Arizona

Pushing West

The push to get into the eighth and final state and our third timezone.

Our "bible" the EZ66 Guide said we could take the '66 through the mountains.  There were enough switchbacks that lorries were banned, but steep drops and no barriers - what could go wrong?

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On the other side of the drive is Oatman.  A fun (though very touristy town).  Donkeys roamed the one street.  There was a gunfight at midday (never wolf down a burger to go to a gunfight - awful stomach ache).

On through a town called Golden Shores with its small squat buildings.  Seemed liked a poor area, but quite a few people seemed to have boats.  As we drove out we came across a nice big lake and the boats made more sense.

On to Topock which was on the border between Arizona and California.  A cold drink and a sit down and watch the trains going back and forwards across the big iron bridge.

Then - into our last state and checked into the River Valley Motel (the cheapest motel of the trip, but nice).

We couldn't find any motels for tomorrow's stretch so we'll have to wing it.  We'll hit the 3,000 mile mark at some point in the morning.  So, 500+ extra miles so far.

Bears

Williams is only ten minutes drive from Bearizona.  We'd been a few years back and had enjoyed it so we went back again.  You can drive through several areas with bison, elk, buffalo, bears, etc. then park up and see some smaller animals and watching a show with hawks.  All good fun.

Abandoned Motel, Ash Fork.

Abandoned Motel, Ash Fork.

Driving on towards the hotel in Kingman we saw a road called "Devil's Dog" so we turned down.  There was nothing there but you can't not, right?  We re-joined '66 at Ash Fork.  Ash Fork was pretty much a Ghost Town.  Closed down gas stations, motels, etc.

Into Seligman we had an Ice Cream at Delgadillo's Snow Cap.  The original owner (who died about ten years ago) liked to pull pranks on the customers, and they've continued in that vein.  As I was ordering the coffee/chocolate ice creams (only one size available; 'diabetes large') the guy behind the counter squirted a fake/string tomato ketchup bottle.  Seligman is also the home to the Roadkill Café.  "You kill it.  We grill it."

Driving down through xxx you can see the Grand Canyon in the distance.  We thought we could wend or way through the small, ill-repaired homes to get a better look but the only road out towards was closed with a sign saying you needed a permit from the Hualapai Tribe.

Almost at Kingman we drove through Hackberry which had a cool store.  On the outskirts was Giganticus Headicus and it'd been a while since we'd passed a Big Thing.

The hotel had a coin-operated laundrette so we got some washing done. #ExcitingTimes

Tomorrow we head for the final state.  California.  We have about five days to cross it.

Grand Canyon. Repeat.

It was another detour from Route 66 but since we were only about two hours drive from the Grand Canyon it seemed silly not to drive up to it.  Jane booked a hotel back in Williams which was just an hour's drive South of the Canyon and we could then resume on '66 the following morning.