Hi all,
Today I have headed north to a place called Taos. The main reason for this trip was to photograph the rear of the church at Rancheros de Taos. After seeing some photographs on the internet of this Adobe church I just had to see it for myself. Some advice for you all, if you are to make this trip (from Santa Fe) then you will only see the rear of the church from the road, it is not listed on any GPS device and if you have pasted the post office then you have gone to far! (this will save you time trying to find it as the church is set well back from the road)

Rear of the San Francisco de Asis Church in Rancheros de Taos.

Front of the San Francisco de Asis Church in Rancheros de Taos.

After the church I ventured in to the local tourist place to see what else was worth seeing in the area, they pointed me in the direction of a few more places to visit. I head further north to a village called “Taos Pueblo” This village dates back to at least the 1600! At this point I want to point out that this is not a museum, people live in these buildings that date back to these times, these houses have been handed down to generation to generation. I think it’s a bit harsh charging $10 to get in, then charging a further $5 to use a camera, then you have to except the fact that you have to get permission to use the photographs that you own the copyright right to! So here is what the village looks like.

Taos Pueblo.

St. Jerome Church, Taos Pueblo.

Lunch time I took a drive over the Rio Grande (for the second time in the day) Be carfull here, the bridge looks really steady but it isn’t, everytime something goes over it the bridges shakes!

Bridge over the Rio Grande.

A view from the bridge looking down the Rio Grande. (nothing to compare to the Grande Canyon and the skywalk to come)

In the afternoon I drove upto the ski resort in hope that the lifts might be working to gain a view over New mexico (they don’t operate the chair lifts like they do in some european resorts in summer, waste of time.)
A late lunch took me to a Mexican grill bar in Taos called “Ogelvies” This is located in the Plaza area just off the main road through the town, it has a lovely sheltered outdoor dining area that is raised above the Plaza square.

For the rest of the day (including the morning I have been productive on two projects, “Rusty” has been out today! (he won’t be making an appearance today) and i have shot more Adobe buildings (well close up shots, it hard to get any of the buildings looking good as they generally either have tons of signs over the buildings or they are covered by an over grown garden.

More Adobe for you.

That wraps it up for today, not many photographs for you to view but plenty on my hard drive! I can’t post everything here for you to view as I wouldn’t have anything left.

Tomorrow I leave Santa Fe and head south to Albuquerque where I will be staying for the next three nights, more Route 66 to come (the last few days of the old 66 so get your kicks while you can!)

Take care all, thanks again for viewing

Jonathan Fridlington

Hi all,
I have a question to put out to you all, strange as it may seem but it’s been bugging me for a few days now. If Ray Mears & Bear Grylls were dropped in the jungle with very little gear who would come first if at all?

Last night I had a wonderful meal at the “Blue Corn Cafe & Brewery” in Santa Fe, the food was great and there own brewed beer even better (try the Honeymoon Wheat Ale), well worth a trip if your in the area and you like Mexican food.

Today I decided to take it easy by taking the bus into downtown Santa Fe, at the bus stop I might a guy called George Lopez who makes all kinds of things out of tin. George and his brother have won many awards for there work, they have a shop in Santa Fe Village Mall which is located on Don Gaspar. (link to his website: http://www.montanacreations.net/websites/santafetinworks/ )
Here are some examples of there work and George making things.

Santa Fe as a town is a cross between Native American and an old cow boy town, you can buy all types of things here from Native American art, clothing and your normal run of the mill shops (although the town center it’s self is mainly tourist kind of shops)

A view down “San Francisco Street”

The oldest house in the US (and they can’t even look after that with out putting in a cash machine! The outside of the building (although it looks like a modern extension) is full of signs.

For lunch today I had to try a pizza from “The Upper Crust Pizza” very nice in deed and the service great (it’s just down the road from the oldest house in the US) After lunch I wondered around the town a little more and took some more of the traditional Abode covered buildings that are dotted everywhere.

(a nice little alley way tucked down a little side street)

I caught the bus back to the hotel mid afternoon as once again the clouds came rolling in. I spent the rest of the day relaxing in the pool and spa.

