Michael Embry's Blog, page 35

Preparing for NaNoWriMo

It's been a busy two months or so and I must confess that I haven't accomplished much on the creative side of writing.

I've written some posts to this blog, mostly about my recent two-week vacation to the western United States, and some other items related to the Kentucky Book Fair, of which I'm the marketing chair. 

But in the next two weeks I plan to prepare myself for the November writing marathon known as the National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo (sometimes I think it's easier to remember the proper name than the acronym). 

Two years ago I plunged into the grueling exercise -- the goal is to produce 50,000 words in 30 days -- which resulted in a novel, The Bully List. 


It was rough, raw and ragged when I finished the first draft, and I didn't look at it for five months. Then I decided to give it a read, and while it needed work, I was generally pleased with the effort.

So I took the next three months of rewriting and editing to get it in shape, submitted to my publisher, and then went through another round of edits with my editor. 

It wasn't the same manuscript that I had finished on the last day of November, thank goodness! It was transformed into a book for young adults.

So I'm going to venture into those semi-unknown waters again and see what happens. Why don't you join me?

Until the next time....

Riding the Rails -- Salt Lake City and the Journey Back Home

The last major destination on my vacation to "America's Beautiful West" was Salt Lake City.

Bonnieville salt flatsBut before arriving in Utah's capital, the tour bus made a stop at Bonnieville salt flats. That's the place where land-speed records are attempted by various racing teams.

We ventured out onto the flats, and sure enough, we were walking on salt. Some of us even tasted the white, salt-encrusted surface. 

Assembly HallThen it was on to Salt Lake City, founded by Brigham Young and other Mormon followers in 1847. Needless to say, the Mormons dominate the city with its churches, statues, and other things relating to the religion.

Salt Lake Tabernacle Temple Square gardenThe immaculate grounds at Temple Square were impressive, with the gardens and historic buildings such as the Salt Lake Tabernacle, where the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs, as well as the Assembly Hall and the Salt Lake Temple. 

What impressed me about the capital city of Utah was how clean it is. I'm sure the semi-arid climate is a factor. The tour guide informed us that you won't see any taxis lined on the streets, but that you can call for a taxi. And public transportation is free. 

I also learned that Salt Lake city is most sustainable city in the nation through its conservation and environmental efforts. It's a city with a vision.

Monument at This Is the Place Heritage ParkWe toured the main Mormon church grounds and went to the This Is the Place Heritage Park that provided information about the city's rich heritage and history. Lunch was at the modern Gateway District shopping mall.

Utah State CapitolAnd we drove through the University of Utah campus, where the guide said the torch from the 2002 Winter Olympics is on display. We didn't get to see it though, which was a minor disappointment to some of my fellow travelers.

A view of Salt Lake City from the busFrom Salt Lake City, we went to Price, where we spent the night. We got up early the next month and headed to Helper, where we boarded Amtrak's California Zephyr for the long, two-day journey back to Chicago, traveling across Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois. 

It was time for my wife and I to relax and think about all the wonderful places we had visited: Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, John Muir Woods and Salt Lake City. 

I'm looking forward to hitting the rails again for another adventure.

Until the next time...

Riding the Rails -- Muir Woods and Sausalito

When I was a child I dreamed of seeing redwoods after reading about these magnificent trees in textbooks, travel books, magazines and encyclopedias. Among the giant redwoods

That dream came true on my trip to California when we visited John Muir Woods, named after the naturalist who was one of the founders of the Sierra Club in 1892. 

And I wasn't disappointed.
The trails that wind through the woods.
The redwoods were as tall and beautiful as I had seen them in photographs many years ago.  And to walk among those ancient trees -- some more than a thousand years old and 350-feet tall -- along the quiet and tranquil trails only heightened the experience.  

It's certainly something I'll never forget. It was one of the reasons I wanted to make this trip to America's west coast.
The marina at Sausalito
After spending a couple hours in the woods, the tour bus took us to upscale and swanky Sausalito -- situated across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.


Sausalito shopsThere is a picturesque marina to accommodate the sailboats and yachts, a great view of San Francisco Bay, an assortment of tony shops and pricey restaurants, and a laid-back feel to the whole place.

It's a scenic stopover between San Francisco and John Muir Woods.

Until the next time...

Riding the Rails -- A Lot to Love About San Francisco

One of the many hearts inspired by the song.I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco but there's sure a lot about this beautiful city by the bay to love.

Through the years I've heard a lot of folks say that if they could live anywhere in the United States -- and could afford it -- that place would be San Fran. I can understand after spending a couple of days there.


Fountain at Golden Gate ParkThere seems to be so much civic pride in this city of about 850,000 -- from Golden Gate Park to Fisherman's Wharf to Nob Hill to Chinatown, cable cars and much more. It's clean, as far as cities go, and very inviting.


