#femalesolotraveller – Page 6 – Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond

Route 66 to Las Vegas

5 August 2018

Goodbye to Annalise, the Norwegian owner of the Stagecoach 66 Motel Seligman. I love the interesting people I have met on my travels. Annalise is 74 and rides her Indian Motorcycle around the USA solo. It was such a pleasure meeting her and hope I see her again on our travels.

Some fun stops on Route 66 which inspired the animation “Cars”

Radiator Springs

Hackberry

Mike’s Outpost Saloon

One stop was at the Route 66 General Store. A cowboy with the sexiest voice gave me a compliment which made me all flustered. As I walked into the store his remark “The scenery is pretty good in here” was the nicest pick up line I have heard. Where was he last night!! Shame I was leaving.

Throughout my trip people would say things like “you are so brave travelling alone”, “aren’t you scared driving alone” and my answers are “would you drive to the next town or state alone? That’s all I am doing. But driving to the next state”. However today I had a moment or two of concern. Driving to Las Vegas the temperature got to 46C/115F and I was praying that the car would not break down. There was no reason for it to break down but that temperature in the desert made me worry.

At my hotel, the Royal Resort, $US133 for 3 nights free parking and best of all no resort fee, I cooled off in the pool but as it was 40C/106F at 6.30pm I decided a cool shower and the cool hotel room was required.

2 people I met on the northbound Alaska cruise, Valentine and Abe joined me in Vegas.

Bellagio water show

And across the road

Route 66 (Seligman the Town of broken toys)

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 SeligmanDrinks 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.

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.

Sedona Arizona

3 August 2018

I drove on the 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona. This drive is through beautiful mountains with lots of switchbacks as the road runs from an elevation of 8000 feet down to 4000 feet.

This drive is one of the top 10 scenic drives of the USA and it again gave me the Wow factor.

Sedona is a town with very wealthy retired people but is a very popular tourist spot. TheCoconino National Foresthas mouintains, buttes,green trees including firs and willows, red rock, streams for fishing and many camping grounds which were mostly full. With all these people the town did not feel touristy.

I had a personal tour guide who drove me to some of the must see spots.

Courthouse Butte

This house is just below the Chapel of the Holy Cross and is owned by a Romanian doctor. I found this blog which has a little of the history of the house.

The last walk I coped with in the 38C/100F heat was to the top of Airport Mesa.

Enjoyed one of the best caesar salads in this country at the The Tavern Grille Cottonwood.

I am staying at a lovely inexpensive hotel with this amazing view from the pool and from every room. The View Motel Cottonwood

I discovered live rock music was on in a dive bar called Kactus Kate’s Saloon. Looking up Google for the above link, I realised I had been talking to the bar’s namesake and owner, Katherine Woods. It is a very laid back bar with good music and a pool table with friendly locals.

Driving back from Kactus Kate’s Saloon, I heeded my cousin Adrian’s words “if you see a skunk, don’t hit it with your car, don’t chase it on foot. Go in the opposite direction because you can’t get the stench out of your car or clothes”. When one scampered in front of my car I was so tempted to get out to try and get a photo but reluctantly decided not to. I have seen a skunk now but still NO BEAR!!

Grand Canyon South Rim

2 August 2018

The Grand Canyon is huge!! I drove the 1.5 hours from Flagstaff while the weather was ok. I missed out on the Canyon at the start of my trip because it started snowing. The weather today was 27c (87F) with a breeze. The Canyon is HUGE. While there I was analysing and comparing the Canyon to every other magnificent landscape I have seen across the last 5 months. Looking over the photos I shouldn’t compare anything but appreciate the beauty of the changing colours and depths of this Wonder of the World. The Canyon is over 1 million acres!! There is nothing to compare it to.

However I had a sense of disappointment. I have experienced so much on this journey that just being BIG isn’t enough. I will get some back lash over this but I didn’t get the buzz I got from Ohiopyle or The Arches or Shoshone Falls or the Mississippi River. Have I seen too much beauty? Is this the infamous Australian “tall poppy syndrome” at work?

Don’t get me wrong, it is still beautiful.

I commend the transport system the park has in place. It is so well organised and easy to get around. I parked in the free parking area in Tusayan near the Imax. The purple bus whizzes you past all the cars lined up to enter the park. Then there are various shuttles which take you to different parts of the Canyon. The shuttles run every 15 minutes, pick up and drop off at spots along each route. It is easy, efficient and free after paying the park entry fee. I had purchased the America Beautiful Annual Park Pass $USD80 which has been well worth the purchase. Grand Canyon entry fee was $35 and I have used the pass in several parks around the USA and it has more than paid for itself. I do not recommend taking your car into the park as it is very difficult to park and I went on a day which did not seem too busy in high season.

On the way to the Grand Canyon I stopped off at Bedrock, the home of the Flintstones for a giggle.

Leaving the Grand Canyon I saw my first elk. I joined the crazy people who stop in the middle of the road to take a photo.

This family from Indiana were lovely company. Miles, Pearson, Deena, Evan and (you see I didn’t remember you all)

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.

50 States

31 July 2018

I’ve done It!! I got all teary as I crossed over into Colorado achieving my goal of visiting all 50 states of the USA.

So far I have seen huge canyons. This photo is very smoky as there are fires in Yosemite and Colorado.

Telluride must be spectacular in winter.

Rico an old silver town.

Naturita

Nucla

Dinner at Blondie’s Trophy Room in Cortez.

Arches National Park Moab Utah

30 July 2018

The scenery across 5 hours and 2 States changed from white salt to flat desert, to rocky desert, to the spectacular sight of the Arches National Park.

On the way stopped at this cute town, Helper.

The drive from Wendover was over 5 hours but I was rewarded with this site of natural red rock sculptures.

Balanced Rock.

Park Avenue

Delicate Arch

Devil’s Garden

Courthouse Towers

I have yet to visit the Grand Canyon. Will it be as great as everyone says? I am not convinced as all the places I have seen so far are spectacular and it has a lot to live up to.

Wendover and Salt Lake Flats Utah

29 July 2018

A 6 hour drive from Boise took me to Wendover, next to the Salt Lake Flats on the Nevada Utah border. How cute is Wendover Will. Do you think there is a cheeky play on words here?

The salt on the Flats is so compacted it looks like ice. All the white gives it an ethereal feel.

You can drive on the Salt Flats but I did not want to risk it with my Toyota. If it was a 4wheel drive I would have.

There have been many movies filmed here including:

The World’s Fastest Indian
Independence Day
Need For Speed
Con Air
Pirates of the Caribbean

It is the site for land speed racing of all types of vehicles.

This quirky sculpture on the edge of the Salt Flats is The Tree of Utah, also known as the Tree of Life.

Boise Liquid Laughs

28 July 2018

What another fun night of comedy at Liquid Laughs Comedy Club.

Shawn Pelofsky again worked the room with her magic comedy.

Looks like Minerva Jayne and I had a bit of a competition with red.

Thank you Minerva Jayne for your wonderful hospitality and introducing me to Shawn Pelofsky and your friends.