This week was going to be trekking to South Korea and Japan. As world events unfolded the destination changed a few times until it was a solo trip to fill in the map in Montana and the Dakotas.
Then a week beforehand Aimee asked me if we could drive to her place in Palm Springs. While I would fly, she can’t to follow DHS guidelines for her business. Having not been there for the usual monthly visit since early March (when I was skiing Colorado) she wanted to close the house down for the summer.
This brings up two challenges:
1) Not many places to fill in the map on the way.
2) While the closest thing to a happy place is in a rental car seeing the greatest-country-in-the-world, or a foreign land...Aimee hates driving.
So I hoped for her to see some great American sites!
Before & After
Saturday, May 23rd, 2020
Up at 4AM, on the road at 5.
I’ve done three weekends over the years seeing the Lincoln sites in Springfield. Aimee got a sample of it since everything was closed; me regaling her with the bio of the great man.
The Old State Capitol with Lincoln Herndon Law Offices in the background.
Though facing financial challenges due to declining visitors, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum does a fantastic job tracing the life and times of our first Republican President.
This corner building on the second floor is where he practiced law.
Fourpeating the traditional self-timer pic in front of a state capitol.
The Lincolns lived here from 1844 until 1861 when they left for Washington.
To actually tour it is humbling walking in the footsteps of the Great Emancipator.
Fourth time in St. Louis.
Always an impressive engineering marvel.
Always love old train stations so went over to the 1894 Union Station knowing it had a few food options and it was a challenge finding anything open.
The interior is a hotel and small mall with the old shed housing a few restaurants, Ferris wheel, museum and stores.
Way down I-44 in Rolla it was Bumbleberry and Peach.
Tulsa, Oklahoma. Already explored.
Sapulpa
Sunday, May 24th, 2020
Staying in Oklahoma’s Bricktown district allowed more exploring during the morning run than a past visit allowed.
This former warehouse district now houses themed restaurants, a movie theatre, ballpark, mini golf, boat rides and boutiques.
Downtown Oklahoma City.
On April 19th, 1995 a fertilizer bomb ripped open the front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building taking 168 souls.
The worst act of domestic terrorism also injured 680, damaged 324 buildings, shattered glass in 258 buildings and destroyed 86 cars.
The Memorial is a serene homage with touching symbolism.
Aimee, “Oh god.”
I think, “I love this place already.”
Decades of history.
Fry and Eggs.
She couldn't believe I ordered it from the abundance of carbs and fat.
After numerous offers for her to try it and explaining chicken fried steak is steak and not chicken, she relented and then joined me in praising the well-seasoned craggy thick batter encapsulating luscious meat and the textbook biscuits.
The Stafford Air and Space Museum outside of Weatherford. That is a Lockheed F-104C Starfighter, the first aircraft to do twice the speed of sound and ability to go over 100,000 feet!
And that is a A-10 Thunderbolt II (known as the Warthog), Gemini capsule and T-33. The Warthog’s canon fires 70 rounds per second that are the size of bottles and can penetrate 3” armor. With seven rotating barrels that is 4,200 per minute!
Seeing Weatherford’s Route 66 again.
Having seen a billboard for Whataburgers’ Dr. Pepper Shake someone had tunnel vision.
Amarillo, already explored.
Cadillac Ranch. Been here, but really, how cool are these roadside attractions?!
It was created in 1974 and moved to a more accessible location in 1997.
Though on private property, visiting is encouraged and even spray painting.
Western Oklahoma.
The greatness of America is incomprehensible.
Santa Fe is a favorite time and this fifth time was...
...a bummer.
New Mexico is still shut down so it didn’t have the usual energy and activity.
I was even here on a cold November day and restaurant waits were an hour.
5 & Dime was a rare open business, but didn’t have any of their famous Frito Pies. She almost cried.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi built in 1886.
Wanted to see Route 66 in Albuquerque again.
Standard Diner was open for takeout.
Deviled Egg Cobb and she went with Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with Onion-Bacon Jam with Truffle Tries.
Western New Mexico.
Was happy to see Gallup again to relish in the nostalgia of Route 66.
Monday, May 25th, 2020
Ever visit somewhere and think you didn’t give it enough of a look? Today that was remedied with more time at these Arizona cities.
Flagstaff.
Drive to Sedona.
Sedona Uptown
View from Sedona looking SW.
On this Memorial Day, God bless those who served.
Horsey!
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
Looked and smelled great!
Coffee Pot Restaurants offers 101 omelettes.
I went with Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana since...well, when do you see that? Aimee had a Waffle with Ice Cream and Strawberries.
Cottonwood. These sidewalks were once wooden.
Clarkdale
Jerome hangs on a mountainside.
Three streets serpentine.
There was once a major copper mine near here that yielded 3 million pounds a month.
Making Jerome the third largest city in Arizona with 15,000 in the 1920s.
Today 450 residents cater to tourists.
I loved the town since, while for tourists, still retained its rough edges.
You could still see the ripples of the past.
Blackberry Crumble and Oatmeal Cream Pie gelato.
Leaving Jerome.
Prescott, on the favorite towns list.
It was great to see all the folks ambling about.
It’s the perfect amalgamation of visually stunning architecture, courthouse square, landscaping and active downtown.
Look at the Masonic Temple and Prescott National Bank!
Another bank and the Elk Theatre and Opera.
