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.