Getting Our Kicks on Route 66 - Day 1

I recently took a trip with one of my friends. We visited Chloride, Oatman and Keepers of the Wild. She had been wanting to go to Oatman to feed the burros and I was always interested in visiting Chloride. I see the sign whenever I'm going to Vegas but I was always either in a rush to get to Vegas or get back home, so never made the detour to check it out. Keepers of the Wild is an animal sanctuary that used to be just off US 93 but several years ago they moved to a larger site just outside of Valentine.

Our first stop was just outside Wikieup to have some lunch and pie at Luchia's. I read that they had some pretty good pie and rumors of good pie are always worth checking out. The house specialty is a black walnut but I opted to have the special of the day, Pina Colada Cream Pie.

After lunch and pie we went out to the back yard which is a hidden oasis. There are several peacocks and a koi pond! You can even buy food for the fish or peacocks.

Peacock with koi pond in distance

Pretty bird!

Koi pond

Our first stop was Chloride.

What is it with mining towns monogramming mountains? 

It's a very artsy little town.

Painted wall 

Yard behind the painted wall - note the garden gnome.

The sign on the building says "Gnome Retirement Home"

Looking down the main strip towards the Cerbat Mountains

Yard art

Decorated yard

Every town should have a huge spray painted silver rock proclaiming name and established date

Pretty desert flowers

The Old Red House

Closed when we were there but we peeked in the windows and it looked like they were fixing up the inside. 

This is a private home. 

Closer look at the gas pumps

Gas pump outside Yesterday's Restaurant

And another one

If you drive out of town, into the mountains, a dirt road will lead you to the Roy Purcell murals. In 1966 Roy was working as a miner and in his free time he painted beautiful, vibrantly colored scenes on the boulders.

Looking back the way we came, with Chloride in the distance. I drove up in a Hyundai Sonata and we made it OK by driving slow but I never would have been able to make it if it was raining. 

I could have stayed all day looking at the yard art. Some of it reminded me of the random things you would see out on the playa at Burning Man.

"Seldom seen Slim with his centipede" 

This guy reminds me of something out of the game, Machinarium.

After Chloride we headed to our hotel in Laughlin and rested up for the next day's adventure in Oatman.

Fremont East District

I was just up in Vegas for a conference and one of the nights I was there I strolled to the other end of Fremont Street. Usually I just stay under the lighted canopy but I wanted pictures of the cool neon signs. This is the entrance to the district:

Entrance to the Fremont East District

Caballero from the 1956 Hacienda Hotel

Not sure where the martini glass is from

Sparkly shoe from Silver Slipper Hotel

Buxom Bikini Girl

Don't Tell Mama is a piano bar (bet you couldn't have guessed from the sign!)

The Green Griffin

The Desert Bar

A friend told me about a place just outside of Parker, AZ - a bar out in the middle of nowhere. It sounded like such a Burning Man kind of thing that I had to check it out.

Go through Parker on Hwy 95 and you'll come to a turn off for Cienega Springs Rd. Take that and drive until you reach the end. It'll be about 5 miles of rough riding. There are signs posted stating that the road is primitive. I drove it in my Hyundai Sonata with no problems but you have to go SLOW. You'll wonder where in the heck this road is leading and if you'll ever get to the end. Then suddenly you'll see what looks to be a church steeple in the distance. You have reached The Desert Bar.

 Once you park, you can get up close to the "church." It's not an actual building but more of a facade.

 Floor inside the church:

You have to walk across the covered bridge to get to the bar proper. The bridge crosses over a lower area where there is seating, a stage and also where you order food. I've heard the tri tip is excellent but it was sold out by the time I got there. I opted for a pastrami on rye and it was delicious.

Furniture and landscape ornaments made with horseshoes

Seating area on the main level. You can order some basic grilled items here (hot dogs, burgers) but if you want cheese on anything you have to order from the downstairs grill instead. To the left is a bar where you can buy canned beer. The Bud Light seemed to be a popular choice among patrons when I was there. To the right is a stage where they have a band playing. The day I was there it was the Second Hand Killers, a bluesy rock band. They were very entertaining! 

Some views from the upper level of the bar area

There is a variety of old vehicles on the property

View from the ladies room

The original Desert Bar

Old equipment is scattered all around the property

 Check out their website - there's a lot of information on the creation of the Desert Bar. If you're planning on visiting, be aware that the Bar has very limited hours. It is open Saturday and Sunday only from noon to 6 pm from October to April.