[lizrdbrth]

We finally caught a break from some family issues, had a few hours to call our own, called up Splinter and he was available.



We've been planning to do this for some time and will continue to devote more time to it in the future.



Some folks live their entire lives in one place yet few know what went on within a ten mile radius of their own front door.

So we got on the evil box visiting sites such as "Roadside America" awhile back and began stringing together a route of the odd, interesting or historic sites within a short radius of home.



We met Splinter at our local Route 66 Museum. Here we are in front of the headstone of "Brownie, the Railroad Dog". The headstone until very recently was in its original spot just across the road. Been to the museum a zillion times, never noticed.



http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/208ae1/



Few folks realize that this was once the Wild West, and actually predates many other places commonly accepted as "the Wild West". Our sister town of Victorville sprung from one of the few quicksand-free crossings of the normally underground Mojave River. The museum is located in what was formerly the town's "blood alley". Sadly the area has resumed its former status in recent years, different kind of badguys.

Then it was off across the desert to locate the site of someone's long ago dream of a theme park. When work on it began in 1970 there would have been nothing but bare desert here. Turns out I'd been passing within a couple of miles of it for nearly 30 years. How the heck do ya miss something like this?



http://embodiedstrength.com/tag/lonnie-coffman-apple-valley-dinosaurs/

 

[mrbracket]

I couldn't agree with you more. I lust over the Epic ride reports I see covering someones adventures in foreign countries. In reality, there is so much I have yet to explore right near me. Most of us have "regular" jobs and families, close to home adventures are easy to take time to do. I plan on several this spring and summer. Of course I'd love to get down there and explore death valley too......

 

[lizrdbrth]

Then off across the desert just a few miles to the final resting place of "Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys" and his Queen, Dale Evans. Roy was a tremendous influence for a lot of us of a certain age and as nearly as I've been able to determine he was all the things stood for on-screen when off-screen, not to mention being a realdeal true "hand" unlike a lot of his Hollywood peers.



http://thewackytacky.blogspot.com/2012/06/waking-dead-happy-trails.html



Roy and Dale figured prominantly in our local culture. Nearly everyone up here has a "Roy and Dale" story to tell. Real people who would just as quickly show up to help out with a church bake sale as a black tie fundraiser. I met them only once in an elevator. Couldn't untie my toungue for long enough to say HI. lol.



Roy would have that million dollar horse jump in the back of a pickup truck and the two of them would cruise the backcountry looking for sites to film his movies and TV shows. Many of the scenes are still as they were back then.



Anyway, they're in the world'coolest cemetary hidden high up in the rocks:

Anatomically correct Trigger statue which once stood in front of the Roy Rogers Museum:

Roy and Dale's final resting place. Bad time of day and out of respect decided to get the best pics I could without treading on them:

Bronzes of these little guys appear among the rocks. Their "real" counterpartsb frequent the rocks above:

Not every day that you see an epitaph on a modern headstone, so I figgered you guys should meet Ed:

Ed's wife figgered he was worth knowing, too:

Then back over toward some BLM land near Splinter's 'hood in search of some faces carved in rock, which we never quite located. Spent a couple hours using it as an excuse to play in the dirt. This is an active mining and quarrying area, but this was MLK day. On the other side of these rocks is a mining operation full of those offroad dump trucks capable of crrying upwards of 100 yards of material with 14 foot tires. Gets a little hairy mixing it up with those. The top of this rockpile is the site of most of our local communications repeaters. Back before cable the local ham operators maintained a tower which converted VHF from stations "Down the hill" (Los Angeles and the major networks) into UHF so we could at least watch a little TV here and there. lol. It was rough back then. Had to walk 10 feet just to change the channel, barefoot, uphill both ways, carrying our siblings on our backs, in the snow...You young whippersnappers don't know nuttin' bout adversity...:

Anyway, that was about it for the day, 75 miles all spent within about a 15 mile radius of home. Prolly at least another 100 sites to visit another day within the same boundaries.

