This evening we're in Alturas California well into our drive back to rain. We got into some serious clouds at Reno and have been getting light to moderate showers since half-way to Susanville. The route from Tonopah to Austin, which we haven't driven before, was pleasant, unexceptional, desert basin and range scenery. At Austin we headed west on Hwy 50 (The Loneliest Road In America) stopping once near Middlegate at the site of the shoe tree.
The shoe tree was a large (3 foot trunk) cottonwood that over the years people have thrown shoes into -- laces tied together so they tangle in the limbs and hang like fruit. The tree was started some years ago, reputedly by a couple of newlyweds who had an argument, one threw shoes into the tree, they reconciled and the other threw shoes, blah, blah, blah. In any case it was a great piece of folk something-or-other with thousands of pairs of shoes hanging on it. Until January 4, 2011 when somebody cut it down.
People have started throwing shoes into a nearby cottonwood (we contributed to the effort) but it'll take time to create the same spectacle.
In Fallon we got a pulled pork sandwich at Susie's BBQ --- a good sandwich -- the guy who took our order asked if we wanted bread on that sandwich. ---- We did.
Here in Alturas we're staying at the Hacienda Motel, and had a burger at the Bear Creek Cafe. Both good places, neither exceptional. Possibly we'll be home tomorrow -- barring coming across something interesting enough to delay the drive. DA
Yeah, the shoe tree was definitely the highlight of the day. Flying by at 70 mph and cruise control I saw the cottonwood with tied-together pairs of shoes and screeched to a halt. Dennis was coughing up a lung after inhaling a bit of food and said "what?!" I said "you'll see" and returned to the tree. There in the ditch was the cut-down old one surrounded by piles and piles of tied together shoes - mostly hiking boots and running shoes - very few, if any, high heels - weird. But new life emerges from the old and a nearby tree was accumulating shoes. Someone made a small shrine and there were notes of condolence on the stump of the downed tree. Two official Nevada trucks pulled in and three men observed the tree wreckage. One mentioned that the person who cut it down knew what they were doing because a 3 foot diameter tree is not offed with a weekend warrior chainsaw - you need a logging chainsaw to down a tree that big. They still haven't found the perp and I find that very hard to believe because eventually someone is going to brag. It was sad and inspiring at the same time. We pulled out pairs of shoes, not an easy task as they were very tangled being tied together, and threw them on the new tree. Nice to be part of a new endeavor.
The sun is gone and the memories remain (plus a tiny tan on my forearms). It's all good. dw
The shoe tree was a large (3 foot trunk) cottonwood that over the years people have thrown shoes into -- laces tied together so they tangle in the limbs and hang like fruit. The tree was started some years ago, reputedly by a couple of newlyweds who had an argument, one threw shoes into the tree, they reconciled and the other threw shoes, blah, blah, blah. In any case it was a great piece of folk something-or-other with thousands of pairs of shoes hanging on it. Until January 4, 2011 when somebody cut it down.
In Fallon we got a pulled pork sandwich at Susie's BBQ --- a good sandwich -- the guy who took our order asked if we wanted bread on that sandwich. ---- We did.
Here in Alturas we're staying at the Hacienda Motel, and had a burger at the Bear Creek Cafe. Both good places, neither exceptional. Possibly we'll be home tomorrow -- barring coming across something interesting enough to delay the drive. DA
Yeah, the shoe tree was definitely the highlight of the day. Flying by at 70 mph and cruise control I saw the cottonwood with tied-together pairs of shoes and screeched to a halt. Dennis was coughing up a lung after inhaling a bit of food and said "what?!" I said "you'll see" and returned to the tree. There in the ditch was the cut-down old one surrounded by piles and piles of tied together shoes - mostly hiking boots and running shoes - very few, if any, high heels - weird. But new life emerges from the old and a nearby tree was accumulating shoes. Someone made a small shrine and there were notes of condolence on the stump of the downed tree. Two official Nevada trucks pulled in and three men observed the tree wreckage. One mentioned that the person who cut it down knew what they were doing because a 3 foot diameter tree is not offed with a weekend warrior chainsaw - you need a logging chainsaw to down a tree that big. They still haven't found the perp and I find that very hard to believe because eventually someone is going to brag. It was sad and inspiring at the same time. We pulled out pairs of shoes, not an easy task as they were very tangled being tied together, and threw them on the new tree. Nice to be part of a new endeavor.
The sun is gone and the memories remain (plus a tiny tan on my forearms). It's all good. dw
Happy Anniversary!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea....a roadtrip to spend endless hours together...
Enroute home from McMinnville today (double header baseball)...I truned off road without warning...concerning my now curious husband.....there was a historical sign I had missed all these years....outside of Yamhill.....I took my chance as I was the driver today to take the "long road" home.....Dave mentioned later....that he had really enjoyed that!!!! There is hope for us yet!