So where the hell is AMBOY, California? To begin with, as planned, I took the rental out of Las Vegas, as planned, to go into the desert, enroute to an old stomping grounds of Twentynine Palms and Palm Springs. The decision was to spend the night in Palm Springs, do some things, and just pay a short, quick visit to the old Marine town of Twentynine Palms. I mean, like why would I want to spend any time in such an isolated place I worked hard at leaving during the weekends, because, lets be frank. There aint much out there but Marine Corps base and training and a bunch of wound up punks with guns as I was once upon a time. But nonetheless, I did want to check it out to see how much it has progressed in the last 31 years.
So cruising on my rental on I-15 South towards L.A., made the exit off of Nippton highway and into the Mojave Preserve National Park. A few minutes into the preserve, I notice a bunch of JOSHUA TREES all over the place. If you have never seen these prehistoric cactus trees, I don't know how to describe them only they look like real desert kinda stuff. Unique and so dfferent from say the Saguaro's of Arizona. This drive is long, whining, many dips and all along beautiful mountains all around. At some point around CIMA, you take the Kelbaker road down a long steep grade where you see the desert floor and at some distance, I could make out a train chugging along the Mojave Desert. Such a lonely and isolated sight. Then you come upon this town on the old route 66 called AMBOY. A has been bypassed town of the old days of the route 66, but ROY'S CAFE is still there where you can gas up and eat some food, even spend the night apparantly. I can only say that if you ever wish to get your kicks on route 66, AMBOY CALIFORNIA is not the place today. Now, you make the run passed the cafe along the railroad tracks, make a turn to a sign that says TWENTYNINE PALMS, 60 MILES. And boy is that ever a long haul on the desert floor, going up a steep incline of maybe 20 degrees or so, through salt flats and rocky shagged mountains. It looks like MARS. Finally, we came upon the thriving town of Twentynine Palms. Of course, it doesn't take long to know where you are and where you think you want to go. I particularily wanted to find a surplus store, to see if I could find some old military clothing, such as field jackets. I find DOCS surplus store in ADOBE ROAD which is heading towards the USMC base, and as I walk in the store, I recognize a Tagalog language talking away in the cell phone. I see its a FILIPINA lady running the store, as I strike up a conversation with her and my wife, whom speaks Tagalog. She had been living in Twentynine Palms since 1985. I told her I was stationed there in 1982-83. I bought 100 dollars worth of neat cold weather gear along a back pack military ALICE pack without the frame where I shoved my other items into. She threw in a USMC SEMPER FI hat and a hat for the wife. Very nice lady and good score on some surplus stuff. I was a little pressed for time, wanted to check out the base but only got as far as the gate, had to get a pass, but couldn't find the guy that issued the passes, so I just turned around and planned on coming back the next day depending on the time factor. Wife told me there wasn't JACK in Twentynine Palms.......NO sht sherlock, why do you think I got out during the weekends and when they recommended we did, they didn't have to tell me twice!?
So then on to PALM SPRINGS by way of Twentynine Palms highway, going by the beautiful town of YUCCA VALLEY. Next town over, some 17 miles and much bigger. JOSHUA TREES all over that place. That town was build right on those bundles of Joshua Trees. And has it grown? It's got Walmart, RiteAid pharmacies, lots of little things going on. A big little town. Then there is driving into Palm Springs about 47 miles from Twentynine Palms. Palm Springs I used to frequent back in the day, and I must say, it is still beautiful. Coming upon the town of Palm Springs, you first notice a bunch of WIND GENERATORS all over. HUGE! Coming into South Canyon Drive, you see the beautiful downtown Palm Springs touristy area, lots of shops, bars......"The Hair of The Dog" saloon. I remember that one from back in the day. STILL THERE. There is also a huge statue of Marlynn Monroe where everyone takes a picture of.
Ok, fast foward to the next day. After a killer breakfast at IHOP, we go to the PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAM. Stay tuned for Part II whenever I get a chance to write some more.
