Category Archives: Automobiles and Driving

January 18, 2021 · 5:35 am

Circumnavigating New Zealand — Napier Classic Cars

We lucked out on this visit to Napier, as we had on a previous trip to Curaçao (see: Cruising for Classic Cars in Curaçao) and stumbled upon some real automotive beauties. But unlike our classic run-in in Curaçao, these examples for the most part predated Ursula and I by a few decades.

As such, I won’t even hazard a guess as to the years and models of the cars you’ll see today, except to say that most appear to date back to the 1920s and 1930s.

Remember when I said that Napier is considered by some the Art Deco Capital of the world? Well, apparently that extends right on down to at least one vehicle:

How about of couple of Model A Fords, starting with a typical example and winding up with a bus version?

Now, I’m an English roadster fan from way back, so let’s take a closer look at an Austin roadster I fell in love with that day:

Finally, we have today a Buick and a Packard Six:

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Filed under Automobiles and Driving, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Tagged as Majestic Princess, Napier, New Zealand, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation

November 22, 2017 · 5:35 am

Hatch Valley Road Trip—More fall foliage and Sparky’s

Fall tree

The Hatch Valley holds exquisite scenery any time of year, but there’s just something about fall colors here along the banks of the Rio Grande in the midst of chile fields, cattle ranches, and horse farms. Unfortunately, invasive salt cedar has infiltrated here, but even salt cedar affords some great color this time of year.

Hatch Valley salt cedar

However, we’re in a rush to get to lunch, so I’ll spare the words and post a few more scenic shots for a moment:

Hatch Valley

Red rocks of Hatch Valley

Now on to the important stuff—Hatch’s hidden gem, Sparky’s Burgers, BBQ, and Shakes:

Sparky’s World Famous Burgers, BBQ, and Shakes

On Friday we’ll head inside for a review of the food, but for now we’re going to look at the kitschy collection of 1950s roadside nostalgia straight out of the heyday of Route 66. Here you’ll find everyone from Robin Hood to Colonel Sanders to Yogi Bear:

1950’s roadside kitsch at Sparky’s across-the-street parking

Even Sparky is present here:

Sparky posing with one of his burger creations

Here are some closeups of this eclectic sampling of roadside Americana:

Spicing up a bucket

Even Yogi likes Sparky’s burgers

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Filed under Automobiles and Driving, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Tagged as Hatch, Hatch chile, New Mexico, photography, R. Doug Wicker, road trip, Sparky's Restaurant, travel, travel photography

November 20, 2017 · 5:35 am

Hatch Valley Road Trip—Clint Eastwood was hanged near here

Along the Rio Grande

One of our favorite weekend day trips is along the back roads between El Paso and Hatch, New Mexico. It’s scenic. It’s historic. It’s delicious. Deliciously spicy, that is. Hatch is home of the world famous Hatch chile. And what is Hatch’s green chile good for? Glad you asked. A while back I posted my chile rellano recipe using poblano chiles, but Hatch green really makes that recipe shine. And let’s not forget that modern culinary miracle, the green chile cheeseburgers. You’ll see one of the best of those on this week’s Fun Food Friday.

Chile field

By the way, did you know that Clint Eastwood was once lynched here in the Hatch Valley? That occurred along the banks of the Rio Grande not far from where these photos were taken, very close to Fort Selden (topic of a future blog article). The year was 1968, and poor Clint was mistaken for a murderer by a posse that included, of all people, kindly Skipper from Gilligan’s Island (Alan Hale, Jr.) in the movie was Hang ‘Em High.