Leaving
Homol'ovi we take I-40 West passing by
Flagstaff AZ, the highest point of this road trip at 7000 ft in elevation.
Shortly after Flagstaff, I-40 descends into the deserts.
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| Descending from Flagstaff |
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| Back into the Arizona/California deserts |
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Before
Barstow, we turn north towards the California ghost town of
Calico. It was founded in 1881 when four prospectors discovered silver in an area they described as "calico-colored" hills. Their Silver King mine was California's largest silver producer during the mid 1880's. At it's peak the town supported a weekly newspaper, three hotels, five general stores, three restaurants, and of course the requisite number of bars and brothels.
Today Calico has been restored to the silver rush era in which it flourished and serves as a tourist attraction, which includes a large
RV park. We find a good campsite protected from the desert winds in a canyon below the town and then walk up to the town itself. We are surprised to learn Calico shuts down at 5pm sharp. We had planned to eat dinner in one of the restaurants that advertise serving it, but they are closing down as we arrive. Guess you need to eat a very early dinner in this town.
Clouds heavy with rain have gathered. So we decide it's time to have dinner in the van and try the town again early in the morning.
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| Campsite at Calico |
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| Calico with rain clouds |
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The storm that evening turns out to have more wind than rain, but it does clear the air. The next morning we get up early to beat the crowds and take advantage of the lovely morning light.
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| Hiking back up the hill to Calico |
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| Entrance to Calico Ghost Town |
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| Main Street |
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As it's a beautiful morning, we hike up the hill behind the town for a panoramic view.
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| Calico CA |
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The town's rough and tumble mining past is very much in evidence just about everywhere we look.
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| Combo home & mine entrance |
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| Pretty grimy and primitive living conditions |
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Living conditions in Calico must have been harsh under the hot desert sun and cold winter winds. Still the miners did what they could to make themselves comfortable.
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| House built out of bottles |
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| Home dug into the rock |
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| Disgruntled miner moved on to better digs |
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As the town grew, so did the services and conveniences.
Fire must have been a constant threat, as fire fighting equipment is easy to spot around town.
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| Buckets ready for a brigand |
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| Fire house |
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| Fancy fire wagon - at one time state of the art |
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Other professional services grew as well, including:
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| Dr A R Rhea's Drug Store |
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| Local Jail |
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| Undertaker, furniture & auction house |
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The silver boom only lasted a decade or less and by 1900 Calico as a town and mining center was pretty much played out.
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| Abandoned mines |
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In 1951 Walter Knott and his wife Cordelia, the founders of
Knott's Berry Farm, purchased the whole town and began restoring it. In 1962 Calico was registered as a
California Historical Landmark. Then later in 1966, the Knotts donated it to San Bernadino County and it became a County Regional Park as it is today.
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| Memorial to the Walter Knott Family |
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| Tourist services offering food and trinkets |
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| and amusements |
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Having absorbed as much history as Calico had to offer, we leave and navigate to
California State Route 58 through the
Mojave Desert, over the
Tehachapi Mountains and into the
San Joaquin Valley.
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| Windmills at the base of Tehachapi Pass |
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| Past Taquitos Jesus roach coach |
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| past a new tanker truck |
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| and over the Coastal Range |
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| An irrigated orchard contrasts with barren hills close to Paso Robles |
Closer to the coast, we see spring flowers again as the temperatures cool in the foggy air. |
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| California poppies by a roadside memorial |
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