City Light BooksWhile taking a bus tour through the city I saw City Lights Booksellers, founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin. The guide said Ferlinghetti, who is 95, often shows up to chat to patrons..
Transamerica Pyramid
There is a lovely mix of architecture, with well-preserved buildings dating back to  Gold Rush Days of the 19th century to modern skyscrapers. Museums. Theatre. The Haight-Asbury district. Professional sports teams.  San Francisco seems to have it all. 




AlcatrazYou have the signature Golden Gate Bridge on one side of the city and the Oakland-San Francisco Bridge on the other. And in the middle of the bay sits foreboding Alcatraz  prison. Even though it's a tourist destination now, you can't help wonder what it must have been like for those who spent time on "the Rock."

A warning side at AlcatrazDrop by Fishermen's Wharf and you'll find the usual tourist shops that sell T-shirts, caps, camera supplies, and various souvenir items.  There are some places such as Ghiradelli Square and the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park that are worth a visit.


Chinatown musician
But if you venture to Fisherman's Wharf -- and who can't resist a few tourist traps -- you'll see sea lions that found a home on Pier 39, which they apparently adopted after the big earthquake in 1989 rattled the area.


Sea lions napping at Pier 39

Like I said, I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco, but I left with some wonderful memories. 



Until the next time...

Riding the Rails -- From Grandeur to Majesty

After experiencing the grandeur of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, I got to view the majesty of Yosemite National Park in California.

Wow! Majestic Yosemite National Park

Stellar's jay DeerFor many years I raved about Grand Canyon -- and I still do -- but I must confess that I  now enjoy Yosemite more because I found it much more accessible. Age-related thing? Could be, but you have a seven-mile wide canyon, those powerful granite monoliths, wonderful hiking trials, various wildlife, and much more.  El Capitan
And there's El Capitan, the 3,000-foot tall formation that attracts climbers, BASE jumpers, and gawkers throughout the year. The sheer enormity of El Capitan might be understood since there were several climbers scaling its heights that you probably can't see from image. We were told it takes three to five days to accomplish the feat, depending on the skill of the climbers and weather conditions.


During our visit there were wildfires on the north side of the park which created a slight haze near some of the peaks. And we didn't see those magnificent waterfalls because of the drought that is affecting much of the Golden State. 

I hope to return to this beautiful national park and experience more of its wonders.

Until the next time...

Riding the Rails -- Trains and More in Sacramento

It's only appropriate that when taking a rail vacation that one of the stops would be at railroad museum -- and one of the world's best is located in Sacramento, Calif.

California State Railroad MuseumThe California State Railroad Museum contains all things about railroads, with restored locomotives, various cars, miniature trains, exhibits, art, informative films, gift shop and more housed in its 225,000-square-foot building. 

The docents are knowledgeable and you can sense they have a deep affection and understanding about rail history and the important contribution trains made in the westward movement of the United States. 



I bet a lot of boomers, and older folks, developed a love of trains while growing up. I had train sets at various stages of my childhood, and I know folks who carried that love into adulthood and have elaborate rail systems that fill a basement. 

Sacramento was noted for steamboat travel The museum is part of Old Sacramento, which celebrates the city's rich heritage in railroads and river transportation during the mid-19th century as well as the California Gold Rush that drew prospectors seeking fortunes and perhaps some fame.

State capitol buildingSacramento is the capital of California, with nearly 500,000 population. It's a place I'd like to visit again to experience more of what this historic town has to offer and to return to the places I've seen.


Until the next time...

Riding the Rails -- Return to Vegas

The next leg of the vacation led to Las Vegas for two nights at the Tropicana Hotel.




Hoover DamOn the way to Sin City, we drove by Hoover Dam, that marvel of construction from the 1930s. Because of security concerns, buses and trucks aren't allowed near the dam. So we got a view from our windows. It's still impressive from a distance.

I was in Vegas last October, and I must say, nothing much has changed along the main strip. Some of the shows that were playing on the first visit were still drawing crowds nearly a year later. 

There are still the folks dressed in various stages of clothing and costumes walking the streets, street musicians, and others handing out leaflets for special "adult" shows.

Our Vegas guide took us to the Bellagio and Venetian hotels to check out the lavish surroundings to lure guests, especially those who are high rollers.
Bellagio's chocolate machine
The Bellagio has the world's largest chocolate fountain while the Venetian has a canal with several gondolas winding through an expensive shopping mall.
The Fremont Street ExperienceOn our last trip we weren't able to go to the Fremont Street Experience, which is the revitalized old Vegas. So stopping there was a real treat because it's so different from the Vegas Strip -- a little more hip and affordable.
The Viva Vision Light Show
 One of the attractions is the Viva Vision Light Show that fills the roof six times a night. We were entertained by eight pounding  minutes of music by Heart synchronized to the throbbing, dazzling lights.

There are three sound stages with some outstanding musicians performing different genres. You'll also find a ziplines stretching across the top of the facility.

This will probably be my last trip to Vegas (I said that last year), but I think it's a city most people should experience at least one time for its sheer razzle dazzle to the senses.

Until the next time...

(Note: the chocolate machine and light show images should be vertical but blog site won't allow me to rotate them).

