Route 66

Route 66 and Beyond

Never thought we would spend so much time in the LV area but now we are on the road to sunny? CA. Sunny – it’s reportedly snowing.

We are now over the 6,000 mile mark on our journey since we started the day before Thanksgiving in the Serendipity. Now driving from LV through a valley surrounded, in the distance by hazy blue then black mountains. Close up there are sprinkles of snow spattered among the creosote bushes along the highway. The bush has small waxy leaves that smell like creosote when crushed but has nothing to do with the synthetic mixture that we in New England associate with the coating on telephone poles.

On our way to Route 66 and Joshua Tree we did a bit of exploring in the Mohave National Preserve. The visitors center here is in the former Canadian Pacific Rail Station at Kelso. The lunch room here is still operating. Kelso was a war time terminal for repairing engines and part of the shipping scene of war time much needed ores and minerals for making ships, aircraft etc. A beautiful Spanish style building. Two very long trains passed by while we were there carrying container cars.

Nearby are the Kelso Sand Dunes and The Hole in the Wall area. The sand dunes can be seen for miles around and when disturbed as one hikes across the ridge, makes a singing sound. The whole park has unusual rock formations and mesas dotting the landscape. In the spring we are told the desert floor blooms with native wild flowers.

We spent a very cold night at Joshua Tree Nat. Park among the unusual looking boulders that are a draw for hikers and rock climbers year round. The park was full of visitors and we were lucky to find a camping spot. The cool temperature inspired us to take a second night next to the Welsher’s in an RV park where we could plug in and enjoy the hot tub after a couple great hikes in the park. We are here another day and then on toward Palm Springs where I hear all the “snowbirds’ are headed. Snow is actually further south near the mountains in the LA region.