COLT Day1 - Lake Havasu City to Ridgecrest - Monday May 6th

It was a beautiful clear morning in Lake Havasu City. As has now become a tradition, the early morning hours of an Oil Leak Day were spent fixing problems with members cars. Today, the main focus was on Mark and Andrea's XK120 which had no working indicators, only one brake light, and brakes which did not release properly when warm. Around 7:30am, we hit the road on AZ-95, and then I-40 and headed to Needles for breakfast. 

David's navigator, Cognac, takes a close look at the Day1 itinerary

After breakfast, and further brake adjustments, we joined Historic Route 66. This section of road is in good condition, and made for a very enjoyable drive.

Driving Route 66 - Philippe & Francoise, Mark & Andrea, Lloyd, Jerry and David with the camera at the back..

Along the route we stopped at the historic town of Amboy. Amboy was once a major stop along Route 66 but declined when I-40 opened in 1973. It is the home of the famous Roy's Motel and Cafe. In 2005, the entire town was sold to Albert Okura, owner of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain, who offered $425,000 in cash and promised to preserve the town and reopen Roy's. Renovations are under way, with the intention of reopening the Cafe and Motel. 

Lined up in front of the Motel and Cafe in Amboy

Amboy School, closed in 1999

Beyond Amboy the quality of the road surface gradually declined, until we hit a 5-mile section that was badly potholed and unmaintained. When all the fillings had fallen out of our teeth, we returned to I-40 for the run towards Barstow to seek immediate dental attention. We then visited the ghost town of Calico.Calico is an Old West mining town that has been around since 1881 during the largest silver strike in California. With 500 mines, Calico produced over $20 million in silver ore over a 12-year span. When silver lost its value in the mid-1890s, Calico lost its population. The miners packed, and moved away abandoning the town that once gave them a good living. Walter Knott purchased Calico in the 1950's and architecturally restored all but the five original buildings to look as they did in the 1880's.

"Downtown" Calico

Everyone heads to the restaurant for lunch

View to the valley from one of the highest points in Calico

The final stop on Day 1 was at the Harvey House Railroad Depot, originally known as the Casa del Desierto in Barstow. It has recently been restored. 

Casa del Desierto

As we set out for our overnight stay in Ridgecrest, the wind got up, and a storm blew in. Fortunately, we somehow avoided any significant rain, and reached Ridgecrest around 6:30pm

Dramatic skies as we head out of Barstow

During the day, several of the cars developed problems that will give us something to do in the hotel parking lot in the early hours of tomorrow morning. However, that is all part of the fun...