Route 66 Desert Rat Cinder Cone
(and Hospital) Tour

March 23-25, 2004
Our band of 12 adventuresome TC'ers had a most pleasureable time out at the Mojave National Preserve (well 10 of us did anyway, but more about that further on). We gathered in Barstow and headed out to the preserve on Saturday.
Watch out for those Miata drivers. They are starting to outnumber TC drivers in our club.
Lots to see and observe out there.
Our first stop in the preserve was at some lava flows.
Joe studies some yellow poppies he spotted.
We spotted a lizard about a foot long. He was smart enough (and small enough) to get in the shade while we stood out in the sun.
Joe's son, Arnold, found some interesting minerals.
Gene studies an interesting rock found near a lava flow.
Joyce and Karen watch the men climbing up the hillside.

Our lunch stop was in the shade of some trees. Guess that lizard had the right idea.
Ahh, all the conveniences.
The lovely Kelso Dunes.
This was the traditional line-up of TC's but kind of short since there was only one TC. As Bob put, "After all, it is the TC Motoring Guild and not the TCs Motoring Guild."
On the Teutonia Peak Trail the ladies stopped to study one of the granitic dikes formations.
Well we walked part way out to the dunes anyway if not the whole way.

A stop in Baker for a butt break.
Now here is a great motometer for your TC.

Look close and you will see that the big Baker thermometer is reading 74 degrees. Quite pleasant out.
As was mentioned earlier, 10 of us had a great time. Jay became ill Friday night. Here Jay gives last minute instructions before Jackie takes him to the hospital.
After dinner on Saturday we all trekked over to visit Jay at the hospital. Don't know if we broke any rules but we had 11 visitors in there.
NO Jay, that bottle isn't for drinking! It's for,- uh, oh never mind. You can tell Jay was feeling just a little better with his antics but he still had pain. Notice the reading material, our latest Classic Chassis.
When we mentioned the thermometer in Baker was the world's tallest Bob asked, "Is it a rectal thermometer?" Well Bob, it might just be that.
A stop over at the Barstow Community Hospital before leaving Barstow on Sunday. Jay would be released on Monday.
Many thanks to Jay and Jackie Call for all the planning they put into this tour.
We had a great time.