DEAD SKUNK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

It has been a very long week of trial and tribulation. Every indication is that this will be the trend for at least another week, so yesterday was a welcome respite in between these storms.
It started with a pleasant breakfast shared with my son. Then there was a long reflective walk on the Monolith Garden Trail amongst the spires of stone with the quiet comfort of my dearest friend to provide solace.
The afternoon was filled with laughter and family. My son, his fiance, and our six week old grandson stopped by with a surprise, our three year old granddaughter. The transformation from when we last saw here on our last visit a year ago was stunning, as she has become quite the charming young lady.
To round off the perfect day we met with Dale Butel, Route 66 Tours of Australia, the television crew that has been accompanying Grant Denyers (link for great video from the tour) also of Australia, as he explorers the wonders of Route 66, and his charming wife, Cheryl, at the Dambar. Chris Durkin of the Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce, and his wife Daylene, ensured it was a well rounded gathering.
The Aussies began their odyssey in Chicago with a 1979 Cadillac. The game plan at that time was for a Sunday evening reception at the Powerhouse Visitor Center.
The death of the Cadillac near Albuquerque, and permit issues pertaining to filming at the Grand Canyon National Park, tossed their schedule into disarray. As a testimony to the power of the reborn Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce, last minute arrangements were made to have the group film Sunday's segment at the Grand Canyon West Resort.
Problems with equipment resulted in a delay at the canyon which in turn resulted in postponement of the reception at the Powerhouse. This in turn resulted in the impromptu gathering at the Dambar late last evening.
Their schedule for this morning is Oatman and then Las Vegas before returning to Route 66 at Goffs. Their adventure will culminate with a visit to Santa Monica Pier and an interview with the unofficial mayor of the pier, Dan Rice.
Meanwhile, my schedule kicks into high gear. The encyclopedia has languished for several weeks but as this is my day off there are arrangements to finalize for tomorrow, a litany of related loose ends, prints for Christmas gifts to be made, and as the weather is absolutely exceptional, another long walk with my dearest friend this afternoon.
On a final note for the day, did you have the chance to look at the tips and books post this past weekend? What are your thoughts on this as a weekly feature?

