Ghost Town, U.S.A.

Today is Valentine’s Day; we kind of lost track of time and as a result we did plan very well, so we have very few hotel options for this weekend.  Heading into California, we are going to a little out of the way stop in-between the Ghost town we are visiting today and Lake Havasu which we plan to visit tomorrow.

After two short days in Nevada, we cross the state line back into Arizona.  We connect up again with the Historic Route 66 just outside of Bullhead City.  Up the Arizona mountain side we climb, winding around rough and ragged landscape.

Oatman, AZ, a mining town, founded about 1906, with business created from 1.8 million ounces of gold extracted from the surrounding mines.  By the mid 1930's, the boom was over and in 1942 the last remaining mines were closed as nonessential to the war effort.  

The remnants of the safe that regularly protected large sums of gold for the old Arizona hotel guests, is still standing. In 1921, a fire burned down many of Oatman's smaller buildings, yet sparing the Oatman Hotel. “Oatie the ghost” is one of the hotel’s most famous visitors.  Believed to be an Irish miner, William Ray Flour who’s  while waiting for his family, received word that they all died on the journey from Ireland. Flour started drinking, often heavily. One night he passed out in the alley behind the hotel, never waking up.

Burros first came to Oatman with early day prospectors.   As the mines closed and people moved away, the burros were released into the surrounding hills. Today, as we walk down the streets of Oatman, US Route 66, we see the wild descendants of those domestic work animals. They come to town every day at the same time to be feed.  Alfalfa nuggets are sold by the local establishments; the owners very attached to their daily visitors, knowing the burros by name.  The wild burros are protected by federal law from capture and kept well feed by the visitors to Oatman. 

I am thinking that Brad might have been distracted by the nicely decked out Indiana parked on the street and less interested in the burros than I was.  

Twice a day, on most days, there is a reenactment of a famous shoot out which occurred there many years ago.  It seems that we are not going to see the show today so we look in the many shops up and down the street.  Everyone in that little town was very friendly.  

No one as friendly as Kathy, we became friends immediately.  She is right next to the cafe and has the best shop in whole state of Arizona.  

Thank You for the valentine! 

Please email me, your name went through the wash with the laundry.

We can not leave town without mailing our daily post cards to the grand kids.  They are tracking our trip on a map and have little books that they collect the post cards we sent them each day.  Love and Miss them so much!

We are very glad to have heard about this quaint little place last night.  Thanks, nice people by the pool.  Enjoy Oceanside tonight!

Leaving Flagstaff

I really like Flagstaff, the north side of town pushed up against Mt Humphrey, just moments from the tall pines that cover the mountain; it just seems to draw me in.  Driving away, I know that we will meet again.  

Today we head out through another mountainous area around the Williams ski area.  Williams is an old town known as the gateway to the Grand Canyon, on Historic Route 66, named for the famous trapper, scout and mountain man, "Old Bill Williams." The large mountain directly south of town is named Bill Williams Mountain. This town has a great deal of history and VERY, VERY high gas prices.

We elect to stay on I40 today in the hopes that we can get into Laughlin early enough to sit around the pool.  It is forecast to be much warmer in Nevada and we are looking forward to that. 

   

The drive from Kingman through the Black Mountains is just beautiful.  As we cross the enormous valley and the Sacramento Wash you can see the Union Pass, 20 miles away.

Once through the pass, we cross over the Colorado River into Laughlin, Nevada; located in the southernmost tip of Nevada, along the Colorado River, where Nevada, California and Arizona meet.

Laughlin, Nevada is the third most visited casino resort destination in the state after Las Vegas and Reno.  Quite a site for us, since, for in all of our travels, we have never been to Las Vegas or any town like it.  

The Tropicana is set up around a train theme, full of train memorabilia.  Across the street is a casino which looks like a river boat. 

Up the street is Harrah’s.  We enjoy the entire day on their beautiful beach along the Colorado River.  Finally, sunny and warm!

One Grand Canyon

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of World, we could not miss the chance to swing by for a peep; in the spirit of full disclosure, it is not “swing by” and takes more than a “peep”.  It really takes a full day, even from Flagstaff.  To our surprise, we discovered on a little town, Tusayan just 6 miles from the park with several nice hotels.   If you stayed here, you could actually do a couple of days at the park.

