01-30-2009, 01:02 PM
A lot of folks talk about touring Route 66, America’s road, and any other adjective that comes to mind with it. All growing up I heard of it, never gave it much thought, but I had heard of it. I even went out to Amarillo where 66 crosses the panhandle of Texas just to say I had seen it and traveled part of it. Years later I traveled half of the US via Route 66. Still, nothing. No great pull at the purse strings of my soul. It is merely a road, much like any other in my mind. But, I did see parts of the US that even today pull me further onward in that lust for life that is called the open road, where you never really know what truly is out there next to see, experience, know.
This is more of a itinerary for those who like road trips or perhaps are planning an extended stay in the US and have not seen some of it’s wonders. Note: I tend not to like or even go to touristy places. If you like crowds and what half the world has already seen this is not the guide you seek. As for having me explain what it is I see in these places? I honestly could not. Some of them strike me as just plain spooky, others just weird. And others, well, I just happen to like them. Sue me. I doubt this will be in any kind of order as I am James Joyceing it.
Terlingua, Texas: technically a ghost town. I don’t think there are 100 people who live there anymore. Come the first or second weekend in November for the absolute best chili cook-off you will ever experience. But, if you do go, bring water cause some of the chili comes with a user agreement it is so damn hot. I can pop jalapeños all day long with just a smile on my face. And even chew on a jabenero every now and then. But at the trading post in the ghost town there is a section of the hot sauces that has a lock and key and an age requirement to purchase. And it will take paint off, believe me. Loosens your teeth too. I’m sweating just remembering it. I never had a problem with Thailand’s spicy foods if that says anything for you.
Travel advisory: if you go to Terlingua, plan to stay a while because it is hell and gone from the nearest city. Alpine is the nearest and it is quite a distance. Nearest commuter airport is Midland about 5 or more driving hours away. There are campsites in Big Bend National Park, just look out for scorpions and rattlesnakes, even if they are rather tasty if prepared right they do make you itch if stung or bit.
Between Terlingua and Alpine, Texas, come to think of it almost nearly halfway, is an absolutely beautiful place called Ten Bits Guest Ranch. http://www.tenbitsranch.com
Hiking trails, actual archeological dig sites, etc. Sunsets and sunrises are out of this world there. I had reservations for just two days when I went the first time. I ended up staying six days and nights and came real close to not leaving at all. Their prices have gone up since I was there last but it is well worth it. Try somewhere around Fall or Spring for a visit. Most folks would not like the summer there. 120 + degrees F is not unheard of.
Austin, Nevada: almost smack dead in the center of the state and one of most beautiful places I have ever been. Way up in the mountains. Summer is wonderful. Last time I went was March so it was a bit on the chilly side and the snow… well let me just say it was a winter wonderland. About half a day drive north from Las Vegas and not a whole lot of options for lodging in between either. I ended up stealth camping- there are quite a few old mining roads here and there. Just find one that does not have a gate and make sure you can’t be seen from the highway or a house(though those are few and far between as well).
Death Valley, California: this is about as touristy as I get. Course, I don’t just drive it and stop at the road signs and take pics. I usually hike, camp and generally rough it WAY away from the roads. Talk about a place that just a few miles off the highway does not look like it has ever seen Man before. Bring plenty of water and several small plastic tarps or zip-lock bags. Dig small holes around your campsite and put the plastic over the holes and slightly in them to catch the dew in the mornings. It gets a bit on the warm side there. Snakes, desert turtles, and other critters are fairly easy to catch and mighty tasty with a campfire- if you can find anything to burn. Ghost towns can be found as well as cliff dwelling Indian sites. Bring rope and pylons, clamps and general climbing gear to get to some of the more interesting sites.
Talihina, Oklahoma: Kind of the middle eastern part of Oklahoma. Mountains, yes I said mountains. There are even bears too. Small black bears, but they are bears. There is quite a bit of motorcycle traffic through there as it is part of the Talimena Ride- going from Talihina, OK to Mena, Arkansas. Pretty ride. I usually camp on the Winding Stair mountain. The campsites are quite near the edge of the mountain and the sunsets in the Fall and sunrises in the summer are wondermous. Bring your own water though. The water pipes for the showers and bathrooms broke several years ago and they decided the place doesn’t generate enough money to justify fixing it. $4 a night to camp. Kinda of where I got the name of sasquatch. I had been camping there off and on for several years and on one odd time I decided to buy a paper. And one of the articles was about Bigfoot sightings, where, when and all that. It coincided with all the visits I had made around there for the past eight months. That and scaring the living *bleep* out of some hikers one day. I was scrounging around looking for firewood. I had longer hair than normal and had a rather nice and shaggy beard going and two hikers came around some trees took one look at me and started running away screaming that I was Bigfoot. Yeah, Bigfoot with a cigarette handing out of his mouth wearing sunglasses and leathers.
