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23 October 2006: US 80 Special: Historic US 80 in San Diego, CA (Part II)

Since this is going to push the original "end of Summer of 6" off the main page, here's a link to the End of the Summer of 6, 08/07/06.

This is the second part of the photographs from Saturday's gala opening of Historic US 80 in San Diego county. Here we go! You may not remember all of these East San Diego county cities from before, so review the End of the Summer of 6 (I-8) entry before we get started so you can familiarize yourself. I did a little fixing-up on that entry to correct any errors.

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Starting from La Mesa, after our last stop at the San Diego Collection. This shield on La Mesa Blvd really was part of US 80 up until 1939, when the bypass on El Cajon Blvd was built.

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The next ribbon cutting, at the corner of Spring Street and La Mesa Blvd in downtown La Mesa Village. La Mesa, btw, was where I grew up from grade school on, so even though my weekday residence is elsewhere, this is still home.

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Looking along La Mesa Blvd.

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Art Madrid, mayor of La Mesa, gets the honours again but this time in his own city. He also presented Chuck Hensen with the key to the city ("it's a small key because we're a small city").

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From there, El Cajon Blvd to I-8 to ... El Cajon Blvd again, but now we're in El Cajon, and thence to Main St.

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The small band warming up at the Promenade, a block east of the Main-Magnolia intersection.

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The "Creamsicle," an old Greyhound Flxible with an arresting paint scheme. It has been painstakingly restored, and dare I say, "upgraded."

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Why use Google Maps when you have this? Besides this 1915 map and a whole stack of roadgeek bait books at this stop, there was also an old California Department of Public Works car in exceptional shape with the emblem and motto still on the side.

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In fact, there it is (the bright yellow one with the red logo).

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Snip.

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Then, Main St to Hwy 8 Business [sic] and Lakeside for the next stop, at the Alpine Rock'n'Block.

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Buss? (Dom DeLuise: "It sounds like steam escaping in here.")

Wild that they would spell out "Eight" on the street sign, and "Business," but not "Hwy."

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Here's one of the Historic Route signs along Hwy 8 Busssss. I think it looks quite sharp, really.

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Back at the Rock'n'Block. How about this 1929 Ford (I think it's a Model A roadster) with a rumble seat? How about the people actually sitting in it?

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The "Coca-Cola Convertible" -- what you don't see well here is the Coke licence plates.

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Snip.

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Now to Alpine. This was a little more complex: Hwy 8 Busssssssss to Lake Jennings Pkwy, then cross under I-8, pick up Old Hwy 80, then cross under I-8 again at Dunbar Ln, pick up Alpine Blvd, and enter Alpine. This is the old Town Hall, past Tavern Rd; it is now the Women's Club.

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Almost alphabetical. For some reason there was no ribbon cutting here.

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And finally, Viejas Casino on the Indian reservation, the end of the eastbound caravan. We meet the dignitaries and westbound caravan here.

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The tribal elder performs the inaugural ceremony.

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And Highway 80 is open again!

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The first through is this wonderful old Buick ...

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... followed by the L KMNO ...

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... and the rest of the pack trundling back to San Diego.

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And so will we.

A great time was had by all, and we picked up as much US 80 swag as we could get our grubby camera-clutching hands on. I got my US 80 Eric Finley book (a very in-depth history of old US 80 from Phoenix to San Diego) autographed by Mr Scott and Mr Stewart, we took about six zillion US 80 stickers (I slapped a couple on the long-suffering blue Saturn), bought out the T-shirt stock from the stand (Andy is a large no matter what he says), keychains, lapel pins, etc., and schlepped around the Viejas Outlet all day before parting ways in the afternoon. Casey also showed off his soybean oil car, getting stares from passersby at grown men sniffing his Benz's exhaust pipe. For the record, it smells like french fries.

Now, they'd better do something like this for US 395, darn it!

What I'll do with the "blog" between now and releasing the formal US 6 photoessay is put up any interesting US 80 or US 6 news as I get it. I'm still planning to release the US 6 travelogue in a number of months; I imagine probably by next summer if I can get my set in gear and spend the time in the reference section to do it. Stay subscribed if you'd like any of this, or drop if you don't. I'll still notify you if you're subscribed when the full exhibit is done.

Bye!

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22 October 2006: US 80 Special: Historic US 80 in San Diego, CA (Part I)
 
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7 March 2009: The Photoessay is here!
 


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