Our journey begins on I40 with our travel companion. 

Soon we see signs for the Grand Canyon loop.  From this point the road goes left and right; full loop, no opportunity for me to make a wrong decision here.   We have taken this same loop about 10 years ago, this time we go to the west.  Highway 180 heads to the west side of our friend Mt Humphrey. The morning is just perfect, blue sky, 50 crisp degrees, making the drive around the mountain is just spectacular. 

Beautiful views in all directions.

We enter the park which is just as confusing as the first time.  There is a HUGE visitor center.  We stop, trying to get our bearings. We arrive at the perfect time for a picnic and a hike.  There are no people here, seriously, no people.

We walk for two hours, see maybe 12 people, except it was more like 6 since I am pretty sure we saw most of them both ways. 

The south rim hike is so worth the time.  The view is just AWESOME. 

The rocks on the bottom most part of the canyon are more than 2,000,000,000.  Yup, that is not a typo, 2 thousand million years ago

Along the path we notice a penny embedded sidewalk every 3 feet.  Each penny represents 1 billion years.  Brass markers indicate each 10 billion years.  Samples of the rocks that signify that period in time are found along the trail.  Maps showing exposed deposits are located along the trail.  Did you know that granite counter top in your kitchen is 1,800 million years old?   No wonder it cost so much!

We take the desert view road and there are several turnouts where you can see the canyon from different angles.  What a beautiful drive.  There is one smaller visitor center at the east end of the park.  This is worth the short walk to the lookout.  It is now about 3:30 and the sun is beginning its decent, changing the colors of the canyon.

We know that we have a long drive, so we head back, tired and fulfilled.  To our surprise, the setting sun, reflecting off of the wall of the north rim, miles and miles from here, provide us with yet more views of the canyon.

Another Amazing Retirement Adventure!

Good Morning, Mt Humphrey

Today we woke up in Arizona, just east of Flagstaff, we are close enough feel the presence of Mt. Humphrey.  He will be our companion for the next few days. 

Mt. Humphrey is part of San Francisco Mountains, clocking in at 12,633 feet.  This is the highest point in Arizona and one of several extinct volcanic peaks in the area.

We are heading out today to do some exploring in the Grand Canyon and the mountains.  We hear that we may run into some snow if we head up the mountain.  We lace on our hiking shoes, gas up the four wheel drive and off we go!  

I still can not believe that this is what we do now.  So happy, so grateful.

Adios mi Amigo

Driving away from Kris and John’s, I think about friendship.  The people we lose track of over time. The opportunities for conversations that we miss by letting the distance grow.  This trip has brought me closer to so many people.  People miles away that I have not seen in years, people online for whom I have let time be the distance. 

I make a quiet promise to myself to do better.

We merge on to West Interstate 40 excited to back on the road but sad to be leaving New Mexico.  We were won over by the haunting beauty of this state, its people and history. 

Today takes us across northwest New Mexico and Northern Arizona.   We tip our hats as we cross the Rio Grande for the final time this trip.   We see the familiar landscape of vast flat land abruptly enhanced with large rock cliffs exposing the sediment layers, sometimes at angles pointing to the sky. 

Again we see signs of past volcanic activity.  Volcanoes have been part of the landscape in this state for ‘billions’ of years. 

 Hmmmm, for the second time already today I feel small.

P.S  -   Happy Birthday, Miss Breanna!   We love you, our little princess.   <3  <3  <3

Nations, Tribes, Bands and Pueblos

New Mexico is rich in Native American Indian history and culture.  Approximately 1,500 years ago Ancestral Indians, living as hunter-gatherers throughout the Southwest, joined together to establish permanent settlements, commonly known as pueblos. Other groups, such as the ancestors of the Navajo and Apache, continued their nomadic lifestyles. For some New Mexico tribes, this way of life has continued into the 21st century.

The National Forestry Service currently manages the Quarai Ruins were a Tiguex Pueblo band of American Indians that originated in present-day New Mexico. These are just one of several protected ruins throughout New Mexico.

