jjmaccrimmon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jjmaccrimmon) wrote2007-05-29 10:53 am
jjmaccrimmon) wrote2007-05-29 10:53 am
Entry tags:
Abandoned Places – Route 66 (Helendale, Barstow and beyond)
Sorry about the delay in posting these, but the last week or so has been something of whirlwind of excitement and activity for me. In fact, its very hard to post photos, when you’re very busily out on the road taking more of them. More on that to follow...
When the road becomes history, where do the vehicles of those past travels vanish to? Nowadays, vehicles go to die in vast impersonal scrap yards where rarely one finds a wreck older than a few years from the current models on the streets. Time moves a little slower on Route 66 and the past refuses to goes gently into that long dark night. With a huge ‘For Sale’ sign in front, found an old graveyard alone and forlorn in the desert. The sign noted 200+ acres of prime land on Historic Route 66 (cars, not included)..
A whale boat, in the desert... Notice a trend here?
I genuinely believe the youngest vehicle here dated back to the 1970’s. Time stands still in this dry land.
I truly believe the desert boats feed on the ruins. I only seem to find them dormant and sated from their recent feeding..
Viewing the composing trailer
I wouldn’t let my kids join me on this site, much their annoyance. There were too many things to get hurt on, under and around. Instead, we packed up and drove on to the next community, Barstow.
Barstow is a study in contrasts. Route 66 is Main Street here and the past hugely visible in the old downtown. Many old motor inns and businesses still operate there. Barstow owes its history to the historic highways, but owes its existence to rail depot that covers the northern side of town. The route 66 Museum there ties the two together. Housed in a corner of the old passenger rail depot, the museum tells about the various places and impacts of the Mother Road in California. I’ve decided not to include pictures inside the museum but the depot was well worth a few haunting shots.
As was commented before, the depot is a bat haven. The upper arches and overhangs of the old depot is home to several large colonies of bats. At nightfall, they swarm out by the hundreds to feast on insects and nectar in the surrounding desert.
Here was where we turned back and headed for home, but the journey doesn’t end. Yesterday,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
badgerphone, my kids and I drove out via Hwy 58 (more photos) and explored several more sites around the Barstow and Daggett. Those photos and stories are soon to come to this forum.
When the road becomes history, where do the vehicles of those past travels vanish to? Nowadays, vehicles go to die in vast impersonal scrap yards where rarely one finds a wreck older than a few years from the current models on the streets. Time moves a little slower on Route 66 and the past refuses to goes gently into that long dark night. With a huge ‘For Sale’ sign in front, found an old graveyard alone and forlorn in the desert. The sign noted 200+ acres of prime land on Historic Route 66 (cars, not included)..
A whale boat, in the desert... Notice a trend here?
I genuinely believe the youngest vehicle here dated back to the 1970’s. Time stands still in this dry land.
I truly believe the desert boats feed on the ruins. I only seem to find them dormant and sated from their recent feeding..
Viewing the composing trailer
I wouldn’t let my kids join me on this site, much their annoyance. There were too many things to get hurt on, under and around. Instead, we packed up and drove on to the next community, Barstow.
Barstow is a study in contrasts. Route 66 is Main Street here and the past hugely visible in the old downtown. Many old motor inns and businesses still operate there. Barstow owes its history to the historic highways, but owes its existence to rail depot that covers the northern side of town. The route 66 Museum there ties the two together. Housed in a corner of the old passenger rail depot, the museum tells about the various places and impacts of the Mother Road in California. I’ve decided not to include pictures inside the museum but the depot was well worth a few haunting shots.
As was commented before, the depot is a bat haven. The upper arches and overhangs of the old depot is home to several large colonies of bats. At nightfall, they swarm out by the hundreds to feast on insects and nectar in the surrounding desert.
Here was where we turned back and headed for home, but the journey doesn’t end. Yesterday,
badgerphone, my kids and I drove out via Hwy 58 (more photos) and explored several more sites around the Barstow and Daggett. Those photos and stories are soon to come to this forum.