PA to LB Chronicle of Bruce Smith's Historic Journey

PA 2 LB

(Pennsylvania to Long Beach)

Chronicle of Bruce Smith's Historic Journey

Part II - Wichita Falls, TX to San Bernardino, CA

(Part I - York, PA to Wichita Falls, TX)

(Part III - The Saga Continues - Not in Long Beach yet!)

(Part IV - Travels & Commentary of Ricochet Smith)

I figured the first page was full enough, thus this Part II page. Bruce is still rolling along, more or less. This Part II starts in Wichita Falls, where he's staying a couple of nights to see if the storms will subside. If the rain ever stops, the plan is to continue on to Long Beach.

On the itinerary down the left side, we add updates every time the bike moves (and Bruce with it). Below, you'll find photos with captions. If you want to be emailed about updates, sign the Guest Book on page 1!

Bob Hoffman, cousin and webmaster

CLICK ANY PHOTO FOR A LARGER VIEW!

ITINERARY

(click a date to jump to specific photos)

PART I

08/19/08 - Leaving York, PA (Daughter Aleta w/ Ella, Phil)

08/22/08 - York, PA to Ocean City, MD (with Aleta, Ella, & Phil)

08/22/08 - Ocean City, MD to Raleigh, NC (Sister Joyce)

08/25/08 - Raleigh, NC to Savannah, GA (motel)

08/26/08 - Savannah, GA to Rockledge, FL (Cousin Bob Hoffman and wife Joyce)

08/30/08 - Rockledge, FL to Venice, FL (Cousin Buzz Gordon and wife Kris)

09/03/08 - Venice, FL to Lake Placid, FL (Cousin Len's house)

09/05/08 - Lake Placid, FL to Tallahassee, FL (Cousin Marylin and husband Bill)

09/08/08 - Tallahassee, FL to Opelousas, LA (fleabag motel)

09/09/08 - Opelousas, LA to Shreveport, LA

09/10/08 - Shreveport, LA to Wichita Falls, TX

PART II

09/12/08 - Wichita Falls, TX to Amarillo, TX

09/13/08 - Amarillo, TX to Santa Fe, NM

09/16/08 - Santa Fe, NM to Gallup, NM

09/17/08 - Gallup, NM to Needles, CA

09/18/2008 - Needles, CA to San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino - Route 66 Rendezvous (Classic Cars)

Part I : York, PA - Ocean City, MD - Raleigh, NC - Savannah, GA - Rockledge, FL - Venice, FL - Lake Placid, FL - Tallahassee, FL - Opelousas, LA - Shreveport, LA - Wichita Falls, TX = 2759 miles (Mapquest estimates 45 hour trip :)

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Part II: Wichita Falls, TX - Amarillo, TX - Santa Fe, NM - Gallup, NM - Needles, CA - San Bernardino, CA = 1311 miles (Mapquest estimates 19.5 hour trip :) TOTAL TRIP 4070 MILES, 64.5 HOURS

Amarillo roadside rest - might also label it "Are we having fun yet?"

Big Texan in Amarillo , TX home of the free (if you eat it all) 72 oz steak

09/12/08 - Wichita Falls, TX to Amarillo, TX

Big Texan - Amarillo

Home of the 72-ounce steak

Eatin' Table - where the 72-ouncers are eaten ... or not; Where's Bruce?

09/13/2008 - Hurricane Ike going across East Texas. Bruce holed up in Amarillo, waiting for better weather and taking more photos. Seems there's a storm in Mexico that's beating up the areas around Amarillo.

NOTE: Check out BigTexan.com! They're on Route 66! Website has great sounds, etc.

There he is! Finally found a chair that fits! Not DisneyWorld, but a whole lot cheaper :)

Emails from our boy:

09/13/2008 - Dateline: Santa Fe, NM - I stopped in Tucumcari to see the Route 66 markers and dead motels/diners and found the most amazing and current dinosaur museum run by the local college. I decided against Taos because of the overwhelming bed & breakfast joints and artsy/craftsy types leaning on the tourist dollars – Santa Fe has much more history. More mañana.

09/15/2008 - Give some acknowledgement to Craig Currell, the Museum Director at Mesalands College , Tucumcari , NM for his excellent and enlightening conversation during my visit. He gave me a great personal tour and interesting archaeological tales. Thanks a bunch!

On another note, luckily I made it to Santa Fe , NM before my ignition coil failed. I am in a hotel across the street from the dealer until they overnight the part in. I needed the time to watch the debacle of the Merrill Lynch/Lehman nosedive into the dirt on CNBC.

Following Route 66 from Amarillo, Texas to Tucumcari, New Mexico

Most amazing dinosaur museum with some exhibits of "local" residents

Ostrich ancestor

Anasazi hospitality in Santa Fe

(Who's Anasazi? CLICK HERE)

09/13/08 - Amarillo, TX to Santa Fe, NM

And, speaking of museums, we've added a few more photos of amazing cars at the Antique Car Museum in Tallahassee, back in Part I.

CLICK HERE to go check them out!

Absolutely petrified - Already in Arizona, enjoying that great sunshine!

CLICK HERE to visit park's website

Arizona Rain A-Comin' - Spoke too soon on that great sunshine :)

Another Rain Storm Slid By - Guess he just missed that one

The Arizona Putt - That's the title Bruce sent .. only a putt to California?

Crossing the Colorado River - But Evil Knievel jumped it!

Needles

Livin' the Dream - Hotel Califronia - Needles

Looks like he's freezing :) Must be the result of using that timer on the camera - or is he not alone?

Below, we've put together a Mapquest of the entire trip. Since they only allow 10 maximum locations, we had to omit some of those that didn't alter the "path." Starts in York, PA and ends in San Bernardino sipping that Greyhound. (BTW, Greyhound = "Vodka and grapefruit juice from Cole ’s back yard")

The REAL Route 66 - Somewhere between Gallup and Needles

Thriving Business on 66

And, not-so-thriving :

Old Gas Station on 66

09/16/08 - Santa Fe, NM to Gallup, NM

09/17/08 - Gallup, NM to Needles, CA

3000miles of Dirt

Big Bug

Safe Arrival at 5100 miles

(but Mapquest says 4100 miles?)

09/18/2008 - Needles, CA to San Bernardino, CA

Dad & Cole Home in Berdue

Greyhound Time

Grapefruuit Squeezing Help with Kane

Gremmlin Catcher Works

(Caption provided by Bruce with photo and, no, I have no idea)

Message from Smitty: "a grateful appreciation for all the hospitality shown by all my relatives and new friends throughout my travel saga. Thank you very much!"

Below - The day after arrival in San Bernardino, there was a "Route 66 Rendezvous" downtown ...

San Bernardino - Route 66 Rendezvous (Classic Cars)