Life on the Road

If you are hitting the road this holiday weekend or any time soon, it’s a good idea to take along up-to-date travel guides.

Russell and Kathlynn Spencer relied on guide books while exploring the eastern Mojave Desert several years ago, only to find that some of the listed roads and attractions had bitten the dust.

So the Silver Strand beach residents set out in a Jeep Cherokee with a clipboard to write their own book.

You can hear about “Windshield Adventuring through the Mojave Desert” and “Windshield Adventuring through Central and Southern Nevada” at Borders in Thousand Oaks at 7 p.m. Tuesday when the Spencers appear to sign their books.

According to Russell Spencer, you don’t have to quit your day job to hit the road--he teaches substance abuse and anger management in the Ventura County Jail system and his wife is a computer instructor and administrator for the Ventura County Community College District.

Now they are immersed in finishing their latest book, “Windshield Adventuring through the Central Coast of California.” But their writing venture had an inauspicious start.

As beginners without a publisher, they ran off 15 copies of their Mojave book at Kinko’s, stapled them together and hit the desert in search of sales.

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Almost immediately the National Park Service ordered 50 copies, followed by other state parks and museums, and now the books, still self-published, are available in bookstores, on the Internet and through the Spencers’ Web site (www.windshieldadventures.com).

Over the years, they have visited quirky towns and laughed a lot--as in Ballarat, Calif., an old ghost town in the Panamint Valley near the Mojave Desert.

“Here’s this cowboy with a Brooklyn accent and he told us he was the real mayor of Panamint Valley in spite of what the guy up the street says,” said Spencer, who figured there were probably about four people who lived in the whole valley.

Next, they ran into a retired criminal attorney--the owner of a resort at Panamint Springs up the road--who said he was the true mayor and knew it because he held the election on payday and he had more employees than the other guy.

Besides historical facts about old forts, old railroads and courthouses--even an extraterrestrial highway--you will find maps, photos, mileage from place to place and available services in the books.

At their appearances, Spencer sets up a display of trails and pictures.

Experience has taught the authors to continually update their information--the Mojave book is in its sixth revision. Spencer said it is critical in desert travel that roadside service information be accurate--if a gas station closes, there might not be another for miles.

The California Department of Tourism has chosen the book for inclusion in its 1999 California Official Visitor’s Guide for recommended reading.

Meanwhile an old dream beckons. “My dream at some point in my life is to have a year where I don’t have an address--go from place to place, e-mail what I’ve written and have the money sent to my bank,” Spencer said.

It sounds doable to hear him tell it.

HAPPENINGS

* Monday, 11 a.m. Explore a variety of art mediums and techniques every Monday in July, geared for the 5+ crowd but all ages welcome. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Tuesdays, 10:30-11:15 a.m. “I’ve Got Rhythm” is the theme for story time followed by a craft. Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura, 650-9688.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m. Russell and Kathlynn Spencer will sign and discuss their travel guides, “Windshield Adventuring through the Mojave Desert” and “Windshield Adventuring in Southern and Central Nevada.” Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Wednesday, 4 p.m. Enjoy stories about animals and meet special guests from the Moorpark Zoo. Learn about a new animal every Wednesday in July. Thousand Oaks Borders, 497-8159.

* Wednesday, 7 p.m. The Writing Group allows authors to give and receive feedback about poetry, short stories, novels and other works in progress. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Wednesday, 7 p.m. The science fiction reading group will discuss “2001” by Arthur C. Clarke. New members welcome. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

* Friday, 7 p.m. Tarzan tales and songs. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

* Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Author Pam Marx will sign her “Travel the World Cookbook,” which includes 60 recipes from every continent to introduce children to food. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., 446-2820.

* Saturday, 10:30 a.m. First Book Story Time features “Bark, George” by Jules Feiffer. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Saturday, noon. Don Winslow will discuss and sign his latest mystery, “California Fire and Life,” at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 374-0084, www.mysteries todiefor.com.

* Saturday, 3 p.m. Story time at Adventure for Kids, 650-9688.

Catch you next week.

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Information about book signings, writers groups or publishing events can be faxed to Ann Shields at 647-5649 or e-mailed to anns40aol.com.