Who Needs 12 Hours of TV Ads?

 Or did they score a lot of baskets?

Ah yes, time for our annual Stupid Bowl Drive! 

This year's eschewing of the Big Lame got the SoCal Citroen (and a few assorted oddities) getting our kicks on Rt. 66. We all met at the Denny's in Arcadia, got the usual EXCELLENT sandwiches at Claros, stood around, gabbed, and finally left about 10:30, headed east on the 210 Freeway. 

Chuck and Tina FINALLY arrive! 

Stewat's lovely Safari...so THAT'S what they're suppose to look like? 

Robert's neat SM

And since no 2CVs showed, we had Nate's token 36hp Bug...we warned him the the French resistance might sabotoge it! 

SNOW!

The mountains were spectacular, covered in snow from the previous week's Atmospheric River. Just glad the snow is on the mountains, where those who wish, can play in it and us flatlanders don't have to cope. It's bad enough in the rain, can you imagine SoCal freeways hit with SNOW???

North on the 15 (the Devore Cutoff) and exit at Glen Helen, up over a hill, then left of Cajon Blvd, aka Rt. 66. This is a short stretch of the Auld Road that is a famous spot for rail fans to gather and watch BNSF and UP fight the grade. 

We all caught up at Cajon Station (Cajon Blvd and Cleghorn) where yer's truley regaled the crowd with a bit of history of Cajon Pass. 

Cajon Station

The miscellany 

The Froggy Cars

Talk about a motley (or is it moldy?) crew! 

And of course, the Award Wining Yellow Submarine! 

I'm in Lecture Mode, delivering words of wisdom...or something...

Bunny Ears are manditory! 

ok, withpout 'em.

From there it was back on the 15, right into a massive traffic jam! Wait a minute, you're screaming! This is one of the best days for Road Trippin'! What's with the traffic?

Seems it was only heavy to the 138 off ramp. Skiers figured it would be a good day to hit the slopes! WHEW! Just past the off ramp, it was smooth sailing up over the summit and on to Victorville. Poor Nate (our token VW friend and his 36hp Bug) REALLY struggled to get to the top. He should get a 2CV! Oh, wait...

One of our Gallant Crew, David and his lovely white DS21 had contacted me, asking to be told when we got back on the 15 so he could join us from his home in Hesperia. Marianne called him as we left, and MAN did he time it well. Just before Victorville, I look over and here's a white DS coming down the on ramp right in front of me! Talk about timing! 

We got off at D St. in Victorville and left at the end of the ramp. This is more of Old 66, and a lovely drive. 

We cruised along and stopped at Elmer's Bottle Ranch. Luckily, the gate was open, so we could wander in and gawp at this wonderful art installation created by Elmer Long, a classic old Desert Rat in 2000 (who knew, most think it's MUCH older) and is a quirky collection of steel "trees" with old bottles stuck on and other welded junk (saw blades, old rifles, dummy bombs, typewriters, army helmets, and Stuff). It's a true Roadside Attraction that harks back to an earlier time. 

I even left our mark. it seems the thing to do. 

Tina and Robert chat amongst the detritus cum art.

Caitlin and Tyler...he's NEVER Road Tripped before! 

The Line Up, eagerly waiting to Hit the Road

I used to take my students along this stretch of 66 as a field trip and they'd always ask, "Mr. McCarthy, what do people DO out here? It's so LONELY!" My answer? "ANYTHING THEY WANT TO!" Clearly Elmer enjoyed doing his own thing. 

We finally hit Barstow and turned left at 1st St. to cross the tracks on the old bridge to the train station and our final destination, the Rte. 66 Mother Road Museum and El Deserito, the Barstow Harvey House and train station. 

At the Rt 66 Mother Road Museum

And, of course, TRAINS! 

The interior of El Deserito is amazing!! 

Now THAT'S a chandelier!

Amazing sconces! 

A lovely, relaxing place. 

The museum is a neat little place run by Debra Hodkin and local volunteers. I'd take my students there on the field trip as well, and (I'm about to blush) almost 20 years later, Debra still remembers me and my students as the BEST group they've ever had! 

We all poked around the museum, ate our sandwiches, then looked in on the Harvey House. It was deeded to the city years ago, and they spent a bunch of money renovating it, then, just as they finished, the 7.2 Landers earthquake (Landers isn't far from Barstow) damaged the building, forcing the city to re-restore it. 

Now, the city has always had dreams of making El Deserito a Destination Hotel and High End Restaurant...in Barstow...yeah...

Poor Barstow. Populated mostly by retired Military and other pensioners...people who don't have the money for High End Dining. It's also too far off the interstates and not fast food for people going to and from Lost Wages. It's a shame, as the place is GORGEOUS! 

