Wooden Sign to Tropical Motel
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Day 7: June 12, 2021 Wooden Sign to Tropical Motel Comment via blog |
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It's not easy to see it in this morning shot from my motel door, but it is
raining quite steadily. I wasn't particularly happy about it, but I knew
that a couple of my neighbors were having a worse day than me. I started
on toward the New York border on a road I drove the other way just three
days ago but it does look a little different when it's wet.
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The rain had lightened considerably by the time a wet Albany appeared on
te horizon. I snapped pictures of three iconic structures as I passed
through. The first is the performance venue called The Egg, the second is
the state capitol, and the third a Norge globe. The Yellowstone Trail does
not actually pass the front of the capitol but does go by the back and
north side. I missed my turn by a block and got a better photo op than I
should have.
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A Route 66 fan must live here. The pictured building holds Steve Rider's
lawn equipment. One of his two garages actually holds cars. The other is
actually a museum filled with memorabilia related to Route 66 along with
some other roads. Steve first experienced the now decommissioned US-66
during a 1959 family trip in the 1958 Chevrolet in the picture and it
seems he got hooked. This was my second visit and, like any good museum,
this one has had additions in the six intervening years. And, like most
repeat visitors to museums, I saw things today that I missed -- or at
least forgot -- the first time. The vacation display with the '58 Chevy is
in the first category; the double 66 sign is in the second although it's
hard to believe that I either missed or forgot it. It is one of several
totally unique pieces of history that Steve owns. The big wooden sign once
marked the active US route in Williams, AZ, the last town bypassed by the
interstate. A page Steve displays with the the sign is
here.
I do remember the poster and the cross-stitch panel in the last picture but the significance of the cross-stitched image has changed. The poster is from what is considered the first national gathering of Route 66 "roadies" in 1996. The cross-stitched image is one of many that Sharon Ward has made for some of today's "roadies" She made one for me of Glen Rio. Before starting each image, Sharon quizzes intended recipients on the favorite places on the route. Steve's panel shows the Painted Desert Trading Post in Arizona. The building had deteriorated quite a lot and was in serious danger of collapsing when Steve and eight partners purchased the post and surrounding land. Since the purchase they have made considerable improvements. The intention is not to completely restore and reopen the post but to make sure it's around for a long time. |
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Of course I'm looking at the camera. It just happens to not be the right
part of the camera.
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This is Fort
Johnson near Amsterdam, NY. Construction started about 1749. The site
will not open for the season until June 18, but I could still admire the
building and the nice footbridge entry. This was one of two spots Steve
suggested.
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Schoharie Crossing is the second spot Steve suggested.
There are layers of transportation history here centered on the Erie
Canal. Remnants of bridges, locks, and a giant aqueduct remain. Much like
Donner Pass on the Lincoln Highway, there are too many layers here for me
to get my head around them on a first visit. The visitor center is now
open only by appointment but there is an awful lot here that can be seen
just walking around and reading the numerous panels.
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After taking in what I could of Schoharie Crossing, I retraced my path
north across the Mohawk River and returned to a Yellowstone Trail
alignment now signed Mohawk Drive. The third picture is of the current
NY-5/US-20 and the fourth is from another old YT section about five miles
east of Utica.
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Getting out of the car to photograph the Stanley Theater in Utica, NY, was
as much about stretching my legs as getting the picture.
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A drive-by shot of the Redwood Diner in East Syracuse, NY.
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Modern US-20 starts angling for the top of Cayuga lake not long after it
leaves Auburn, NY. The Yellowstone Trail seems to have charged pretty much
due west until forced to acknowledge the lake's presence. It then heads
north along the shore to connect with US-20 and accompany it over the
Seneca River.
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Apparently people in these parts like their storage rental companies to
have large mascots. I'm including this end-of-the-day giant knight ONLY
because I included a big beaver yesterday.
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The Miami Motel was
suggested by a person I'm meeting for the first time tomorrow. I had
planned on staying here tomorrow night but a series of goofs and a lack
of alternatives got me here a day early. This is clearly the best motel of
the trip so far. Originally built in 1952, it has been brought back from
the brink by Valerie and Dennis Calkins. It is one of those "if we
knew then what we know now" stories, but after nineteen years of work
they have all twenty-eight rooms completed. The renovation retains many
elements of the original tropical theme while adding modern amenities that
include electric outlets not already
overfilled before you enter the room. The only sad part of the story is
the forced decision to turn off the partially working neon sign. The cost
of getting the internals working really is prohibitive but the Calkinses
are as disappointed as any visitor and I think there may be a glimmer of
hope for the future. A wonderful place with delightful owners. Check out
the rest of my room here.
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