The 2002 Virtual Road Trip: Oregon to Disney or BUST!!!!! - Page 5

**lynnzop**[$] · #**161** 12-09-2002, 05:27 PM

Wow! 1103 miles along, and we are stopping tonight in Kingman, AZ. There's a decision to be made here; I'll tell you about it after I tell you a little about the trip today.

First, here's a big picture of how far we've come from Sweet Home:

And for those who are interested in the local scenery, Davis Dam is a recreational area that we passed through - I can't find any pictures of it, but since we just went across the Colorado River, I'd have to imagine that it's pretty around here!

I'm rather liking the weather here too....mid 50's and no wind. Just my cuppa tea. (Well, it could be a shade warmer, but I'm not going to complain.

)

Now for the decision....we can take a more scenic route to Williams, AZ (where we'll veer off to go to the Grand Canyon) or we can take a more direct route. If you'd like to check out mapquest.com, the choice is between taking Interstate 40 or Highway 66. What do y'all think?

Lynn

**theworm**[$] · #**162** 12-09-2002, 06:00 PM

I spent a night in Williams when we visited the Grand Canyon. It's a cute little town. At night the cowboys have a shoot out. Not tons to do there, but it is on historic Route 66. I'll leave it up to the crowd, but I could take the pretty and historic route. I remember the scenery around those parts to be very pretty!

**soxfan**[$] · #**163** 12-09-2002, 09:29 PM

Which route has fewer crickets?

Ailsa

**lynnzop**[$] · #**164** 12-10-2002, 02:13 PM

We're just trucking along and have taken Route 66 (yep, that's THE Route 66!) to Truxton, AZ.

Quote:

TRUXTON, began in October 1951, when Donald Dilts opened the Truxton Cafe and service station. The Truxton Valley is encircled by colorful and scenic terrain. Truxton's business community is centered along Route 66. HOME OF: include a motel, service station, tavern, and cafe.

Not a whole lot happenin' here, is there?

I don't have a whole bunch of time right this second to get some pictures posted...anyone else want to head up this tour?

Lynn

**theworm**[$] · #**165** 12-10-2002, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by soxfan
Which route has fewer crickets?

Ailsa

I thought of you Ailsa. My co-worker just started SCREAMING! There was a cricket on her desk!

**theworm**[$] · #**166** 12-10-2002, 02:25 PM

Ladies - may I suggest that we just keep walking!

Quote:

The community of Truxton originally developed around a gas station and cafe along Route 66 in 1951. The name of the town comes from the famous Beale Camel Expedition. Lieutenant "Ned" Beale stopped at the spring here in 1857 and named it Truxton in honor of either his brother Truxton or his mother, Emily Truxton Beale. Once bypassed by the Interstate, Truxton became a mere shell of the town it once was. This old Truxton cafe was closed, and judging by the growth of weeds in front it hasn’t served the traveler in quite awhile.

sleeper54 · #**167** 12-10-2002, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slick4591
Ya'll better hurry or these will all be gone.

Ok. I'm weak and can't wait. I'll have to cook ya'll another brisket.

"ummmmm....foooood..."

...tom...
' In his worst Homer Simpson imitation...:-) '

murasaki · #**168** 12-10-2002, 08:05 PM

Are we going through Sedona? We could stop and feel the vortices (or whatever it is one does there--very New Age-y).

--naomi

**theworm**[$] · #**169** 12-10-2002, 08:23 PM

We really should detour down the canyon and through Sedona. We can stay at Casa Sedona and get some good walking in hiking around the red rocks!!!!

**lynnzop**[$] · #**170** 12-11-2002, 02:59 PM

In the Grand Canyon Caverns!

I don't know if this qualifies as "rocks" for Lynne, but they sure are cool to look at!

Here's a mumified bobcat

That's what he gets for trying to eat my horses.

More on the caves:

Quote:

In 1936, during the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) work camps constructed a wooden staircase at the cavern entrance, then a series of wooden ladders for the descent. Finally, in 1957 a beautiful wooden swinging bridge was added to allow access to the Chapel of Ages. The trek is estimated to be approximately 15 stories of walking in and out if you were to compare it to a building.

