We saw and drove over the world’s largest antique today. It is the London Bridge in the Arizona desert. It hardly seems right to buy the heritage of a formerly great empire and use it to support a shopping center. The whole thing is embarrassingly American. I wonder if Captain Bligh’s tombstone in London might also be up for grabs. It’s my personal favorite London landmark.
Yesterday we drove a 100 mile stretch of historic old Route 66 looking for photo opportunities. There are still a few small businesses trading on the nostalgia of this historical period. Brolean has recently submitted a nice Route 66 entry to the H2G2 edited guide.
When Perseus cut off Medusa's head, the red winged horse, Pegasus, sprang spontaneously from the blood soaked ground. Rollie Free drove a Vincent Black Lightning with a Pegasus on the gas tank to a world record speed in excess of 150 MPH in September, 1948, on the Bonneville Salt Flats...he was wearing a bathing suit..I got my first bicycle that month.
We drive old Route 66 between Kingman and Seligman, Arizona. The map shows a 75 mile gravel road to the north leading to the Grand Canyon at a spot tourists don’t often visit. What the hell. We have a Toyota rental car while our Toyota is being repaired. We decide to do it. 25 miles down the gravel road into the Haulapai Indian Reservation we stop a friendly tribal policeman and ask advice about the road.. He says the road turns to mud in five miles and suggests that a four wheel drive truck might be a more appropriate vehicle. We turn back.
Here are a few more Route 66 images, including a blown ‘56 Chevy V-8 engine with two four barrels and some old Ford flathead V-8s. My first car was a ’50 Ford I bought for $50 in 1959.
In tennis today, Mrs. Phred and I played three sets near the London Bridge. Scores were 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2., her favor. I make some good shots, deep return of serves she can’t touch, but I’m still hopelessly outclassed. Even a blind pig finds an occasional truffle.
The repairs on the Toyota are not covered by Warranty. It seems that the original dealership improperly installed an aftermarket security system that shorted out the headlight assembly switch. I’m writing to the “Toyota Experience” center to request binding 3rd party arbitration on the repair cost. If the arbitration costs are more than the repair, there is still a point to be made here.
I think it's rather delightful that a whole bridge in London has been removed to the Arizona desert.
ReplyDeleteAt least it's a fair trade - not a colonial thing - "Oh, hey, nice statue of the Pharoh, Mr. Egyptian. We'll take it if you don't mind and we might not even give you a thumping this time either."