Japenese metal and American asphalt
Well, if all the stars are aligned i.e. if everything goes as I expect. I will be working hard until around August 8th. Then I will hopefully be able to take two weeks of vacation and take a much deserved vacation out west via route 66. I have my new car almost paid off, and will be taking it on this trip from downtown Chicago, to Santa Monica, California
Route 66 Association of Illinois
Starting from the beginning of Route 66, there is the Route 66 Association of Illinois.
Phoenix to the VLA
After living in the Phoenix area for about three months and losing what may have been a promising job I headed back to Chicagoland. Instead of taking the normal route (I-40) which traces old route 66, I decided to take Route 60 through the mountains and into New Mexico. I wanted to see the VLA (Very Large Array).
View Phoenix to the Very Large Array in a larger map
View Phoenix to the Very Large Array in a larger map
Route 60 is a crazy route that winds with hairpin turns through the mountains in Arizona, and the edge of New Mexico. You simply can’t haul ass on Route 60, you have to take your time and really pay attention to the turns and steep grades.
Shrine at the roadside before Miami, Arizona along Route 60
A satellite view of the VLA, basically the VLA is a series of antennas that are moved around via a rail system. The lady at the visitor center said they move the separate antennas into different positions every three months for each study project.
My old Honda Prelude in front of an antenna of the VLA. The funny thing about driving from Datil, New Mexico to the VLA is that there is no cell phone coverage. I spoke with a woman at the NRAO visitor center and she said the companies purposly block cellphone transmissions in a large radius around the VLA so that the transmissions would not interfear with the pictures they get from space.
May you always be able to drive
I remember back when I went away for college at Northern Illinois University back in 1995 or so I had a tough time adjusting from my home life to the life of meeting and living with others in a dorm room setting. It was scary for me at least to have strangers in my personal space 24/7. At NIU back in 1995-1998 I was a victim of a bit of hazing from my peers. Being very sensitive by nature back then, and naive, I took things way too seriously on the mental front. I developed a very strange personality and was suffering mentally. With my new found freedom, I found myself drinking more and becoming more anti-social.
People at school did try and help me cope. I kept diving deeper and deeper into the isolation inside my own mind. Anyway, second year after living in the dorms, I lived with a friend Chris, Erik and Davide. Davide or Dave, was an English major/Professor from Italy. He was studying old English, reading and writing his papers. A serious student. I was more of a flake, and just trying to get my diploma to make my father and mother happy. For my future basically. Anyway, I was having deep mental issues that remained with me for many years after college. David saw me suffering and one birthday, he presented me with this little, green matchbox VW Beetle. He told me as he gave it to me…“So you may always drive away from your problems”. I kinda got the idea what he ment when he said those words to me back years ago. However, I found the car again in a drawer and it is one of my cherished possessions.
I look at this green car, and I want to remember that I must keep the problems out of my head and always be able to drive away from the troubles and problems in life. I also must remember never to create more problems for myself in this life. Anyway, I do look at people suffering at times and I kinda think of this green car. So far my mental instability at times almost caused me to go on the brink of the edge of no return, but I somehow remained flexible and returned to my somewhat normal state.
El Reno
Along the outskirts of El Reno, Oklahoma. Plenty of old Detroit steel sits and rusts quietly. I had to watch out for a large, unchained barking dog to take photos of this old Cadillac. I was on a tight schedule, so I kinda just took a few photos of the main street. I have done a little googleing and found that the town has posted a number of attractions on their website here.
Stagecoach 66 Motel
While working as a car transporter, for the worst company to work for, I had the opportunity to drive further on I-40 (Route 66) than I ever did before. I had to take a car from Arkansas, to Penaluma, California. This was in the summer of 2008 I believe when gas prices were $4.00 per gallon and up! I stopped in Seligman, Az to take a few photos and the gas in the small desert gas station was $5.40 per gallon. Talk about crazy! However I did not want to be stranded out in the desert and eventually have buzzards picking at my eyes and remains. So I paid the $5.40 per gallon. Most expensive tank of gas I ever bought.
A cool, retro sign. It reminds me of a more innocent time in American history.
That Texas town
A shot of an old 1950’s semi truck at an ancient and almost extinct gas station where a grumpy-old texan man sits and sells stale, 25 cent coffee. Near Shamrock, Texas along I-40 (old route 66).
Cadillac Ranch
The entrance in a farmer’s field fence to the Cadillac Ranch, just West of Amarillo, Texas. People are always permitted to paint and repaint everything here it seems. Today’s sign is “ZEB RA”
A swinging, spring-loaded gate welcomes anyone who drives by into the field dotted with cowpies.
The Cadillac remains in the early Texas morning light. Looking west with the sun.
A cow is witness (sadly for a brief time) at the changes to the paint on the Cadillac carcasses at the Cadillac Ranch. Tomorrow this cow will probably be steaks. I felt sad for him in a way..
