"Happening" and "Harrowing"

April 17

Up at 7:30 and left immediately for the closest

Starbucks. We left Sun City at 8:20, 72 degrees and drove on

Rt. 60 nw to Wickenburg. There were retirement communities lining the roadway on either side  and then open flat desert. It was a 

gorgeous day, not a cloud in the sky. Our first turn was at Rt. 89, north to Prescott to the longest remaining stretch of original Route 66. There were more desert mountains in the distance and the area was sparsely populated. It went down to 60 degrees as we went up a mountain and down to 57 degrees on a curvy road climbing out of the desert to 4700 feet. The road was less curvy through high desert with large prosperous horse and cattle ranches. We passed 3 small towns climbing again on twisting roads into the Prescott National Forest. Ten miles outside of Prescott we encountered a hairpin turn AMAZING ROAD!!!  7.6 miles outside of Prescott there was a stunning view and the temp went down to 53 degrees at 6100 feet. We saw the first evidence of forest fire

descending to Prescott. 

At 10:45 we arrived in downtown Prescott, a bustling vibrant city of 40,000. Many were out and about downtown, enjoying the day. The older Earp brother and Doc Holliday spent time here. Barry Goldwater, a native, announced his candidacy for president on the courthouse steps. Big Nose Kate, Wild West companion to Doc Holliday lived here. Fiorello LaGuardia was born here. Pretty cool history!  We took a 4000 step walk through the the downtown and saw many sandwich boards on the sidewalk inviting prospective patrons inside. We were 

very impressed with Prescott; it gave us a very warm comfortable feeling. Prescott is a "happening place!"

We left Prescott at 11:45, 59 degrees, to follow Rt. 89 north to Rt. 66. We passed through prosperous suburbs into Chino Valley, 64 degrees. The road went through ranch country and had many roundabouts. Back up into Prescott National Forest, we stopped for a picnic lunch on the back of the car at 12:45. We passed through the Kabib National Forest, got on I40 for one exit and at 1:23 we were driving on old Route 66 at its longest remaining stretch of the original road. Through the high desert, we observed several bicyclists who were geared up for a long ride. We saw many of the typical Burma Shave signs that we saw on our previous trip, spaced out for easy reading. 

Here are two examples:

If hugging on highway

Is your sport

Trade in your car

For a davenport 

Cattle crossing

Means go slow

That old bull 

Is some cow's beau

In Peach Springs there was a deserted old gas station. Is Radiator Springs named after this town?  Up in the mountains a huge train pulled by 5 engines then 137 cars was moving at 70 plus mph. We were racing  a train for 10 miles!  What a fabulous encounter!  The train then passed another train going the other way and pulled by 4 engines. It turned 75 degrees near Kingman. As we were approaching Kingman we saw our first traffic light, an airport and subdivisions. 

At 3:30 we were Kingman where Rt. 66 becomes County 10, a Back Country Byway. Driving south to Topock, the road was continuously twisting through tight switchbacks over Sitgreaves pass at 3652 feet. Suddenly we spotted our first roadrunner scooting across the road. The approach was a lonely rolling road that went over dry washes. All of a sudden there was no center line!  The white-knuckle road was not for the "faint of heart!" Switchbacks, one after the other, had posted signs of15 mph. No guard rails beside the deep canyons. OMG!!!  I'm not sure I'd do this drive again!  My hand ached from gripping the inside of my door. 

At the western-themed town of Oatman there were burros walking and posing along the main drag. People everywhere!!  One building even sported a Confederate flag!  Unfortunately there were no mock gunfights today! Outside town the road finally sported a center line!  We were now in the REAL desert, 86 degrees at 4:30. Soooo desolate descending to Golden Shores then Topock and the end of the the Rt. 66 Scenic Byway. 

At 4:50 we took I40 east to Rt. 95 south to Lake Havasu City, our stopping point for the day. Here it was low desert at 950 feet and still 86 degrees. We

checked in to our motel at 6 PM, had a yummy mixed salad for dinner, watched some TV  and soon went to bed. An impressive, amazing, harrowing day!!