The Quarai ruins were once home to 300 to 400 Tiwa pueblo-dwellers and feature a massive sandstone church. More than 300 years ago, a Tiwa pueblo near the modern-day village of Manzano   

This is an amazing place; beautiful, mystical, and very interesting and only on our docket because of our amazing tour guides, John and Kris.  ¡Salud!

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Old Town is the historic district dating back to the founding of the city by the Spanish in 1706. Adjacent to old town square, San Felipe de Neri stands. This beautiful church building, constructed in 1793, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  This is just one of the great sites around this interesting town. 

ElPinto Cantina is our choice for diner.  Located along 4^th Street in Albuquerque, you walk past an outdoor fire pit on your way in, filling the air with the savoring scent of mystique.  The special Red Chili Ribs are the selection.

UP

Looming in the horizon, where ever you go around Albuquerque are the mountains, beautifully rugged and mysteriously calming. A well visited crest is Sandia Peak, partly due to the Tramway.  The Sandia Peak Tramway is the longest aerial tramway in North America and the third longest single span in the entire world. 

The 2.7 mile journey to this 11,000 foot peak provides the passengers quite a thrill ascending 4,000 feet in 15 minutes.  

The view from the tram includes all of Albuquerque and roughly 11,000 square miles the New Mexico countryside.

Once at the top, decks and walkways provide even more views.   

What an amazing experience.  Thanks Kris and John for sharing this great day.

Murphy’s Law and value of Good Friends

This is an old story but one worth telling.  Along time ago and far, far away, Mary and Brad tie on their shoes and grab the last bags as they head for the door.  It is 5 AM and they are about to embark on an amazing journey, one that they have planned for some time.  Well, as things will sometimes go, a surprise is about to be part of the early days of this adventure.   As Brad closes the laundry room closet door he notices something odd, water on the floor.   “Hmmm, that is strange”, he thought.  Being a very seasoned mechanic he knew exactly what it was.  The 11 year, 2 month old water heater was leaking.  Brad and Mary were both very sad.  This was not a good time for something like this to happen.  Determined not to let this ruin the trip and out the door they went.

That evening after a long day on the road, Brad called a good friend.  He was very good with plumbing.  Brad told Joe what had happened.  Even though Joe is a very busy man, he told Brad not to worry.  He went to the house to assess the scope of the problem.  He knew just what to do; bought and installed the new heater, removed and disposed of the old one.

You see, Brad was a wise man with one very good friend.  Thank you Joe, you are the best!

The moral of this story is the same as life. We need help every now and then and value of good friends is immeasurable. 

Four Little Kittens

Kris and John welcome us into their Rio Rancho hacienda.  After hugs and greetings we enter the land of four little kittens.  In their generous spirit, they recently adopted four feral kittens.  These little darlings are on the move, ALL OF THE TIME. 

It is so much fun to watch them bounce around; climbing and pawing and crawling into, under and over EVERYTHING. 

They are so cute.

Teeny; Tommy; Lou and K-girl;

Ppppppppppppssssssssssssssssqthkpppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppsssssssssssssssssssssssssssoooooooooo.   Teeny is an aspiring blog writer.

Kris and John are marvelous hosts, catering to our every need.  We are heading up the mountain later on a gondola ride.  That will be great fun.

The Land of Green Chile Stew

Like me, New Mexico is all about the food.  The BEST OF NEW MEXICO COOKBOOK

is full of great recipes and New Mexico trivia.

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A typical New Mexico kitchen, I read, has beans and corn on the stove, a stack of tortillas on the counter and a ristra of dried chiles against the wall.  Using what the land provides is the basis from which local dishes are derived.   The book is peppered with local legends and stories about the people of this beautiful area.   I learn the the city of Ruidoso got its name from a river that flows nearby, which means "noisy" in spanish.  Did you know that there are 2000 varieties of peppers?

As I page through the book I see interesting twists like Bloody Mary Soup, old favorites like Huevos Rancheros, and  oh my, for this Mary, the Perfect Margarita. 

My mouth waters for Shrimp Rellenos and Southwest Orange-Chili Chicken with Black BeansGypsy Rasberry Brownies and  Mexican pecan-Toffee Tartlets in Chocolate Chip Cookie Crust. 

And finally, ah yes, Green Chili Stew, with the caption, "Great on a cold winter night".

I mean, really?