Drought In California

Death along Route 66

Mod Dog

Pasadena -- I used to be a Mod. I can "Spot" one a mile away...

Jurassic LA

Banning, CA -- The Crazy Coyote taco stand draws visitors in a fun and unique way. Age-old marketing ploy along Interstate 10 in the California desert.

Trailer Lot

Ontario, CA -- Truth be told: it's not Route 66, but Carl's Acres of Trailers is not far from the Mother Road.

Characters Along Route 66

Oro Grande, CA -- (Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from Los Angeles along the National Trails Highway on the old Route 66 near Barstow)

What kid wouldn't want to have their picture taken with the world-famous, "Bottletree Man?"

Rustic Gas Station

Barstow, CA -- Barstow is one of the great gateways into California's Mojave Desert. The town is sprinkled with gems like this old gas station.

Motel Along Route 66

There is a romance about sketchy motels. Route 66 has many a vintage motor hotel. If only there was more time.

Expression on the Fence

Sierra Madre -- Most artist like to show their work. After work, I am a musician and photographer and I express my art through voice, guitar and making images available to the public via this blog and other sites. However, this artist shows their work in their front yard. From left to right, we see the famous ferris wheel on the Santa Monica pier, ( which is also the end of Route 66), Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, and the Hollywood sign overlooking "Tinsel Town." Yet I'm not sure what is on the far right. One common theme dominates: Southern California sunshine.

Road Tripping

Continuing a theme on missed towns, Calico Ghost Town is one of those tourist attractions dad might suggest during a family road trip. All us Angelinos (residence of Los Angeles) have seen the white sign on the mountain side reading, "CALICO" on our way to Las Vegas. Interstate 15 is a bit boring, but the side trips on lonely desert roads like--Route 66--is what Hollywood movies are made of.

As a side note, Ken added that Calico was used as the model for Knott's Berry Farm back in the 1950s.

Roadside Americana

Banning -- The road was lined with American flags, proudly waving in the gusty wind. Two men were pushing a rusty pickup truck while a woman and her grandson waited patiently for the next bus in the 92-degree sun. Next time--on a day off--I should spend a day in this town to explore. Funny how we neglect small towns while en route to another big city....

Banning is about 90 minutes from Los Angeles along Interstate 10 near Palm Springs.

Bagdad Californy

Bagdad, CA -- Another California desert Route 66 ghost town best known for its name rather than its destination. Bagdad is also known for holding the record for the longest dry streak in the United States: 767 days without rain from 1912 to 1914. Something to be proud of....

This location was also featured on Daily Photo LA in December of 2009 with the Bottletree Man; a desert-dweller living out his artistic dreams amidst a forest of glass bottles, roadside junk and rusted, antique treasures. Welcome to the gateway to LA.

Book of Dreams

Back in the mid 1980s, I found this book at a thrift shop. Published in 1977, the 2nd edition coffee table book inspired me to point my VW Camper in the direction of anyplace wild, scenic and mostly under-explored. The back road trips include LA local deserts, the Coastal Mountain Corridor, the Central Valley, Sierra and the gold rush territory of Northern California.

Recently, I rediscovered this treasure and began thumbing through it's rustic, hand-written pages (very 70s). Inspiration struck again--I must hit the highway for another road trip! Photos to follow....

Back Roads of California by Earl Thollander
Publisher: Sunset Books, Incorporated
ISBN-13: 9780376050151

Rialto's Nip Tuck

South Pasadena, CA -- Another Southern California, Route 66 icon receives gentle attention.

When I saw the crane extended and men in hard hats working along the blocked off sidewalk, I had to pull over and get the scoop on the 85-year old theater. I spoke with the workers and they said some of the plaster was falling off the building (part of the National Register of Historic Places), and they were shoring it up. No major face lift today, just and a little lawsuit prevention.

More on the Historic Orange

"Bonita" saw me squatting down, taking photos of the giant orange. She asked if I wanted my picture taken but I told her I'd rather have her in the photo. She agreed and she will receive prints in a couple days.

Bono's Pride

Fontana, CA -- Joe Bono took me on a tour of his prized, roadside diner recently. "This building has been in our family since the 30s," he said while pointing to an old photo on the wall. Bono's Deli has not been in service for a couple years but Joe is working on reopening the historic landmark very soon. Inside, the walls are lined with Route 66 memorabilia.

His family once owned 200 acres of vineyards along Baseline. The vineyards are long gone but he is trying to preserve the nostalgia by collecting wine bottles and building a wine tasting room attached to the 100-year old diner.

"You know there are probably six Route 66 enthusiast clubs out there; I belong to six of them," chuckled Bono. Looking back at the pictures on the wall, he pointed to a framed photo of he and Sonny. You mean Sonny as in Cher? I asked. Joe looked over at me with a big smile and said, "My cousin."

The large orange, pictured above, was built in the mid 1930s and was used as advertising. It used to be two miles down Route 66 but was recently moved to where it is now. Another example of vernacular architecture, which was very popular in the 30s and 40s.

Deeply Routed in 66

Barstow, CA -- One after another popped up while driving with one eye on Route 66 and the other on buildings decorated in the old highway's glory day theme.

Route 66 El Rancho Motel

Barstow, CA -- A classic motel along Route 66 in the California high desert. Barstow is at one end of the National Trails Highway. This scenic byway gives the driver a never-ending show of historic buildings, 1930s era gas stations and cafes. Many of the building walls are abandon and surrounded by a fence but their spirit lives on.

The Bottletree Man

Oro Grande, CA -- (Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from Los Angeles along the National Trails Highway on the old Route 66 near Barstow)

He calls himself "The Bottletree Man" or just, "The Bottleman." He also goes by Elmer. A labor of love and an expression of artistic talent, this strip of desert land is yet another classic example of what one may find along California's old Route 66.

Elmer took us on a tour of his property after talking to another interested blogger, traveling from Santa Cruz in Northern California. The Bottleman was happy to tell his story of each artifact attached to the top of every bottletree. He said he's been retired for some time now and is happy working on his on-going project. He doesn't charge anything to wander the forest of empty glass Coke, 7-Up, Royal Crown Cola and even relics like the one printed on the side: "Frank M. Towne, Pharmacist. San Bernardino, Cal. Open all night." Each tree, of course, has it's own trophy welded on top collected by Elmer and even his dad.

A few of the artifacts on the trees are a shot gun, cash register, saxophone, two California Highway Patrol helmets, an antique Radio Flyer wagon, truck horn, various wheels, and even an old dresser top mirror his mother bought used in 1939. And that's only the beginning; he has over 400 trees!

Visit Elmer either in person or his blog at bottletreeman.blogspot.com

John Deere and His Tee Pees

Another attraction along Route 66 in Rialto, CA

Get Your Kicks and "Left Hooks" on 66

Fontana, CA -- When I drove through this section of Route 66, it was 106 (f) degrees. High humidity added to the misery. Los Angeles is a quick 40-minute drive from Fontana and is about 10 degrees cooler.