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: #Route66
Groom Texas/Oklahoma City
21 March 2018
On the way to Oklahoma City I made a stop at the quaint town of Groom on Route 66. A small population of 574 with a big Cross and statues depicting the last supper, stations of the cross and other religious items of interest and it is free.
Welcome to Oklahoma
Beckham County Allanreed Oklahoma. More Route 66.
Elk City Oklahoma
Bootscooting and 2step in Chisholm’s Saloon Oklahoma City. I love how the cowboys Stetson stays on their head when dancing even when they do duck under moves. When the hat does get bumped off they have a real smooth move to slide it back on the head.
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.
New Mexico/Texas
19 March 2018
I had a lovely breakfast with my airbnb host, Sheri, and her guests from Scotland and England who are a Scottish folk duo Alan Reid and Rob van Sante and they tour the world including Australia. They wished me well on my “Odyssey” which sounds much more exotic than ” road trip”. I think I will use that.
I left Albuquerque behind with -2 C (32F) and looking forward to some warmer weather in Amarillo.
On the way I found this lovely spot on Route 66 at Santa Rosa New Mexico “Blue Hole”
Next stop was Glenrio Texas. A ghost town and first town over the border of New Mexico on Route 66.
Albuquerque New Mexico
16 March 2018
My first scary incident was reminiscent of a movie robbery scene surprisingly and fortunately without a gun. I was lined up in a gas station to prepay my petrol (gas) when someone calmly walked in, took a 6 pack of beer and walked out with people swearing and chasing him. I quickly did what they do in the movies, backed up to a rear aisle and made myself inconspicuous. Nothing violent happened, but it was a reminder that there are some questionable areas I need to be careful of. I also thought that if this was one of the NRA States the man would probably have been shot. I didn’t wait there to buy petrol, I walked out to the car and noticed that the area was a bit dubious. I will be more careful in future.
I wonder how these signs work? They were throughout Flagstaff as Well.
I had spent the morning visiting unusual spots recommended in the Atlas Obscura.
First I went to the spaceship house.
Then the Musical Highway, a spot on Route 66 which, when you drive at the correct speed, you will hear “America the Beautiful” played. Unfortunately I could not hear it even when I stopped the car and I expect it is a joke or the cars weren’t going the correct speed for it to play. I got this pic though.
I then went to find the Atlas I
Described as “This pseudo-steampunk weapons facility is the world’s largest wood and glue structure, and packs quite a wallop“.
With an address of Kirtland Air Base I set my GPS. I thought I was going to a display at an unused airbase. I was a little surprised when driving up to the air base, I encountered the obligatory road block and security check. The poor guard must have thought I was a crazy Australian until I showed him the website. I was gently escorted off the air base with a recommendation of where to get something to eat if I was hungry. ??
Then I proceeded to the next item the De Anza Motor Lodge which holds American Indian Artefacts. This is actually being demolished, contrary to what the website states. A consolation, it is on Route 66.
I got lost looking for Little Beaver Town so decided to go for walk around the neighbourhood Where I am staying in without expectations.
And I found the Flintstone House!!
The homes in this area are Mexican influenced Adobe house. I suppose that’s because they are in New Mexico.
The gardens are on the treacherous side. You would want to be careful not to fall into the garden while drunk or otherwise.
Hopefully I will be more successful looking for dancing tonight
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.
West Hollywood
Today the Californian sun was out. I strolled around Rainbow Harbour to Long Beach Harbour which is the resting place of the retired RMS Queen Mary. This ship is permanently moored in the harbour and used as an hotel.
Next to this majestic ship passengers were boarding the Carnival Imagination.
Long Beach is getting ready for the Grand Prix in April
Next stop was The Abbey in West Hollywood. Manny and Leo wanted me to experience this famous gay bar and their gogo boys. We had an unexpected surprise that the bar had an Oscars viewing party happening.
My drink for the afternoon was a hot chocolate with Baileys and Frangelico. Yummy.
Of course I couldn’t leave without getting a photo of the gogo boys.
Stopped out the front of Pump for Karen.
Entrance to Elton John’s Oscar party. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a way in.
I can now say I have been on Route 66.
Thank you so much Manny and Leo for showing me so many fun and interesting places. I look forward to when we meet again.
Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond 