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• "Driving The Herd" First Place in "Riding Out Challenge" In "Horse And Rider Group"!!
  by Susan Bergstrom

  My deepest humble thanks to all who voted for my entry “Driving The Herd” in the Horse And Rider Group Challenge~Riding Out....

  My deepest humble thanks to all who voted for my entry “Driving The Herd” in the Horse And Rider Group Challenge~Riding Out This is such an honor and the photo it’s self means so much to me. The week my husband and I participated in this Buffalo Round-Up in the awesome Black Hills of So. Dakota…was just shy of living a part of history. I will never forget this experience. There are three other photos in my collection that continue to explain this yearly honored trek. Thanks again so much to all… / Susan /

• Fareeeking out over my daughter and the very last Denton to be born is driving at night...
  by Karl Denton

  Not much more I can say then the title!

  Not much more I can say then the title!

• What drives us
  by RedBubble

  People are inherently creative. Deep down, most of us love to come up with new ideas, express who we are, or take a different persp…

  People are inherently creative. Deep down, most of us love to come up with new ideas, express who we are, or take a different perspective on the world around us. This is particularly true of children. Remember chalk on the footpath, crayon on the walls, or a painting stuck proudly to the fridge with a magnet. Kids love stories, they love learning about new things, they ask obvious yet somehow overlooked questions. So why don’t many of us focus on our creative interests as adults? Is there something about the process of growing up that changes us, that convinces us to be serious and sensible? Do we lose the ability to be creative? Or does it just get buried amidst the responsibilities, worries and priorities of adult life? Look closer, though, and you’ll see sparks of creativity in adults everywhere. Since starting our RedBubble journey, we’ve been amazed at how many of our close friends have “confessed” to a secret creative hobby, a little spark of creativity that few else know about. Look at the statistics and the picture is clearer still. Over 2.5 million Australians regularly take part in some sort of creative or cultural activity. Almost 90% do this entirely for free, for the simple enjoyment of it. A fortunate few earn a living from it, but most keep their creative spark alive in their own time and without sharing it with the world. RedBubble was founded with a burning desire to improve this situation. And there are some major social and technological trends helping us out. New technology has placed the creative tools of professionals in the hands of amateurs. With digital cameras, editing software, low cost hardware and more, it is easier than ever to produce your own creative content. Truly, the line between professionals and talented amateurs is blurring. And the traditional distinction between producers on one side and consumers on the other fades away – now you can be both! Another important trend is the way that the internet helps side-step the tyranny of distance and lower the cost of distribution. For a country as huge and remote as Australia, this is life-changing. No longer can you be held hostage by limited product ranges, poor information or high costs. If it’s available elsewhere on the globe, you can find it, read about it and buy it in no time at all. Witness also the growth of MySpace and YouTube, riding an internet-powered wave of self-expression and connectedness. Not to mention the millions of blogs out there. For some it’s about fame and the chance of being discovered. But for many, it’s simply about expressing themselves or hanging out with others who share their interests. Yet, plenty of people have held back from self-expression online. Creative talent does not necessarily go hand in hand with technical savvy. And many people don’t feel comfortable sharing their deeply personal creative work in existing online environments. So we asked ourselves: why isn’t there an online home for creative people? A place where they can belong to a genuine creative community, express their thoughts, get inspired, and collaborate with others? And why shouldn’t they be able to turn their creative passion into real objects for themselves or others, without worrying about hassles like producing, marketing, selling, and shipping? And so the concept for RedBubble was born. And the more we thought about it, the more excited we became about making it a reality. We wrote a business plan, left our jobs, scraped together funding, and built a talented team. Eight months later, here we are with the first version of RedBubble alive and kicking. Where RedBubble goes from here is up to you…

• Guns N Roses on Endless Loop
  by Helena Nelson-Reed

  I was listening to Guns N Roses the other day while driving. Welcome to the Jungle is one o…

  I was listening to Guns N Roses the other day while driving. Welcome to the Jungle is one of my traditional CDs for driving on Highway 355 into the city. Its so crazy out there that cranking this tune fulll tilt is imparative. One must jumpstart a strong offensive mindset and quick response time , imperative for survival on our insane multi- lane Chicago area highways. I dont know what part of this song I like best, its a classic and its all that good. So Im zipping along at about 90 surrounded by careening 18 wheelers, other autos of all makes, a few cycles and and those horrid SUVS that rumble along blocking my view of whats ahead. We are moving in a solid mass. After awhile on comes Sweet Child O Mine . Now its stuck in my mind… Mainly the hook line and guitar riff followed by the lines ‘Where do we go now?’ Their rendition of another classic from back in the day / Knocking on Heaven’s Door isnt so bad either…

• One of my Favorite Poems by Bukowski
  by Hoffard

  The Red Porsche / / / it feels good / to be driven about in a red / porsche / by a woman better – / read than I / am. / it f…

  The Red Porsche / / / it feels good / to be driven about in a red / porsche / by a woman better – / read than I / am. / it feels good / to be driven about in a red / porsche / by a woman who can explain / things about / classical / music to / me. / / it feels good / to be driven about in a red / porsche / by a woman who buys / things for my refrigerator / and my / kitchen: / cherries, plums, lettuce, celery, / green onions, brown onions, / eggs, muffins, long / chilis, brown sugar, / Italian seasoning, oregano white / wine vinegar, pompeian olive oil / and red / radishes. / / I like being driven about / in a red porsche / while I smoke cigarettes in / gentle languor. / / I am lucky. I’ve always been / lucky: / even when I was starving to death / the bands were playing for / me. / but the red porsche is very nice / and she is / too, and / I’ve learned to feel good when / I feel good. / / it’s better to be driven around in a / red porsche / than to own / one. the luck of the fool is / inviolate. / / Charles Bukowski

• Trading places
  by Jodie Noonan

  Shall I swap my car for a new camera? I thought my decision was made on what camera to get- but events of the last week have changed m…

  Shall I swap my car for a new camera? I thought my decision was made on what camera to get- but events of the last week have changed many things, and to swap something I don’t need for something I would love might be the way to go. I will make my final decision on Tuesday – today I will do some maths and investigation .. look out shops here I come!

• External Hard drive failure.
  by Matt Sillence

  Woke up this morning and did the usual, switch on the computer and external hard drive…. computer booted up ok but holy Sh1t the ex har…

  Woke up this morning and did the usual, switch on the computer and external hard drive…. computer booted up ok but holy Sh1t the ex hard drive didn’t… problem is all my photos are on this drive… especially my wedding photos that I was working on…. I do emphasize on ALL MY PHOTOS from 10 yrs or so back… I almost cried… So in the morning the first job will be to get a new one and then to see if I can recover / copy off the photo files… / I will be devastated if I can not do anything….

• SAFETY FIRST
  by Nolan Nitschke

  I am leaving for the holidays and will be scarce round these parts for a couple weeks.All of you out there traveling during the holidays….

  I am leaving for the holidays and will be scarce round these parts for a couple weeks.All of you out there traveling during the holidays…. DRIVE SLOW ON ICE AND SNOW. DO NOT BE RUSHED AND ENJOY IT! I cant stress this enough. DRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW DRIVE SLOWDRIVE SLOW Peace to you all and enjoy the holidays!

• so...
  by zarathustra

  Inspiration. Where does it come from? Does the brain juice up chemicals and channels itself to a tune that radically lin…

  Inspiration. Where does it come from? Does the brain juice up chemicals and channels itself to a tune that radically lines symetry and synergy? Shit There is no way to know. I can only say that there is something that definately drives us and in some crazy way makes sense out of what to others may just see as senseless fucking jabber. The beat we march to is different in everyone of us and we should not take that for granted. Pop music composers have what I like to call a common demoninator with the rest of us, or maybe the majority, surely taking in consideration cultural education and all sorts of other outer influences and factors. Its those that transend and stand out and alone regardless of positve or negative feedback from thier sorroundings and fellow brothers, that find true meaning to their time here on earth. Shit!!! For all its worth (To you all, probably not much but, I lost the point I was trying to get across to you) Fuck it, at least I’m not watching primetime television and feeding on the system’s own MSG, and belive me it comes in all forms. The way I see it, either I’m crazy, or I’m a genius… Or I could just be like the majority and just be wishing I was a breed apart. Where do I get my inspiration from, you ask? Well, I think I get my inspiration from pain, the desire to find meaning to what sometimes seems meaningless, love, a pretty smile,the quiet whisper of “I love you “I once heard many years ago from an old girlfriend as I gently Invaded her body. You see, there is no need to be subtle anymore. Until I grow up or give in and realize I can’t go against the wind all of the time or, I thrust to the next level of thinking thus not making my random thoughts I waste of my time and yours, I’ll keep on keeping on. The Good thing about my quest for the truth is that there is no solid answer and as ideas and principles do, the truth keeps changing… I’ll be busy for awhile and I think you should too. Trust me even senseless rants like mine have a meaning somewhere in the universe and in time. See you on top of the mountain my friends and remember if the load you have is too heavy, its not a sign to drop it, but to prove to yourself, you are more than what you are right now. Have a wonderful day. Jonathan Virgilio Baez

