A new video about Amboy Crater

A couple that runs the Oddity Odysseys channel on YouTube recently explored Amboy Crater, the dormant volcano just off Route 66 near Amboy, California. They lucked out in one way: They climbed into the cinder cone during a semi-cloudy day, which blunted the Mojave Desert's brutal sun considerably. It helps they also carried with plenty … Continue reading A new video about Amboy Crater

Remains of long-missing woman found near Amboy Crater

The remains of a woman were found last week near Amboy Crater near Amboy, California, after she and her husband went missing 10 months ago. Susan Schmierer and her husband, William, of Williamsburg, Virginia, went missing after a visit to Amboy Crater during a cross-country trip to see a daughter in California. Their empty car … Continue reading Remains of long-missing woman found near Amboy Crater

Superbloom going now along Route 66 in Arizona, California

If you're able to do so, it probably would be a good idea to travel Route 66 in western Arizona and the desert of Southern California now. The Kingman Visitor Center in Kingman, Arizona, this week posted on Facebook, including the above image, spectacular photos of wildflowers along Oatman Road (aka Route 66) west of … Continue reading Superbloom going now along Route 66 in Arizona, California

See Michael Wallis, Desert California and Two Guns from early 1990s

A new batch of Anthony Reichardt films from the 1990s shows Two Guns, Arizona; a long stretch of Route 66 in the California desert to Oatman, Arizona; and Michael Wallis, author of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road." Below is Wallis in 1993 during a meeting of the California Historic Route 66 Association at … Continue reading See Michael Wallis, Desert California and Two Guns from early 1990s

Joshua Tree National Park closes today because of damage

Joshua Tree National Park in California, a common side trip for Route 66 travelers, will shut down today because of damage to the park and will remain closed until the government shutdown ends. The Los Angeles Times reported: Without rangers on hand, visitors created new roads by driving off pavement and defaced the park’s namesake … Continue reading Joshua Tree National Park closes today because of damage

“Breaking Dad” road-trip program on British TV has Route 66 stops

A new program, "Breaking Dad," on the British television channel ITV features at least one Route 66 stop and another that's a common side trip for Mother Road travelers. The program stars actor Bradley Walsh (a companion on the current "Doctor Who" series) and his 20-year-old son, Barney, who travel about 2,000 miles from Los … Continue reading “Breaking Dad” road-trip program on British TV has Route 66 stops

How not to treat Route 66 tourists

This strange and unfortunate incident happened in Amboy, California, in November, but it surfaced earlier this week on the Historic Route 66 page on Facebook. The incident also largely was confirmed by Carlos Aceves, who was the town's manager, including at Roy's. Here's the Nov. 5 story by KCDZ, a community radio station that states … Continue reading How not to treat Route 66 tourists

Take a hike around Albuquerque’s volcanoes

Not many people other than locals know this, but Albuquerque is home to three inactive volcanoes on the west edge of the city, and you can hike around them. The volcanoes, known as the Three Sisters, sit within the boundaries of Petroglyph National Monument that includes one of the largest petroglyph sites in North American. … Continue reading Take a hike around Albuquerque’s volcanoes

Cleanup day, sleepover set for old Amboy church

A cleanup day and sleepover at the old St. Raymond's Church along old Route 66 in Amboy, California, is scheduled just before Halloween, on Oct. 27. The cleanup starts at 10 a.m. that day, a Saturday. Free meals will be served to volunteers. The sleepover, which dovetails with the upcoming Halloween holiday, is for those … Continue reading Cleanup day, sleepover set for old Amboy church

Flying into Amboy

This recent video answers a question: Can the air strip at the Route 66 town of Amboy, California, still be used by airplanes? The answer: Yes, indeed. Matt Guthmiller, who's been flying since age 16, took a video crew with him in his small airplane on a trip from Lake Havasu to the Amboy air … Continue reading Flying into Amboy