We can tramp around in here for a while, but if we want Slick's brisket, we'd better not tour the equivalent of all 15 stories!!!

Mile marker 1164.5 for those who are keeping track.

Lynn

**theworm**[$] · #**171** 12-11-2002, 03:17 PM

Oh Wow! How cool is this! Almost worth eating crickets to see! (well, almost!) The bobcat is kind of distressing though!
Why didn't I see this when I went to the Grand Canyon? Where are we?????

**lynnzop**[$] · #**172** 12-11-2002, 06:47 PM

Delia, we're on Route 66 north and west of Williams. It's tucked away a bit, so I'm not surprised you didn't see it.

The web site I pulled the bobcat from says that because the air is so dry, when animals fall into the caverns, they die and are mummified. Kind of weird. But then, I like mummies. Just ask Sara, Cindy or Ailsa. I was all over them at the Met.

Lynn

jenninca · #**173** 12-11-2002, 06:53 PM

Eeww! That mummified bobcat is pretty creepy. 'Course, I was all over the mummies at the museum too.

Cindy

**lynnzop**[$] · #**174** 12-12-2002, 04:26 PM

Map check for the directionally challenged. (Yes, we are still heading in the right direction

)

Here we are in wonderful downtown Pinaveta, Arizona. What a pretty name for a town! Just kind of rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? We're just off of Route 66, back on I-40, heading toward Sereno and Williams. Worm, are you ready to play tour guide in a day or two?

We may actually get past Williams tomorrow, but perhaps you could point out the sites along the way?

Back to Pinaveta and the surrounding area (because I'm guessing that once again, our stopping place is no more than a wide spot in the road

). No crickets to be found, but watch out for these guys:

:shudder: I hate bugs. This is a cypress bug which is common to the area. Yuck.

One thing that's very positive is the weather. Mid 50's, sunny, little wind, low humidity. Perfect for walking, huh?

Okay. To make up for that bug picture above, I'm posting the Arizona State Bird: The Cactus Wren. Cute? Sure.

Keep walking, mates. We'll be in the Grand Canyon ooh-ing and ahh-ing before you know it.

Lynn

**soxfan**[$] · #**175** 12-12-2002, 04:29 PM

Hope the cactus wren's not hungry, for Worm's sake!

Ailsa
who can't wait to see the Grand Canyon

**lynnzop**[$] · #**176** 12-12-2002, 04:35 PM

Maybe the cactus wren will eat crickets and cypress beatles!

Lynn
looking for a can to put over TheWorm for protection

**theworm**[$] · #**177** 12-12-2002, 04:39 PM

I'm counting on that wren eating the cyprus bug! If not, I'm not stopping for the night. We can March right through to Williams! We stayed in a very nice little inn there. It was something crazy like $39.99/night and we got a AAA discount. They even gave us free pumpkin bread for breakfast! Let's leave the dead bobcats and bugs and just keep walking - please!

Tour guide in Williams. Ha! Not too much to guide you through, but we'll do ok!

**lynnzop**[$] · #**178** 12-13-2002, 02:41 PM

Trooping right along, we've made our way to Red Lake, AZ. One of the first links I found regarding Red Lake was for an author who lives near Red Lake with his wife. This book is supposed to be vaguely autobiographical...might be a good one to read around the campfire!

Here's a little more about the book, Red Lake Press, and the author.

Now...back to where we were.

While passing through Williams, Cindy J. might have stopped here to get ready for her dance recital.

I certainly hope she is recovered enough to be able to walk!

And seriously, what better place for Goddesses to stay than at the Red Garter Bed and Bakery?

Quote:

The Red Garter Bed and Bakery proudly offers lodging and a small town bakery in a beautifully restored 1897 saloon and bordello.

The problem is, we are not STOPPING in Williams tonite....so y'all will have to find another B&B or pitch a tent in the desert right up here at Red Lake.

Lynn

**theworm**[$] · #**179** 12-13-2002, 02:44 PM

LOL! The Red Garter - how funny! Now I don't know why we have to sleep out here with the snakes and bugs when there is a perfectly nice in with a BAKERY nearbye. Something just seems very very wrong!

jenninca · #**180** 12-13-2002, 03:19 PM

I don't know if I dare click on that link during school....