We didn't have any candles, so Pat put some matches on the cake for Pauline to blow out and get her wish. If we' d have used the right amount, the fire departmant would probably have showed up!

Early morning on the 28th of November. Pauline (Pat's mother) woke up to be 97 years old today. This is her new "birthday coat". Pat is helping her try it on. She looks pretty good for just crawling out of bed on her 97th birthday!

Our neighbors house in Kingman. They have gone "all out" decorating the place. It's pretty at night!

The only open business left between Shinarump Road jucntion with old Route 66 and Oatman, about 25 miles. This place was a real life saver when I came through here a couple years ago on the bike..it was very hot and my mug was empty! Pauline thinks it was built after she came here the first time in 1930.

Just starting up the hill on the East side of the mountain heading to Oatman on old Route 66.

Old route 66 is narrow and very twisty going over the mountain from Kingman. The pass is only 3600 and some feet, but it took a long time to get to the top. Pauline said there was a lot of dirt places when she went over this road in the early 30's. They had to keep moving planks in several sand pits, to get across. Her first trip was with a new husband, from Missouri to California. A couple years later, they went back to Kansas where Pat was born. She came out to California again when she was about 2 months old. Then, another trip was made with Pat and her little brother and sister. Each time the road was a little better, but not much. She seemed to remember some of the things we saw today.

First shot in Oatman! Right over where we parked. The temperature was good today, last time I went through on a bike, it was over a hundred degrees here! Pauline walked up and down the whole town and even climbed the stairs to the room in the Oatman Hotel. Not bad for 97!

Traffic isn't too bad this time of year, but there was the normal hold ups for the wandering Burros.

A Biker's Den..........

Fast Fanny's...Brillo's hang out.............

These little Donkeys make themselves at home all over town!

This is a cool place!

Right down the hall is where Clark Gabel and Carol Lombard spent their Honeymoon. They were married on March 18, 1939 in Kingman, then drove over here. Clark came here often to party and play cards with the miners when he wanted to get away from the crowds in Hollywood. The room is still set up exactly like it was when they used it.

Heading back down the stairs from the bedrooms in the Hotel.

Inside the bar at the Oatman Hotel. LOADED with bills..people have been sticking them up for years and years.

Lots of Route 66 stuff here in Oatman.

I think there was another picture of this place.

There are a lot of interesting shops here in Oatman!

Burros of all sizes wander around town.

A rugged skyling here in Oatman.

We bought a bag of carrots for the Burros. The birthday girl is trying out her new coat, and having a fine time her in Oatman.

Pauline had fun feeding them, but didn't like it much when they kept bumping her around wanting more.

Pat wanted them all to have a bite, so she made sure they all got some carrots.

This little guy had a hard day You can't feed the babies like this, carrots could choke them, so they get food from their mothers and a little bit of grain or something.

A bush decorated by the Red Hat Ladies. Private parties, businesses and service organizations have decorated a lot of these bushes along the highway leaving Oatman.

There was 20 some of these Holiday bush decorations on the South side of Oatman.

I would imagine that some of the first people to cross this dessert sort of felt the same way!

Took the wheels off the Helix, hauled them down to a local tire shop and had them install the new tires. This shop did a perfect job, they took about 20 minutes and charged a total of $15 .
The local Kawasaki shop wanted $48 plus tax and a disposal fee for the same job. The tires that came off were 'rags', they were ready for the dump!

Lake Mead overlook. That's Ed and Carl Anderson riding the 'twin' Classics.

The North is Lake Mead, and on to Las Vegas. This is looking to the South, and the Grand Canyom.

This is the only place to eat this time of year in Meadview, AZ. Good food!

Ed Anderson leaving the Crow's Nest with a full tummy!

There are a lot of "larger than average" Joshua trees in this area.

View from behind Roger's Market in Lake Mead, AZ.

These buses are busy even in the 'off season'. During the warm weather, I understand there is a steady stream of these buses going out to the Grand Canyon.

Tourists transfering from a bus from Las Vegas, and getting on one that will take them out to the Glass Bridge. I heard it costs $25 each to walk on the bridge so you can look down at the Grand Canyon.

Next time I get out this way, I'll stop and pick up a pound of fresh coffee!

There are hundred of these cubes of cotton around Bakersfield, CA. I heard some farmers taking about taking them to the gin. Hmmmm, I guess they squeeze them out, and mix the dripping with tonic, or maybe some vermouth to make a Martini! I never knew that's were Gin came from!

When those cotton bolls get rotten, you can't pick very much cotton..........................

Nut trees across from the cotton field. California Hwy 46 just West of Wasco.

A Mexican 'Gee Dunk' truck in the Central California Valley. There are lots of these around, the migrant workers utilize them a lot. Wonderful food! Seasoned by dust. A large farm truck pulled in while were were eating, and we received a good dusting, but it didn't detrack from the good chow!

A Kleenex dispenser in one of Alice's bathrooms. They have a rather large house, and it's FULL of things like this

A very good meal! My Sister-in-Law, Alice really out did herself! I won't bore you with the whole menu, but believe me, it was good!

This was taken on the 19th up on Hulalpai Mountain. This is a visitor's center that is closed for the season.

An abandoned house in Hackberry. There is no open business left here in town, the famous General Store is on the other side of the tracks and a deep wash, on the NE side of Route 66. The main town was sort of over here in the boonies. Never had a paved road in the whole town, but it's interesting riding around looking at the old mine and buildings.

After a couple of miles through the Ghost town of Hackberry, I gave up trying to find the Wal-Mart, and was trying to find my way back to a paved road. This is one of the 'washes' I had to cross today.

A wonderful way to step back in time. Every year there are fewer and fewer places like this that are still open for business on Route 66.

The owner drives this car every day, but the license is experied, so he just drives it up to where his house is, stays off the public roads.

The owner with his dog "Max". That big wood stove will be getting some use pretty soon, it's suppose to be down into the 50 next week.

Makes you want to order a greasy hamberger and a thick malt!