Completing Route 66

From Williams we visited Seligman which has built a huge tourist business around route 66,  When we arrived in town we counted 10 tour buses parked along the highway.  Next we stopped at the Grand Canyon Caverns for a tour of the caverns 230 ft below the surface.  The caverns are noteworthy as they are one of the few “dry” caverns in the country.  From the caverns we headed toward Oatman.  The drive from Kingman to Oatman was outstanding and were were lucky to see herd of desert big horn sheep.  In Oatman the focus of course was on the burros which has made that town famous.  During the mining days in Oatman burros were used in the mines as pack animals.  However, when the mines closed in the early 1900’s the burros were set free.  Today decedents of those burros freely roam the streets of Oatman.  While they are wild they are actually are very accustom to people and are very gentle.

 

Had to have a snow cone at the Delgadillos Snow Cap Diner in Seligman

Quick stop at the Hackberry General Store

Oatman

Grand Canyon

No trip down route 66 would be complete without a side trip to the Grand Canyon. For something a little different we decided to take the train. Not such a good idea as the train was robbed by a band of desperados!!!

 

All Aboard….next stop Grand Canyon

We road in the 1923 Pullman car

Simply breath taking

Navajo Hoop Dance

Oh no…. a band of desperados are approaching the train

All they wanted was our money

Cruising to Williams

Today we continued to cruise west toward Williams.  East of Flagstaff we stopped at the Walnut Canyon National Monument which has some outstanding cliff dwellings from the Sinagua people who lived in this area from 1125 to 1250.  The trail to the dwellings is only 0.9 miles but is fairly challenging as it descends to the canyon floor and backup up.  Continuing on west we stopped at the old site of the Twin Arrows Trading Post with its iconic red arrows.  We ended the day in Williams AZ which is the last town bypassed by the interstate in 1984.

 

The old Twin Arrows Trading Post which was an icon on Route 66.

 

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Williams AZ…. The last town bypassed by I40

 

The Red Garter Hotel in Williams was featured on the “Hotel Impossible” TV program a few weeks ago

"Standing on the Corner in Winslow Arizona..."

 Just like the Eagles said we were "Standing on the Corner in Winslow Arizona...". And yes we did bring an Eagles 8-track tape along just this occasion. The flat bed Ford was there but never did see the girl.... 

Just outside of Joseph City we had to stop at the Jackrabbit Trading Post.  For hundreds of miles to the east they have their trademark rabbit advertising signs

Had to ride the giant rabbit

A few parting shots in Holbrook 

The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook.  Yes it is still in operation. 

 

This was an interesting memorial in Winslow.  These two beams are from the Twin Towers.

 

Tonight we are at the Homolovi State Park where they have some interesting Hopi and Anasazi archaeological sites

 

 

 

Getting our "Kicks on Route 66".

Over the years we have visited many of the sites along Route 66 in AZ but have never "done" Route 66. So this week we plan to explore the Mother Road from the eastern border to the western border. Along the way we plan to visit all the historic, quirky, strange, and unusual sites that make Route 66 so famous. Today we visited Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Parks.

In Holbrook AZ

Lots of beautiful “trees” Petrified Forest

  

 Looks just like wood….

Amazing Colors

Moving on to Painted Desert

Old car along the old Route 66

 Tourist Traps along the way…