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!