Blue skies...nothing but blue skies do I see:

That verse kept running through my mind as I rode through the Kansas Flint Hills today and into Missouri. Beautiful ride. Blue skies all around.
Illinois tomorrow...Route 66 here we come! Get ready for the Mother Road ride!

Be strong, be safe, Carlan

Ray of sunshine in Kansas:

This morning as I was savoring my Best Western Motel breakfast of sausage, eggs, biscuits, and gravy I met Diane and Rick Hickman. They are members of the Classic Car Club of America. The club was holding a rally here in McPhearson. Diane and Rick were driving their 1947 Packard Clipper.

Due to the continuing rain here I had decided to keep the kickstand down for another day. Diane and Rick said they were going to tour the area for the day along with about fifteen other cars. They asked if I would like to join them. "Well, I was planning another trip to Wal-Mart..." In less than a flash at a 1/125 sec I accepted their offer.

First stop McPhearson College.


Several years ago Jay Leno provided a grant to the college which helped develop the only four year degree program in the country in auto restoration.


Next stop the Kansas State Motorcycle Museum. Stanley and LaVona Engdahl created the museum in Marquette.


Stanley was state motorcycle champion. The trophies on the right from floor to ceiling were all won by Stanley. Over 300 motorcycles in the collection including Harleys, Indians, Hondas, and all the rest! LaVona took the time to share some exciting motorcycle adventures with me.

Across the street from the museum I spotted Corky standing in the door of the old Williams gas station. We need another day for all his stories.


As we left Marquette to head back to McPhearson, the clouds parted and for the first time in four days I saw blue skies.


A big thank you to Diane and Rick for taking me for a ride today in their beautiful Packard Clipper!

Sun tomorrow...kickstand up...on the road!

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Kansas and the weather:

Hindsight always creates interesting thoughts. My hindsight for the morning is thinking I should have re-read the Wizard of Oz, especially the accounts regarding the weather in Kansas as I started my trip. You may be able to guess from this thought...yes, still in Kansas. Still sitting here in the motel room. Severe weather today...by the way in Kansas this means rain, hail, wind, oh, did I mention rain, hail, and high winds.

There is a Wal-Mart across the road here. Plan to spend the stormy day walking around in the store. Will let you know what "prices are lower" at Wal-Mart today. Thinking of also beginning a new photo project. Stay tuned for photos of my motel room. Here is a "view from my room" last night around midnight as it rained "cats and dogs". Yes, in Kansas it does rain "cats and dogs".


be strong, be safe, Carlan

Thunder and Lighting:

After a day of winds across Kansas woke up around 4AM this morning to the rumble of thunder and the sound of heavy rain. Break in the rain about 10AM. Saddled up...down the road about ten miles and the sky opened up with a combination of ice and rain. No sooner had I pulled over along the road when a "local lady" stopped to check on my condition. Guess I must have looked pretty wet. She was traveling from the east and said "weather is worse in the direction you are headed". "Ok, I thought... that's the deal breaker for me". Time to put the kickstand down for the day. Wonder what's on HBO?





Be strong, be safe, Carlan

Winds of Kansas:

Riding across Kansas today with the dust blowing and 50 mph headwinds visions of the dustbowl FSA photographs swirled in my mind. Even with modern farming practices it looked as if parts of Kansas were being transported to another part of the country.

Just outside of Spearville on HWY 56 the winds of Kansas were being utilized for purposes unthought of in the 30's. Acres of windmills sending electricity across the country. A quite beautiful site to see.


be strong, be safe, Carlan

Shaking out the leathers:

Saddle bags are packed, shaking out the leathers, kickstand up this morning around 8:30A.

North from Santa Fe I will connect with the original Santa Fe Trail and follow the wagon wheel ruts across Kansas.  Plan is to arrive in Chicago on Friday.  Saturday morning begin Route 66 west toward the California coast.

My guide for Route 66 will be the first mile-by-mile handbook written by Jack Rittenhouse in 1946.  Jack traveled about 25 miles a day making notes on a yellow pad along the way.  In the evenings he would sit at his typewriter writing about the day's adventure.  My plan is to travel the original route as much as possible. In place of the typewriter I will be sharing the day's adventure with all of you on an iPad. 

Santa Fe Trail east...Route 66 west...what could be better.  Someplace out in Kansas tonight.

be strong, be safe,  Carlan 

Thoughts on Photography for a Friday:


In a letter to Ansel Adams on May 3, 1955 Beaumont Newhall wrote the following:

"There cannot be a man of any sensitivity today who is not shocked, bothered and distressed by every issue of the newspaper...In the face of all the present turmoil and unrest and unhappiness...what can a photographer, a writer, a curator do?...To make people aware of the external things, to show the relationship of man to nature, to make clear the importance of our heritage, is a task that no one should consider insignificant...These are days when eloquent statements are needed."


The date May 3 is a few weeks in the future. The year 1955...56 years in the past.  The thought is for today.  "To make people aware of the external things, to show the relationship of man to nature, to make clear the importance of our heritage." This is the responsibility we carry as photographers.


be strong, be safe,  Carlan