Route 66: Bottle Tree Ranch, CA

If you do Route 66 you MUST stop here!

Yes that IS a toilet seat!

This post is a bit out of sync with our trip but I have been itching to share this.  Also there's no rule that says I have to post things in order eh?!

We'd had this attraction on our mental list of places to visit since watching the Billy Connolly DVD but it wasn't very clear exactly where it was.  Also bear in mind that we were doing it backwards and we found that so many of these places seem more noticeable as you drive towards them...from the East.  Consequently we had a lot of 'about turns'.
As it turned out, because there was just no traffic and we were on a straight road it was easy to pull over to the side when we saw the glinting glass constructions of the Bottle Tree Ranch.

Location for this is 24266 Oro Grande, National Trails Way, CA and it's pretty much half way between Victorville and Helendale.  That's the best location information for it on the web that is!

Elmer, the creator, sculptor and engineer of this phenomena came out to greet us and is genuinely lovely, friendly and interested in the people who visit.  He admitted to a bit of current creative block so had taken the opportunity to go fishing for most of his time this year.  This is just over a decade's worth of artfully constructed bottles and things his father had collected during his lifetime.

It seems quirky, amusing, worth a look and intriguing before you visit.  The reality is amazing.  It's a very peaceful and, in a way, beautiful place.  Additionally, and not wanting to detract from the bottle trees, I had a wonderful encounter with a hummingbird here which will stay with me forever.

Photos are mostly courtesy of H.

Oh look it's the Mustang!

Route 66: A Sombre Sunday Start

We made our way to Santa Monica Pier on the Sunday morning to start the route.  Backwards obviously!

We were surprised to see that something had 'sprung up' on the beach over night so, after parking on the Pier - it costs $12 - we wandered over to see what was happening.

We found this quite upsetting and, whilst it's not an up-beat post and not specific to Route 66, we thought it important to take the photos and share this with people.

This is the Arlington West Memorial.  It is painstakingly set up for each Sunday next to the Santa Monica Pier by members of 'Veterans for Peace Los Angeles' The aim is to give awareness on the huge extent of the number of fallen and those who live with their injuries as a result of giving their services in the military.

 I feel there is very little interest in the activities of our British forces in general within the UK, only to the extent that our Government shouldn't waste the money and spend it elsewhere.  I'm certain there is hardly a consideration at all by people in the UK of the number of lives lost by the allied and  U.S forces or, indeed, those from Iraq or Afghanistan.

A signs reads 'If we were to acknowledge the number of Iraqi deaths the crosses would fill this entire beach'.






We personally had no idea of the number of US troops killed in comparison to the 438 members we have lost since 2001.
 Each white cross represents a single individual killed with each red cross symbolising 10 individuals.  The blue crosses are for each member of the Armed Services who had been killed that week.

Some more signs -
'American military in Afghanistan killed - 2,130.  Wounded or injured - 15,322.'  

'American military in Iraq killed - 4,486.  Wounded or injured - 32,227.'

You're invited to walk amongst the memorial where some family members, in their grief, have decorated single crosses with personal items and photos of their loved ones.  It didn't seem appropriate to walk in amongst the crosses which were set out perfectly spaced apart.

The volunteers had a stand set up to the side with leaflets and items for sale that would go towards helping to support veterans.  There was also a large board of names - a role of each person who has been killed since 2001.

It was surprising that the military suicides were recognised on the 'headstone'.  If you read the 'Veterans for Peace' web site they give more information and also on a recent CBS investigation across the States, it was found the average number of veterans taking their own lives in a year totals approximately 120.  
This is is all tragic and not something to be hidden and why 'Veterans for Peace' exist to raise awareness of the needs and support that veterans require when they return from active service.

Random Stuff: Grand Anarchy in Bloomsbury

Saturday was a big event - the 4th Grand Anarcho-Dandyist Ball!

I'd known about it since last year and after reading The Chap I was determined that we should attend.   As it panned out, The Bexster (or should that be 'Betty Rogers'??) and I accompanied ourselves to the Bloomsbury Ballroom just in time to catch the tail end of the performance by 'Space Dog' with Sarah Angliss playing the haunting theramin to a captivated audience.

The venue was excellent.  I loved the Art Deco details, the doors reminding me so much of those at the Hoover Dam but you'll have to wait for that post!

We had a great time checking out everyone's outfits - the dress code specifically this year was 'Eccentric; Eclectic; Electric; Esoteric' and, as I understand it, slightly more lenient than previous years.  We enjoyed several cocktails throughout the evening and even a cheese plater and cake when we became peckish!

I especially enjoyed, along with the crowd, Mr B. the Gentleman Rhymer.  He was very entertaining, rapping in received pronunciation - similar to Peter Sellers' 'A Hard Day's Night' really!  He sang modern songs with this twist, accompanying himself on the banjolele.  He calls it 'Chap-Hop'.  You have to check him out here - http://www.gentlemanrhymer.com

The headline act were Albert Ball's Flying Aces, playing popular rag-time tunes that got practically the whole room dancing!  They were joined by guest singer Patricia Hammond who provided a captivating old-time air to the performance.  I would like to see her perform again.

We aim to attend next year with our Chaps to show them off and I am already plotting how to avoid the dreaded night bus journey and make the transition into Sunday simpler!



Anyway, here's some pictures of not-very-good-quality.

The night bus journey takes it toll...