2geonomads

Reasonably relaxed start for the long trip to Barstow ( although not as far as indicated in Mick’s very well-researched notes -more on that later )
My turn to drive and D the navigator. First U-TURN when M and D want to change more money and we have passed the ATM headed for the way out if town.
From the infamous Jerry’s notes Sitgreaves Pass on the way to Oatman was a cross between the Kyber Pass and the infamous road from La Paz to Coroico in Bolivia. It turned out to be nothing of the sort and approaching the end of the trip we are getting used to Jerry’s switching from hyperbole one minute to classic understatement the next. The pass, in fact , did provide us with some stunning landscapes but nothing to justify Jerry’s comments, and I quote ” the road gets REALLY hairy after Ed’s with hairpin curves and sheer drops coming hot and heavy. Note the interesting variety of stone or cable guardrails ( or LACK thereof) that offer faint comfort”
No wonder we had set off from Kingman with white knuckles and probably faces to match.

Sitgreaves Pass – 3 Amigos

Oatman, on the other side of Sitgreaves Pass, was an unexpected delight. Set against a backdrop of very impressive craggy peaks this former gold mining town has re-invented itself and has become a tourist Mecca with gunfights at 1.30 and 3.00 pm each day, all performed by entertainers who rely on tourist donations for their reward.

Oatman Arizona

http://www.welcometooatman.com/

We have the same effect on the mules!

Gift shops line the single main street and the tourists share the road with the many mules who wander up and down this thoroughfare. Establishments such as ‘ Fast Fanny’s Place’, The Ore House’ and the sign that reads ” Oatman residents and Businesses exercise their right to carry weapons ” give an indication of what awaits the tourist in this fascinating town.

We stop for a drink in Olive Oatman’s Cafe and the sign ( one for the ladies )near the bar reads ” Men are like tiles. If you lay them right the first time you can walk all over them forever.”

On to Golden Shores and the border with California, where we stuff ourselves full with fruit ( supposed restrictions on bringing fruit into California- Fred’s warning based on previous experience). We were then waved through by a smiling Customs Officer, who was obviously unaware of our attempt at the Guiness Book of Records attempt on fruit consumption a few hundred yards up the road.

After travelling through Needles we are thwarted in our efforts to follow Route 66 by a ramp off the I 40 being closed but we manage to negotiate our way through the maze of roads, and courtesy of Doug’s fine navigation ( I have been told to show my more benevolent side in my comments ) we proceed with any undue problems.
Press on through Essex to Cadiz Summit which used to be the site of cafe/ station/garage. This is perched just before the pass through the Marble Mountains. We now enter an area of ‘ Public Art’ ( Jerry’s Term ) where travellers have written their names or initials, mainly with stones, on the road side. We join them and leave our initials DMFD for posterity.
At Amboy we finally find one of Jerry’s famous ‘Shoe Trees’, festooned with cast-off footwear. Fail to see why he is obsessed with these non-events.
At Newberry Springs Mick stands in the middle of the road to take a photo of a Route 66 sign on the surface of the road and nearly provides us with an action shot as a car approaches at speed from the opposite direction.

Across the Mohave Desert California.  The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.

We stop to photograph another site from Jerry’s ‘must-stop ‘ list, the Bagdad Cafe of movie fame, which none of us has ever seen.
Ludlow- stop for lovely fruit pie and drinks before setting off on a stretch of very rough road, expertly handled by Doug , who had taken over at Ludlow.

Arrive at Barstow and our usual Days Inn accommodation.
Dinner in town at Rosita’s Mexican/American restaurant, where Doug, who claims to be starting a diet , orders ‘Rosita’s Combination’. The evidence is there for all to see in the blog photograph!

A man REALLY enjoying his food!

Finally, on Mick’s calculation of the distance from Kingman to Barstow which Mick had over -estimated by at least 100 kms. He wasn’t in the slightest contrite about this error which had caused much angst among the 4 Amigos the evening before when we thought we were faced with a marathon drive. He has merely blamed it on Jerry.

Cheers

The Obese Ferret.