We also browsed around in the railroad museum there which has a lot of Santa Fe memorabilia. 

Finally, it was time the head for the barn, and fight the typical Sunday Returning from Vegas traffic...or not. Remember the Stupid Bowl was IN Vegas this year (giving better access to gamblers...sigh) so THAT whole crowd wouldn't be hitting the road until Monday! The drive was a breeze. We just chugged along and got home about 5PM.

All-in-all, a great day out, perfect weather, light traffic, good friends, good food, great roads and old cars. What more could you ask for?

Waltzing into the New Year

 1-2-3...1-2-3...

Or for the less quick witted out there in Readerland- 12/31/23? 

OK, no my Resolutions for the New Year do NOT include anything about telling fewer or better jokes. In fact, in order to not disappoint myself, I don't make resolutions. I'll just keep on being the same delightful curmudgeon you've all come to know and love. 

Now,  down to Road Trippin' Business:

First, a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

Constant Reader will recall we were "honored" to have received the "Worst of Show" award at the Concours d'LeMons last August. Well, in a follow up, the corrupt disorganizers held a nationwide poll to see which of the cars at their three events was the Worst of the Worst. Buy a WHOPPING 60% of the vote, The Yellow Submarine was the overwhelming WINNER! Yes, fellow nutjobs, it is confirmed...Your's Truley is Officially the Weirdest of the Weird! Someday, they may actually send me a "trophy" of some kind. Our thanks to those of you who voted for us...and remember...we know where most of you live. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpv8wybHris

We also have a video of The Cruise on Youtube! Check it at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLFADyHITHw

So, to continue...On New Year's Eve, when thoughts of Auld Lang Syne are ringing in one's ears, 

I never promised the humor would improve...

Let us do some Car Stuff. We had a triple-header lined up for the day, Carcadia (last Sunday of each month in Arcadia), The Horseless Carriage Drive Kick-Off Gathering, and the Cruise Colorado hijinx. 

Carcadia? Well, no one told us it was cancelled so we dutifully showed up at the obligatory Buttcrack of Dawn and some beverages and eats at the usual GotBucks Coffee place. I'd managed to coax Marianne to rise and "shine" and join me for this Triple Crown of Auto-topia, and we arrived to find an empty parking lot. Sigh. So, we ate, and woke up a bit. 

At least the sunrise was spectacular! From there, we tootled over to Santa Anita Park (not the racetrack...the park in Arcadia on Huntington Drive) for the Gathering. 

This is a yearly event and attracts the coolest Auld Stuff around. I'm talkin' Pre-War (as in The Great War) Cars as well as a fine assortment of others. The Drive is open only to cars earlier than the mid-30s and NO Hot Rods. The collection of really cool stuff is amazing. They set out on their own cruise through Pasadena and Altadena that's a bit of a challenge for cars and people. It's COLD on NYE in Pasadena! One year, I had the priviage of riding with Stan Lucas in his Crane-Simplex. A lovely old boat that pulled the Lake Ave. Hill in top gear...talkd about Low End Torque! 

Heres some of this years crop of Auld Crates: 

We even had The Yellow Submarine decked out with my annual Christmas Greeting...

All I can say about this car is "WELL!" 

LOW AND SLOW! 

Multipla!!! 

Neat little Wolsey! 

The height of luxury! 

One of Gary Wales beasts! 

The Bentley Boys showed up! 

A real Doozie! 

I'm sure you'll agree, an eclectic mix of marvelous machinery! 

From the Horseless folk, we made our way to Pasadena, in the lot next to what used to be Sears (the irony that the original Mail Order Giant was felled by the modern version...adapt or die) and the now annual Cruise Colorado. 

Now, it my mis-spent youth, it was of course THE thing to cruise up and down the Rose Parade Route, just because. We ALL did it. It just happened. We crept along, laughing at the freezing hoards until the PPD closed Colorado Blvd. at midnight. Guys would run open exhaust pipes and chirp tires knowing that the cops could do buggerall about it. 

Now, of course, it's more organized. Kinda. Lots of different car clubs and motorcycle guys will do it together. VWs are the most numerous, but there's a huge variety. And of course, there were two lonely Citroens. The Yellow Submarine, and Le Grand Charles' Grenouille-Cicle Mehari. Sadly, SOMEONE and his Slough-Built, right-hand drive, RNZAF blue Traction Avant felt that sleeping in was more important...puh. 

Anyway, here's some photos of the fun: 

Le Grand Charles et Tina

We even hit my old neighborhood! 

The Eternal, Quintessential Pasadena View.

A good time was had by all and I was thankful that years of bus driving made my left leg strong enough to creep through the traffic. We wound up the day at Lucky Baldwin's for a pint of Guinness and a Steak and Mushroom Pie. Just the right end to a great day.