Take care, more tomorrow (hopefully, I have decided to stay here another day to take in some of the surrounding area)

Jonathan Fridlington

P.s. Don’t forget to send in your vote for “Bear Grylls Vs Ray Mears”

Hi all,
Where am I? I’m now in New Mexico in Santa Fe. Today was going to be a short day, but every time I went to check into a hotel they were all fully booked. I have decided to stay here for two nights as I am 3 days ahead and I still have a few extra more coming up before I go to the grand Canyon.
I didn’t get on the road until 9.30am! If your stop over is in Amarillo, Texas, then a trip to a steak house is a must, nothing like fresh hung Texas cow for dinner. Right back to 66, after my stay in Amarillo I headed down the old road and back tracked a little on the other side to get to the “Cadillac Ranch” this place is well known, and well visited. You are welcome to buy and spray as much paint over the cars as you like! Get here early as you may encounter two things: lots of people and cattle! Yep the cows not give a crap for visitors (as the chap selling the spray paint at inflated prices will tell you!)

Cadillac Ranch. Amarillo, Texas.

More old gas stations were noted on route. Today’s weather (well morning, noon at a little in the afternoon) has been great, more like what it should be like. Parts of today’s road have been hard, the guide only recommends driving in good conditions, I would however advise a 4X4!

Old 66, New Mexico. (yes this is the road, a gravel track)

BBQ “66″ (not open)

My journal so far has taken me many miles, it was pleasing today to find out that I passed the half way point of the “66″

Half way point on the 66.

I didn’t know what to expect driving on a dirt track in New Mexico miles from anywhere and anybody, the odd pick up pass by, but when the road is in the condition that it’s in, you tend to meet many people.
i did however meet a digger in the middle of this scrub land.

Digger “66″ New Mexico. (I had to trek across a field that had loads of signs saying “no trespassing” what am I to do for art? of course I’m going to go!

Mid afternoon and driving in this place has been tough, not as tough as the storm that I had to drive through! thunder, lightening! Yep I had the lot. I have seen more storms in New Mexico than I saw in Oklahoma and kansas put together.

Storm “66″ New Mexico.

Right I know your all going to ask how my mate is doing, the old chair has been doin’ just fine, he doesn’t mind getting out for the odd photograph, he’s even been helping me rest and showing me the way, this one’s for you chair.

Rusty old chair.

As I said before I’m here for 2-3 nights (that’s 27th, 28th and I might stay the 29th) Feel free to leave comments about anything, ask me any questions.

Take care, tomorrow I’m going to rest and check out some Adobe house’s

Jonathan Fridlington

Hi all (please note this has been back dated again due to the lack of the internet)

First of all I would like to dedicate today’s posting to the lovely people of Wakita, OK. Everyone I spoke to including the lovely lady in the Twister Cafe were very nice and welcoming.

The first site that your getting near Wakita

It’s a place in the middle of no where Oklahoma. You would only be going to Wakita for “Twister Museum”

Wakita is a place that has been hit by endless Twisters with little or no help from the US government (I just want point that out!) The town is very small and besides the house’s, Twister Museum, Twister Cafe, and the village shop there really isn’t much more to it. Parts of the movie “Twister” were filmed here (mainly the house that “Aunt Meg” which was restored for the movie only to be destroyed again for the film.
Is this place worth a visit? I think so. Next time your in Wakita goto the museum and then head down the street to the Twister Cafe for a drink and something to eat. (the museum is open from 1pm to 5pm and is run by the locals, check there website for further details: http://www.twistercountry.com/

Other photographs of Wakita:

Outside of the Twister cafe.

Inside the Twister Cafe.

The Wakita tower.

Wakita Main street.

Ok, enough of Wakita, what about Route 66? Well after treking up from Oklahoma to Wakita and back again (not in one day) I lost of a lot of time to get to Amarillo, but all was ok because Tony Christie should me the way. I have missed out parts of Route 66 in order to get to Amarillo in good time rather than taking many hours. The trip back down south to took over three hours with traffic.
Back on the 66 again, as you might have gathered by now Route 66 is a Ghost road that goes from West to East or East to West (depending upon which way your traveling) All along the route there are towns that are just falling apart, gas stations just left to rot. The following are some examples, also on route the locals have restored some of the key places with historic value.

Signs of a modern day gas station left to rot, Texaco.

The “Lucille” Gas station on route, they have moved down the road some what to a larger place that has a motel as well.

On route why not take more time out and visit the “Route 66″ Museum, there is also another one in Elk City (i didn’t visit that one due to time.)

On this part of your trip through Taxas you will come across the almost famous ghost town called “Texola”

yep it is a ghost town. It’s hard to believe that people live here, but once again the locals took time out to chat to me and talk about the town and pointed me in the direction to the local historic jail house (don’t spend to long here as you might end up staying in it!)

Texola Jail house.