• Drive By Shooting
  by Sara Lamond

  Well yay – I’m pleased as punch to host a new group along with Lorraine Creagh, called “Drive …

  Well yay – I’m pleased as punch to host a new group along with Lorraine Creagh, called Drive By Shooting . This group is for anyone who loves to shoot from their car – it’s a strange addiction of mine. I do it a lot when I’m a passenger – and sometimes when I’m driving too! I hope all you car cam junkies will join and start submitting your driveby images. I look forward to seeing the results – and stop by the forum and introduce yourself too! The images must be taken from a car – no exceptions. And it has to be somehow obviously from a car – a clear sharp photo of a beautiful landscape probably isn’t going to do it. If your car is in motion there is almost always going to be some blur, a tilted horizon, a chunk of car frame/mirror or something in it. Or, if the car is stopped, say at a stop light, the composition or perspective should make the camera’s position obvious.

• DON'T let this happen to you!
  by Karl Denton

  I shoot, I make back-ups on three different hard drives and yet here I am at 2:21 am restoring my last workable back up and this is dated…

  I shoot, I make back-ups on three different hard drives and yet here I am at 2:21 am restoring my last workable back up and this is dated from June 26th 2008. I had been neglecting or putting off getting my DVD back-ups written because there is ALWAYS another day! My modeling material and the jacket stuff is safe. The rest of everything including homework, school activities (both mine and Shelby’s) are gone… 318 GB to go… And because we live in a digital world I am submitting this to all of the groups I belong to that permit Journal submissions. If you are an administrator of one of these groups and don’t want to post it please don’t send me a BM telling or asking me why I did or can’t, just don’t post it, but it is information that should be of use to us all… I thought I was safe from data loss! I am getting tired and a bit cranky :~)

• Featured works (#3)
  by Lior Goldenberg

  Drive has been featured in the Abstract Realism...

  Drive has been featured in the Abstract Realism group and Levitation has been featured in the Pop Art group. I am very flattered by this and I would like to thank the hosts of these groups for the nice surprise! Lior

• Darren Stones 2009 Australiana Calendar Collection available for sale at RedBubble
  by Darren Stones

  I’m pleased to announce my 2009 range of Australiana themed calendars are now available to purchase via my online sales agent, RedBubble….

  I’m pleased to announce my 2009 range of Australiana themed calendars are now available to purchase via my online sales agent, RedBubble. There’s 12 different calendars in the collection to date which depict various aspects of Australia. You’re most welcome to browse through the collection, and if you’d like to provide feedback, that will be great. Calendars are an ideal gift for giving to family and friends, and yourself. / A snap of the jolly old fellow from last year See below for more product information. Here’s the full list for viewing. Each thumbnail is clickable and it will direct to a full preview of the calendar and unit pricing. / Australia’s Animals / We’re a bit different in Australia / New South Wales / New South Wales – South Coast / Humpback Whales / Great Ocean Road / Australia – The Bush / Aussie blokes and sheilas / Victoria / North-East Victoria / Trees In Australia / Great Alpine Road / Central Tilba

• UPDATE ON MY EXTERNAL DRIVE
  by Matt Sillence

  The Lab says they have tried to image the disc to get the information off the Drive but it failed. / I thought imaging would not work anyw…

  The Lab says they have tried to image the disc to get the information off the Drive but it failed. / I thought imaging would not work anyway so I thought coying one folder and then another folder would be better. Anyway they are sending my disc back to me.. I will try the long way round. not hoping for any miracle though SAD as …..

