4 August 2018Not sure what Siri had in mind for me to take a 17 minute shortcut to Route 66 on a very remote rough dirt road. Perhaps she thought I meant 666? When I came across this noose and “no way out” sign I decided it best to retrace my steps.
Then I saw a man filling a water tank on the back of his pickup and thought I could get directions from him. Walking towards me with a revolver in his belt I was a little wary. He was very helpful even though my distraction made the water tank overflow into the back of his pickup. I retreated as soon as I could.Back on track I arrived at this historical motel Stagecoach 66 Motel.
I got the Harley Davidson themed room. Betty Boop was already taken.
Downtown Seligman
Drinks at the Pizza Joint at the Stagecoach 66 Motel with the Norwegian owner Annalise (in pink) and some locals Tracey, Tad, Steven, Clancey James and the bartender Little Bit in white.
A quote from the locals about Seligman “so far out in the sticks they have to truck the daylight in”. The quote “the town of broken toys” like “hotel california” once you come here you don’t leave. Lucky I have an appointment in Vegas.
Tag: #arizona
Jerome Arizona (Ghost City)
4 August 2018
Jerome is also known as the Wicked City, the Haunted Town and Ghost City.
An old copper town which had a population of 15,000 in the mining boom to around 400 now. A quaint tourist town now with quirky shops. Well worth stopping by if around Sedona.
Colorado Utah Arizona
1 August 2018
As I have completed my goal of visiting every USA state, the remaining 14 days of my trip I will make my way across to San Diego to return my car rental. Today I crossed 3 borders having started in Cortez Colorado. Can you believe I was unable to find a fridge magnet for my last State!! I will hate if I have to buy one online but it may be my only opportunity to acquire one now.
At one of the parking lots there were several of these signs. Wonder what age you have to be to park there.
Hovenweep National Monument Utah
First thing this morning I drove from Cortez Colorado to Hovenweep in the Canyons of the Ancient National Monument.
Driving to this site I was on a road going through miles of flat green farm land. As far as the eye could see. Then all of a sudden the earth falls away and huge canyons appear out of nowhere.
This site includes six prehistoric villages where many ancient towers were built on canyon rims.
I stopped for horses, sheep and prairie dogs crossing.
Red Mesa Arizona
The landscape changed several times from pink, to maroon, to green, to brown, to sandy, with structures out in the middle of nowhere.
Late afternoon, for the first time, I received a text weather warning.
Flash Flood Warning this area til 7:15 PM MST. Avoid flood areas. -NWS
This was a little concerning as if you Google the area there isn’t anywhere to go till you get to Flagstaff. All good though. I arrived safely.
Amarillo Texas
20 March 2018
It is no warmer here and I have learned that Amarillo is “the windy city” not Chicago. It is -2c (29F). When will I find some warm weather!!
In the meantime I am wearing lots of layers and hopefully my discoveries will distract me from the cold.
I started today with a drive to Palo Duro Canyon.
35 minutes from Amarillo is the most spectacular terrain! This is what you see when driving through Texas for hour after hour mile after mile. Flat nothing.
Then out of nowhere the road falls away to this.
Cadillac Ranch also known as Carhenge.
I encouraged an 11 year old to graffiti my name. Luckily it is legal in this area.
I wish I could have stayed for the weekend to dance with some cowboys .
Although this lovely gentleman, Wayne, spontaneously danced with me in a restaurant which was fun.
Meteor Crater Arizona/New Mexico
15 March 2018
I was meant to go to the Grand Canyon today but I was feeling so unwell I couldn’t face the 1.5 hour drive each way. I looked into getting a bus but left it a little late. I realised that I was feeling unwell because the airbnb I stayed in was really stuffy and I am not very good with stale Indian cooking smells. When I opened my window the host asked me kindly to close it to keep the place warm. Thankfully I was not tied to the airbnb for more than one night so this morning I was looking for another place to stay in Flagstaff.
While having my pancakes for breakfast at the Flagstaff iHop ( I was feeling much better) it started snowing. As pretty as snow is, my trip never included snow as I am not fussed on the cold.
So I booked an air bnb in Alberqueque New Mexico and started the 5 hour, 455 km (285 miles) drive.
On the way I stopped off at the Meteor Crater in Winslow Arizona.
I wanted to stop at the Petrified Forest but missed the turn off and it was too far to loop back. As the temperature was 0 C (32 F) wind chill I was not overly concerned I missed it.
Along the way the scenery changed many times. I escaped the snow in Flagstaff and as soon as I crossed over to New Mexico I had hail, snow and ferocious winds which caused the huge rigs on the motorway to sway precariously.
Arizona
New Mexico
Seligman/Williams/Flagstaff Arizona
14 March 2018
I just drove 1,600 km (1,000 miles) in 7 days.