The rest of the journey today took me through Texas (the land of cattle & oil) I came across another restored gas station where I got to chat to some fellow Route 66 er’s (first time on route!)

Now before I go on any further, before I left I mentioned to some family and friends that I would try to make a project out of this trip. The project was titled “Red Chair In America” well after trying hard to find a director’s chair in several shops I was on the verge on giving up. Whilst photographing at one of the many ghost towns I came a across a chair that fitted my project perfectly.
The project is now called “Rusty Chair In America”

Let me introduce you to my new traveling companion “RUSTY CHAIR”

At this point I do not recommend, photographing a chair in the middle of a highway or any road, rail road or place where your life may be at risk! (I had wait a total on 1 min. to photograph the chair!)
At this point you will think I’m totally mad, and you would be right, but people who know me wouldn’t expect anything less of me.

That wraps it for today’s posting, enjoy, don’t forget you can leave comments if you wish (good or bad, any welcome)

Jonathan

Hi all,
Another day on the “66″ again today’s weather hasn’t been good and watching the weather channel last night it sound like “Tornado Ally” was going to get some today! With the promise of hail stones the size of Baseballs should it be right that I should be tucked inside waiting for this all to past? NO! any way no Tornado’s today!
On the road today I have managed to drive in 3 different states!
I started in Missouri (Sorry no Route 66 maker sign!) Continued briefly into Kansas.

(Kansas Road Marker sign)

Then I ended up in Oklahoma:

Oklahoma has much of the original road in tact, more than another state. the locals use this more than the main interstate that runs near the road. At times and for miles I was the only person on the road! time to open up the revs! (I don’t think so, I stuck to the speed limit all the time)

A section of the “66″ a 4 lane Ghost Road!

On route today I came across a few old diners and garages that have been left to rot, due to the weather being bad I haven’t been out much with the camera.

Garage in tatters.

Eat “66″ left to rot.

A bridge not far enough (shame you can’t stop next to the bridge to get some good photographs)

And to end to day’s photographs, a place you can eat in (not that I did)

“Route 66 Hillbillee’s Diner”

I’ve ended the day at a place called “Blackwell” in Northern Oklahoma (about 1.5 hours drive north of the 66) Why am I here, simple, it’s not to far to “Wakita” what’s in Wakita? well the twister museum! yep there is a museum dedicated to the movie Twister! and if your going to trek across Tornado county then a trip to twister capital is a must! Hopefully an update will be coming soon (internet access permitting)

Take care, have fun, be safe (i know I will be)

Jonathan

Hi all,
Back again. Well what have I been up to today? More driving! and a little sight seein’

Again the weather today has been temperamental, the sunshine tried to get through the clouds and when it does everything still looks flat. I’m also finding it hard to find some interesting things to photograph. I did find this place tucked away just of the road.

The Route 66 Boxing Club, can you believe it?

This section of Route 66 is hard to find, the maker posts disappear completely, my advice for this section is to bomb down the interstate to get to the Meramec Caves (you can’t miss the signs as there are many on route (including the section of the 66 that you can follow)

All the guide books say that a trip to the “Famous Meramec Caves” are a must, if you seen caves around the world then this is just like any other (except the Ice Cave in Austria!) After waiting for all the school tours to start and the noise to settle down my party of 6 headed in to the famous caves. I guess your wondering at this point why are they famous? well it’s simple the legendary “Jesse James” and his brother hid down here for a couple of days! but more famous than that (and what they don’t tell you in the guides) is that an episode of Lassie was filmed down here! as well as a Tom Sawyer movie of some kind.

This is the outside of the “Famous” Meramec Caves.

Inside the caves.

Inside the caves.

If you want my advice, unless you really like caves and feel your missing out on something then save your money and check out this place instead:

It’s free and it’s the “Creative Chainsaw Carvings” place, just of the main road before the caves, you will have moments of fun checking out what has been made from wood and the use of the chainsaw (unfortunately no live action)

I continued my trip along what parts of the 66 I could find and understand from 66 maps! As I have said before the 66 doesn’t feature or is marked on any maps, you have to depend on the guide books and maps and sometimes driving and reading don’t go together (unless you have someone reading the turnings for you!)
I came across yet another fake gas station on route, not as nice as the one near Chicago but I had to photograph it (that was after waiting ages for a school class to go that turned up whilst I was just setting up and the glass tudor didn’t understand that they were in my way and that I got there first!)

Another Route 66 Gas station.

