RonniesPictureJournal 2003-003 March Pictures

2003 March Pictures

March 01, 2003. It was a beautiful spring day so we spent the day exploring Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness Area in Southern Nevada.

March 07, 2003. Spring has sprung. Blossoms are on our Cherry Tree. 

March 08-09, 2003. We made a weekend trip to California and on the way we drove past the Interstate 15 exit for Zzyzx. Zzyzx is not a secret code for a government facility or a directional sign for aliens passing through the area, but it does have an interesting history. 

In 1944 a flim-flam man started bottling spring water at the site and sold it as a cure-all for everything. He even started a health resort at the site. Unfortunately for "Dr. Springer" (he was not really a doctor), in 1974 Federal Marshals arrested him for FDA violations and put him in jail. The Federal Government then took possession of the site. (See RonnieAdventure March 15, 2013, Blog #0046 for more interesting information on Zzyzx.) 

Peggy Sue's 1950s nostalgic dinner near Yermo is a nice place to stop for ice cream because it is almost exactly half way between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The original restaurant opened in 1954 and was constructed using Union Pacific railroad ties and mortar. 

When Interstate 15 bypassed the restaurant, it closed for lack of business. However, there was interest in the site because of its location, so it reopened again in 1987. 

The restaurant is now decorated with 1950s and 1960s memorabilia and their slogan is "Eat to the Beat," featuring Elvis and Betty Boops. This is now a popular stopping point for tourist and other people traveling on Interstate 15 through Yermo.. (See RonnieAdventure March 28, 2014, Blog #0093 for more information on Peggy Sue's.)

While in Long Beach we went to dinner with Randy, Kim and expectant baby.

 

On the way home we stopped by the Early Man Site east of Barstow. There is probably not an archeological site anywhere in the world that is more controversial than this site. In 1963 Dr. Louis Leakey obtained a research grand from the National Geographic Society to investigate possible early human activity in the area and continued to be involved in the excavation until his death in 1972. At that time the site was taken over by the Bureau of Land Management and excavations continued on a limited basis. Guided and self-guided tours are available and the public can participate in site excavations the first weekend of each month. (See RonnieAdventure August 29, 2013, Blog #0063 for more information on the Early Man Site.)

We typically stop in Baker on the way home because there are a lot of restaurants for such a small town and then it just an easy two hour drive to Las Vegas. The World's Tallest Thermometer is a major tourist attraction in Baker, along with the Alien Fresh Jerky store.  (See RonnieAdventure August 8, 2013, Blog #0045 for additional information on Baker.)

We were about two miles out of Baker when traffic came to a complete stop on the Interstate. After two hours, traffic started moving slowly and after six hours we came upon the accident that was causing the traffic delay. Two tour busses had collided at a road construction site where traffic had narrowed to two lanes. The two busses had hit almost head-on and there were numerous injuries and deaths. The drive from Baker to Las Vegas took eight hours that night. 

March 14, 2003. Picture taken at an Octavia meeting in Phoenix. I was not invited - they just used my new digital camera.

March 22, 2003. Andrew came to Las Vegas to help Grandpa with the Cub Scout Rocket Derby. He brought his own rocket that he had received at Christmas and participated in the rocket launch along with the Cub Scouts and their families. (See RonnieAdventure March 26, 2021, Blog #0457 for additional Cub Scout rocket pictures.)

While Andrew was in Las Vegas, we went to Burger King to get free toys with the kid's meal, played at the new park by our house, and went swimming in the hot tub.