Thread: Kiwis on Route 66

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I just read your whole report and thanks for that, johnboy. I was hoping to find non-politically correct stuff but didn't find one so I think you just threw that in there to peak our curiosity, as if reading about your epic journey wouldn't already have done that.

If I may, I'll quote this part just to emphasis this sad truth:

Originally Posted by johnboy

...and instead decided upon making the Grand Canyon our hole in the ground of choice.
We got there . . . and it was closed.
Bugger!
How can you 'close' the Grand Canyon?
As far as I'm aware its been open for hundreds of thousands of years!
Semms the US Gubmint has been having fiscal problems so the killed the goose that lays the golden eggs and closed all National Parks.
Doh...

Originally Posted by johnboy

. . . you can't let the past be the loudest voice in your head; 'cos otherwise you'll never hear the future calling you.)

I love this guy! John is an inveterate journal writer, he does this nearly every day of his life...........with the same enjoyable style............a gifted man.

John and Rosie, you're seeing the wonder and the wonderment of our country. Not unlike some of what you regret about your own land (human nature is human nature) we have our warts too. The above notion should be taught at an early age, but we have allowed the lesser lights in our life to hold sway. Both the grievance "industry", and the closing of the National Parks are political games intended to extort the populace. Please don't let that put too much color on your visit..........enjoy what is the good of this land..........as I know you will. Adventure on!!!

Many thanks for the kind words Uncle Bob.
We are enjoying this country of yours; perhaps I'm a cynic, perhaps I'm a realist . . . but I've got to write it as I see it . . . your country, my country . . . warts and all.

Had a quick flick back through what I'd posted and not I've missed a couple out . . . mainly our meeting with tooMany2coun . . . sorry mate!
Too late to copy/paste tonight . . . I'm not far off my pit . . . so will post this and go.


Wednesday 2nd October.

Left the motel about 8:15 and headed for the Mohave Museum, the Route 66 Assoc.'s Museum, and the Locomotive Park. Found the Locomotive Park first, a thumping great steam engine with a carriage attached stuck in the middle of a grassed area with a brief note on a plaque telling a bit of its story.
Interesting enough, but not quite what I'd expected.
The other two museums were 'related'; in that you bought a ticket to one and got into the other one free.
Both were extremely well done; the Route 66 one being one of the better ones we've been through, and the Mohave one telling a very interesting story of a proud nation.
So: gas up and head for Barstow . . . a long drive through seemingly endless desert.
Crossed the Sitgreaves Pass, 3550 ft. at the summit.
Reminiscent of the Paekakariki Hill Rd, in the exodus of the thirties many Okies paid the locals to drive their cars over this stretch.
It wouldn't have concerned me overly, hell; I've driven s 44 seater bus out to Whangamomona and back in the dark, but Dick was determined, so we had a slow scenic drive.
Good on ya Dick for having the balls to face it!

I'd read somewhere that the migrants of the 1800's sometimes had to park-up beside flowing rivers. sometimes for months, until after rain had fallen, to ensure that at least some of the water-courses in their path were flowing enough to provide water for themselves and stock during their journey.
Yep . . . I can believe that now.
They were tough buggers.
The more I see of this country the more respect I have for the old-time pioneers; they weren't spoon-fed and arse-wiped.
Arrived Barstow, found the 'Mother Road Museum' and the railroad museum.
Both had signs on the door saying: "Open Fri - Sun 10:am - 3m.' or words to that effect.
Bugger!
So I climbed over some of the engines parked outside, opened a door to look at the motor . . . it was as tall as I am, and ten ft. long . . . and in the gloom I'm pretty sure there was another the same size behind it.
Diesel tank capacity?
4000 gallons.
Sheesh!
These are big fellas.
But not as big as the ones in service now.

And so on to Victorville and a Best value Inn for the evening.
A grot shop.

And the bottom fell out of She's KFC box spreading her tea all over the grot-shop carpet.
Double bugger.

Wow, what an awesome you and your wife took Johnboy! That is totally cool you both were able to see all this stuff and meet great people! I really enjoyed reading this thread. Thanks for sharing it with us!!

