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Because of
today’s higher mileage everyone made a really early start – what a shame our
group took the wrong road, the inadvertent “scenic route” adding another 30
miles to the journey!
Some of the highways have signage saying “Adopt a Road”…..?? Interesting!
Maybe we will learn more about this later. (Did they...? It is an example
that I would commend to the UK for as a nation we are hopeless in our litter
control – I sometimes despair. In USA local organisations, families etc
commit to clean up an assigned stretch of highway. The cleanliness of
American society was particularly reinforced to us on our visit to Watkins
Glen after a large race meeting totally litter free. Visiting such an event
in the UK we would have been awash in mess. That’s enough of my soapbox for
the day! Ed)
In Rialto we visited the Wigwam Village Motel – a famous icon of Americana
built around 1949.
The drive was so varied but quite fantastic. Nearly 300 miles of desert in a
blistering heat that topped 110F(43C) at one stage A tad hot for some of us
still acclimatising. Thank goodness for the lip balm given to us all in the
registration packs.
Throughout the scenery changed from snow capped mountains to rocky barren
backdrops to hillsides dotted with yucca plants. The air was still, quiet
without birdsong (when the Mog engines were switched off). The bear on the
side of the road albeit dead was the only evidence of wildlife. At times it
was difficult to comprehend the vastness of all this space. Even the
railroad trains were ginormous and in some cases over a mile long!
We were travelling on one of the most famous roads in the world – Route 66
or The Mother Road as coined by Steinbeck. Built in the 1920’s to connect
Chicago to Los Angeles through 8 States it is some 2400 miles long. Museums
packed with memorabilia told many a story. Victorville and Barstow both had
interesting Route 66 Museums and an interesting Railway Museum at the latter
Souvenirs were purchased and both cars and hats began sporting badges and
pins.
And so to our accommodation Best Western Colorado Inn.
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