That Ribbon of Highway II: Highway 99 from the State Capital to the Mexican Border [Paperback]

Jill Livingston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999

The journey through the heart of California continues with Ribbon II in a fully revised, greatly expanded Second Edition of the popular regional history/guidebook. Motor through the fertile San Joaquin Valley, up over the Tehachapis along the Ridge Route, through sprawling greater Los Angeles, through citrus country, and across the desert to the Mexican border. Visit Roadside Attractions, enjoy an expansive crazy-quilt of crops, gaze up at water towers, explore historic highway remnants and competing neon arrows after dark. One of The Companion Volumes that Stand Alone. But you'll probably want all three books in the series. Includes 177 photographs, contemporary and historic, 30 all new maps and a detailed road log. A proven winner. Includes plenty of new material so even owners of the earlier edition will want this one.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a fantastic book..."

"...this book is worth any price...covers my hobby exactly."

"...brings back memories...I loved it!"

"Thanks for your fine research!"

"Your books are great--the photos, maps, nostalgia, history, Then and Now, always a great favorite with historians--are just wonderful. I loved the whole thing."

"The new book is lovely."

"I am a fascinated owner and reader of your two books...I have many memories of the road." -- Readers of Ribbon I and Ribbon II

"...written by someone who cares.....We really enjoyed this book." Out West Newspaper

"Their attention to detail is truely impressive." Fresno Bee

"The photos capture many of the remaining landmarks as well as hidden treasures now forgotten." The Claremont Courier -- The Media

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From Chapter 1 of That Ribbon of Highway II: My young thighs glued themselves to the smooth naugahide as the long, sweltering, endless green valley whizzed by the back seat window. An ice cold soda enjoyed in a shady roadside fruit stand provided a temporary modicum of relief. Ripe juicy peaches to go, yum. Or, purchase an orange. Do not peel. Squeeze it, massage it, roll it around until it feels soft and pulpy. Poke a hole in the top with your finger, insert a straw if you have one, and voila! Instant orange juice in its own container. At least a full fifteen minutes' backseat entertainment.

Indescribably delicious to be sure, but the dripping juice added another layer of stickiness. However, a child's tolerance of stickiness is generally greater than that of an adult. And so I stoically endured the long journey down Highway 99, one of many. Relief would come at the end of the day in the cooling waters of a Bakersfield motel swimming pool.....

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Living Gold Pr (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965137724
• ISBN-13: 978-0965137720
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just the Ticket, September 6, 2000

By 

Bert Bedeau (Carson City, NV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: That Ribbon of Highway II: Highway 99 from the State Capital to the Mexican Border (Paperback)

"Society for Commercial Archeology Journal," Spring, 2000 For those of you unfamiliar with the West Coast, Highway 99 is the principal historic highway that knitted together the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Portions of it were known early on as the Pacific Highway or the Valley Route or the Golden State Highway. However, in 1928 these various bits were sewn together and given federal designation as US 99. Despite de-designation as a US highway in 1964, Highway 99 continued to play a prominent role in western transportation. Jill Livingston and Kathryn Maloof have compiled a two-volume guide to the history and sights of Highway 99 in California. Each book, half-sheet size and paperbound, provides a general summary of the road's history and a detailed description of features along the existing road organized geographically from north to south. Both offer an extensive photographic tour of the respective route sections, as well as sections devoted to detailed maps that outline the route and provide directions on how to access often-bypassed elements or road alignments. There are generous graphics and photos throughout. I may be a biased reviewer of this topic. I grew up on Highway 99 just south of Sacramento and enjoy mostly fond and entirely vivid memories of this road. I have muddled memories of passing objects from car to car while careening down the Grapevine toward Metler, CA to rescue a friends' stranded vehicle. I also remember with fresh horror as I watched my record collection of 250 albums melt in 100+ degree heat while broken down on that same wretched hill in 1983. Livingston and Maloof have brought it all back for me. I pine for chicken dinner at Pollardville and an orange freeze at the Mammoth Orange. I mourn the passing of the Blueberry Hill Café in Chowchilla, and am startled to see a picture of the theater where I saw my first genuine rock concert in 1975. The authors have peppered their text with sidebars of interest to one and all. The evolution of the Ridge Route and disappearing/reappearing highway under Shasta Reservoir are two of my favorites. The organization of the books is clear and easy to follow; the photos are beautiful and plenty. The text is well written and enjoyable, not bogging down in non-essential detail or excess verbiage. These books are just the ticket for roadside exploration off the beaten track in the Golden State.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended reading for California history buffs., August 3, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: That Ribbon of Highway II: Highway 99 from the State Capital to the Mexican Border (Paperback)

That Ribbon Of Highway II: Highway 99 From The State Capital To The Mexican Border takes the reader from Sacramento to Calexico in a history that is enhanced with more than one hundred historic and contemporary photographs, an Accurate Road Log, and twenty detailed maps. Together, these two volumes present the armchair traveler with a splendid and informative entertainment, and serve the on-site traveler with a marvelous reference for a truly engaging road trip. Also highly recommended is the companion title, That Ribbon Of Highway I: Highway 99 From The Oregon Border To The State Capital.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and informative. A must for Highway 99 history., June 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: That Ribbon of Highway II: Highway 99 from the State Capital to the Mexican Border (Paperback)

Since my family moved to the San Joaquin valley in 1972, I have seen many changes on Highway 99. This book not only brought back memories, it also piqued the curiousity I have always had in travelling old highway routes. I have now covered all of old Highway 99 between Sacramento and Fresno. Someday I plan to make it to Calexico. Even if youdon't plan to make the journey, this book is a must read for anyone who has travelled or lived near Highway 99 and is interested in it's history. The photos are wonderful and informative, as is the text. Especially the appendix (Following The 99 Trail). FIVE STARS PLUS!