• Route 66 or BUST!
  by Patricia Montgomery

  After two days of straight-through driving, Monty and I stopped at Santa Rosa, New Mexico, just south and east of Santa Fe. We found a h…

  After two days of straight-through driving, Monty and I stopped at Santa Rosa, New Mexico, just south and east of Santa Fe. We found a hotel right on the main drag through town, a little highway called Route 66. After a night’s rest we started out Monday morning on our drive westward on “The Mother Road”. Our first stop was just a couple of blocks down from our hotel at the Route 66 Auto Museum. What first attracted our attention was a bright yellow car up on a tall pole. We pulled in and immediately saw a vintage 1950 yellow taxi cab and an old pickup truck with a wooden truck bed. Bet you “youngsters” didn’t even realize that truck beds were once floored with wood planks! As we entered the museum, we stepped on the black and white checkered floors and immediately spotted Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean – no, Elvis is NOT alive. These were life-sized posters in the gift shop. We rested on a bench designed from the trunk and fenders of an aqua 1957 Chevy. Very cool! No need to wonder what happened to the rest of the car. We handed the $5 admission fee over the cashier’s desk, which just happened to be the front end of that same Chevy. Besides approximately 30 completely restored vintage automobiles, there was an impressive collection of vintage toys and signs and other memorabilia celebrating Route 66. Even if you are not a vintage car buff, you can’t help but be impressed by all the shiny chrome and fins. If you are ever near here, this is a stop you don’t want to miss! Further along the stretch of Route 66 in Santa Rosa there was evidence of long-closed businesses that suffered from the building of nearby Interstate 25. But more importantly there were many other businesses have stood the test of time and still remain open. It is obvious that Santa Rosa is working to preserving this section of historic Route 66. After leaving Santa Rosa, we picked up Route 66 again near Dillia and followed a 40-50 mile section to Santa Fe. For the most part, the two-lane road ran a close parallel to I-25 but sometimes curved away from the noise of the interstate. It was during these times, driving along in the rural areas of New Mexico that we experienced a taste of what the early Route 66 travelers must have enjoyed. I suppose it will be no surprise that I will soon be uploading some of the many, many photos taken on our road trip this week.

• SIDE TRIP TO TAOS
  by Patricia Montgomery

  One of the good things about driving down the Historic Route 66 is that there are so many interesting side trips. On Tuesday morning, we…

  One of the good things about driving down the Historic Route 66 is that there are so many interesting side trips. On Tuesday morning, we woke up to a warm southwestern sunrise in the beautiful Taos Valley nestled at the base of New Mexico’s Sangre De Cristo Mountains. Taos has a history that dates back to the ancestors of the Pueblo people, commonly known as the Anasai. The room blocks and pit houses in the area verify their presence since 900 A.D. AlthoughTaos has a long and colorful history, let’s jump forward to 1898 when two young artists from the East named Ernest Blumenshein and Bert Phillips came to Taos to get a broken wagon wheel fixed. Totally captivated by the beauty of the area, they stayed and were soon joined by other artists. By 1915 the Taos Society of Artists had been formed and the town of Taos was known world-wide as an artist haven. Monty and I love to search out free stuff to do first. We drove down to the 200-year-old Taos Plaza with streets that radiate outward from the town square to form the National Historic District of Taos. Stopping in one of the gift shops, we picked up the free 26-page “Walking Tour” brochure for a self-guided tour of 22 historic Taos landmarks. Starting in the heart of the plaza or town square, we visited the Kit Carson home/museum, the El Rincon Trading Post, The Couse House, Fechin House, and Old County Courthouse, to name only a few. The brochure included maps, photographs, and a written history of each of the 22 landmarks. It was a lovely day for a stroll through Taos. The sun was shining and the temperatures were in the mid 70s. Spring was in the air and the tourist rush had not started yet. I was able to photograph many of these beautiful landmarks in their natural state without dozens of people standing around. Arriving back at the Plaza around noon, we decided to have lunch at Ogilvie’s. From the 2nd floor covered balcony, we enjoyed delicious sandwiches while overlooking the downtown area. For dessert afterwards, we strolled over to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for chocolate ice cream, which we consumed in leisure sitting on a bench in the plaza square. After lunch we visited the Taos Pueblo. Located only a few miles north, the Taos Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. Interestingly, their native language – Tiwa – is unwritten, unrecorded, and will remain that way. Instead of the written word, the tribe relies solely on oral history handed down through the generations. The pueblo looks today much like it did when the conquistadors first arrived around 1540. The only exception is the addition of doors. Before the doors were added, the only entry was by ladder through an opening in the roof which also was a source of light. The buildings are made entirely of adobe, which is a mixture of earth, straw, and water, which is poured into forms and then sun-dried. There is no electricity and no running water in the sacred village. It costs $10 per person and $5 per camera to gain admission to the Taos Pueblo. You can join a group with a native tour guide or wander about the pueblo on your own. A note to all photographers, “All commercial and or professional photographers need prior approval through the tribal Governor’s Office.” All other photography is restricted to personal use. Next we will travel the scenic route to Sipapu Ski Resort (Elev 9,000+) and begin a gradual drive back east on Route 66.