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Wow, what an awesome you and your wife took Johnboy! That is totally cool you both were able to see all this stuff and meet great people! I really enjoyed reading this thread. Thanks for sharing it with us!!

No problem mate!
Nothing has struck any bad vibes; the whole trip has been bloody gorgeous and all good!
And its been (for the main part,) the people we have met who have gone 'over and above their call of duty' who have made it so.
Yep; all good!

Thursday 3rd October.

A bit late getting started today, (we all got stuck into some adult beverages last night and told lies until way past bed-time,) left the grot-shop around 8:45 and headed for the original McDonalds shop, (now a museum,) at 1398 N.E. St., San Bernadino.
"You people are from New Zealand? Welcome, welcome!"
Rory Murray is the fella running it, ( elmoby59@yahoo .com ) he made us feel very welcome indeed, giving us all sorts of memorabilia, not charging entry, and a personally guided tour of the place.
Amazing; really enjoyed that.
Rory also asked me if I could send any N. Z. McDonalds' 'stuff' to him, 'cos they haven't got any as yet.
Will have a look when I get home and see what can be done.
I know it will be going to a good home.

Then on out to the Norton Air Force Base Museum, 1601 E 3rd St. san Bernadino.
Dick's brother had served here for several years in aircraft maintenance, so he was keen to take a trip down memory lane too, as he hasn't been here since he was fifteen years old.
Thoroughly enjoyed that too!
One of the vets manning the place had been in New Zealand for Operation Deep Freeze, and their trips to the Antarctic, so enjoyed hearing all about recent events in Christchurch.
An awesome place, highly recommended.
(And yes; got the cap and the tee shirt!)
After a brief discussion it was decided to head straight for Los Angeles and the Petersen Museum 6060 Wilshire Blvd.
Stuffed up a bit here; didn't realise there was a car-park attached to the building, so parked on a meter outside, which gave us only 48 minutes to have a very brief look at the ground floor.
Bugger!
And by then it was moving toward 5 o'clock so we'd better look for a pit-stop.
Will have to come back to-morrow.

Finished the day booked in to a Best Western somewhere out near the airport.
All good.

Here's one of the missing Ramblings pages, sorry; I haven't really had the time or opportunity to collate and edit them all correctly.
jb


23rd September.

The White Fence farm was only open from 5 pm to 9 pm . . . waste of time going there. But logging in to it on the gps guided us out of Chicago.
What a prick of a place to drive in; even when you're going contra to the rush hour.
We made it to the Polka Dot Drive In, but were unable to contact pro70z28, so had to leave a message on his answerphone.
I was overly ambitious in what I thought we could achieve, some things just had to be missed out . . . this is one HUGE country!
But we did stop at the 'Cosy Dog' Springfield, another 'must do'.
What a load of crap!
The sausage was about 3/4" thick . . . and the batter about the same ... making the whole thing over 2" thick around a sausage not as thick as my thumb.
Rip off.
Met with Joe Wiemer at Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard . . . and he's wearing a Beach Hop tee shirt!
Bloody good bloke; quite a character.
He's just so jovial and full of bonhomie.
(You kept me smiling for quite a few miles afterwards with your wisecracks!)
We made it to Staunton and Henry's Rabbit Ranch, home of Snortin' Norton trucks . . . got the tee shirt to prove it too.
When we pulled into the place we noted a car sales the other side of the hiway, too late to check out that arvo.

Next morning around 8:00 am we did that . . . 600 classic cars for sale.
Country Classic Cars L.L.C. - Antique and Collectable Cars and Trucks - Home

Then we headed for Kansas and Roger and Susan Spears . . . bloody fine people, most hospitable.

Saturday Roger and I headed to Ottawa, and the Ol' Marais (pronounced 'Mare') River run.
Nearly 2000 cars. . . bloody gorgeous.
The sheer variety: everything from a BMW Isetta to bloody monstrous gassers.
Even a Triumph Spitfire!
Had a bit of a hassle leaving the venue; both of us were getting frustrated with the lack of progress.
But when we did get out . . . 20 minutes on the open road with Roger's '33 at full noise we both had grins from ear to ear!
Bloody gorgeous!
Back to Roger and Susan's and we'll be back to the show to-morrow
(I can't get over the size of the meals. . . huge by our standards!)