Riding the Rails -- Discovering Some Kicks on Route 66

There are always side trips one can make while on vacation. One we made on the rail vacation out west was to Seligman, Ariz., on the way to Las Vegas.


The Rusty BoltI had never heard of Seligman. I doubt if anyone on the tour bus was aware of the strip of shops, restaurants and motels off Interstate 40 -- located on Route 66, the "Mother Road of America."


Return to the 50's gift shopRoute 66 used to be a much-traveled highway, stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles. But the development of the interstate highway system took a large amount of traffic off the road. 


A Route 66 sign in gift shopBrothers Angel and Juan Delgadillo were determined to keep their town  of nearly 500 residents alive and perhaps to thrive. Now Seligman is a step back in time, harkening back to heyday of Route 66 of the 1940s and '50s. 


Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-InAngel founded the Route 66 Association of Arizona to help other towns offset the effects of the superhighways. By the way, you can meet the 87-year-old Angel -- the "Guardian Angel of Route 66" -- at his one-chair barbershop. Juan, who owned Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In, died in 2004 at age 88.


Angel & Vilma's Gift ShopThere were a lot of people visiting the various shops and restaurants during our mid-morning stop. Tour buses, recreation vehicles, and cars were parked along the road. 



Roadkill CafeThe Roadkill Cafe -- "You kill it, we grill it" -- is a popular place. Some folks got off the bus to purchase T-shirts in the gift shop (there must be a gift shop in every business). Roadkill Cafe T-shirt

You can't miss Seligman if you're rolling the highway because there are Route 66 signs everywhere. So if you want to step back in time, this is a side trip to make if you're on the road to Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, or even Chicago to Los Angeles. 

Until the next time...

Riding the Rails -- Reaching Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon is an awesome and inspiring place that stays with you forever. 

One of the seven natural wonders of the world, it is 277 miles long, 18 miles at its widest point and 6,000 feet at its deepest point. When you gaze into this gigantic opening in the earth, you see the layers upon layers of rock that were carved by Colorado River and other natural forces over millions of years.

The deep splendor of Grand CanyonDesignated a national park in 1919, Grand Canyon covers more than 1.2 million acres. About 5 million people visit the canyon each year to marvel at the magnificent formations.

Although I traveled to the park in 1985, I told my wife Mary it was a place I wanted her to experience as well. We had planned to go there last October, during our vacation to Las Vegas, but the government shutdown prevented that from happening.
The Watchtower on the south rim 
Our first stop on the tour was the Watchtower, designed by Mary Colter and opened in 1933 as a gift shop and rest area on the south rim. It provided some breathtaking views.
Grand Canyon Lodge
From there, we traveled to Grand Canyon Village, which has hiking trails, gift shop, restaurant,  and more places to see the park. I know some in our group wanted to take a mule  tour to the bottom, but there wasn't enough time. 

Several years ago I wanted to hike to the bottom and back up, but that was when I was a younger man, and in much better physical condition than I am today. Maybe in the future it'll return to my list of things to do before I die (I'm just afraid it would kill me at this point!). 

The Hopi House at Grand Canyon VillageNeedless to say, Grand Canyon National Park merits more than several hours to appreciate it and soak in all the grandeur. 

One of the things I thought was humorous came while we were headed back to Flagstaff. There was a gorgeous rainbow spanning the southern sky, and a lot of folks with cameras started taking photos. We had just left one of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth, and couldn't resist snapping a few shots of something we see all the time.
 
Perhaps Grand Canyon inspired us to to appreciate all of nature's beauty.

Until the next time...

Riding the Rails -- Heading to Grand Canyon

One of the first things you notice while cruising by through the countryside on a train are the the changes in the landscape. 

I'm from the Bluegrass area of Kentucky, an area of gently rolling hills and pastures famously known throughout the world for its lush horse farms. 


Dry landscapeRiding the rails through parts of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas, you see miles and miles of corn and wheat fields. And then you cross into the desert area of New Mexico and Arizona, with little vegetation and a rugged terrain. Mesas and buttes are more prominent the farther west you travel.


Rugged landscapeSadly, along the way you also see a few eyesores such as rusted and abandoned vehicles and machinery, splashy graffiti on fences and the backside of buildings, dilapidated structures, as well as various degrees of poverty some people must endure to survive. These are depressing breaks among nature's splendor.


Cameron Trading PostOne of the first places we visited on the way, by bus to Grand Canyon from Flagstaff, Ariz., was Cameron Trading Post, established more than a century ago in the Navajo territory of Arizona as a place to barter and purchase items.

Monument in front of bridgeCameron Trading Post is a popular stop along the way to Grand Canyon for tourists (and tour buses) to purchase Native American crafts, jewelry and souvenirs, dine at its restaurant, stay in its motel, or simply to get out and stretch their legs (one thing we did on a regular basis was stop every two hours or so). 

Then we ventured on to  Grand Canyon National Park, one of the most awesome places on the planet. But that's for the next post.

Until the next time...