Welcome!
The picture looking out through our windshield that you see here was taken on September 16, 2009, on Highway 80, heading east from Wells, Nevada toward West Wendover, Nevada and approaching the 5,940’ Silver Zone Pass. Sometimes I drive and Kathy shoots the pictures.
From 1994 through today, we spent much of our free time traveling and sightseeing through the southwestern portions of California, Nevada and Arizona. Russ has always taken lots of pictures while Kathy kept a written record of their travels, in part so as to find our way back. In 1997 an acquaintance in Randsburg, California suggested that we write a book using our materials – so we did.
That first book was literally done “by hand.” The pictures and maps were glued onto the pages and the books were created on a high-speed copy machine. The book’s covers and pages were drilled with holes and the books were bound with coiled wire. But, they sold! Our later books are perfect bound and contain numerous color pictures.
One of the areas, which we had covered in our first book, was what today is known as the Mojave National Preserve and was, at that time, under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. (We were camped, in our 7’ X 7’ tent, among the pine trees at Mid Hills Campground located in the center of the preserve on the day the National Park Service took control of the East Mojave National Preserve.)
How did we come up with the name “Windshield Adventuring” for our books? One day as we pulled up to the original National Park’s office in Baker, the then director of the park, Kirsten Taken, exclaimed; “Here come the Spencers, out windshield adventuring again!” Ms. Taken had taken the time to review and authenticate the section regarding the Preserve of our first book. (It was somewhat ironic, for at that time, there was very limited written material on the East Mojave area. After our book was published, the National Park Rangers used it as a guide to the area!)
The authors' camp at “Hole in the Wall” Mojave National Preserve, 1997
Through the years (until 2007) we wrote and self-published 7 travel books in our “Windshield Adventuring” series. We sold our books through various retail and wholesale entities. Additionally, we had book signings at Border’s, Barnes and Noble and at other locations and gatherings.
Late in 2007 both of us retired from our day jobs, purchased an RV and set about preparing our home for sale so as to travel extensively for a year or so. Also in preparation for our planned travels we contracted with Gem Guides Books to publish our books that were still on the market.
Guess what? The home did not sell; in fact we didn’t even get it up for sale before the market crashed.
We did find a solution. Now, Kathy teaches on-line computer classes for a local college and still maintains a web site design business. We have recently returned from a 2,400+mile, two week+ RV trip, during which Kathy, with the aid of WIFI and Verizon wireless connections, taught on-line classes and did web design work. Kathy has been able to do her on-line work from numerous areas throughout the west.
Teaching from Monument Valley, Spring 2008
The purpose of this BLOG is two-fold. To share our experiences and knowledge and at the same time to give “thanks” to some of the many people who have given assistance to us in our traveling endeavors.
No promotional consideration was requested nor received during the creation of these works
The images in our BLOGS are the property of Russell and Kathlynn Spencer, for further information contact them:
Contact Information:
RUSSELL & KATHLYNN SPENCER:
rspencer@windshieldadventures.com
GEM GUIDES BOOK COMPANY:
345 Cloverleaf Drive, Ste. C
Baldwin Park, CA 91706-6510
gembooks@aol.com
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