The retirement party is over. The desk and locker cleaned out. Goodbyes are said .
At last we are “ON THE ROAD”. We left Hemet at 10:30pm last night and drove all night, stopping for short periods to rest. The wind was blowing like crazy in Barstow and with a lightning show to boot.
We slept in a Food for Less parking lot for a couple of hours and when we woke up the ‘show’ was over. Stopped in Needles for some more shut eye and then on to Kingman, AZ. We arrived at 9:30am…signed up for an RV park, the Ft. Beale, turned on the air conditioner and promptly fell asleep
We got up late morning and found a great breakfast buffet at the JB restaurant. Back for a bit more sleep. Because of the extreme heat and the fact we are towing the car we are going to rest in the daytime and drive at night until we get through this desert area.
After our nap time we went out to shoot some old route 66 signs. I remember coming through this same area with my folks when I was little. Route 66 was the direct way to go. Only the shells of old filling stations and mom and pop motels remain of its once glory days.
I poked my head in a couple of antique shops…It’s just beginning to dawn on me that we are FREE and on the way. We don’t have to meet any agenda but our own. I often wondered what it would feel like to have this kind of freedom…it’s better then I imagined!
It’s such a good feeling to set up the RV and then take the CAR out to look around. It’s a world different then trying to get the RV into tight spots. I’m so glad we decided to get a tow car. Rick can make u-turns to get to picture taking spots in a flash…to say nothing of being able to park!
Thunderheads are building up. The lady in the shop says they have been having thunder and lighting storms every late afternoon all month…so I’d better type fast and get this computer turned off.
The air conditioner is keeping us so comfortable. Guess what…. you can leave home and take it all with you! I’m thinking Rick is going to have trouble keeping me down on the farm after I see Paree….or er Kingman or where ever! We have a room with a view…and what a view!
Holbrook, Az. August 16, 1998
After dinner last night we sat outside and watched the sunset. They call Montana the Land of the Big Sky but it seems there was plenty left over for Arizona! It was such a spectacular sky that my head felt like it was on a swivel…I couldn’t take it all in.
We decided to take off during the night again. Rick was asleep and I just sprawled on my bed and watched the sky dance with lightning. I know we have storms like this at home, but I can’t turn over and watch it out of a picture window. The impact was powerful and close and beautiful.
Well…2:00am came and went! Didn’t wake up until 4:00 am and off we went…heading toward Flagstaff. The sunrise was beautiful….We pulled off to take pictures. Flagstaff is sure a pretty place. All pines trees and sweet air.
The way to Holbrook is downnnnnn. It flows from pines to high desert. We stopped and took more pictures of Historic Route 66. I have such a vivid memory of taking this same route with my parents when I was small. I wanted to stop and every tacky tourist trap on the way…I begged…dad ignored! He was always “making time”…well we don’t have to make time. And Rick, bless his heart, is stopping at every ticky tacky place I spot. And out of the car leaps the child in me. And this child has a camera in her hand! AND not only did he stop… he posed in every outlandish place I asked. I’m so lucky…Rick is so much fun to travel with….not only good natured but a good sport to boot! HE EVEN CLIMBS UP ON RABBITS!
Had a cowboy dinner tonight. Grilled hamburger and beans and potato salad. Hummmmm. The cook is also the owner of the RV park. He was telling us that a short while back they had such severe rain that the park was knee high in water! Here’s hoping that we don’t have to swim for it!