SoCal (And AZ And NV) Images

Matt D · Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:16 am

So check it out. Jen and I decided to head out of town for the weekend on Friday afternoon. We decided to jam up to Laughlin (IFP) for a quick little getaway. Since I got my cameras back and had no camera last time we went, I took nearly 150 pictures of the trip, from beginning to end. Here are just a handful of them to share with you.I can do parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and more if you like!

It was hotter than Hades up there. But thank God for air conditioning, cold drinks, and swimming pools.

Enjoy.

Heading out of town on the northbound I-215 at the I-10 Junction.

heading up Cajon Pass, looking back and leaving the SoCal June Gloom behind.

I wonder if there's a similar sign for "Barstow" at the other end. Now THIS would be a long drive.

Cruising down the Desert Interstate in the Cobra, top down, of course.

A self portrait taken at a rest stop along I-40 somwhere between Ludlow and Needles.

Someone has a sick sense of humor. Out in the middle of the desert. Pretty self explanatory.

My Cobra parked across the river with Laughlin in the background.

Jen and I standing on the banks above the Colorado River. Yes, I am aware that my belt is off center and that my britches are showing. I have to tease some of you a little!

In the hotel room with one of my new hats.

..and my other...I was fortunate enough to find a propeller hat. Those are pretty hard to come by. I had already consumed a number of ...beverages....when this picture was taken.

ACDC8 · Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:35 am

Looks like you had a great trip. Gotta love that AZ scenery. Driving down the I-10 in a Cobra rag top...man I envy you! Big grin

goboeing · Mon Jun 20, 2005 12:58 pm

Needles! I remember driving through there years ago. I saw it from thirty-something thousand feet a few months ago and it looked so tiny.

The southwest is such a scenic part of the country. Thanks for posting those pictures. Was the river cold?

Nick

Matt D · Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:11 pm

Needles is definitely one of those "last chance" run down towns. Nothing to do there other than pass it by. But yes, we had fun. And we drove across the desert on I-40, not I-10. As for the river, we only went to it. We didn't go in it this time.

KROC · Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:40 pm

I stopped in Needles on my Crapchester to Los Angeles drive. Had the worst pizza ever there. Filled up the tank and said next time I'll make sure I don't have to stop here. Then again, most of Cali is like that.

Matt D · Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:52 pm

I'm surprised you even found a pizza in Needles. No wonder it was bad. Hell even I won't eat anything there. Now as for 'most of CA', what parts did you drive through? If it was anywhere on the 40, I agree. But once you get into the LA area, it isn't all THAT bad.

srbmod · Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:52 pm

These words come to mind after seeing those pictures:

"We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold. I remember saying, 'I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive.....'"

bristolflyer · Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:53 pm

Went to Laughlin last year, it's the hottest place I've ever been to (and I live in Phoenix!). Can't see why people go to Laughlin when for a couple more hrs of driving you can bee in Vegas.

BF

Superfly · Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:59 pm

Matt D:
Great photos man! bigthumbsup

I remember driving through Needles and Ludlow years ago.
I like that Water Rd. sign with no services. Big grin

Matt D · Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:00 am

True, IFP and LAS are about the same distance from us here in Riverside. And they are both flaming hot this time of year. I guess it's a matter of preference, being a matter of scale. Vegas is very, VERY big and very, VERY crowded. Driving down The Strip is like downtown Manhattan. Laughlin, on the other hand is only about a mile or so long. But it has the same glitzy lights, choices of restaurants, shows, and of course, rigged gambling that Vegas does-plus the choice of outdor recreation-with about 1% of the crowds.

If you want the Vegas experiance without the traffic, crowds, and headaches, then go to Laughlin..which is what we chose to do.

aloges · Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:03 am

How long can you drive through the middle of nowhere till you get to the next trace of civilisation?

Matt D · Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:12 am

Thanks 'Fly.

The stretch between Needles and Barstow on I-40 is about 150 miles or so, basically being remote desert the whole way. So it's definitely not the road to take if you have an unreliable or junker car. There are no strip malls, Wal-Marts, Sizzlers, Thai restaurants, traffic lights, or any of the endless concrete that personifies urban life.

-which is exactly why it's such a nice drive.

Superfly · Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:21 am

Matt D:
A drive you might want to take some day is US Hiway 50 between Fallon, Nevada and Ely, Nevada. It's called 'The Loneliest Road In America'.
The two cities are 300 miles apart with one gas station in the middle at the 150 mile mark.

Tom in NO · Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:02 am

Great pics, as always! Nothing beats driving with the top down.

That "Wilmington, NC 2,554 mi" sign will definitely grab you. There's a mileage sign on I-10 just after one crosses from Louisiana into Texas that says "Beaumont 23, El Paso 857". Not a sign you really want to see if you're doing the cross country I-10 thing, and aren't into roadies.

The thing I like about driving in the southwest is that there is almost always a far-reaching view. It might be of desert half the time, which is fine with me, I love the desert. It totally beats driving the interstates in the southeast, and seeing nothing but nonstop pine trees right up to the edge of the roadway for miles and miles and miles. Put simply, driving I-10 westbound from New Orleans towards L.A. is a lot more interesting than driving I-10 eastbound towards Jacksonville.

I've never been to Laughlin, done the Vegas thing numerous times. Laughlin had just begun its expansion when I moved in 1987. Before she passed away in 1996, my mom would make runs over there, and she was quite impressed with the place.

Tom at MSY

TWFirst · Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:14 am

Fun pics! I haven't road tripped in a long time.

That first one almost makes me feel like I'm sitting in your front seat.

BTW, do you ever smile?

Matt D · Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:23 am

I'll smile once in a blue moon. Very few pix exist of me showing of a Cheshire Cat grin. Taking pictures while in motion, as they appear from the car and giving the viewer the idea that they are in the car too is sort of what I have in mind when taking those pix.

So who else wants to go topless in the Cobra Convertible?

mdsh00 · Tue Jun 21, 2005 4:14 pm

Ah the I-40. I like driving the 15 so much more. But that's just my opinion. Smile

cannibalz3 · Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:23 am

To assuage your curiosity, yes there is a sign in Wilmington, NC that states the distance to California. Dont remember the town though.

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