1 V'ville-Rburg-Trona

On the road early - sort of.

The Kenwood exit off the 15 Fwy leads you to some original Route 66 pavement. I'm actually facing the end of it, which is blocked off.

Most of Route 66 follows next to the tracks. A train is always coming or going. Nice car remnants...

Just south of Cajon Pass are these formations known as the Mormon Rocks.

And a train bridge...

Changed my breakfast plans. Passed on the historic Summit Inn where I had eaten before, to here, historic Emma Jean's, on the northern fringe of Victorville.

Some of the customers seemed to be regulars. The waitress called me 'honey'.

This bird feeder was right outside the window. This is the best of about 6 shots.

Not far up the road is Oro Grande, which has some charm, though its mining boom days have busted.

Trucks, trains and the cement factory - the 3 ingredients of Oro Grande.

The Riverside cement plant.

Have not identified this yet, though the neighborly neighbor seemed to know what it was but could not remember when we chatted. There are a few more similar buildings to the right.

Up at Elmer's place at Turner Rd is the Bottle Tree Ranch.

The Polly sign is one landmark in Helendale. The market in the background is the other one.

I cut 8 miles across the desert from Helendale to here, Hwy 395 heading north.

The intersection ahead is Kramer's Junction. I'm going to Boron.

I'm getting close.

Edwards Air Force Base, Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory

I'm going to the 20-Mule Team borax museum next door to this (closed) aerospace museum.

The museum building, and a local boy.

Knick knacks from the 1920s and '30's.

Kitchen odds and ends.

Fire department equipment, and a mule portrait.

Some of the grounds.

Across the street at Pioneer park are some large vehicles.

Down the street at the American Legion post.

Something is going on around back. I did not investigate.

Through the chain-link fence at Kramer Junction.

A few miles up Hwy 395 is this radar installation.

And the other half.

Atolia remnants.

A house in Atolia.

Onward to Red Mountain and a mining area.

The side of a Red Mountain house.

This was an Atlantic Richfield station.

More things in Red Mountain.

Randsburg is the biggest tourist attraction in the area.

It is more populated on the weekend.

The museum is only open on the weekend. This is Monday :-(

Signs of life. We said 'howdy'.