TRICKS, TIPS, AND BOOKS

As promised, here are the tips, tricks, and books of the week. We should have something for everyone - gift ideas, travel tips, classic American and British cars, digital photography, and even a bank failure.
Before we get started a quick update for those who have been following the exploits of Dale and Grant, the adventuresome tour guide and irrepressible newscaster from Australia, on their Route 66 odyssey. The Cadillac bit the dust near Albuquerque but as of a couple hours ago they were on the road in a Lincoln.
First on the list is a couple of travel tips. If you find yourself in the Springfield, Missouri area and are searching for quality lodging at a reasonable rate my suggestion would be the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven. Clean, centrally located on a former alignment of Route 66, and, as a bonus, historic with some units dating back sixty years.
Now, a great place to eat. Porto's Bakery & Cafe in Burbank. The swarming crowds were our first hint that this was some place special. The smells of the coffees, the pastries, and the delightful food were second.
We discovered this little gem on our first visit to Auto Books - Aero Books in 2008. Pastries from this wonderful bakery are the treats offered at my favorite book store on Saturday mornings.
On our last trip we decided to brave the chill, grab some lunch at Porto's, and take advantage of the sidewalk seating under towering old trees. After what seemed an eternity of staring at their varied and fascinating menu, we settled on a large plate of Empanada de Pollo.
These almost bite size pastries at $.99 each, washed down with a delicious Horchata and green tea smoothie, were absolutely delicious. I can not vouch for the outlets in Glendale or Downey but as Burbank is becoming a regular stop, we will return to Porto's as I have my eye on trying the Torta de Pollo.
This takes us to books and it would be impossible to mention books but not Auto Books - Aero Books in Burbank. Old books, new books, old magazines, new magazines, on line ordering, they have it all. The bonus to all of this would be to shop on Saturday morning when they offer pastries for Porto's!
All of these books are available through Amazon.com or the publishers website. However, if you want the personal touch, a book store where they remember the customer, don't forget my friends in Burbank.
Okay, the first review of the day is for those who love their classic automotive styling with a British touch. This little gem from Veloce Publishing "The Publisher of Fine Automotive Books" is entitled Art Deco and British Car Design, The Airline Cars of the 1930s.
At 9 7/8 inches by 8 1/8 inches and 144 pages this isn't exactly a coffee table book even though most of the 214 illustrations would lend themselves well to such a publication. No, this is a book for automotive enthusiasts.
Author Barrie Down provides clear, concise histories of the cars and the evolution of their design. The illustrations, color photos, reproduction of vintage advertisement, and even line drawings from the design studios merely add dimension to his informative work.
Now, for a coffee table version of this, but with an American slant, it would be impossible to beat American Auto Legends with stunning museum quality photos by Michael Furman and informative text by Tracy Powell of Automobile Quarterly.
More than 200 hard bound pages of photographs presenting legends of the American auto industry and the intricate details, such as dash boards and emblems, that make these cars true artistic masterpieces. Vintage advertisement and historic photographs add incredible depth to the overall work.
From the 1911 Buick to the LaSalle 303 roadster of 1927, from the 1939 Lincoln Zephyr to the 1969 Corvette Stingray and 2008 Pontiac Solstice, American Auto Legends, Classics of Style and Design chronicles a century of automotive artistry.
For those who seek automotive beauty under the hood, and for those who get so excited they tinkle when presented with the opportunity to get grease under the fingernails while improving on what automobile manufacturers have wrought, I present another great title in the Motorbooks Workshop series. This one is for fans of the diesel engine as it appears in trucks and SUV's.
Authored by Ben Watson who has been an automotive and truck mechanic, as well as instructor, for more than thirty years, Diesel Performance Handbook for Pickups and SUVs is far more than a how to guide for those who wish to tweak an engine. It is a concise, well illustrated, easy to understand course in how to increase horsepower, improve fuel economy, and upgrade intake and exhaust systems.
For the more advanced and serious tinkerer there are also sections on the installation of turbochargers and engine management systems. If you own a diesel powered truck or SUV, enjoy working on it, and want to give it your personal touch under the hood, Diesel Performance Handbook for Pickups and SUVs is a must for the garage library.
The next offering is from the Cartech "How To" series. This particular title is for those interested in making a buck while attending car shows or that just wants to create a wish book of vehicles for the office wall.
How to Digitally Photograph Cars, written by Jason Siu, the former west coast editor for Modified Magazine, and Josh Mackey, a world renowned automotive photographer, will give the rank amateur the confidence to imitate a professional and a professional photographer the tips needed to move the quality of their work up another notch.
The text is concise and informative. The illustrations are crisp with captions that provide the detail on how the photograph was captured. The topics range from static and action photography to photo manipulation, equipment selection, and composition.
As a result, How to Digitally Photograph Cars is a must have title for anyone with more than a passing interest into transforming snap shots at the car show into prize winning artistry.
Last, but not least in the book department is a title I have plugged previously. However, its relative content, and the importance of the subject matter led me to again bring this book to your attention.
If you want a better understanding of how the American financial system functions, without the technical detail, this book is a must read. If you are curious as to how this second Grest depression ends, you might want to read this book.
History that reads as a novel is the highly recommended Breaking the Banks in Motor City, The Auto Industry, The 1933 Detroit Banking Crisis, and the Start of the New Deal by Darwyn Lumley. I suppose you might say it is the ghost of Christmas past that could very well become the ghost of Christmas future.
The last item of the day pertains to the Christmas season, or holiday season for those who prefer a more generic approach to life, I give you some great Christmas ideas for those who long for the open road, specifically a road trip on legendary Route 66. I would also suggest you take a look at the authorized merchandise from Route 66 Chronicles accessed from the Gift Shop tab at the top of the page.

