All up? That's what the sign asks, but unfortunately, due to a clock snafu (damn you iPhone) we're actually up and out the door an hour after we plan on being. The funniest part is, we only discover this at "breakfast" when we realize it's quarter to 11:00 and not quarter to 10:00! Uh oh. Big day ahead. Let's get started.
According to our guide book, Route 66 out of Gallup has a stretch that clings to a rock wall hundreds of feet above the valley floor while boulders hang precariously overhead. We gotta do that, right?
It was a great drive and boulders did hang precariously over our heads. But they also do that on the Hope/Princeton; and the Sea to Sky; and the Fraser Canyon. The only thing that's different though is that none of those BC roads end with this.
A huge collection of Indian Stores complete with fake animals above the fake cave dwellings. A Route 66 dream come true!
Look at our little car!
But It gets better as we cruise on in to Arizona. Not 15 minutes goes by before we spy Fort Courage.
The guide book says that "they" claim that F-Troop shot scenes here back in the 60's. Can't somebody ask Ken Berry? Larry Storch can't weigh in on this? Anyway, it's great roadside kitsch!
We can't stop though, we've got bigger fish to fry. We're headed for the Petrified Forest!
The Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest combine to make the most mind blowing landscape with some of the craziest looking areas you've ever seen. I'm not even going to try to show them all. You'll have to wait for the video!
And check this out. With and without Serengeti Sunglasses.
All this time, poor Eric is hoping that someone will pick him up at the airport. That's not going to happen. He know this. We know this. He will go to the hotel. Us? We have to eat! Holbrook, Arizona awaits! Where by the way, they love their dinosaurs!
And we eat at Joe and Aggies Café! Finally I have some sopapillias with honey! Delicious I might add.
Just down the street is the Wigwam Motel. In a perfect world, we would have stayed here.
We pull in for a photo-op anyway.
I love this billboard!
But we can't waste time. Eric is waiting at the hotel now. We've got to get moving!
There is one more thing though . . .
Pictures can never do this justice. This crater is almost a mile across and is 650 feet deep. In the pamphlet is says that if the Washington monument was standing in the hole, the top of it would be at eye level. So huge. They figure the meteor itself was about 150 feet across and travelling at 26,000 miles an hour when it hit.
Eric's waiting! Let's go, let's go!
We pass by the ruins of Two Guns. It was an old tourist trap on '66.
Apparently, they had mountain lions!
A little further on, two giant arrows pierce the ground.
Finally, we reach Flagstaff. The car still looks great! About 20 people have asked us about it today.
People love this car!
And looks who's here. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the one, the only,
Eric Partridge!
(Huge applause)
Tonight, we drink! Tomorrow, the Grand Canyon!
That was quite a day...good thing you got all your eating in. Heaven forbid you guys should starve!! Yippee for Eric joining the fun!!
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