• LEAVING TAOS… SOUTH TO ROUTE 66!
  by Patricia Montgomery

  After our side trip to Taos in New Mexico we began heading back to Route 66. Upon the recommendation of one of the locals, we picked up …

  After our side trip to Taos in New Mexico we began heading back to Route 66. Upon the recommendation of one of the locals, we picked up Highway 518 just south of town as our route back to The Mother Road. This highway would take us up into the mountains on a scenic drive to Sipapu Ski Resort. Sipapu (see-pah-poo) means “Land of Paradise” and is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range with a base elevation of 8,200 feet. The drive rewarded us with gorgeous mountain views. The skies were azure with those big ole puffy white clouds that make for a lovely photographic background. Although the resort was closed we didn’t mind because it isn’t always the destination that is most important. We simply enjoyed the journey ! From Sipapu we continued further south on Hwy 518 to Las Vegas (New Mexico) where once again we picked up pre-1937 Route 66 to Santa Rosa. Although we followed this route two days before on our way to Taos, it was just as much fun on the way back and we even saw some things we missed the first time. East of Santa Rosa was the town of Cuervo, which is visible from the interstate as Route 66 runs parallel on the south side. As we drove slowly down The Mother Road, it was quite eerie looking at the three blocks of decaying old homes and businesses with broken windows and missing doors and broken-down vehicles in the yards. Looking a block or so beyond the old highway, we could see two or three homes that looked as though they were still inhabited, but that was all. Sad how these once thriving communities were annihilated by the building of the interstate. NEXT STOP – Tucumcari, New Mexico

• ROUTE 66 - GOODBYE TEXAS, HELLO OKLAHOMA!
  by Patricia Montgomery

  LEAVING TEXAS! As we left McLean, the Texas sun was low on the horizon. Who knows what time it is or what day it is on road trip? We…

  LEAVING TEXAS! As we left McLean, the Texas sun was low on the horizon. Who knows what time it is or what day it is on road trip? We looked at our watches and then the calendar. Bad news! We have to be home day after tomorrow! It is time to boot it and make some tracks… We had to take the interstate but still made a couple of exits off to Route 66. The old road runs a close parallel to I-40, which made our next two stops much quicker. We stopped in briefly at Shamrock because of the infamous “U Drop Inn”, a 1936 structure with an art deco style that includes two steeples. The building has been restored with beautiful neon lights and now houses the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce. There was probably more to see in Shamrock, but we needed to make it to the Oklahoma border before bedtime to stay on track and arrive home on schedule. We left the great state of Texas in our rear-view mirror. See y’all next time! HELLO OKLAHOMA! The sun had just gone down when we made a quick cruise on Route 66 through Sayre, Oklahoma. The guidebook indicated that there were two storm-cellar type entrances on either side of the main street on Route 66. These were actually entrances to an underground walkway which was built because Route 66 was once so busy that it was unsafe for pedestrians to cross. We looked for these entrances but never saw them. It was getting dark and we were in a hurry so we could have missed them or they might have been removed or closed. I was excited at the prospect of seeing Owl Drug, right in downtown Sayre on Route 66. It was famous for having Oklahoma’s largest antique soda fountain. Imagine my disappointment upon peering in the window to see that it was closed and in the process of being stripped. This is becoming more and more common on Route 66. I was so distressed to see Owl Drug being dismantled that I forgot to even take a photo of the outside building and sign. In the photo above, you can get a glimpse of the orange Rexall / Owl Drug sign on the other side of the road at the red light. This bison in blue uniform was located in front of the City Hall. I took this photo out the window with the camera perched on a bean bag. We didn’t have time to stop and read the plaque, but maybe on our next trip. With only a few hours to spend tomorrow in Elk City, we sadly realized that we would be seeing most of Oklahoma’s Route 66 on our next road trip. Where did the past eight days go? Time truly does fly when you are having fun!

