Travel.....Highway 395 Reno to Lakeview, Oregon

Have you ever been on a road and have a strange feeling that something is "odd or out of place" ? As L.A. videographer, Alan Halcon, and I journeyed from the Reno airport to our assignment city of Lakeview, Oregon, we kept noticing odd things about our route. Nothing big mind you, just things that were a little unusual.

As you might expect, we couldn't leave it alone. We had to investigate and record what we were seeing. 

"Shoe Tree" near Hallalujah Junction, California

Our first clue. Neither of us had ever seen a tree covered with old shoes. Alan googled "shoe trees" and found this one on the internet. Apparently, shoe trees are a new phenomena in rural America. Google says, there are shoe trees all over the U.S. Who woulda thunk it ? 

The Reverend Mister Black,  Highway 395

We were not the only ones finding the tree odd enough to take a picture or two. The couple in the Mini Cooper would only identify themselves as the Doctor and his Lady. He was dressed all in black and looked like a man of the cloth. I nick named him, the "Reverend Mister Black". 

The Reverend Mister Black and his Lady visiting the Shoe Tree, Hallalujah Junction, California, Highway 395

With a sly wink, he told me they had been to Reno. He said the all black outfit was for the Reno trip.

Shoe Tree investigators, the Reverend Mister Black and his Lady
 photographing the Shoe Tree, Highway 395, just north of Reno.

 But that was all I could get out of either of them. They will always be a part of the Highway 395 mystery. Reno is a gamblin' town so I presume I was stretching his nick name just a little.

The skinny little Church of Doyle's Grade, California

The Mini-Cooper led us away from the Shoe Tree. It's mysterious occupants waved as they sped away. I tried explaining "the Reverend Mister Black" to Alan. He's younger and was not around for the folk singing days. I explained, he was the fellow, who said, "you've gotta walk that lonesome valley, you've gotta walk it by yourself". About that time the highway spoke to us again. See for yourself. 

The little Church and old barn at Doyle's Grade, California

This little church was an attention grabber. So narrow, so neat, the perfect size for an intimate service.

The Mini Cooper kept going. Were we led to this little Church by the Reverend Mister Black ? Again, we had to stop. The church was a very narrow building. In my mind I pictured it as having only one row of pews. I had never seen such a tall narrow building. We had to take a look and a picture or two.

We left the the skinny Church at Doyle's Grade and gained speed once again. It wasn't long before the quirky highway commanded our attention a third time. 

Rock pile Highway 395 north of Doyle Grade, California.
Each of these rocks must weigh a couple hundred pound. 

Someone had gone to a heck of a lot of trouble to pile up some really big rocks. Later, we would learn the land owner had a rock quarry on his ranch and this was his stone age billboard.

Another reason to stop on Highway 395. A Texas ranch gate in California.

As I drove on toward the Ruby pipeline some three and a half hours to the north, I was feeling the pressure. We had a meeting with the safety officials on the job but we had to get there before "quittin time".  We needed to get our safety indoctrination done that afternoon so we could spend the next day shooting. No safety course, no access. That's industry rules. 

Admittedly, I have a lead foot and today was no exception. With all the starting and stopping I felt the need for speed. Unfortunately, we learned in Johnston, Officer  Schwagerl 

Our pal Officer Schwagerl of the California Highway Patrol. He really was a nice guy.

of the California Highway Patrol, was not of a like mind. Some ninety minutes later we found, his colleague Officer Wilcox, of Likely, California did not feel my sense of urgency either. Nobody, in uniform, seemed to have a sense of humor that day.

Dang!  A fellow just can't catch a break. Two speeding tickets in less than two hours.

...........On our way back we found Officer Schwagerl sitting on the side of the highway. We stopped just to hang out. We had a really nice chat about hunting, kids, football and other local doings. Schwagerl confirmed Highway 395 was indeed weird. Schwagerl and Wilcox were the nicest cops who have ever taxed me with a ticket. And that's saying something. Stopping and chatting with a cop that gave you a ticket..if that ain't weird I don't know what is.....

Big Shoe Tree near Ravendale, California Highway 395 south of the Oregon lIne.

Soon we passed yet another "Shoe Tree". The tree was full of shoes. Way more than the first one. This one was near Ravendale, California. What ? Two Shoe Trees and two tickets. What's the odds ? Naw, couldn't be. Well, I said it was a mysterious highway. There should have been two little churches.

Tree full of Bald Eagles Highway 395 near Likely, California

"Further on up the road" shoe trees were replaced by Eagles and once in Oregon we began to see herds of deer. This tree was back lighted so the Eagles are just dark spots in the picture. There were six. The tree is seventy five yards off the highway. We were able to turn around, come back and take the pictures without disturbing them.

Boykin, Pilot Steve Smith and Videographer Alan Halcon

The next day we flew our video mission for the Ruby Pipeline project. Our pilot, Steve Smith, was a great guy and a super helo driver. We spent the day flying the mountainous terrain of Northern California, Northwestern Nevada and Southern Oregon. The hills and the snow made for an interesting backdrop. I can compare the day with riding a roller coaster over frozen lakes and mountains. I love my time on the pipelines. 

Alan Halcon at work, southern Oregon, Ruby Pipeline.

My stint as field producer was enjoyable thanks to Alan and Steve. I couldn't wait to see what Josh and the Los Angeles production guys put together.

While packing I had a choice. I could pack some comfortable, lightweight old hunting boots or steel toed, ace safety regulation approved regulation pipeliner Red Wings. I chose the old hunting boots assuming I could fly with them and not get caught by the safety guy. 

Newly minted field producer Boykin and his bye bye boots at the Boot Tree.

The sad part was the soft crepe soled Rocky boots had been sitting in a closet for years and were so old the rubber crumbled off where ever I walked. Everywhere I went it looked as if I was tracking bits of mud on the floor. By day's end I was down to the flat sole with all the soft rubber gone.

It took a throw or two to hook a limb. The Boot Tree, Highway 395, Hallalujah, California

I know, you know where this is heading. Yup. On our way back to the Reno airport, we did it. On your next trip down Highway 395 if you stop at the Hallalujah Shoe Tree you can tell any other visitors you know how those camo hunting boots got up in the tree.

John Boykin pointing to his boots hanging from the Boot Tree limb.
Hallelujah, Ca.

Good bye to a great old pair of Rockies.

The shoe tree is now the Boot Tree. I would like to point out the Reverend Mister Black and his Lady were not present to bless the boot throwing. However, we did learn from a neighborly fellow, we were in the community of Hallelujah, California. How appropriate. Gettin weirder ! Hallelujah !

A little Northern California scenery Highway 395, beautiful.

I know I was remiss in not bringing back more scenics. The countryside was absolutely beautiful. The nights were cold, down in the twenties, but the days warmed up to the forties and felt like sixty. Wonderful weather, beautiful scenery what more could a traveler ask ?

Eagles on a fence post ? Alan had never seen a Bald Eagle in the wild. This was an exceptional trip for him. 

The Great American Bald Eagles sitting next to Highway 395 near Reno, Nevada.

Halcon, the survivalist, took these pictures from the shoulder of the road. Fantastic birds. Wonderful trip. I'm glad you're reading this. I love to share the fun stuff.

All pictures were made with a little shirt pocket "point and shoot" from Canon. It's a G-9. It's fine for day time but awful for low light or indoors. Don't buy one.

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                              John B. Boykin 

                      "The Hard Hat Photographer"

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