I made a quick stop in Winslow, Arizona, at the Standin' on the Corner Park en route from my home in Colorado to the Los Angeles area. Love that flatbed Ford.
Titling this blog post became a challenge. So many choices:
Take It Easy
Standin' on the Corner
Don't Even Try to Understand
Running Down the Road Tryin' to Loosen My Load
Don't Let the Sound of Your Own Wheels Drive You Crazy
So many iconic and thought provoking words from one song. The Eagles' "Take It Easy" is definitely my current earworm — a catchy and/or memorable piece of music or saying that continuously occupies a person's mind even after it is no longer being played or spoken about. Unlike some earworms, this was a welcome one as it accompanied me on the final legs of my drive from my home in Colorado to the LosAngeles area where I'm speaking and teaching this week. It's still running through my mind, and that's okay by me.
Heading out from my Colorado mountain home early in the morning.
Snow delayed my departure from home by two days squeezing a leisurely four-day drive to Anaheim, California, into a two-day marathon of driving endurance. Instead of heading west across Colorado, I went south into New Mexico and across Arizona, adding 100 miles to the trip but avoiding mountains in the snow. In re-routing, I had to find a new overnight stop. Winslow, Arizona, was about the right distance. Winslow, Arizona. Why did this sound so familiar? Pretty soon I was singing. It is surprising what is stored in our brains.
A Google search came up with 66 Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. As many of you likely know, I-40 parallels much of the path of historic Route 66. Holbrook is about 30 miles east of Winslow, a good stopping point for making for an early morning visit to Winslow the next day.
In Winslow, I met Canadian Louis "The Beamer," who was making yet another motorcycle trek down Route 66. He's been to Winslow so often they've honored him in a brick at the park. Meeting interesting people makes driving cross country fun. Soon a mother and daughter from Montreal showed up and insisted they take my picture with the red flatbed Ford. By the time I was heading out, the park was crowded.
A pocket park in Winslow, Arizona, draws hundreds of visitors who are entranced by the idea of taking it easy.
Back on the road, the Eagles' lyrics sustained me through several hours of navigating LA freeways with Emma, my 18-foot travel trailer, riding along behind.
Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds Meet the Teachers
Kudos to the Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds (SCCQG) for another great Meet the Teachers virtual event this weekend. I'm in California this week to speak and teach because of this event a year ago. The council's members are guilds from throughout southern California plus a few from neighboring states. Each teacher is given three minutes to present her or his lecture and workshop offerings. When everyone has presented, each teacher has a breakout room. Guild reps stop by the breakout rooms to meet the teachers one on one. I had great conversations with guild program chairs and presidents and look forward to more gigs with the fun guilds from this part of the country.
I think this model of introducing guilds and speakers/teachers is excellent. The SCCQG leaders do a seamless job pf pulling off an event with many moving parts.
Emma Knows: This Camper Stops at Quilt Shops
I love a great notions wall, and Alamosa Quilt Company doesn't disappoint.
In my need to drive 600-plus miles a day to get to California in two days, I didn't plan any quilt shop stops. Emma had different plans. Seemingly on auto pilot, she steered me into a parking lot at a mall in Alamosa, Colorado, when I needed to stop to check my route. She had me park right outside Alamosa Quilt Company, a shop I've visited twice before. The selection of fabric and all things quilting is excellent, and the staff is warm and welcoming. Put this shop on your bucket list. It's not far from Great Sands Dune National Park.
Fabric and thread selections at Alamosa Quilt Company
A Few More Sites From the Road
The drive into Buena Vista is stunning. I caught my breath and reminded myself, this is where I live.
As a child, I was fascinated the first time my family traveled West and my father explained the Continental Divide. I remain fascinated by this phenomenon. Where I live, I look out at the mountains we refer to as the Divide View. Homes with this view are considered desirable real estate. I passed this marker in western Arizona.
Welcome to California. I thought the gas price in Colorado was steep. I did find gas here in Anaheim yesterday for $4.99 a gallon. Surprising when that seems a good deal.
I'll be sharing more from here in California as my time allows. So check back to my blog from time to time this week.