 

[Jon H]

Been thinkin' about doing some local mini adventures in these parts too. Thanks for posting.

 

[Bullspit]

So sorry I missed this one. I had "take the kid to the dentist" duty.

 

[lizrdbrth]

Ain't no thing. Just a random excuse to ride. As such we have no objection to do-overs, and if you find other excuses over your way we're all in for those, as well.

 

[DonBenito]

A very enjoyable ride report.



I'm sure everyone who reads it will be thinking what I'm thinking:



"Man, I should do something like that!"

 

[B-dub]

I agree. Sometimes we take for granted what we have in our own backyard. Thanks for sharing your ride with us. I especially enjoyed the part about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. The info about Victorville was interesting, too. I love that kind of stuff, and I'm looking forward to hearing about your next ride.

 

[elime]

Local exploring can be really interesting and I have done some around here. Trouble for me is it is all riding on asphalt and once away from the urban environment it is all no trespassing. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Point37]

thanks for sharing...you guys out west have great places to ride!

 

[admiral]

Cool stuff Mr. Lizrdbrth, you know I love this kinda stuff.



One question since you're near the Victorville area. Back in the 90's on my way to wonderful Ft. Irwin, our outfit flew into what looked like an old Air Force Base, decomissioned I think. Can you tell be what base that might have been? Thanks

 

[lizrdbrth]

If it was down here it was most likely George AFB. Decommissioned.



Almost as lovely as Ft. Irwin. lol.

 

[lizrdbrth]

thanks for sharing...you guys out west have great places to ride!

Dude, you live in the hotbed of U.S. history. I'd most certainly love to spend a day within a 15 mile radius of your house. No telling what you'd find.



Out here European history slightly predates the East, what with the Spanish and all. But we built with what was at hand, mostly pine and adobe. There's almost no trace of our early history. We do the research then go visit the places and have to use our imaginations of what life was like there. Pine turns to dust and unattended adobe returns to the land in a very short time.



In the east it's not uncommon for people to have continuously occupied houses and buildings nearly 300 years old, built of stone and oak.



We have tons of monuments saying "Something significant once stood here". Your "somethings" are still standing. I'd go see 'em.



I'm prolly a bit of a geek that way. I spent most of my childhood getting used to new places. As entertainment I'd find the local library on a mission to find out who the guy was that my street was named after etc. Never lacked for something to do and knew more about whatever town I was in than most of its lifelong inhabitants.



Anyway, it's one more excuse to ride if you need one. I'm always looking for new ones.

 

[Point37]

Dude, you live in the hotbed of U.S. history. I'd most certainly love to spend a day within a 15 mile radius of your house. No telling what you'd find.



Out here European history slightly predates the East, what with the Spanish and all. But we built with what was at hand, mostly pine and adobe. There's almost no trace of our early history. We do the research then go visit the places and have to use our imaginations of what life was like there. Pine turns to dust and unattended adobe returns to the land in a very short time.



In the east it's not uncommon for people to have continuously occupied houses and buildings nearly 300 years old, built of stone and oak.



We have tons of monuments saying "Something significant once stood here". Your "somethings" are still standing. I'd go see 'em.



I'm prolly a bit of a geek that way. I spent most of my childhood getting used to new places. As entertainment I'd find the local library on a mission to find out who the guy was that my street was named after etc. Never lacked for something to do and knew more about whatever town I was in than most of its lifelong inhabitants.



Anyway, it's one more excuse to ride if you need one. I'm always looking for new ones.

i don't disagree but i tend to find my spots on foot in places even the TW can't go...i like the peaceful places where few can go and the sights are never the same...many other places in this area i have been to but i guess it would be fun to revisit on the TW to take pictures...

 

[RockyTFS]

Then off across the desert just a few miles to the final resting place of "Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys" and his Queen, Dale Evans.

Too cool!! Leonard and Frances! My childhood heroes....although Sky King figured pretty high, too.

So who the hell is ED!? That's what I want on my tombstone!