Marfa Ghost Lights, Marfa, Texas: just Google it and you can get all sorts of info. SPOOKY!!! I love it. I try to head there at least once a year. Middle and late summer seems to be the best. What is it? Forgot that part didn’t I? It is, well, ghost lights. Good enough? No. Oh… there is a lookout/turnout off the highway, about an hour or so straight west of Alpine, TX. There are several stationary scopes for viewing or you can bring your own. The lookout has bathrooms and vending machines the last time I went. At sunset look to the south and west at the line of mountains in the distance. They can be seen just about 365 nights a year but usually middle to late summer is the best times for viewing. It looks like different colored balls of light just bouncing and rolling and zigging and zagging all over the place. It is a bit spooky. No one knows exactly what they are. Swamp gas, hand-lamps from ghost miners and such are the usual legends. Some say it is the reflections of headlights from the highway. Umm, no. The highway turns toward the north at the turnout and the mountains are WAY from the highway. That and I have hopped the fence to take a look for myself. During the day. Why take chances of getting chased by a ghost, eh? Truly a place to visit if you get the chance.
Cee Vee, Texas: you will probably have to do a Google map search for it. Most maps won’t have it, it is that small. I don’t think it even lists as a ghost town, not enough people for that- 50 in it‘s heyday. What makes it worth mentioning? The old church. It is creepy, all boarded up, great spire of a steeple, no paint, just bare boards. None of the people I talked to knew when it was built. The town dates from the late 1800’s I think. The church was built before then. No one knows when or who built it. Spooky.
Monument Valley, Utah and Arizona: Ok, another touristy spot- if you stay on the highways, which I don’t. There are quite a few dirt roads going as far as you can see in the distance, just pick one and disappear. I used to do a bit of rock climbing there till I saw that Digging for the Truth, Discovery Channel show filming a spot I was going to climb. Haven’t been back since. I had been out for about four days without seeing anyone then all of a sudden I come into this box canyon and there are Jeeps, busses and all manner of folks setting up filming equipment and that Josh Bernstein guy, bit of an arrogant prick from what I saw when I backtracked back up the canyon rim and see what the fuss was about. Neat place otherwise.
Runestone State Park, Heavener, Oklahoma: bit out of the way and one of those no name state parks that no one knows about but interesting in and of itself. Apparently around the time of Christ or so Vikings somehow or another made their way to this little spot of Oklahoma. How do I know it was Vikings? From the remnants of their hieroglyphics or whatever their writing was called. Runic I think. Theories are all over the place as to how the writing got there, from Noah’s Flood the Vikings sailed up a small river to that spot to the Vikings teaching Indians their lingo and the Indians making their way there. Who knows. Bit of a vertical hike to get there. Don’t go in the summer. 100+ degrees and about 100 percent humidity and down in a very deep hole in the ground… bit on the steamy side. Neat place though. Day use only. No camping.
Bah, my fingers are cramping so that is all you are going to get for now. I will update as I think of places which are dear to me.
This is more of a itinerary for those who like road trips or perhaps are planning an extended stay in the US and have not seen some of it’s wonders. Note: I tend not to like or even go to touristy places. If you like crowds and what half the world has already seen this is not the guide you seek. As for having me explain what it is I see in these places? I honestly could not. Some of them strike me as just plain spooky, others just weird. And others, well, I just happen to like them. Sue me. I doubt this will be in any kind of order as I am James Joyceing it.
Terlingua, Texas: technically a ghost town. I don’t think there are 100 people who live there anymore. Come the first or second weekend in November for the absolute best chili cook-off you will ever experience. But, if you do go, bring water cause some of the chili comes with a user agreement it is so damn hot. I can pop jalapeños all day long with just a smile on my face. And even chew on a jabenero every now and then. But at the trading post in the ghost town there is a section of the hot sauces that has a lock and key and an age requirement to purchase. And it will take paint off, believe me. Loosens your teeth too. I’m sweating just remembering it. I never had a problem with Thailand’s spicy foods if that says anything for you.
Travel advisory: if you go to Terlingua, plan to stay a while because it is hell and gone from the nearest city. Alpine is the nearest and it is quite a distance. Nearest commuter airport is Midland about 5 or more driving hours away. There are campsites in Big Bend National Park, just look out for scorpions and rattlesnakes, even if they are rather tasty if prepared right they do make you itch if stung or bit.
Between Terlingua and Alpine, Texas, come to think of it almost nearly halfway, is an absolutely beautiful place called Ten Bits Guest Ranch. http://www.tenbitsranch.com
Hiking trails, actual archeological dig sites, etc. Sunsets and sunrises are out of this world there. I had reservations for just two days when I went the first time. I ended up staying six days and nights and came real close to not leaving at all. Their prices have gone up since I was there last but it is well worth it. Try somewhere around Fall or Spring for a visit. Most folks would not like the summer there. 120 + degrees F is not unheard of.
Austin, Nevada: almost smack dead in the center of the state and one of most beautiful places I have ever been. Way up in the mountains. Summer is wonderful. Last time I went was March so it was a bit on the chilly side and the snow… well let me just say it was a winter wonderland. About half a day drive north from Las Vegas and not a whole lot of options for lodging in between either. I ended up stealth camping- there are quite a few old mining roads here and there. Just find one that does not have a gate and make sure you can’t be seen from the highway or a house(though those are few and far between as well).
