A blog on travel photography and our photography courses in the UK and Abroad.
Just received this screen shot from Derek showing the route and his gps tagged photos alone the route. I have put up my first batch of pictures on flickr. Check out this reference:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28238327@N06/sets/72157643659654514/
Check out or USA dates for next year which takes in some stunning National Parks including the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Byce, Arches and Zion. Visit our web site and click on the USA link.
What a finish to the trip. After travelling down to Santa Monica along the busy LA freeways we finished out trip at the Santa Monica Pier with the end of the road sign on the Pier and the official site just a short walk from the Pier. After that we had a final meal together in Santa Monica before heading back to the UK. A really big thank you to everyone on the tour which made this trip really special. After having 2 trips with most of the group it is sad to think that we won’t all be going again next year. I have enjoyed both trips and you will be a hard act to follow. Looking forward to seeing your corrected pictures over the coming weeks.
Today we headed off across the desert to Barstow. First stop after a twisty drive over the mountains to the old mining town of Oatman – a real tourist trap and the most commercial place we have come across on route 66. Then we headed out to Amboy and the Bagdad Cafe before arriving at the Route 66 Motel. This is another classic route 66 motel with great photo opportunities. The motel is old school but clean with great period charm. Check out the picture by John Lane below.
Today we set off from Flagstaff and travelled around 2 miles to the Galaxy Diner for breakfast. After photos we headed west to Williams (a favourite spot from last years USA trip), Seligman and on to Hackberry – one of the best stops on route 66 for photos. We then stopped at a small Diner around 15 miles outside of Kingman to check out a stop from last year were Andrea and John had dollar bills on the ceiling. We added our names to the walls and set off for our nights stop at the El Trovatore – a themed hotel which has only been open for a couple of years. The owners can’t do enough for us and are so helpful. It seems a real find.
Pictures today by John Lane.
Pictures by Isaac of days 8 & 9.
Only 91 miles to cover today so a relaxed day with a stop at Wilmslow to stand on the corner. The Eagles tribute has been well done with murals, a flat bed Ford and gift shop. After brunch at a local diner just across the road it was off to the Meteor Crater for views of the hole. We arriver in Flagstaff and had a short visit to the old town with dinner at the Lumber Yard. Derek and the girls tucked into the guest ales while John decided to take it easy and just have a 1/3 lb hot dog!
What a day today. Started badly with forgetting wallet – luckily realised within a few hundred yards of hotel then a trip around Albequerque to find the iconic Route 66 Diner for breakfast only to find it wasn’t open until 11.00. Things then got better as we headed west to Gallup and the painted dessert and petrified forest surviving dust storms as we travelled. We arrived at sunset at the Wigwam Motel and stayed in our wigwams for the night. They were basic but great beds and hot showers. A real touch of the genuine route 66 accommodation. Pictured below is Andrea dressed to impress during a dust storm and the Wigwam Motel with one of the wigwams.
Today we have the drive to Santa Fe. Most of us were around to see the sunrise over the Blue Swallow Motel – a real find thanks to Maria. We had a superb breakfast at the kicks on 66 diner then spent time photographing the motels in Tucamari. Then it was off on the drive across the desert to Santa Fe on the pre 1937 route. We arrived in good time to have a relaxing late afternoon in Santa Fe.
Check out Maria’s short video of the road taken on Super 8 app.
Today was our longest day in terms of distance to cover with 360 odd miles across 3 States. We started early and headed out of Oaklahoma City with our first stop at Hydro with a hreakfast at Lucilles Diner. Other highlights included spray painting at the Bug ranch and Cadillac ranch and reaching the official half way point at Adrian. Tonight we are staying at the Blue Swallow Motel – a classic 1930’s motel which will be be hard to beat.
Todays great pictures today are provided by Andrea Perrot and show me drumming up a bit of free publicity at the Bug Ranch and the group at the midpoint.
Today we met Gary, a real character of route 66 at the Gay Parita. His garage is a unique collection of the essence of route 66 – A hillbilly with a red hair obsession. Maria was definitely Garys favourite and her pictures at the end of the blog capture him perfectly.
We had a lot of miles to cover today and took in Carthage and a request to visit the Boots Motel and recreate a photo taken 83 years ago. Andrea’s research led her to the local newspaper which managed to track us down and will be writing about Andrea’s photo and our route 66 trip.
Other highlights included the Blue Whale at Catoosa and the Pop filling station with over 500 different flavours of soda.
Photos by Maria Feast.
Travel with Fotocourses