![\"20140831_092644\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rootbeertogo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140831_092644-e1409544154679.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\nJoyce on a rock.<\/p>\n
We made a decision to cut off a few miles of the historic route 66 so we could make it to Glendora, CA instead of San Bernadino.\u00a0 Upon exiting JTNP, we took CA-247 NW to Barstow and reconnected with 66.\u00a0 Granddaughter Leah would really have like to travel this road!\u00a0 She likes traveling over the hills where you defy gravity for a fraction of a second.\u00a0 This road was rolling hills over the undulating terrain of the Mojave desert.\u00a0 It was a beautiful drive!<\/p>\n Barstow at 11:30 AM.\u00a0 We tried to find a geocache here, but were unsuccessful.\u00a0 Did get some photos of a Harvey House hotel and an old iron bridge still in service today.\u00a0 Other places we passed through were:<\/p>\n Lenwood Just before reaching Oro Grande, we paced a BNSF train for a couple of miles.\u00a0 Joyce couldn’t resist rolling down the window and waving at the engineer until she got\u00a0a toot from the train’s horn.\u00a0 What fun! Between Victorville and San Bernadino we exited to take an older section of 66 through the mountains.\u00a0 It was an area called the Blue Cut and was built as a 4 lane in 1931 and was an improvement over the earlier alignment.\u00a0 We found a virtual geocache there.\u00a0 When we got ready to return to I-15 the on ramp was closed and we had a detour.\u00a0 This required a return to I-15N for about 10 miles to get back on (-15S.\u00a0 Construction!<\/p>\n San Bernadino <\/strong>resulted in a visit to McDonalds–something Joyce swore she’d never do, but in this case insisted that we stop.\u00a0 Of course, this was the original site of the McDonalds restaurant.<\/p>\n Rialto <\/strong>(passed the other Wigwam Motel without hardly blinking!) We had wind in our hair most of the morning and only switched to A\/C around 2 PM for a while.\u00a0 Later in the day (after dinner at the Buffalo Inn) we changed back to wind in our hair.\u00a0 It was nice driving in the morning and early evening.<\/p>\n Glendora<\/strong> was the stop for the night.<\/p>\n Tomorrow we get to Santa Monica and the\u00a0end of Route 66.\u00a0 We\u00a0plan on starting our return drive almost immediately.\u00a0 We still have no plan for that part of the journey other than we will be in Salt Lake City to visit with Jeannie, Mark and Riley for a few days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Well, we got an early stat today (8 AM) as we wanted to see the other side of Joshua Tree National Park. We drove from the East entrance to the West entrance a distance of about 12 miles.\u00a0 Our objective was to visit the “Hidden Valley” area.\u00a0 We arrive at the parking area about 9 … Continue reading Almost to Santa Monica, CA<\/span> <\/a><\/p>\n
\nHodge
\nHelendale<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOro Grande (<\/strong>here we stopped to take some photos of a place that had been there since 1929–the Iron Hog Saloon.\u00a0 We didn’t go in!!
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\nVictorville <\/strong>(got lost in this town due to unclear instructions and heavy traffic.\u00a0 a small detour got us back on track.\u00a0 We had to take about 20 miles of I-15 after Victorville)<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nFontana <\/strong>(saw Bono’s Historic Orange\u00a0 (shaped) drink stand.\u00a0 Closed.)
\nRancho Cucamanga
\nUpland <\/strong>(we stopped for a Buffalo Burger at the Buffalo Inn)
\nClaremont
\n<\/strong>
\nDriving across the desert one is reminded of how large the country is. There were many changes in the scenery and vegetation as we made our way.\u00a0 Traffic was never a problem until we got to the larger cities.\u00a0 Then urban sprawl and heavy traffic made for slow driving.\u00a0 Another thing, you don’t have to mow lawns out in the desert!\u00a0 Of course, I can’t imagine what possesses people to live in this environment anyway.\u00a0 I’m sure they would say the same about Wilmington though.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n