Hello from Amarillo!

I'm still trying to adjust to, what do we call it? Miata Lag? Two time zones in two days has kept me a little behind the 8-ball. I am hoping that tomorrow I can get with the program.

Dinner and comfy bed last night with Ron and Laura Harvey in Las Vegas, NM, a fascinating little town. Pretty much passed over by "progress" and, as a result, remains relatively intact from a century ago. It seems that the cuisine has not suffered in Las Vegas, however. Dinner last night included bacon and gorgonzola fondue (as an appetizer, no less!) followed by chicken and pasta in even more gorgonzola. Redundant, yes, but ever-so-nummy. So yummy in fact, that this morning's breakfast choice was oatmeal. Trying to be nice to Tommy's Tummy tonight.

Adding to my list of Twisties Not to be Missed, I took Route 104 southeast out of Las Vegas to Tucumcari. Wonderful vistas, and, not to beat a dead horse, but lonely-wise, it was right up there. This is a view from the road. Whatever that is down in the valley (the valley so low) that looks like the road, isn't.

I paid the obligatory visit to the Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo. I was hoping to get a picture of Bergy next to what's left of the Cadillacs, but they are planted maybe 100 yards from the road. I'm pretty sure that Bergy is glad he's not planted nose down in a Texas prairie.

Everything is graffitied. Everything, even the dirt. And in Texas, it is likely that Maria will last a long time.

Route 66 is famous for its outsized, um, everything: dinosaurs, cowboys, et ceteras. We stopped to consider what is purported to be the largest cross in the western hemisphere. It was big, but is it more powerful than a small cross held in the hand of a true believer? So why do people build these things?

Or the big cowboy just down the road at the Cadillac Ranch RV park and gift shop and, I assume, anything else that can turn a buck from tourists who come to see what's left of the real thing.  Turns out that he was a "Second Amendment Cowboy," whatever that is. Maybe all this bigness is a form of shouting, or typing in all caps. Whatever it is, there's a lot of it.

Drying Out in Gallup, NM

Tonight I find myself in Gallup, staying at El Rancho Hotel. (This is not it.) Built in 1937, it has played host to many movie stars of times gone by. Each room is named for one star. I am in the Richard (Have Gun Will Travel) Boone room. Only William Bendix stands between me and Jane Fonda's room. Kitch aside, it is a very nice place with rustic railings, heavy furniture, and Southwest motifs everywhere.

If you want a true taste of old Route 66, the road east of Oatman serves up a hearty meal. Twisties galore, on a par with Mulholland Highway, but narrower and in worse repair. Fortunately, zero traffic in either direction. But, again, I can't imagine doing that road in an overloaded Model T.

Nor could I pass up a visit to the Meteor Crater. People can cast aspersions at traveling and spending money to see a big hole in the ground, but I thought it was worthwhile, certainly as close as I'll ever come to being in a moonscape.

I did find a nice laundromat after I arrived in Gallup, where I washed and dried my tent, sleeping bag, pad, etc. after last night's deluge, so everything's back to normal. It was a beautiful campsite, and the tent did perform admirably in keeping me dry, I could almost say it gave its all in protecting me. It's good to know the little tent is up to the task.

This afternoon, Bergy went topless. The temperature has dropped and the onnagain-offagain rain was mostly offagain. So after I visited Petrified Forest, the big sky country was just that, and just beautiful.

Tomorrow, it's off to Las Vegas, NM to visit friends Laura and Ron Harvey, and my soon-to-be friend, their dog, Fred Harvey.

Onward!

Where's Tommy?

Last night, Thor, Bergy, and I camped at Fort Tuthill County Park just south of Flagstaff, AZ. I clearly mis-read the lay of the campsite, as a small river ran directly under my tent. Soggy City. At least the lightning didn't get to me. No WiFi at the park, so no post. I'm having lunch at Petrified Forest NP where there's petrified wood and WiFi. I'll be in Gallup, NM this afternoon and will post more from there.

On the Road Again!

