Day 28
Gallup, New Mexico to Grants, New Mexico
We had a rough morning getting started. The little human fell and twisted her ankle while were shopping for a pair of new shoes for her. It took a while to recover from that and get ready to travel again.
Later, the little human feeling better again, we took a drive down Route 66 in Gallup and the archeologist continued her love affair (i.e., obsession!) with photographing old signs. That led us to the El Rancho Hotel and Motel (and restaurant for lunch). El Rancho is an old-time famous place where movie stars of the 40's and 50's used to lounge at. My next trip back, I'm also going to stay there.
Afterwards, we took 602 South to Zuni Peublo. After stopping at the visitor's center (we try to do that in every city we're exploring), we then headed over to the Zuni Museum. After the museum, we looked for the famous (and old) Spanish mission, but we couldn't find it so we just headed out of town.
We took Route 53 West to El Morro, a famous landmark of sandstone cliffs and a reliable water source that has been visited for thousands of years. There are inscriptions from the travelers that have stopped there -- petroglyphs from ancient native people, military notations from Spanish explorers, and then white travelers from the 1880's. It's now protected and preserved, or else I'm sure the carving would continue into the present day with spray paint instead of chisels.
Afterwards we continued on Rt. 53 west to the Ice Caves! This was really interesting to see the lava flow on top the ground and the sink holes and caves where the lava tubes had collapsed. We arrived too late to hike to the volcano top, but we did have time to hike to the ice cave and see and feel the 31 degree temperature there. The whole wierd juxtaposition between the temperatures and the landscape made it all very other worldly. It was one of my favorite stops so far!
At 5:00 PM we crossed the Continental Divide (heading east).
Afterwards, we continued on Rt. 53 West into the El Malpais National Monument. There the little human and the archeologist went exploring, taking a good 3 mile hike into the "bad lands" and seeing more lava landscape and very cool things like Junction Cave and The Double Sink Holes. We were hiking specifically in search of the Bat Cave (its real name!) but couldn't find it and so finally turned back because the sun was setting. The walk was very desolate, but very beautiful, and from the top of the mesa we could see the setting sun reflecting off the sandstone cliffs encircling the valley far away and below us. We also had a gorgeous view of the San Mateo Mountains from the badlands mesa as well.
Around 9:00 PM we pulled into the outskirts of Grants and I got to see the last purples and oranges of a beautiful sunset through the windows of a fast-food restaurant we were eating at. That was something I hadn't expected to live to see!
We passed a lot of seedy-looking motels on Route 66 trying to find a place to stay for the evening. We finally found the newer hotels at the other end of town and settled in at a name brand place that had a pool open 24 hours. The little human loved that and took a late swim until 10:30 when and exhausted archeologist dragged her back to the room so she and her throbbing ribs could collapse, literally bone-tired, after the day's two strenuous hikes.
Showing posts with label Route 66. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Route 66. Show all posts
Friday, June 27, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Day 18 - Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Day 18
Williams, Arizona to Sedona, Arizona
Sedona has to be one of the most magical places on the planet (at least that this bear has visited).
This afternoon we left Williams (after purchasing some awesome turquoise jewlery) and headed for the Dear Park Farm where the little human had a great time hand-feeding deer and petting goats and a pot-bellied pig.
Afterwards, we went into Flagstaff and had a snack at the Grand Canyon Cafe on Route 66, which serves American and Chinese food. Sometimes a vegetarian eggroll just hits the spot in the middle of a 100 degree day.
Then we took the spectacular Route 89A again through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. This time we got to the canyon lookout before 5PM (when the park service closes it)and took in the vista of the canyon.
We stopped at several look outs and pull overs on our trek down 89A, and pulled into our fancy pants hotel in Sedona in the early evening. We watched another great sunset on the red rocks, this time from the lounge chairs of our hotel pool.
We're going to finish the day with pizza and a DVD in our room -- a perfect end for the little human who is still swimming in the pool.
Williams, Arizona to Sedona, Arizona
Sedona has to be one of the most magical places on the planet (at least that this bear has visited).
This afternoon we left Williams (after purchasing some awesome turquoise jewlery) and headed for the Dear Park Farm where the little human had a great time hand-feeding deer and petting goats and a pot-bellied pig.
Afterwards, we went into Flagstaff and had a snack at the Grand Canyon Cafe on Route 66, which serves American and Chinese food. Sometimes a vegetarian eggroll just hits the spot in the middle of a 100 degree day.
Then we took the spectacular Route 89A again through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. This time we got to the canyon lookout before 5PM (when the park service closes it)and took in the vista of the canyon.
We stopped at several look outs and pull overs on our trek down 89A, and pulled into our fancy pants hotel in Sedona in the early evening. We watched another great sunset on the red rocks, this time from the lounge chairs of our hotel pool.
We're going to finish the day with pizza and a DVD in our room -- a perfect end for the little human who is still swimming in the pool.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Day 14 - Friday, June 13, 2008
Day 14
Holbrock, Arizona to Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
The archaeologist was so excited she couldn't sleep, so she got up at 4AM and went out to take photographs of the Route 66 establishments in Holbrock. She got back around 6:30AM and went back to bed.
When the rest of the crew woke up, they went to Sam and Agee's Route 66 cafe for breakfast. The owner showed them through some of her historic memoribillia including original cell animation art from Pixar's Cars (roughly based on Route 66 establishments and landscapes).
Then they were off to the Meteor Crater, but not before stopping at lots of curio shops, trading posts, and historic markers.
We hit Flagstaff around 4PM and took scenic Rt. 180 to Rt. 64 into the Grand Canyon.
