A semi-spur-of-the-moment decision took Linda and me sideways through California and Arizona on old Route 66. One stretch we were hoping to drive through in the Mojave desert was closed due to flooding, but we found plenty of the historic route to keep us satisfied. Starting in Victorville, we cruised Route 66 up to Barstow. On the way we visited Elmer’s Bottle Tree Farm in Helendale, CA. Elmer Long, who lives there, began his metal and bottle landscape in 2002, and he lets visitors on to his property 24/7 to enjoy a quirky but beautiful art display. We didn’t get to meet Elmer. We were there at sunrise and we think he was probably still asleep.

Our next stretch of 66 was just over the Arizona border, from the Colorado River through Oatman and on to Kingman. Oatman was a lucrative gold mining town in the early 20th century. Today it’s claim to fame is that it’s on Route 66 and wild burros walk main street waiting for handouts. That night we stayed in Kingman at The Hilltop Motel, a fading old place on Route 66. Let’s just say it’s glory days are behind it.

On day 2 we headed east, then south on a long detour loop through Prescott, Jerome, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. Check out my Grandmother’s old house that overlooked the expanse of the Verde Valley. Way back, as a kid I would hang out on that big porch and watch lightening displays down in the valley during monsoon storms.

Our 2nd night was at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ.  Extreme kitch but in a cool way. Great old cars planted in the parking lot -- and surprisingly nice rooms. That was where we spent Halloween Night.

On day 3 we toured Petrified Forest NP and Painted Desert then headed back west to Flagstaff.  We had a beer and watched a bit of USC football at a nice sports bar, got rained on a bit, and then headed on to the Stagecoach 66 Motel in Seligman, AZ. Seligman lies on the eastern edge of one the longest (and most scenic) remaining uninterrupted stretches of Route 66.

The next day we meandered leisurely west while mostly managing to avoid I-40. We approached Joshua tree from the east through a beautiful, undulating desert landscape and made our evening home at The Joshua Tree Inn.  This motel was a musician and hippie hangout in the 60’s and 70’s. Notable guests included Donovan, Keith Richards, Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons, who passed away in his room there in 1973. The Gram Parsons room was booked on the night of our stay. Oh well. There is a pretty courtyard here where in the old days guitars came out late at night around the campfire and Jack Daniels and mushrooms were passed around.  I think it still happens sometimes. On our night all there was was crazy loud Doors music playing in the room next to ours.  At least they had good taste in music!

I wrote "Mother Road" to commemorate our little trip.