AND THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

It is with child like enthusiasm that I check the "Book Club" section of the website Jay Leno's Garage every day. After twenty years of by lines in prestigious publications, the publication of six books, and countless interviews on television and the radio, I should be able to move beyond that child on Christmas morning feeling that comes with seeing a book climb in the rankings on Amazon or an interview go viral.
Well, it hasn't happened yet and that is why I check every morning. It is not vanity as much as disbelief that fuels the fascination with each publication and each interview. Now, from that perspective, if I struggled with a sense of unreality when a writer from the New Yorker called to get information on the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company as a result of a book I wrote, imagine what will happen when the interviews taped with Jay Leno hit the web.
See, in my mind I am still a kid dreaming of being a writer when I grow up. So, when I end up sitting down with Jay Leno there is a sense of unreality about the whole affair.
To be honest, I hope to never loose this child like wonder. I suppose if that were to happen the adventure of writing would be gone for ever and the awareness of just how blessed I have been would be dulled.
I still have a day job that supports the writing habit. So, I still have away to go before fulfilling the dream.
Meanwhile, I will enjoy the adventure and be amazed when people from Germany or Holland stop by the office, ask for an autograph, and tell me that something I wrote inspired them to make the trip. To know I inspired someone to discover the wonders of Route 66 is a reward in itself!
With all that transpired in 2010, and all that is lurking on the horizon for 2011, there is a quickening in my spirit, a sense that fulfillment of the dream to become a writer is drawing closer. So with eager anticipation I await the release of Ghost Towns of Route 66, continue work on the Route 66 encyclopedia, and lay plans for the project after that.
The lesson I hope to impart to aspiring writers and artists is this, if you have a gift or talent that can transform a dream into a reality pursue it. Suffer the slings and arrows of rejection. Let the joy of the work and the pursuit of the dream become the reward.
If, by chance, you become one of the lucky few who are privileged to live the dream rejoice but never loose the sense of wonder, of awe. Moreover, never forget where you started so you may be of encouragement to those starting on their path to grand adventure.
Don't forget this weekends post. It will be the second weekend for our book reviews and travel tips feature.

DON'T ASK OR I MIGHT TELL

Counted among the lessons learned in more than a half century of wandering this earth is that opinions are like backsides, everybody has one. Now, some folks just have to share theirs as though it was the secret to all the worlds problems. Others have learned to wait until asked.
I am somewhere in the middle. In general I won't share my opinion until asked but be forewarned, if you ask, a response will be forthcoming. The exception to this is the occasional outburst given in response to a massive display of stupidity masquerading as intelligent, informed opinion.
I give this long winded introduction as an explanation for what is about to be written. For most of the past year I have been besieged with requests for thoughts on how to breathe life into Kingman, how to make it a destination rather than a stop, and even urgings to abandon common sense and run for public office.
In an effort to save time, I decided to address these issues as a step by step manual. As always, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts and suggestions.
ONE -
With completion of the depot restoration we link it to the second anchor in the historic district, the Power House Visitor Center and Route 66 Museum. This is accomplished with continuation of the new fencing at the depot, and construction of a gently curved sidewalk linking the two sites that is bordered by a low water, desert botanical garden.
Enhancing this corridor would be the use of vintage neon signage to light the path, informative kiosks providing detail about the signs, and historic markers that provide information about key sites, such as that of the former Harvey House. Now we have continuity that promotes walking rather than driving.
In light of the current economic situation, funding is a joint effort between the Chamber of Commerce, the tourism office, the city, and area businesses. Perhaps we would also be able to obtain some funding from the railroad.
TWO -
We link the third anchor, Locomotive Park. This is accomplished by building a pedestrian bridge from the Power House Visitor Center to the park that appears to be a vintage railroad trestle.
The most expensive aspect of this transformational stage would be conversion and restoration of the caboose. Upon completion this becomes a source of revenue through leasing it as a food kiosk or souvenir concession.
THREE -
The third step is creation of three promotional packages; one for individuals or businesses making inquiries about relocation, one for those that do relocate to the area that is distributed though local truck renting agencies (Penske, Uhaul, Budget) as well as real estate offices, and one for travel journalists.
The latter is key for the development of tourism. Several years ago when I was on assignment in Chattanooga, Tennessee a similar package was presented to me.
It included a 24 hour number for the answering of questions, a discount on my motel room, a coupon book for free or drastically discounted admission to area attractions, brochures from area attractions with contact information, information about availability of public transportation, and samples of local specialties such as Moon Pies, originally developed in that city.
FOUR -
The fourth step would be development of a mural program that serves as a potential fund raiser, masks empty buildings, and that provides a service to business owners. This should also be a relatively reasonable objective that can be funded from numerous sources.
These murals would be painted on plywood. With permission from business owners, these would then be used to cover windows in empty buildings preventing vandalism and enhancing the look of the property.
At the time of the buildings restoration the murals could then be sold. Proceeds could be used to fund the restoration or the program.
Okay, this may be overly simplistic. Does that mean it can't be done? Does that mean it wouldn't serve as a great foundation for the transformation of the community?
Care to share your thoughts? I did ask so...