After the show we managed to make contact with Ken Thurm (a CHR member,) at a gas station just out of town. A very likable bloke, and a bit of a character too.
Good to meet you mate!
All good.

Originally Posted by johnboy

Here's one of the missing Ramblings pages, sorry; I haven't really had the time or opportunity to collate and edit them all correctly.
jb

After the show we managed to make contact with Ken Thurm (a CHR member,) at a gas station just out of town. A very likable bloke, and a bit of a character too.
Good to meet you mate!
All good.

I wish I had Ken Thurm's skills, but it's Ken Thomas aka ntfday

Oops!
I have a particular skill of opening my mouth and putting my foot in it.
And I hate the taste of foot.
I also hate the taste of humble pie . . . but I'm eating it right now!
My sincerest apologies to all Kens concerned.

(Bugger!)

It was truly and honor and pleasure to meet up with you and Roger

Originally Posted by johnboy

Here's one of the missing Ramblings pages, sorry; I haven't really had the time or opportunity to collate and edit them all correctly.
jb


23rd September.

The White Fence farm was only open from 5 pm to 9 pm . . . waste of time going there. But logging in to it on the gps guided us out of Chicago.
What a prick of a place to drive in; even when you're going contra to the rush hour.
We made it to the Polka Dot Drive In, but were unable to contact pro70z28, so had to leave a message on his answerphone.
I was overly ambitious in what I thought we could achieve, some things just had to be missed out . . . this is one HUGE country!
But we did stop at the 'Cosy Dog' Springfield, another 'must do'.
What a load of crap!
The sausage was about 3/4" thick . . . and the batter about the same ... making the whole thing over 2" thick around a sausage not as thick as my thumb.
Rip off.
Met with Joe Wiemer at Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard . . . and he's wearing a Beach Hop tee shirt!
Bloody good bloke; quite a character.
He's just so jovial and full of bonhomie.
(You kept me smiling for quite a few miles afterwards with your wisecracks!)
We made it to Staunton and Henry's Rabbit Ranch, home of Snortin' Norton trucks . . . got the tee shirt to prove it too.
When we pulled into the place we noted a car sales the other side of the hiway, too late to check out that arvo.

Next morning around 8:00 am we did that . . . 600 classic cars for sale.
Country Classic Cars L.L.C. - Antique and Collectable Cars and Trucks - Home

Then we headed for Kansas and Roger and Susan Spears . . . bloody fine people, most hospitable.

Saturday Roger and I headed to Ottawa, and the Ol' Marais (pronounced 'Mare') River run.
Nearly 2000 cars. . . bloody gorgeous.
The sheer variety: everything from a BMW Isetta to bloody monstrous gassers.
Even a Triumph Spitfire!
Had a bit of a hassle leaving the venue; both of us were getting frustrated with the lack of progress.
But when we did get out . . . 20 minutes on the open road with Roger's '33 at full noise we both had grins from ear to ear!
Bloody gorgeous!
Back to Roger and Susan's and we'll be back to the show to-morrow
(I can't get over the size of the meals. . . huge by our standards!)

After the show we managed to make contact with Ken Thurm (a CHR member,) at a gas station just out of town. A very likable bloke, and a bit of a character too.
Good to meet you mate!
All good.

A Beach Hop Tee shirt?? yeah?? wonder where he got that??

Friday 4th

Away from the motel about 8:45, a deliberate ploy to allow traffic to clear a bit, and headed back to the Petersen Museum, finally entering the place around 11:15 after stopping in the car park to talk with a couple about their new (to them; they'd only just bought it,) 57 Ford Country Estate.
A very nice couple, well into Fords, they'd bought the car over the interweb, flown to LA to pick it up, and were driving it back to Pennsylvania.
Both in their seventies . . . bloody good luck to them!

