, and Montana). We had a conference in Red River, New Mexico (northwest of Taos--near Eagle Nest, Angel Fire). Part of the conference included a jeep ride up a narrow logging road to one of the mountain peaks. Since the conference was in the fall, the aspens were golden, the maples and oaks were red, and the air was crisp. Great for photography and wildlife watching. When we drove from California to New Mexico for a 10-day vacation in Angel Fire, the kids' gameboys and tape players were *inadvertently* (and conveniently "forgotten") and a backpack that didn't make it into the car <grin>... and so we amused ourselves and the kids with games such as the *alphabet game*--each kid has a side of the car.. you look for signs that have the alphabet letter you need ... the first kid reaching *Z* "wins"... and the game can start over or you can do something else.. like "counting cows" (don't try this in Coalinga, CA or in Montana... sometimes you'll be overwhelmed with herds of thousands! <grin>). License plate watching, in which you try to come up with the most different license plate locations <state/province>, is also fun and sort of "educational". Since we've moved to California, we still took (and take) weekends to drive around. We've driven up 101 to Mendocino from Marin (San Rafael and Inverness by way of the Richmond Bridge) and then through the redwoods back to I-5 and then down through Sacramento back home. We've driven over to highway 17 and down to Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Monterey, and Carmel. Beautiful scenery--especially with the wind-blown cypress on the rocky coast overlooking the Pacific waves. We recently drove to Oakley (on the 120 road from Manteca heading toward Yosemite) to spend an evening on the Sierra Train (Sunset Dinner). It was raining at the time, so we didn't catch much of the scenery, but the dinner and trip were fun, interesting and a neat way to enjoy each other's company. I hope this provides some ideas... Regards, Dave Gardner Senior Specialist/Writer-Editor Pacific Consultants Group http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/davidgardner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest D Gardner Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 You're right. You *are* "preaching to the choir"! <grin> Not sure what happened with my two kids... although my son was totally addicted to his "game-boy" when he was about 10, he and his sister participated in soccer and Shao-lin kempo (sort of like Kung Fu) and Tae Kwon Do (to the point that they both got their black belts a few years ago and were featured on the front cover of last year's Black Belt Magazine's 2005 Buyer's Guide). But now? Both kids aren't interested in computer-stuff. They don't watch TV (although they *like* going to movies at the theater--but that's with their boyfriend/girlfriend... so I'm not sure if they're really *watching* the movie <sigh>--and since they are both over 18 and have recently moved out of our house, I can't say anything about that anymore...<aargh!>). My son has been exploring the roads in North Carolina since he moved over there to be with his girlfriend... and my daughter is a "road-warrior" in her own right. She and her girlfriends and her boyfriend drive almost every weekend to Santa Cruz or Monterey or Capitola to boogie-board or just hang- out at the beach. A few years ago when she was only 16 and had finally gotten her full- blown driver's license, she took off to see her boyfriend who at the time lived about 40 miles north of us just south of Sacramento... when she left the guy's house to come home, she inadvertently got "turned around" and headed north rather than south on I-5 (she went *up* there by Highway 99--so already scenery looked *different* to her)... she got more and more *lost*... and took highway 80 West... and wound up somehow up in Napa...by getting off the freeway and stopping for directions from folks who didn't know where *Tracy* was... She was driving our family van... and noticed that the gas gauge was sort of indicating *empty*... and it was pouring rain. At the time, she had also just gotten her *bank account* for her part-time job.. and she had an ATM card.. (but didn't know how to use it)... she was getting more and more lost and was near tears... she didn't have any cash on her... so she asked the attendant if her ATM would work...Thank God, the fellow helped her out. And, the guy was a bit better with driving instructions than the previous *helpers* were. She didn't get home until 1 in the morning (*Way* past her *curfew*!- -Mom and I were staying up waiting for her and she was *grounded* for missing her *curfew*).. and she didn't explain why she was late-- just said she was visiting her boyfriend up near Sacramento. It wasn't until after she turned 19 that she finally explained to Mom and me what had happened that night. Brave kid. Now she drives all over the place--like I said--to Santa Cruz, Monterey, Sacramento, San Francisco <yech!--too many hills and weird drivers!> and with her friends, she just got back from a road trip to San Diego... and she has gotten really good with reading maps! (And maybe YahooMaps Driving Directions!). I think she and her brother got their love of driving and exploring from her mom and dad... and the fact that grandma and grandpa also were driving nuts... Just a theory... but it works... Regards, Dave Gardner Senior Specialist/Writer-Editor Pacific Consultants Group http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/davidgardner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Harmon Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 Ye gads! Your kids are throwbacks! Thank goodness!! And congratulations. Bob Harmon ----- Original Message ----- From: D Gardner To: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 12:26 PM Subject: [AMERICAN_ROAD] TV? Online? Driving? Re: What state? I think she and her brother got their love of driving and exploring from her mom and dad... and the fact that grandma and grandpa also were driving nuts... Regards, Dave Gardner Senior Specialist/Writer-Editor Pacific Consultants Group http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/davidgardner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest D Gardner Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 Hi Bob! As for license plates... it's interesting that you can find Hawaii and Alaska plates... here, we get all excited that we occasionally see *GUAM*, *Samoa*, *Puerto Rico*, and *Virgin Island* plates (I spent 12 years on Guam... Now *THAT* is a driving experience! <grin>). We also see British Columbia, Sasketchewan, Alberta, and Yukon Territory, and then Chihuahua, Baja, and other Mexican states (or are they called *provinces*?) Also, a few weeks ago, I saw a Japanese plate on a Toyota cruising down I-680 toward Silicon Valley (most likely a GI returning from overseas --either Okinawa or mainland Japan... I couldn't get close enough to read the symbols on the plate <I read and write Japanese-- but ya gotta get close to read the characters>) --he *did* have a military base sticker on his windshield--that's why I think it was a military fellow returning to the mainland after overseas service. RVs also sometimes post stickers from all the places/states they've visited... this too makes for interesting conversations at the various rest stops along the freeways and sideroads... Regards, Dave Gardner Senior Specialist/Writer-Editor Pacific Consultants Group http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/davidgardner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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