Getting Our Kicks
000 On… Well, You Know
Desert Market, Daggett, CA • Route 66 • Day One
It started with a couple of drinks at a bar in the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and ended with a drug deal outside of a hotel room in Joliet, Illinois. What happened in between was, for me, the photo trip of a lifetime and one HECK of a retirement present!
A few months ago, my friend and fellow NxNW photographer Rick Louie expressed interest in driving along Route 66 for a week of photography.
The consummate researcher that he is, Rick sent a spreadsheet of a possible itinerary that spanned six days and dozens of possible stops between Barstow, California and Chicago, Illinois.
The suggested mid April timing of the trip was good for me: I had planned to retire on April 5.
Count me in.
About Desert Market
We passed Desert Market on our way to Amboy, where were were planning to photograph the iconic Roy’s Motel and Cafe. The building looked cool, and it was open, so we stopped to photograph it and bought some water.
The plan was to meet in Vegas, drive to Barstow, CA and make our way to Chicago. The agenda was fluid. A few “must photograph” locations, but mostly we would play it by ear — including hotel accommodations, and THAT got scary (more on that later).
The We was of course Rick and me, along with a pair of Mikes from the NXNW crew: Mike Tully and Mike Criswell. To avoid confusion, I’ll refer to the Mikes by their last names going forward. Actually, I’ll refer to Criswell by his nickname, Wiz. Fewer character to type. Speaking of characters, I will introduce you to each of my traveling companions in future posts.
000 About This Series
From April 12 through April 20, 2025, I was on a Route 66 Photography Adventure (The Trip) with three good friends and like minded photographers. This series is recap of The Trip in stories and images.
All of the images were shot on that historic road or within a couple of miles of it. Neither the images nor stories are necessarily presented in chronological order.
Enjoying the series? Drop a comment.