The man at museum reception recognised us from yesterday as the people who'd paid full whack but had had only forty minutes to look around, so refused to take my money, just bunged new wrist-bands on us.
Thanks mate!
We spent the next five hours between this museum and the George C Page Museum across the road a bit, which told the story of the La Brea Tar Pits, showed the fossils of the animals that had been trapped in them, and gave an interesting run-down on the animal/bird concerned.

Bloody gorgeous totally interesting day.

To-morrow we're booked to visit one Randy Ross, another Okie, and a member of CHR.

Our tour is almost over, and I'm pleased with the way it has evolved . . . its clicked together like a tango dancer's heels, and I'm so happy that if I was a puppy I'd leave puddles.
And for that I have to thank all those people who have put themselves out for us to make it memorable.
So thank-you one and all!

I just had the awesome pleasure of meeting the johnboy, his lovely bride, Rosie and the nice Okies who joined them on their Route 66 tour!!!
Our visit was way shorter than I would have liked (have to work today) but at least we got to share a smile, a chat and swap a few stories.

I gave them the grand tour of my palatial Santa Monica estate.... and my state-of-the-art car building facility.... Then pointed them toward the Pacific to to take in a few sites around the Santa Monica Pier.

Now that I've put a face to the name I'll be able to read johnboy's posts in a whole new way....even if I don't understand what he's saying!! Just kidding, John!

Really lovely to meet you guys!!! Thanks so much for including me in your trip!! Safe travels!!

jb,
We're in Bah Habah, Maine and had dinner tonight in a little restaurant named "Route 66". I'm not sure, but it seems that these folks think that the "REAL" start of
"The Motha' Road" is in Bah Habah, so you may have to come back and do the part from Maine to Chicago, or maybe just do the whole thing?? Pictures for "Proof"

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Saturday 5th October.

I'd contacted Randy last night to ensure he'd be home today, yes he would be, but could we make it fairly early, as he has to work today.
So we left the hotel around 7:30 so's to arrive his place around 8:30.
A great bloke; quick on the uptake and a wicked twisted sense of humour.
I like him.
And after seeing the constraints under which he does his engineering/automotive work I have to admire him too.
His entire shed is about 20' x 20' . . . and his car takes up half of that.
In the rest of it he has his tools, welders, spare/replacement parts, and his personal 'stuff', eg push-bikes etc.
More power to you mate!

Next stop: Santa Monica Pier.
The end of Route 66.
And the end of our Route 66 tour.
Bit of an anticlimax really.

But not the end of our trip!
We've still got the California ScienCentre, 700 Exposition Park drive to visit, where the Space Shuttle Museum is.
So we spent the rest of the day there.
Bloody gorgeous, and a 'must do'.
I reckon I could spend three days rabbiting around in that complex.
An amazing place.

When we first pulled in to LA we were in a Best Western Motel, but changed yesterday to Holiday Inn.
Bad move.
We did it to be nearer the airport, and because our travel agent had booked us in to Holiday Inn for our last night in the U.S.
No fridge, (although we got one after I complained,) no microwave, and only one chair, (neither of those eventuated, c'mon, get real; if there's a double bed it usually implies there's two people . . . and only one chair?) brekky was thrown in at Best Western, here it's $15 / head, the curtains don't close, (although they did after I complained,) parking is $15 / night, (free at Best Western,) the chest of drawers has missing knobs and can't be opened, no smoking in the hotel or the vicinity, (smoking rooms at Best Western,) and to top it off it's nearly 50% ( about 46%) more expensive!
And the parking charge would bring it even closer to the 50% mark.
Yeah right!
In my opinion a place to be avoided!
NOT recommended
And we'll inform our travel agent so upon our return to God's Own Country.

jb,
I think you need to revise your itinerary to fly from LA to Bah Habah, Maine tomorrow. I'll meet you at the little regional airport, you can book a flight on one of the Bi-Planes that do island tours, and then after visiting the Route 66 restaurant you can rent another car and head towards Chi Town. Whadda Ya think?? We'll be home next Saturday, so if you want to keep going from Chi Town to the Joplin/Galena area you can stop by again.....