Barstow & Our Start to Route 66

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 Barstow, CA                                                       Sept. 1. 2020 

I apologize for this wonky post today, the platform kept doing its own thing, mom and I couldn't figure it out?

We got a much later start than normal since it’s only 123 miles to Barstow, CA. We will be in very early, giving us plenty of time to unhook, unwind and clean up before driving around Barstow to explore.


As we headed out of San Bernardino we ended up on the Mojave Highway, Route 15 N among towering, rolling sage green, and ochre mountains consisting of various desert grasses, bushes, succulents, rocks and rock outcropping. Although the roads, train tracks and power lines indicated civilization, we didn’t see much in the way of housing, farms or ranches. It’s far too barren and rugged for much to survive. 

We spotted another fire off in the distance...too awful!

 

There are a few desert towns scattered here and there along this route, but you have to like it hot and dry. In the town of Hesperia, we started seeing the sculptural, Dr Seuss like Joshua Trees. 


  
This image came from the Joshua Tree National Park


Along our way, Victorville claimed a Route 66 connection, but mom’s research hadn’t heard of it? She checked it out and realized we had missed these funky sites...



We missed another California Route 66 Museum. 

Oh Shucks!!! It turns out we missed Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch!  too...


This image was posted by a French visitor...
Judging by these photos, mom would have really enjoyed this funky place...

Here is Elmer in the middle of all his creations...this image was from one of the many articles about him and his magical place...


We arrived at the Barstow/Calico KOA around 1 PM, and as predicted, it was 100 degrees. We scrambled to get setup and cooled down as quickly as we could, before heading to Barstow to see the sights...



It turns out Barstow and the surrounding areas were all mining towns for silver, borax and other minerals. Other than the Barstow Harvey House, the wall murals all over town, and it's fancy Route 66 signage; we can't say we were impressed. 


We were more impressed by how many song lyrics have  Barstow in them. Mom, dad and I were shocked how many there were besides “Route 66”. Loved this story mom found about the creation of the song Route 66, and other songs...


It turns out John Mayer was one of the many who sang, “Route 66”. 

Sheryl Crow’s, song, “Leaving Las Vegas” mentioned Barstow as well. “

...Used to be I could drive up to

Barstow for the night

Find some crossroad trucker

To demonstrate his might

But these days it seems

Nowhere is far enough away

So I'm leaving Las Vegas today...”


Route 66 Mother Road Museum   Barstow Harvey House. 

Stunning architecture even today...


After a bit of research we found our second California ghost town, Calico.



Mom and dad decided to go to this town, Calico Ghost Town ..."is an old West mining town that has been around since 1881 and was abandoned in the mid-1890s after silver lost its value. The town that once gave miners a good living lost its hustle and became a “ghost town.”

Walter Knott purchased Calico in the 1950’s architecturally restoring all but the five original buildings to look as they did in the 1880’s. Calico received State Historical Landmark 782 and in 2005 was proclaimed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California’s Silver Rush Ghost Town.

Today, Calico is part of the San Bernardino County Regional Parks system, which is visited by people from across the country and from all over the world. Along with its history and attractions, Calico Ghost Town has shops, restaurants and offers camping, hiking and off-roading." 

The only thing that impressed me about this town was these crazy birds called Chukar partridges. (They were brought over from Pakistan for sport hunters.) 

When mom and dad wouldn't let me go get them...I was happy to get back in our air conditioned truck and drink some water. After all, it was 105 degrees out. I saw on it on our radio! We decided to go to Rainbow Basin after Calico Ghost Town.  

Rainbow Basin Natural Area, Mom read to us this description from the US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management. 

"...Rainbow Basin has a diverse landscape of hills, canyons and washes. Multicolored rock walls and mesas are accented by changing light conditions, making for many photographic opportunities. The washes are good hiking trails for experiencing the area's natural beauty.

Wildlife viewing is best during early morning and evening hours. In Fossil, Coon, and Owl Canyons, birds tend to gather in thick vegetation. 

The Fossil Canyon Loop Road is an interesting route for vehicle touring. This one-way narrow dirt road is best driven with a high clearance or four-wheel drive vehicles..."


We understood why after driving the road...Thankfully, we made it through and the scenery was breathtaking views...



As so many reviews stated, photos don't do it justice!!!



 Mom's Joshua tree shots...


If you haven't figured it out by now, mom doesn't see things like the rest of us...


 As we were leaving the basin, mom saw these tiny, sparkling white blooms on these bushes...


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