Did our morning walk around the Avi grounds, fixed breakfast, and were on our way at 9:30. Quite a bit better than yesterday. Crossed the Colorado on the bridge that leads to the casino. The Colorado is surprisingly clear and blue, even at this far downstream location. It’s no wonder that thousands of boaters head out here year round. The scenery changed a bit for the better as we again started to climb out of the Mohave Valley (el.475) towards Kingman, over Union Pass (el. 3625). Dragging 13,000 pounds up those long grades really sucks the tank dry. Every fill-up requires two passes with the credit card because of the transaction limits. As we chugged up, we had plenty of time to look around at the rocks.
That was just the start. I don’t think we ever stopped climbing all day long. AFter Kingman, we dragged over the Cottonwood Cliffs to a higher plains elevation. The bright spot was that we started picking up a great radio station allegedly broadcasting out of Seligman. All classics and hardly any commercials. We rocked to Boston, Beetles, Creedence, and Gracie belting out White Rabbit. FEED YOUR HEAAAAAAAAD! I say allegedly, because we succumbed to the siren seduction of a frosty mug A&W sign and pulled off into Seligman. Hmmm. This is very flat country. No radio tower. No mountain top location. If that station is broadcasting from here they’re doing it stealth style. As for the A&W, no mug, cardboard cups, and a surprisingly cloying sweet taste. Did we change or did A&W? Seligman is no more than a single street, probably part of old Route 66. The shops are, well, eclectic.
More climbing out of Seligman, up to the Kaibab National Forest approaching Flagstaff. I discovered the altitude function on Dora, so we played games. 6,995, 6996, 6998, will we make it???, 6997 . . . Hey, you take your amusement where you find it. We did eventually get to, and stayed over, 7,000 feet for quite a ways. We lost the Seligman station but switched moods to the classical offerings from KNAU (Northern Arizona University), and gave a wave in honor of Meghan’s undergrad years there (son John’s lady). The scenery definitely picks up here, with the snowcapped Humphrey’s and Hendrick’s peaks.
We left this good stuff behind and started in on the high plains again towards Winslow. We began seeing signs advertising Meteor Crator (“The Best Preserved Meteor Impact Site In The World!). It was also listed as a National Monument, so we took a detour off I40 to check it out. Yikes. It’s NOT run by any government agency, but is a private tourist, eh, trap? Anyway, when we got there and saw the $15/head entrance fee, we decided to pass on the big hole. From the pictures they foolishly posted out front, we didn’t miss a whole lot. Instead, we took a picture of Albatross in their parking lot.
We pushed on to Holbrook, self-proclaimed as the most rugged and lawless town of the Old West.” It’s pretty tame now; actually, rather lifeless. It does sport the OK RV Park, which we highly recommend. We need to hire this bunch to clean OUR bathrooms back home! Excellent wifi, cable, and full hookups for $26. Today, it’s on to Albuquerque. We are looking forward to dinner at El Pinto, which I first frequented back in my 1970’s FTC days prosecuting land fraud in those parts. I suspect you can’t go home again, but we’ll give it the old marguerita shot.
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