It's funny how the same span of time can fly along quickly, and then at the same time seem to be long. Understand? I had a wonderful viddddit with my sister who is very good to me. Looking back to when I first arrived at her place, it seems like ages ago, yet, where did the time go?  We traveled from San Jose down the coast had a birthday party for me and my nephew Beto, Spent some time with Beto's family, Went to Malibu, and introduced Bergy to Mulholland Highway (everyone should meet Mulholland,) visited a Krispy Kreme parking lot where Bill Wilner of Miata Roadster installed a quick-shifter kit for me (more anon) went to Santa Monica Mountains (twice) fixed a few things around the house, visited the Griffith Observatory (everything I dreamed) and on and on and on.... Wonderful times

Now I have taken the first bite from my return-trip pie and am staying at The Lodge on the River in Bullhead City, Arizona. It's just up the road from Needles, California, the perennial national hotspot. Today did not disappoint, with a high of 109. OK, folks, it's late September, let's move along. Some weather-guessers are predicting rain in Arizona in the coming days. I think I remember rain.... Wet, wasn't it?

Taking a Break

As you may have noticed, I have been taking a bit of a break from blogging. I am not doing much traveling and am pretty much hunkered down avoiding the Southern California heat wave. It is due to break on Thursday, with highs in the mid-80s instead of the 100-plusses. I'm all for that.

Tomorrow I'm having lunch with Jamie Cabral, a friend from Greece (My, don't we sound exotic?) who works at Santa Monica Mountains. And maybe Amy Lethbridge, another Greek sojourner. We all attended the NAI international conference in Athens a few years ago.

Friday I'll be meeting up with Bill Wilner from MiataRoadster who is going to install his short-shifter upgrade in Bergy. It's supposed to be a great upgrade. We'll be meeting at the weekly KINOD Miata meet at the Krispy Kreme in City of Industry, CA. Mine will be the Miata that is not slammed.

My journey east will commence on September 25th. Leaving Gullyforneia (as Governor Ahnold would say) and heading through Needles, the perennial national hotspot. It supposed to be only 106 when I pass through. I'll keep you posted.

If you need an adrenaline rush, here is an article about a ride-along with Brian Goodwin in his NC Miata, the same Miata I was in for a couple of hot laps. Amazing! You're here. And then you're not.

LA, Day 3

OK, I'm beginning to get my feet under me again. Being in one place for more than a day is a good thing every now and then. Hotter than blazes here though. 99 last I checked at about 4:45 p.m. And I don't want to hear any of that "dry heat" crap. Gimme Monterey or San Jose any day.

Bergy got a bath this afternoon. There is a coin-op wash just a few blocks away. I've beenin touch with Bill Wilgus at MiataRoadster who is going to come over and install a quick-shift kit for Bergy. Supposedly a wonderful upgrade.I'll let you know how it performs on the trip back east

The drought appears in odd ways. Through the Valley, there seemed to be a lot of water flowing through sprinklers and aquaducts. Agriculture gets a pass, I suppose. But many businesses have instituted very strict "customers only" policies for bathrooms, and many, including Hearst Castle, (A California State Park) are using chemical toilets in lieu of watery toilets. Watering is permitted on alternate days. It is dry. Laguna Seca was a dust bowl. I guess car wash water gets reused.

Here are some photos that I had not had time to post until now.

 Bergy in The Valley, Near Hollister, CA

Most expensive gas on the trip, Pacific Coast Highway, south of Big Sur.

Another Day In Paradise

Well folks, I know that I promised more today, but today turned out to be a Day of Rest, so I didn't do anything to gild my blog-lily. Tomorrow, for sure, I promise.

We did some laundry, a usually unremarkable event, but we went to El Gringo Laundromat, far and away the grandest one I have ever seen. WiFi, video games, food, and many different choices of washer sizes. All run by card, no 20-pound pocket full of quarters. Very cool. And my clothes are clean!

The other big event was Beethoven and Bernstein at the Holywood Bowl. Wonderful! Beethoven's 9th and Bernstein's W