We’d finally arrived on the west coast of America, but in just four weeks we needed to be on the east coast. That gave us the perfect excuse for an American road trip, ticking off some of the country’s iconic destinations along the way—as well as a couple of places that held personal meaning.
For me, the highlights were the Grand Canyon, Memphis and Dallas, where I’d finally get to meet the only family member I have in the United States. We hadn’t seen each other since we were children, so that reunion was something I was really looking forward to.
Russ, on the other hand, was all about Route 66, big American cars and Las Vegas. He wasn’t nearly as excited about the Grand Canyon—or, as he calls it, “that big hole in the ground.” And while I was hoping to visit the famous stadium in Dallas, he wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about that either!
Road Trip Across the Desert
Many of our friends had told us that Route 66 was just a collection of old ghost towns and wasn’t worth the detour. But for us, that was part of the attraction. We didn’t need the bright lights or crowds—we wanted to experience a little piece of this famous highway for ourselves.
As soon as we hit the open road, one song immediately came to mind.
🎵 Get your motor runnin’
Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
In whatever comes our way…
Now, being in our 60s, we’re probably not quite Born to Be Wild anymore… but it certainly felt like the perfect soundtrack!
The drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas takes about four hours if you drive straight through, but we had every intention of making plenty of stops along the way.
Our friends weren’t wrong. Along California’s stretch of Route 66 we passed once-busy roadhouses and small towns that had clearly seen better days. It reminded us very much of the movie Cars, where thriving communities were left behind when the interstate bypassed them.
Unexpected Stops Along the Way
About an hour and a half into the trip we stopped at Victorville to visit the California Route 66 Museum. Walking through the exhibits felt like stepping back in time. Although Victorville has a population of around 137,000 people, it didn’t feel like a city at all. Without high-rise buildings, it still had the relaxed feel of a large country town.
Further along the highway we reached Baker, home to what is claimed to be the world’s tallest thermometer. Standing 134 feet (41 metres) high, it commemorates the record temperature of 134°F (56.7°C) recorded in nearby Death Valley on 10 July 1913. It certainly catches your attention as you drive through the desert!
Not long afterwards we spotted the enormous Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino rising out of the desert. Curiosity got the better of us, so we pulled in for a look.
To our surprise, one of the displays featured the original 1934 Ford Model 40 B Fordor Deluxe Sedan that Bonnie and Clyde were driving when they were ambushed in 1934. The car riddled with bullet holes, making it a fascinating and unexpected stop on our journey.
The desert drive was proving to be far more interesting than we’d imagined.
As we got closer to Las Vegas—about 25 miles (40 kilometres) out—we noticed a group of huge, brightly coloured rocks standing in the middle of the desert. Our photos really don’t capture how striking they looked.
Later we discovered they were Seven Magic Mountains, an art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. Seven towers of fluorescent boulders rise from the desert floor, creating an unexpected splash of colour against the otherwise barren landscape. It’s one of those places that makes you stop, stare and wonder, “Why is this here?”
As the sun began to set, the bright lights of Las Vegas appeared in the distance. After months at sea and a day crossing the desert, we’d finally made it.
Next stop… Vegas!
Leave a Reply