First stop today was another Route 66 Historical area, Seligman including the Road Kill Cafe OK Saloon.
Then on to Williams where the scenery changed and the weather was very cool and windy. Williams is known as the gateway of the Grand Canyon and another historical Route 66 town.
Flagstaff is 40 minutes away and at 2106 metres (6190 feet) the temperature changed dramatically from Bullshead City’s 30 C (86F) to 0 C (32F). The landscape is pine trees and snow topped mountains. I arrived at 5:00pm and as I did not have any daylight for exploring I went on Meet Ups and found a trivia night on at the Uptown Pub. Met some lovely people and were impressed with coming 1st at half time but then it deteriorated and we came 8/12.
Tomorrow Grand Canyon.
Route 66 Arizona
14 March 2018
Route 66 is a famous road which originally ran from Chicago Illinois to San Diego California. I knew that many spots throughout the route are no longer accessible. However, I am so excited that I have been able to access Route 66 several times since commencing this trip without trying. I pick a town and all of a sudden I am on Route 66!!
Today I commenced my day at Oatman Arizona. This was a prosperous gold mining town in th 1920s but abandoned in the 1950s. I heard it was an old ghost town so I decided to visit. A cute place with a mock gunfight in the street some original heritage listed buildings and donkeys pooping all over town and it is on Route 66.
You might have a giggle over the Glory Hole and Fat Fanny’s.
Clark Gable seems to have liked Arizona as he spent his honeymoon with Carole Lombard in the haunted Oatman Hotel.
I couldn’t resist the frozen cheesecake dipped in chocolate and sprinkles. Yes, I know. Diet time.
I then took the precarious drive with a maximum speed of 32kmph (20mph) to Cool Springs, the inspiration for the setting of the animation “Cars”. The 10km (6 miles) rivals the Jenolan Caves road. No way can buses use this road which gets to 3350 feet with no guard rails but some spectacular scenery. On Route 66.
Joshua Tree National Park
12 March 2018
Today I left the lovely Alarcon family and Rancho Santa Margarita and I drove 460 km almost 290 miles to my next stop. I drove part of this road on the i10 with Dion three years ago and the second time around the scenery was just as captivating.
The terrain changes from grassy mountains, to rock studded hills, to boulders, snow topped mountains, and many wind turbines.
My first stop was at the Joshua Tree National Park which is located between the Colorado and Mojave Deserts.
I spent two (2) hours walking and driving around Hidden Valley
Barker Dam
Skull Rock
and stopped several times to take photos of the rock formations.
The photos just do not do it justice. I haven’t been to Uluru but everyone says the same thing, that you have to be there to really feel the beauty.
There were many people rock climbing and bouldering as this sport is welcome here. Can you see the person on the rock face below? Not abseiling!!
Today I drove through Arizona, California, Nevada and now I am staying in an air bnb in Arizona.
Something I got very excited about today was I drove on Route 66 three (3) times. You can’t drive the whole road because it has been closed off in spots but I will try as many sections as possible on this trip.
I stopped at this gas station “Roys” as it reminded me of those sometimes creepy road stops in movies. It was a little creepy but the man who ran the stop was lovely. He told me he served in the South Pacific with Aussies so was very welcoming.
The photo above is Clark Gable and the story is that he dined there many years ago. Richard Gere also worked at this diner on Route 66 when he was young.
I stopped and refuelled at the second Route 66 gas station
I recently read a pschological thriller called Dead Stop which covers the dangers of railway crossings in the USA as many do not have boom gates or flashing lights.
This crossing had a train waiting while one was passing and I loved the colours of the carriages against the mountain (you will need to zoom in) This crossing did have flashing lights
At one stage while driving from Joshua Tree to Needles (a 2 hour drive) I did have 10 minutes of slight panic as I forgot to download an offline map of where I was going and lost my GPS totally. I was on this pretty remote road which is just desert, straight with occasional signs of life with houses which look abandoned homes and in a worse than some of the poor peoples homes in Brasil. Petrol was getting low and I knew I had enough to the next petrol station for 150 km (100 miles) but not if I had to turn back because I was going the wrong way. I really believe I have an angel who looks after me because just as I was starting to worry, up ahead was a San Bernadino County officer in his pick up truck, on the side of the road and I stopped and asked him “am I going the right way?” that shows how worried I was as he had to say “where are you going?”. Luckily I was going the right way and had plenty of fuel.
When I arrived at my air bnb in Bullhead City Arizona, my hosts told me about the casinos in Laughlin Nevada 20 minutes away. I went there to check the music and I enjoyed a listen to some country and western. I learned that the Las Vegas strip is 1.5 hours from the Laughlin Nevada casino strip and Laughlin is situated on the Colorado River.
You know you are in an NRA US state with these signs.
Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond 