RonnieAdventrue #0068 - Route 66, Barstow to Victorville, San Bernardino County, California

Old Route 66 from Barstow to Victorville (California) is one of the few remaining sections of "The Mother Road," as referred to by John Steinbeck in the Grapes of Wrath. This famous road was originally called The National Old Trails Road, but was changed to Route 66 in 1926. The original Route 66 ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, but most parts of the road were paved over and incorporated into the Interstate Road System about 50 years ago. So, when I was passing through Barstow and saw a Route 66 sign, I decided it was time for a RonnieAdventure!

First stop was the Mojave River Valley Museum, which is small building, but crammed full of historic artifacts with everything from Father Francisco Garces travels in 1776 on through the pathfinders, pioneers and miners. Outdoor displays include a Santa Fe Drovers Car (one of only two still in existence), a caboose, an iron-strap jail, a 130-year old log cabin and blacksmith shop, and a host of old mining equipment. There are also additional outdoor exhibits across the street at the Barstow Centennial Park.

Just on the outside of Barstow there is a road sign pointing toward Hinkley, which is the town Julia Roberts made famous in the movie Erin Brockovich. Between 1952 and 1966, PG&E used cooling water that contained hexavalent chromium in their cooling towers and stored the water in unlined ponds, ultimately contaminating the town's ground water. We decided to continue on to the next town, rather than stop for a glass of water.

A few miles later we arrived at the Sage Brush Inn, which was a true roadhouse because it was between Barstow and Victorville in a remote area of the Mojave desert that had few laws to contend with. The owners were very protective of the younger waitresses, but rumor has it that the older women were allowed to earn a few extra dollars socializing with the miners. The building is now a private residence.

The Bottle Sculpture Ranch is another private residence, but the owners are friendly and invited me to come in and take pictures. In addition to the bottle trees, there are some unique works of art on display.

The Iron Hog Saloon has been under the same ownership since 1944 and is the roadhouse that Julia Roberts stopped at in the Movie Erin Brockovich when she met the PG&E employee that shredded certain incriminating PG&E documents.

Also along the road there are numerous vacant retail buildings, gas stations, houses and other buildings. At the Polly Gas Station site, the building has been demolished, but the sign is still posted with 1950's prices. There is even an old truss bridge just outside of Victorville that is still used as part of the highway system.

Victorville is home to The California Route 66 Museum, which a popular stop for people that remember flashing neon signs, boiling radiators, Burma-Shave signs, burlap water bags, motels that looked like wigwams, and Nat Cole singing "Get Your Kicks on Route 66." The museum is a fun place to visit; but, unfortunately, we had to get back on the Interstate and make it to LA before the start of rush hour traffic.