• Drive Time Music.
  by Gregoryno6

  Mel Torme – Comin’ Home, Baby. / On disc or live...

  Mel Torme – Comin’ Home, Baby. / On disc or live on Judy Garland’s TV show – damn, what moves!

• HELL - End??
  by clarkey

  What can I say – days have blurred into weeks, weeks have blurred into months. I haven’t killed him yet, nor have I divorced him; I have…

  What can I say – days have blurred into weeks, weeks have blurred into months. I haven’t killed him yet, nor have I divorced him; I haven’t even harmed him, except to give him an occasional fright!!! It has been the second longest 6 months of my life, though, and I don’t think I have ever been so tired for so long! I’ve travelled all over the city, seen all sorts of houses and building, met all sorts of people, including (unfortunately) one very Dumb Blonde – she was one of the nicest ladies I met during this time, but, she most definitely wasn’t one of the smartest. She made great cups of coffee though, and she’s a treasure just for that! I’ve taken photos of some beautiful flowers in gardens, seen lovely scenery and vistas, talked to some fascinating people, cursed other drivers and some roads, and seen astonishlingly bad driving. Has it cured me of my love of driving? I don’t know yet, only time will tell, but, it has confirmed my loathing of driving in peak hour traffic, particularly morning peak. Some of the most fabulous things to photgraph, of course, have been while I was driving or couldn’t pull up to take a pic because it was either unsafe or we didn’t have time to stop. And, now, the end is visible. He has to go to the Magistrates Court tomorrow, Monday, 01.09.2008, to apply for the re-instatement of his licence. Unless the Magistrate is having a bad day or a difficult one, there seems to be no reason for him not to get it back. There is no set time for his appearance, you just turn up at the start of the day, and, I would guess, you are dealt with according to your place on the list of confirmed attendees. If there was a confirmed time, I’d be counting the hours. So, tomorrow morning, I’ll take him into Dandenong, drop him off at the Court, come home and wait for his ‘phone call to say, “I got it!” I’ll go pick him up and take him to the RTA Office to get his license re-issued . . . AND THEN, my life is my own again, I can resume my might-owlish habits and get stuck into snapping away and Photoshopping again – I have to do the business paperwork first, though. Oh well, that’s the price we pay for our indulgences! Patience is NOT one of my Virtues!

• DRIVING BACKWARDS ON ROUTE 66
  by Patricia Montgomery

  After leaving Tucumcari, we headed east to San Jon, our last stop in New Mexico. San Jon is another small town on Route 66 with abandone…

