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tommy750 Posts: 1049
1/14/2013
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What a coincidence Waning Moon just posted on Kathleen. Pretty much beat me to half of this post. Know all of you have driven by this a million times and like Bob says, how many have stopped for a closer look?
This is the site of the New Miller's Garage. When Hwy 80 changed locations, they moved to here from the old location (more to come) in 1964. An old stone building to the east dates to the '20s.
Miller's Garage by tomteske, on Flickr
Miller's Garage2 by tomteske, on Flickr
There's considerable debris from several old buildings just west of the garage including this presumed old well.
Well House by tomteske, on Flickr
Even an old safe is lying out front.
Old Safe by tomteske, on Flickr
Miller's faces away from this, an original 1917 single-lane portion of Old Hwy 80.
Old Hwy 80 by tomteske, on Flickr
A little farther up Myer Creek, the highway shows the devastation of Tropical Storm Kathleen.
Old Hwy 80 Fragment2 by tomteske, on Flickr
Old Hwy 80 Fragment by tomteske, on Flickr
This is a railroad bridge father upstream that looks like it survived.
Myer Creek Bridge2 by tomteske, on Flickr
The topo map only lists the old garage site as "Millers" and not the new one. It's right at the split of westbound and eastbound I-8. Just a few ruins remain.
Millers by tomteske, on Flickr
You can see the same two trees still standing behind the Millers site which survived the flood.
Old Millers by tomteske, on Flickr
Here's the view from Google Earth. Notice a zigzagging trail outlined in painted rock still quite obvious leading up from the original Millers to an observation point old travelers would use.
Millers Old Site by tomteske, on Flickr
Wonder if Kathleen did this! Based on the solid black head and dorsum, I'm thinking Pygoscelis adeliae a known Antarctic penguin 
Penguin by tomteske, on Flickr
Decided to hike up into the lower I-8 island. Here's a sleeping circle maybe.
Sleeping Circle Maybe by tomteske, on Flickr
View of the new desert including a partly-used water jug left by a recent traveler.
Whale Peak View by tomteske, on Flickr
Saw a few bones including two right mandibles from deer or bighorn, a rabbit skeleton and this horn.
Horn by tomteske, on Flickr
Yes, Lettie is still breeding puppies. Sent her an email telling her where she can find her lost sign
English Bulldog Puppies by tomteske, on Flickr
The obligatory ancient soft drink container. It hasta be Shasta!
Shasta Orange by tomteske, on Flickr
Another view of the new desert. A lot of those are smack in the flood plain of Myer Creek where, according to James Larson's Kathleen description, a torrent raced "five feet deep and a half-mile wide." Never fool with you know whom. Hope you all enjoyed you weekends. Looking forward to seeing Waning Moon's pics which I can't seem to view right now. Tom
Wind Turbines by tomteske, on Flickr
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
1/14/2013
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That is a great post.
Like stepping back in time.
Like you said I have always thought of stopping and checking that out also.
Some great old artifacts
Bob
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
1/14/2013
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I have always wondered what the painted rock lined trail going up the side of the hill was...I ALWAYS stare at it driving in to Ocotillo and have thoughts about pulling over to the small road like area just past it and exploring it. Didn't the recent wind turbine project re-enforce the bridges to accommodate the heavier loads of the trucks?
Nice photos...
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
1/14/2013
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Your post and photos bring back good memories of hanging out with my father and shooting in that area. I remember exploring all the old buildings around Millers.
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ziphius Posts: 911
1/14/2013
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Definitely an Adelie penguin Tommy! And no doubt the 1st record for AB. You should publish that finding before someone else scoops you on it! Looks like you found part of a bighorn, heh?
I've seen people with metal detectors looking for stuff around Millers before....
Your photo of the water jug reminded me that I finally used my water cache that I had left in Inner Pasture back in May. Same kind of jug, but boy, the repeated heating of the water in that jug over the summer months sure gave the water a plastic taste. I'll be striving to cache my water in stainless steel from now on.
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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DRT Lakeside Posts: 62
1/14/2013
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Great Pics. I have always wanted to see what was down that concrete road.
Does anyone know when the New Millers closed for good? I ask because as a kid in the early 80s we had a truck in our group burn to the ground at Superstition Mt. and I remember us hanging out at Miller's to regroup and figure out how to get their trailer and other gear up the grade and home. I feel like I went inside and bought a soda or something, but it might be my goofy kid memory not working right. Perhaps it was a tad farther east in Ocotillo....
Dave
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rockhopper Posts: 668
1/14/2013
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Wonder if there is a connection with Jack Miller? Of Jack Millers cabin in Martinez caynon? Lived in the canyon from 1925 to 1955. It's still there! Although there are alot of Millers. I'm related ( in law) to some. But they are from Colorado
Neat photos, thanks for sharing!
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anutami Posts: 491
1/14/2013
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Wow, your pics are crystal clear. The puppy sign caught my eye because of the 789 phone number. It just happens to be a Ramona number of which I have a 789 number as well. Can't say I know Lettie, but if I run into her I will go and tell her where to find her sign. I wonder why a ramona person would put their sign anywhere near there????
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DRT Lakeside Posts: 62
1/15/2013
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Found this link to a story about Miller's that indicates it closed in the early 70s. Would like to confirm though. I was bummed that they were getting ready to tear it down soon........until I read the date on the story
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2003/mar/20/prehistoric-gas-station-eyesore/
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
1/15/2013
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DRT Lakeside wrote:
Found this link to a story about Miller's that indicates it closed in the early 70s. Would like to confirm though. I was bummed that they were getting ready to tear it down soon........until I read the date on the story
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2003/mar/20/prehistoric-gas-station-eyesore/
That is a great story! Thanks for the info. Tom
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
1/15/2013
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Nolan (anutami) wrote:
Wow, your pics are crystal clear. The puppy sign caught my eye because of the 789 phone number. It just happens to be a Ramona number of which I have a 789 number as well. Can't say I know Lettie, but if I run into her I will go and tell her where to find her sign. I wonder why a ramona person would put their sign anywhere near there????
A 5 lb camera is probably why the pics look clear The kennel is located in Ramona per Lettie's website. Am thinking the sign blew off/out of her vehicle while she was on the way back from exploring ABDSP Tom
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
1/15/2013
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tommy750 wrote:
[A 5 lb camera is probably why the pics look clear Amen to that....plus the 300mm zoom lens, extra battery, extra flash card, wireless remote shutter trigger, 360 degree rotating head mini tripod......crap, no wonder my pack is so heavy...
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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