Route 66 | Ludlow | California

 

When I got on Route 66 off of Interstate 40, not too far from the Arizona border, I saw this statue sitting all alone in the desert.  I found out later that someone wanted to build a residential complex on the land and this would be at the gate.  Obviously, nothing else got built.  Apparently, people think these are shrines (there were two) and have left coins, business cards and all sorts of other items.

 

At one time Amboy was a town that included a school.

This slab of concrete must have been made by the kids.

 

When I got to the old motel, the little cabins were so white that I thought someone had restored them.

 

 

They were actually quite picturesque.

 

But then I saw that the windows and doors were all open, or gone.

Nearby was a little café where you could get snacks.

 

 

 

The Post Office is still open there.

 

In a big field next to the Post Office, there is a tribute to trash.  I'm not sure how long it's been there.

And near it is this sculpture.

The church is still there, founded in 1951, according to the cornerstone, but now abandoned.

 

This was one of the homes that was nearby.

 

Right down the road, there's a volcano.  The road in is nicely paved, although quite narrow.  There is a pullout partway down that would accommodate a large RV and at the end of the road are spaces for smaller units.

Ludlow is at the junction where Route 66 meets Interstate 40.  There is a nice gas station, motel and café there, but that's about it now.

 

San Carlos Skydiving and Other Scenery | Mexico

San Carlos has skydiving down to the beach.  They fly from Guaymas, about 10 miles away (by road) and then turn you loose at 10,000 feet.  The two I saw come down both had two people, so they must have been first-timers.

 

This is a chute that's ready to be packed up.  You just hang in the sky, it actually takes quite a bit of time to come down to sea level.  Looks like it might be fun, and I'm adventurous, but I really don't think I want to jump out of an airplane that's running perfectly.

 

It's rare to see this type of vehicle in San Carlos, a 1953 Dodge pickup.  The owner told me that it was used back in the 60s to pull boats out of the water to take them to a storage yard.  I had not seen it around town until a few weeks ago.

 

 

I love this kind of fencing.

 

 

There are free range animals here, even though they may belong to someone.  This particular road is not lit at night and sometimes you'll find cows wandering in the road.

 

 

Most Mexicans are Catholic, and are quite religious.  There are all sorts of shrines in the country.

 

 

I'm not sure how this boat got way over here......

 

 

Most Spanish towns I've been in have plazas, a park-like area in the city somewhere.  San Carlos has not had one, so they are now making one, with an ornate fountain and lights that run off solar.

 

 

This is the community church where the plaza will be located.

 

La Manga is the fishing village on the outskirts of town. 

 

This view of the Tetakawi is coming down the road from the overlook, which has been getting a facelift and opened right after I left.

I like this area and visit this little tree and the island each year I'm here.

 

Seaweed adorning rocks along the beach.

 

Domes and Margarita Decks | San Carlos | Mexico

 

Domes of all types are seen on many houses in San Carlos.

 

 

They come in many colors, shapes and sizes.  Many of them have windows that let light into the house below.  Some are solid, with no windows, as shown below. 

 

This house is under construction.

 

 

 

 

They even appear on commercial buildings.

 

 

Another thing I love are Margarita Decks, usually built on top of a house.  Most of them have some type of shade, palapa type as shown below or just an aluminum cover.  Being above the buildings means that you'll get more of a breeze than you'd get in a yard.  As a bonus, sometimes they're close enough to the water to get a view of the Sea of Cortez.

 

 

 

 

And another sunset in San Carlos!  They are quite good here.