Death Valley, California: this is about as touristy as I get. Course, I don’t just drive it and stop at the road signs and take pics. I usually hike, camp and generally rough it WAY away from the roads. Talk about a place that just a few miles off the highway does not look like it has ever seen Man before. Bring plenty of water and several small plastic tarps or zip-lock bags. Dig small holes around your campsite and put the plastic over the holes and slightly in them to catch the dew in the mornings. It gets a bit on the warm side there. Snakes, desert turtles, and other critters are fairly easy to catch and mighty tasty with a campfire- if you can find anything to burn. Ghost towns can be found as well as cliff dwelling Indian sites. Bring rope and pylons, clamps and general climbing gear to get to some of the more interesting sites.
Talihina, Oklahoma: Kind of the middle eastern part of Oklahoma. Mountains, yes I said mountains. There are even bears too. Small black bears, but they are bears. There is quite a bit of motorcycle traffic through there as it is part of the Talimena Ride- going from Talihina, OK to Mena, Arkansas. Pretty ride. I usually camp on the Winding Stair mountain. The campsites are quite near the edge of the mountain and the sunsets in the Fall and sunrises in the summer are wondermous. Bring your own water though. The water pipes for the showers and bathrooms broke several years ago and they decided the place doesn’t generate enough money to justify fixing it. $4 a night to camp. Kinda of where I got the name of sasquatch. I had been camping there off and on for several years and on one odd time I decided to buy a paper. And one of the articles was about Bigfoot sightings, where, when and all that. It coincided with all the visits I had made around there for the past eight months. That and scaring the living *bleep* out of some hikers one day. I was scrounging around looking for firewood. I had longer hair than normal and had a rather nice and shaggy beard going and two hikers came around some trees took one look at me and started running away screaming that I was Bigfoot. Yeah, Bigfoot with a cigarette handing out of his mouth wearing sunglasses and leathers.
Marfa Ghost Lights, Marfa, Texas: just Google it and you can get all sorts of info. SPOOKY!!! I love it. I try to head there at least once a year. Middle and late summer seems to be the best. What is it? Forgot that part didn’t I? It is, well, ghost lights. Good enough? No. Oh… there is a lookout/turnout off the highway, about an hour or so straight west of Alpine, TX. There are several stationary scopes for viewing or you can bring your own. The lookout has bathrooms and vending machines the last time I went. At sunset look to the south and west at the line of mountains in the distance. They can be seen just about 365 nights a year but usually middle to late summer is the best times for viewing. It looks like different colored balls of light just bouncing and rolling and zigging and zagging all over the place. It is a bit spooky. No one knows exactly what they are. Swamp gas, hand-lamps from ghost miners and such are the usual legends. Some say it is the reflections of headlights from the highway. Umm, no. The highway turns toward the north at the turnout and the mountains are WAY from the highway. That and I have hopped the fence to take a look for myself. During the day. Why take chances of getting chased by a ghost, eh? Truly a place to visit if you get the chance.
Cee Vee, Texas: you will probably have to do a Google map search for it. Most maps won’t have it, it is that small. I don’t think it even lists as a ghost town, not enough people for that- 50 in it‘s heyday. What makes it worth mentioning? The old church. It is creepy, all boarded up, great spire of a steeple, no paint, just bare boards. None of the people I talked to knew when it was built. The town dates from the late 1800’s I think. The church was built before then. No one knows when or who built it. Spooky.
Monument Valley, Utah and Arizona: Ok, another touristy spot- if you stay on the highways, which I don’t. There are quite a few dirt roads going as far as you can see in the distance, just pick one and disappear. I used to do a bit of rock climbing there till I saw that Digging for the Truth, Discovery Channel show filming a spot I was going to climb. Haven’t been back since. I had been out for about four days without seeing anyone then all of a sudden I come into this box canyon and there are Jeeps, busses and all manner of folks setting up filming equipment and that Josh Bernstein guy, bit of an arrogant prick from what I saw when I backtracked back up the canyon rim and see what the fuss was about. Neat place otherwise.
Runestone State Park, Heavener, Oklahoma: bit out of the way and one of those no name state parks that no one knows about but interesting in and of itself. Apparently around the time of Christ or so Vikings somehow or another made their way to this little spot of Oklahoma. How do I know it was Vikings? From the remnants of their hieroglyphics or whatever their writing was called. Runic I think. Theories are all over the place as to how the writing got there, from Noah’s Flood the Vikings sailed up a small river to that spot to the Vikings teaching Indians their lingo and the Indians making their way there. Who knows. Bit of a vertical hike to get there. Don’t go in the summer. 100+ degrees and about 100 percent humidity and down in a very deep hole in the ground… bit on the steamy side. Neat place though. Day use only. No camping.
Bah, my fingers are cramping so that is all you are going to get for now. I will update as I think of places which are dear to me.