  After leaving Tucumcari, we headed east to San Jon, our last stop in New Mexico. San Jon is another small town on Route 66 with abandoned motels and businesses. The photo below shows a rusty sign that once glowed neon for the Western Motel. That is a 1960’s Plymouth sitting in the yard. Doubt that it runs, but someone did put a modern sun shield in the back window. As we edged into the eastern side of Glenrio, we saw our first town on the route in Texas. The first sign that there had once been life in this town was an old metal sign leaning at a 90-degree angle, almost obscured by overgrown trees and bushes. All of the signage had been blown out, but the guide book showed that it once read “Deep Rock”. Further down in the abandoned town we discovered one occupied home sitting back behind the ruins of Glenrio’s business district. Now it is surrounded by a junk yard of remnants of the once thriving town. Nearby is the Morel Café and Last Motel in Texas. In its heyday if you had driven into town from the west, you would have been that the sign read the First Motel in Texas. As you can see by the photo below the sign is barely there, probably a victim of the ravages of the storms and hail that recently hit Texas. Next stop on Route 66 was Adrian, which claims by its signage that it is the mid-point of Route 66. From Adrian it is 1,139 miles east to Chicago and 1,139 miles west to Los Angeles. I must note that the next town on the route is Vega, which disputes that and also claims to be the mid-point. However, Adrian is the one with the great looking mid-point signs and The Mid-Point Café, home of the Ugly Crust pies. We came through town right after lunch and were too full to try one of the pies, but we heard they are the best! The old town of Vega was the last cruise-through for today. We didn’t have time to stop at Dot’s Mini Museum which is touted to have a great collection of Route 66 memorabilia. There were several old signs and The Vega Motel looked like it might still be in business. A cool photo op just off of Route 66 and closer to downtown was a restored gas station from the 1920s with a green & white Magnolia Gasoline pump in front. The photo below is colorful Roosters, a Mexican restaurant. I would not recommend starting out on a Route 66 drive without a good guide or map to direct you down the road. We have two books, one with good maps that showed clearly whether the road was running on the north or south side of I-40 or if the road no longer existed. The other book listed all the towns in geographical order and recommended points of interest for each. All the guide books and maps on the market for Route 66 start in Chicago and direct you west toward the Pacific Ocean. I assume that is because this is the way that The Mother Road started out after she was born and where she finally matured out west on the Santa Monica pier. But if you are driving east on Route 66 as we are, then you have to learn to read backwards. Just kidding! But you do have to flip pages backwards in the map/guides to see which town is next on the eastern route. When we first started east, I was having a bit of a hard time figuring out where we were going next. But I soon became adept at flipping pages backward and then reading forward. If I can do it, anyone can! RECOMMENDED TRAVELING COMPANIONS (besides your loved ones): “Route 66 Adventure Handbook” (3rd Edition) by Drew Knowles / This book directs you to points of interest and attractions. Without this book, we would have missed so many amazing sights and side trips. Throw this one into the convertible before you leave home! “Route 66 Traveler’s Guide” (Collectors Edition) by Tom Snyder / This book has good maps showing where the road is in relation to I-40. It also indicates where the road no longer exists and will recommend alternate routes. Both these books can be purchased on www.amazon.com

• Yee-Ha! Amarillo on Route 66!
  by Patricia Montgomery

  Driving east with the sun at our backs, we came into the outskirts of Amarillo, Texas late in the afternoon. It was here with the flat g…

  Driving east with the sun at our backs, we came into the outskirts of Amarillo, Texas late in the afternoon. It was here with the flat grassy plains stretching into infinity on both the north and south sides of Route 66 that we came upon a sight that was the quirkiest by far. Have you heard of the infamous Cadillac Ranch? Ten Cadillac automobiles buried nose-down in Texas dirt, all perfectly aligned at the same angle as the Egyptian pyramids (or so the story goes). We pulled over onto the grassy shoulder of Route 66 and then walked about 100 yards through a field for a closer look at these upended caddies. The Texas wind was blowing across the plains at a howling 25-30 miles per hour, making me feel a bit unsteady on my feet. However, those solidly planted Cadillacs were completely oblivious to wind and weather. After more than 20 years in the ground, one would think they would have rusted away. Monty felt sure that all the layers and layers of graffiti paint over the past 20 years had totally sealed every single part from roof top to the undercarriage. We had never seen anything quite like it and if you are ever on Route 66 on the west side of Amarillo, you don’t want to miss it! Route 66 runs straight through the heart of Amarillo. Most of the route through town has completely lost its 66 flavor, but one section of Sixth Street (between Georgia Street and Western Street) recently saw some revitalization to preserve its Route 66 heritage. Amarillo is a Texas town with true cowboy flair, evidenced by side attractions such as the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Heritage Center and Museum. There is also signage all along the interstate advertising a local steakhouse that offers a 72-oz steak, free of charge, if you can eat it all in one hour including all the side items that come with it. It was on one of our side trips out of Amarillo that we met The Big Texan, a 7-ton cowboy. Even though the early morning “backlight” would not make for a great photograph, I took a snapshot anyway just to show his size. Located in the town of Conway on U.S. 60, this cowboy is standing 47 feet high in front of a closed-down restaurant. He was one more quirky sight on our Route 66 road trip. If you have been driving through the plains for too long, you can develop a strong, uncontrollable urge for something uneven…Palo Duro Canyon State Park fit the bill perfectly for us. Upon arriving at the headquarters to the park ($4 per person admission), the terrain looked the same – just more flat plains. But only a short distance into the park the view opened up to reveal a gorgeous vista that we immediately dubbed the “Grand Canyon of Texas”. Cut by the Red River, the red canyon walls are hundreds of feet deep and 125 miles long. It was a beautiful canyon park! There were camping sites, shady picnic spots, well-marked hiking trails, and wildlife viewing. We drove slowly through the 16 miles of paved roads and didn’t leave until late afternoon. Why did it take several hours for us to drive 16 miles? Monty knew the cause immediately. He pointed out that every time he slowed down, the passenger door flew open and the camera & tripod exited the vehicle along with me!