We got to our lodge inside the Grand Canyon just in time to take the sunset tour.
We stopped at several points before landing at Mohave Point for the sunset. Words can't describe it; photos can't capture it.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Day 13 - Thursday, June 12, 2008
Day 13
Albuquerque, New Mexico to Holbrock, Arizona
We started off on the grand Route 66 taking Central Avenue through Albuquerque. We made note of all the places we want to see on the way back. We're on a mission now to get to the Grand Canyon as soon as possible on Friday.
All the same in about six hours we had gone about 100 miles! We kept pulling off and taking photos (especially of old signs) and searching for Route 66 (you'll be on it and it will disappear suddenly). We saw mesa vistas west of Albuquerque and watched the landscape change as the miles went by.
We also stopped at several wonderful tourist traps and trading posts picking up some good southwestern stuff.
We made several more Route 66 stops (including the famous Jack Rabbit trading post with the "Here It Is" sign), before stopping for the night in Holbrock.
We were excited to stay at the Wigwam Motel with concrete tee pees from the 50's, but the place was full and the owner was rude. We settled for a more contemporary hotel on Navajo Boulevard.
We went to bed early because we were excited to finally be getting to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.
Albuquerque, New Mexico to Holbrock, Arizona
We started off on the grand Route 66 taking Central Avenue through Albuquerque. We made note of all the places we want to see on the way back. We're on a mission now to get to the Grand Canyon as soon as possible on Friday.
All the same in about six hours we had gone about 100 miles! We kept pulling off and taking photos (especially of old signs) and searching for Route 66 (you'll be on it and it will disappear suddenly). We saw mesa vistas west of Albuquerque and watched the landscape change as the miles went by.
We also stopped at several wonderful tourist traps and trading posts picking up some good southwestern stuff.
We made several more Route 66 stops (including the famous Jack Rabbit trading post with the "Here It Is" sign), before stopping for the night in Holbrock.
We were excited to stay at the Wigwam Motel with concrete tee pees from the 50's, but the place was full and the owner was rude. We settled for a more contemporary hotel on Navajo Boulevard.
We went to bed early because we were excited to finally be getting to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Day 12 - Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Day 12
Amarillo, Texas to Albequerque, New Mexico
This was really the start of the vacation for the archeologist because at last we caught up with historic Route 66 in Amarillo. We followed it alternating from I-40 West to Route 66 west wherever we could find it.
Cadillac Ranch
This brought us to some famous Route 66 stops such as the Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo, an outdoor art piece by Stan Marsh where a line of old Cadillacs are submerged into the ground, an open, dusty field. People describe it as an Americana Stonehedge, and the angle the cars are leaning is said to be the same angle as the sides of the Great Pyramid.
Midpoint Cafe & the Motorcycle Club
We also stopped at the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, which claims to be the midpoint of Route 66 between Chicago and LA. That was my most exciting stop of the entire trip, because there I met Bearnard B. Behr, motorcycle tour guide and fellow mascot! There I got a photo with his human, Gary, on their way cool Harley. Gary takes tourists all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica on motorcycles, showing them all the famous, infamous, and unknown highlights of The Mother Road (a.k.a. Route 66).
You can visit Bearnard's blog at: http://www.bears-to-travel.blogspot.com/ or www.myspace.com/bearnardbear. Be sure to tell Bearnard and Gary you heard about them from me!
Ghost Towns and Motel Signs
After that we meandered into New Mexico stopping at other Route 66 towns along I-40 and Rt. 66. Some places were little more than ghost towns, and one place Glenrio, TX, was totally a scary ghost lane of crumbling buildings.
It was a long day with the archeologist jumping in and out of the car to get her beloved cadaver signs. But I must admit a couple of them were quite impressive. However, she seems enamoured with all of them.
We stopped in Albequerque around 7PM. We have to be at the Grand Canyon by Friday, so tomorrow and the next day we should have a fairly easy drive.
Amarillo, Texas to Albequerque, New Mexico
This was really the start of the vacation for the archeologist because at last we caught up with historic Route 66 in Amarillo. We followed it alternating from I-40 West to Route 66 west wherever we could find it.
Cadillac Ranch
This brought us to some famous Route 66 stops such as the Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo, an outdoor art piece by Stan Marsh where a line of old Cadillacs are submerged into the ground, an open, dusty field. People describe it as an Americana Stonehedge, and the angle the cars are leaning is said to be the same angle as the sides of the Great Pyramid.
Midpoint Cafe & the Motorcycle Club
We also stopped at the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, which claims to be the midpoint of Route 66 between Chicago and LA. That was my most exciting stop of the entire trip, because there I met Bearnard B. Behr, motorcycle tour guide and fellow mascot! There I got a photo with his human, Gary, on their way cool Harley. Gary takes tourists all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica on motorcycles, showing them all the famous, infamous, and unknown highlights of The Mother Road (a.k.a. Route 66).
You can visit Bearnard's blog at: http://www.bears-to-travel.blogspot.com/ or www.myspace.com/bearnardbear. Be sure to tell Bearnard and Gary you heard about them from me!
Ghost Towns and Motel Signs
After that we meandered into New Mexico stopping at other Route 66 towns along I-40 and Rt. 66. Some places were little more than ghost towns, and one place Glenrio, TX, was totally a scary ghost lane of crumbling buildings.
It was a long day with the archeologist jumping in and out of the car to get her beloved cadaver signs. But I must admit a couple of them were quite impressive. However, she seems enamoured with all of them.
We stopped in Albequerque around 7PM. We have to be at the Grand Canyon by Friday, so tomorrow and the next day we should have a fairly easy drive.
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