Flagstaff, AZ
We had an easy navigational trip today. Leave hotel, get on I-40, get off I-40, have breakfast, get back on I-40, get off I-40, get gas, get back on I-40, get off I-40, check into Best Western. Didn't have much troubles with directions!
The trip across the top of Texas, New Mexico and part of Arizona was interesting. Mostly flat country with I-40 stretching out in the distance ahead of us. Got our wildlife fix with a herd of antelope north of the highway. Didn't see quite as many as we did crossing Wyoming, but it was fun watching them.
The area was full of oil rigs, cattle and windmills (again). Not a very populous area as compared to I-10 which we took going to Pensacola. Didn't miss the traffic in El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston! However, I don't think we saw any locations worthy of consideration for future retirement.
Arrived in Flagstaff in the late afternoon. Checked in, talked to Char for a while, and then went to the Beaver Street Brewery. It claims to be the oldest microbrewery in Arizona (1994) and had the beer and menu to back up their claim. Sat at the bar and enjoyed talking with the bartender. Flagstaff is a neat town - 7000' foot elevation, so it's a little cool, but it's one of the towns along old Route 66 which managed to maintain its' downtown and business locations. Part of it may be due to its proximity to the Grand Canyon as well as a cool (weather-wise) location for southern Arizonans to come for the summer. Whatever it is, it's a fun town.
This area is worth exploring, various points of interest - meteor city, petrified national forest, petroglyphs, old Indian settlements. I-40 along this route is pretty much the route of old Route 66. Whenever we hit a business route along the way, it really was where 66 used to go. Old motels and cafes which went out of business when I-40 bypassed the small towns. New sites along the interstate are mostly truck stops and fast food establishments. The old charm is long gone with motels shaped like teepee's and stores advertising various souvenirs falling by the wayside. The new rest areas try to recapture the atmosphere of the Old West, but somehow fall short.
Tomorrow we're heading to Las Vegas and then home on Tuesday. Should be a relatively short drive. Don't think we'll stop at Grand Canyon this time, but head for Kingman, and then north to Las Vegas.
The trip across the top of Texas, New Mexico and part of Arizona was interesting. Mostly flat country with I-40 stretching out in the distance ahead of us. Got our wildlife fix with a herd of antelope north of the highway. Didn't see quite as many as we did crossing Wyoming, but it was fun watching them.
The area was full of oil rigs, cattle and windmills (again). Not a very populous area as compared to I-10 which we took going to Pensacola. Didn't miss the traffic in El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston! However, I don't think we saw any locations worthy of consideration for future retirement.
Arrived in Flagstaff in the late afternoon. Checked in, talked to Char for a while, and then went to the Beaver Street Brewery. It claims to be the oldest microbrewery in Arizona (1994) and had the beer and menu to back up their claim. Sat at the bar and enjoyed talking with the bartender. Flagstaff is a neat town - 7000' foot elevation, so it's a little cool, but it's one of the towns along old Route 66 which managed to maintain its' downtown and business locations. Part of it may be due to its proximity to the Grand Canyon as well as a cool (weather-wise) location for southern Arizonans to come for the summer. Whatever it is, it's a fun town.
This area is worth exploring, various points of interest - meteor city, petrified national forest, petroglyphs, old Indian settlements. I-40 along this route is pretty much the route of old Route 66. Whenever we hit a business route along the way, it really was where 66 used to go. Old motels and cafes which went out of business when I-40 bypassed the small towns. New sites along the interstate are mostly truck stops and fast food establishments. The old charm is long gone with motels shaped like teepee's and stores advertising various souvenirs falling by the wayside. The new rest areas try to recapture the atmosphere of the Old West, but somehow fall short.
Tomorrow we're heading to Las Vegas and then home on Tuesday. Should be a relatively short drive. Don't think we'll stop at Grand Canyon this time, but head for Kingman, and then north to Las Vegas.
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