Have a story about staying here years ago. These are the great hotels to find- an old hotel given a new lease on life with public spaces restored to their former glory and guest rooms updated to luxurious. In this 1927 jewel I had checked into my well-appointed room, settled into the plush bed with high thread count sheets and shut my eyes. Then I had the sensation of a presence in the room. "Hmmm, it is an old hotel." Fell into slumber and forgot about it. Morning run around town, shower and headed out. While waiting to check out I picked up a brochure about the history of this great building which had a sidebar on the back page. Faith was there on her honeymoon. Her new husband went out to get cigarettes (as it was in those days) and when he didn't come back in 3 days Faith lost her faith and hung herself. Hers is one of a few ghosts reported.
The second location of Goldwater's Department store opened in 1937. Morris Goldwater started the chain in 1910 and his grandson Barry Goldwater worked in the family business before becoming a Senator, conservative icon and 1964 nominee for President.
Aimee, “What pandemic.”
1870s saloon.
Leaving Prescott.
Dropping into Prescott Valley.
Blythe, California.
Pulled up to her neighborhood’s gate at 5:45PM. Whew. 2,185 miles in 3 days.
Tuesday, May 26th, 2020
Morning run.
Brought two monitors (just small 19”), docking station, keyboard and mouse and worked 9 hectic hours on the kitchen island.
Dinner at Pokehana.
Pool time. Then work some more.
Wednesday, May 27th, 2020
Morning run.
Worked the morning and then headed to downtown Palm Springs while making a couple of deviations.
Palm Springs is home to the world’s largest collection of Modernism. I don’t care for this architecture style, but love it for Palm Springs. Racquet Estates is a development of well-maintained Modernism built 1959 to 1962. Loved it.
Frank Sinatra’s house from 1947 to 1957.
Downtown Palm Springs. It was 108 degrees.
Lunch at LULU California Bistro.
They had just opened for limited dine-in. We sat on the sidewalk. Well, on chairs on the sidewalk.
We were both disappointed in the meals and service. Oh wells.
Went to Monster Shake for a Cotton Candy Explosion.
Cotton candy milkshake, homemade vanilla icing, whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles, fruit flavor marshmallows, cotton candy and rainbow lollipop.
“How much further will I have to run tomorrow?”
Yep, worked some more, then pool time.
Thursday, May 28th, 2020
Morning run.
Worked 9 hours, and then pool volleyball! She won 2 out of 3.
Then worked.
Friday, May 29th, 2020
Morning run. Then worked.
Closed up the house.
On the road, past Palm Springs, up through Yucca Valley and into the vast desert.
In Twentynine Palms...and they didn't even have jelly!
Past Joshua Tree the standard of living was, um....
Heading north the vistas were vast.
Route 66 in Amboy. How cool?!
So much overpopulation.
And traffic was ridiculous.
Across the Mojave Desert.
Always cracks me up how there is a wall of casinos at the Nevada state line.
In yet another strip mall in sprawling Las Vegas is a Bulgarian restaurant featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
She went with Pelmeni and I Thracian Clay Pot.
Has anyone else seen the "From the Ground Up" documentary on YouTube about the Raiders stadium construction narrated by Mike Rowe?
We've both been many times, her way more.
It was dead.
Sidewalks and pedestrian overpasses usually packed with people were vacant.
And new construction continues. We were trying to figure out what was here...nothing? It is just short of Circus Circus (how ancient is that place?).
She prides herself on the list of luxurious Vegas hotels she's stayed at. So near downtown I was all, "Did you stay at that MOTEL? How about that one?!"
And downtown was dead.
Heading out of Nevada.
Zion National Park, Utah.
Always regret not spending more time here during a past visit.
But yet again, we didn't have much time.
Bryce Canyon National Park.
One of my favorite of the NPs.
Saturday, May 30th, 2020
Second time in Moab, which I debated is the 2nd most important area for mountain biking. Mount Tamalpais is definitely number one.
When I went into bike shops to drool, Aimee was, "I'll sit outside here and look at my phone".
This shop had some antiques (though I'm still older...). That is a Joe Breezer designed with chromoly frame, XT CENTER PULL brakes, look at the narrow GUMWALL tires and Manitou fork. Behind it is a FS Stumpjumber, must be first generation full suspension.
Um, yeah.
A travel expert, me, years ago named highway 128 one of the most beautiful drives in America.
What do you think?
Heading out of Utah.
And into Colorado.
Grand Junction had the right formula.
Charm,
old architecture,
and beautiful landscaping.
Lunch was at Cafe Sol. My healthy and bountiful salad had banana bread croutons. She had quiche and a side salad. Then across the street for Watermelon and Root Beer Float gelato.
Then back on I-70 that has been driven so many times over the decades.
And past the ski resorts, most of which I've done including several just 11 weeks ago.
NE Colorado.
The Rainbow Bridge outside of Fort Morgan is a 1923 concrete arch that is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks and the National Register of Engineering Landmarks.
Fort Morgan, how fantastic!
Sunday, May 31st, 2020
After staying in North Platte, traversed across Nebraska.
Runza is a local chain of sandwiches stuffed with ground beef, seasonings, cabbage and onion.
Elk Horn, Iowa has the largest Danish population in America.
In the late 70s, after visiting his homeland, a local farmer initiated a crusade to bring a windmill to town. (Notice Aimee posing.)
Kimballton
Beautiful America.
Guthrie Corner
Panora
Intricate courthouse, main street USA, brick streets...Adel has it all.
And they also had an ice cream shop. That is Sea Turtle.