Right the further I head west the worst the weather seems to get (well at the moment) If Chicago is the windy city, then Missouri has to be the windy state (except for oklahoma and Kansas!) Here is an example of what the wind has done to the Route 66.

Wind 66

My day ended up in Springfield, I didn’t get much of chance to check the place out as I was hungry and much in need of a sleep.

Take care,

Jonathan

Hi all,
sorry haven’t posted for a few days, it seems to be hard to find a motel that has internet access.
I’m back-dating this entry in order to keep it simple.
Ok St. Louis, if you have never been here then there really isn’t much to see. If you log onto the tourist board website there are only a few things to check out. 1) The Gateway Arch, 2) The River Boat, 3) Helicopter Ride & 4)The River Boat Casino’s. So why did I come here? I went to St. Louis for 2 reasons, first was to photograph the Arch and the second was it’s on the Route 66. If you want some advice from me, unless your coming here for a reason these are the only things to check out, the rest of the town is either full off Hotels or business centers and restaurants / bars.
Right on to what I’ve been up to: I got early (after chatting on MSM etc with Jenni and Wayne) I got down to the Arch for 9.00am (in order to get there for opening at 9.30am)

This is a view of the Arch from across the park (near the carpark)

This is a view of the Arch from the base.

So after 3 security checks, and all my gear being scanned many times I made it into the base of the tower, I know your first question is going to be “how do you get to the top of the Arch?” simple, some mad engineers designed a kind of cable car system that runs of tracks. You don’t get a view as you go up but the ride is very smooth. Once up the top to deck is strange place to be, it offers great views to the West / North of the city but nothing really to look at to the East / South side (except views of old Miss.)

This a view of the Sky deck from the top of the Arch.

This a view of the City.

This is another view over the city including the baseball stadium.

After taking a rather large amount of photographs of the Arch from all angles I took a trip on the river boat down old Miss. At this point I just want to add that you cannot just get a ticket for the Arch Sky Deck, you have to have it with something else I choose the boat as the other options were the cinemas.
The boat trip it’s self was nice and relaxing, not really much to see, the captain gives you a history lesson on all the bridges (this is the such and such memorial bridge and that the so and so memorial road / building restaurant etc etc.you get the point)

Image of the river boat (fake steamer)

After the boat trip and lunch (the only place for something to eat around this area with out walking to far is the fast food place next to the boat, you can also get the same kind of food and drinks on the boat if you wish) any I spent a little more time taking yet more photographs of the Arch and then headed to the downtown area that I spotted from the boat. Ok mum & dad not for you to read. This area looks like the west bank on a good day, it’s kind of safe but doesn’t look it (well I had no problems and the only items I had with me was my phone and camera everything else was safe in the boot of the car.

The area of Downtown they don’t want you to see!

I returned to my motel in the late afternoon for some rest, then returned to the Arch for the night time photographs (I spent another 3 hours down there at night!)

Ok that was St. Louis, remember the Gateway Arch is a memorial! (like everything else in this state!)

Take care, Route 66 update coming up.

Jonathan

P.s. If you want to see the arch at dusk with the moon included (your begging me now), well your just going to have to wait until my website is up and running when I get back, and sorry Wayne the Stadium’s you talked about didn’t look so hot for my camera and I couldn’t get access, I did try)

Hi,
Route 66, get your kicks on it!
Well after the train into Chicago was delayed I finally picked up my car (with up grade)
I first want to say that if your going to drive Route 66 be prepared for the road ahead, look out for the route markers on route and most of all make sure you have some good maps, GPS and a guide of the road (all will come in handy)

Someone somewhere has bothered to put up road markers on part of the route, don’t be fooled by the security of these as in places they disappear or pop up in places after the turnings. This is a mother of a road, of course in parts the highway runs right next to it, at times you start to think why did I bother? and why not just jump on to it? Well the simple answer to this is “you wanted to travel the 66, so travel it.
The Chicago end is lacking details in parts and for miles you will drive down a road that’s very long and you will think to yourself “have I missed a turn?” “should I stop and ask?” well don’t at the end of the road there is a very welcoming sign to guide you on your way.

Ok details out the way, has it been worth it so far?, I think so, if you want to get to LA fast then fly, take the main interstate but what ever you do don’t take 66. In parts the speed slows down to 3o MPH, but you will find the road empty and sometimes a little lonely but at least there are some dinners on the way.

I would like to add another point about Route 66, if it doesn’t have a Route 66 sign on it then it’s not worth stopping at it. The road is full of either redundant gas stations or dinners all a long the route.

