Archive for May, 2009

it started on the 10th of january.

it ended yesterday.

and what a trip it’s been.

there was more german spoken in the tiny diner we had pancakes at then english. in the perfect dive of a bar, it was swedish. but this wasn’t a town that we had ever heard of. as it turns out, it was the last to be bypassed by route 66. with the fancy highway parallel, there’s no more trade, save that for it’s ‘cars’-like story [which many locals claim was the inspiration for the pixar flick]. but if it’s true americana you’re looking for, this is it. two streets, each running separate ways, an abandoned train on the outside and sinage that somehow held out through the uncomfortable years and is now miles ahead of those who consider ‘retro’ to be cool.

stop by for a day/night, soak it up – and apologize to the 3 in the main bar for me. there is nothing wrong with seger, I was just kidding.

worth the hype.

who was it, hmmmm?

which one of you?

I know that one of you has to have been to flagstaff, arizona.

you had walked the old fashioned streets.

drank at one of the local breweries.

eaten some of the best diner breakfast around.

hiked the butterscotch-tree lined mountain in the background.

dug the vibe.

spent too much money at the second-hand book store.

spent too much time at the one with the records.

listened to the train wail from miles away before coming to stop right across from the main streets.

yet didn’t tell me.

probably didn’t tell anyone.

shame on you.

and shame on me.

as I’m this far into writing this.

and am now thinking about doing the same.

50,000+ years ago (debatable), a meteor hit this area right out of flagstaff, arizona.

it was 150 feet long. 300,000 tons.

hit so hard that:

- coal were immediately turned to diamonds

- life for at least 3-4 miles were killed, if not by the explosion, then the shockwaves

- you’d have to bomb Hiroshima 149 more times to get the same degree of power.

it’s well worth a visit.

$15 well spent (debateable).

for those who need a quick date reminder, the atomic bomb was dropped in ’45.

tested, of course, at white sands, new mexico.

5 years prior, a tiny little bar that specialized in illegal betting – thus, the name ‘the owl’ – opened just down the street.

now, should you ever find yourself in/around highway 54 – make your way to san antonio, new mexico.

the only thing stronger than the famous green chile burgers, the travel-sized liquor bottles and the cherry pie is the history that comes with them all.

stop by – you’ll be glad you did.

we sure were.

say what you will about conspiracy theorists – there’s something about roswell, new mexico. now, in all honesty, it’s a boring town. it’s locals are some of the weirdest you’ll meet. it’s a long way off of the main route most would take. did I mention it’s boring?

that being said – a visit to the u.f.o museum and research center sandwiched in the middle of 5 kitchy souvenir shops made it all worth it.

I’ll spare you the fact, but there are many. too many. and I’ll spare you the stuff we got to see, read and touch – only the ones who make the drive should experience it.

but to think that in the entire universe that we’re the lucky ones is more arrogance than even I can conjure up.

‘u.f.o.’s are real‘ said the front of the t-shirt.

and on the back:

‘it’s the air force that’s fake’.