A TALE OF TWO WIGWAMS AND OTHER DISCOVERIES

In the last post I shared a few of our favorite discoveries. In this post, I would like to share a few of the requests for information received this past year.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO DRIVE ROUTE 66. WHAT SITES CAN BE ACCESSED FROM THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA?
Even though it is not actually on Route 66, I would suggest a visit with Dan Rice on Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. I would also suggest a cruise through Seligman, Arizona, with a stop at Angel's.
The Route 66 Museum in the old Harvey House in Barstow is a good stop. At the opposite end of the complex is a delightful railroad museum.

Route 66 Museum in Kingman, Arizona

The Route 66 Museum in the Powerhouse Visitor Center in Kingman, Arizona would be a great stop. As a bonus, you can cruise a long, scenic section of Route 66 from the Oatman Road exit west of town to the Andy Devine Avenue exit on the east end and stop at Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner for a cold root beer in a frosted glass mug or the Dambar for a hearty dinner.
The Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas is easily accessed. If you don't stop for lunch at least try the pie.
WE HAVE ONLY A WEEKEND. WHAT SITES DO YOU SUGGEST IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA?

Afton Station

Well, if your time is limited, your travels take you to eastern Oklahoma, and you want one stop that encapsulates the Route 66 experience it would have to be Afton Station in Afton. This amazing gift shop/museum/information center manages to capture the very essence of the legendary highway in a vintage gas station.
Of course, what really makes this stop unique is the people. Laurel Kane, Ron Jones, and a few regulars ensure a stop here will fuel a hunger for the Route 66 experience that will soon have you buying guide books and planning a road trip of discovery on America's most famous highway.
WE HAVE NEVER STAYED AT A MOTEL THAT WASN'T PART OF A CHAIN. DO YOU HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS?
The Blue Swallow in Tucumcari. The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. The Rail Haven in Springfield. These are three excellent choices.
However, to really get the feel of a Route 66 adventure its tough to beat the Wigwam Motels, one is in Holbrook and the other in Rialto, California. Though they are derived from the same plans each offers a unique perspective on Route 66.
The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, from its vintage furniture to dusty parking lot, seems frozen in time. Here it is still 1960.
The Wigwam Motel in Rialto is a recreation. The restoration of this property with an attention to detail enables the visitor to experience life on the road when motels such as this were the newest and best. Tasteful intrusions from the modern era such as a flat screen television are the only intrusion into the illusion.
In the following days I will respond to other requests and inquiries. Do you have questions about an adventure on Route 66 or the road less traveled?