Having such a late delayed start I haven’t been able to photograph as many things today as I would have liked, I didn’t get to my hotel at St. Louis until 9.30pm! ok I’ve stopped off on the way, had lunch, but an early start would have been better (I blame the trains and the idiot at the car rental place who didn’t understand the only car that was left for rental was $100 a day)

Tomorrow: St. Louis, a two night rest stop, a trip around the town and hopefully nice weather and some photographs of the famous Arch.

Take care

Jonathan.

P.s. at least the car has an I-pod input!!!!!!!!!

Hi all, another day in Chicago. The sun has been out but the was flat, dull and boring! What am I to do?
I got up early and headed into town on the commuter express (it’s 4 mins quicker than the regular train) headed straight to the Bean in hope of getting some great photographs without any people about, well at 8.20am the tourists were out with the same intentions! The sun was so hard on the surface it was hardly worth taking any photographs. After my first disappointment I headed down to the Hancock tower to take in the views of Chicago, worth paying the $10 for the views:

A view of North Chicago.

A view of West chicago.

A view of South Chicago.

After spending some time up the tower taking in the views, I headed for lunch at the highly recommended pizza / pasta restaurant : Giorando’s (730 N Rush St) Ok if your going to eat here not have any food for a week before hand or don’t eat for a week after-wards. The Stuff crust pizza is more like a pie than a pizza, mmmmmm yummy.

Ok time to walk off the food, in the afternoon i took a walk down by the harbour and the Navy Pier. If you come here in the summer I can only guess the pier is packed full of people, it was just about ok for me (I found walking down the service road on the North side of the pier better, nothing to look at but great views of the city and Lake Michigan.

Hazy view of the city from the pier.

I headed back to train station taking in East / West Wacker Drive and had to stop and unload my camera out of my back to get this shot for 333 West Wacker Drive (just as you give up and go home!)

Thanks Chicago, next stop St. Louis (for two days)

Take care

Jonathan

Hi all, well I’m in Windy City (Chicago) yep! and today it’s been that, as well as being: COLD, WET & FOGGY!
Never mind, not to be put off by this I took the Metra (double decker) train to Chicago.
Ok if you have never been here before, you should! same on you for not trying it. I find Chicago my little Sazlburg of America (so far) It’s big, it’s beautiful and fantastic if you like high end shopping this place is for you. Forget New York, if you want space and no sirens every 2 seconds then this place is a must.
Right for the tourist bad weather is never a good thing and today it’s been pushing my creative edge to the limit. If it had been snowing it would have been better.
On the train journey in the train was packed with Navy uniformed staff (great for Jenni! and yes I do have a photo just for you)
My first impression of the city was that the someone, somewhere along the line decided that the roads were getting to busy and that a subway style system was needed, OK in the Uk they would have thought about and never did anything here they have built it over the roads:

I walked down to the Millennium Park where they have various contemporary art sculptures, one being the “BEAN”

Now you must stand inside the bean for some of the best photographs (i’m not going to post hear but on my own website (when I get one up and running when I get back)) As you can see from the reflections in the bean the fog is covering the tops of some of the buildings!

Another sculpture comprises of two towers that face opposite each other and have water running down them, they also project peoples faces on the them:

After the Millennium Park I took a stroll along the Chicago river and then down Michigan Avenue (which is also know as the “Magnificent Mile” here you will find a mixture of normal and high end retail outlets (it also has the Apple Store if you need to check your emails for free) The Magnificent Mile also has some of the best architecture (New & Old) to photograph (shame the weather is so bad!)

This is a photograph of the John Hacock Centre (complete with fog)

After lunch I changed direction again and headed for the river to walk around the “East Wacker Drive” nothing to write home about it’s just nice to be down by the river looking at the buildings.

this is a veiw of the river looking East towards the “Wrigley building” (the Wrigley builing is on the far left)

On my continued walk around the city I found time to take in some of the back streets and get some images that would beat “BANKSY” hands down, this one’s for you Banksy.

Ok, just to show that I have been busy and still come up with something in this weather here is another building in Chicago:

At this point I would like to point out that I am trying to get a film location out of each place (it might be hard after today) but today’s location is “Emmit’s Pub” as featured in Ocean’s 11 (no george wasn’t on hand to pose for photographs)

Well that’s today gone, as I finish this off the weather has now cleared up, it looks like it’s going to be nice tomorrow (if it is going to be nice expect me to be out all day and night!)

Take care.

Jonathan