• GOOD FOOD ON ROUTE 66!
  by Patricia Montgomery

  MCLEAN, TEXAS The sun was dropping on d…

  MCLEAN, TEXAS The sun was dropping on down when we arrived at McLean. In the downtown area, the road split into one-way east and west bound segments, divided by a city block. Although closed for the day, we saw a dual museum called “Texas Route 66 Museum / Devil’s Rope Museum” The term “Devil’s Rope” referred to barbed wire as there were two gigantic balls of barbed wire perched on concrete columns. Where else but on Route 66 would you find a tribute to barbed wire? It is a wonderful country we live in! A great photo opportunity was the tiny cottage-style Phillips 66 gas station all decked out in fresh tan and orange paint. The sign on the street corner indicated the station was originally built in the 1920’s and was the first Phillips 66 station in Texas. An antique Ford tanker truck was parked to the side, also painted a bright orange with the Phillip 66 emblem on the door. The gas pump showed a price of 19 cents per gallon! As we drove west through McLean on Route 66, there was the smell of something delicious cooking! We followed our noses to the Red River Steakhouse. Once there our stomachs began to do the Route 66 rumble… We were greeted at the door by a very friendly hostess who had the same southern accent as we did. For a tiny town like McLean, the parking lot was packed when we arrived. A full parking lot at a local restaurant is always a good sign. We were late-comers for supper and people began leaving while we were eating. Everyone knew everyone else as there were shouts of goodbye from across the room and farewells that included “be careful driving home”. It was obvious that this was a very friendly ranch community on Route 66. As my daddy used to say, we must have “popped out like a sore thumb” as visitors because the waitress immediately wanted to know where we were from and the hostess later brought out the guestbook so we could sign it. A big ole salad was served first, heaped high with crisp, cold lettuce and lots of fixin’s. Then our 8 oz. steaks were placed before us, completely covering a large platter. The steak was so big that it was nudging the baked potato out of the way! Both were tender and cooked to perfection. The complimentary dessert of homemade peach cobbler was delicious. For $1 more, we added a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. If you are anywhere near McLean near supper time, don’t miss the Red River Steakhouse.

• 7 days . . . and counting
  by clarkey

  7 days until my husband can’t drive for six months (see Frigging Idiot), but he’s not sure if it starts at 1600 or 2400. I’m going to …

  7 days until my husband can’t drive for six months (see Frigging Idiot), but he’s not sure if it starts at 1600 or 2400. I’m going to have to put a bomb under him and get him to find out. I’m dreading the expiration of that seventh day: not only does 0530 not exist as a wake up time in my world (it’s a got-to-bed time for me, occasionally) but, as the weather gets colder, I am going to freeze. I absolutely hate the cold weather, i can’t move quickly to save myself; I’m sure my bones freeze. I hate to think what the cold weather is going to do to my arthritis – it’s bad enough when I’m at home with the central heating going full blaze! Either this will kill me or I’ll kill him . . . maybe both. While he will have to navigate to individuall places most of the time, we each have our preferred ways of getting to places and there are bound to be confilicts, but, I will have to admit, he’s on the road much more than I am and so is more in touch with local conditions such as roads and traffic. It’s going to be an interesting journey! I just hope we both survive it.