Route 66 – Arizona

On the road again on Sunday – Mojave to Kingman to overnight at “Mike’s Outpost & Saloon” on Route 66 (Harvest Host venue).

Slightly off topic, need to mention here have found petrol prices in the US vary CONSIDERABLY (Paso Robles, CA – we paid $3.89/gallon. When we got to Death Valley – $4.20/gallon (understandable, supply/demand, captive customers – where else you going to get petrol?) Then, coming from Death Valley to Vegas – came across fuel at $3.29/g – thought we best fill up before Vegas …. Only to find petrol in Vegas was $2.89/g!!! Think it was at that point I stumbled across an article/something about an app (Gas Buddy). SO … when we left Mojave checked prices along the route to Kingman – $4.59/g at some but 50 miles further (and a different state) prices are $2.65/g!!! When you’re filling up an RV that today took 33 gallons (and that wasn’t even on empty) – saved $64!!!

Back to Arizona – we’re definitely in Trump country – servo had Trump caps and stickers for sale – with very different messages to the ones we saw in Mexico 😊. But we had more conversations with locals within 30 mins of being in Arizona than probably our entire 3 weeks in the US so far! Very friendly folk.

Back to our home for the night – Mike’s on Route 66. What an amazing place – complete with all sorts of memorabilia, neon signs, pool table and jukebox.

Such character and CorAnn who owns it is a lovely lady (originally from Alaska), who was so happy to see us – they’ve only recently signed up with Harvest Host and we are their second HH guests. Some locals came over to make conversation too (ex Marine who spent some time in Sydney when on R&R during his time in Vietnam). Also learned that this time last year, there was 10” of snow, school closed, businesses closed (unheard of here).

Wrote “Broads Abroad” on a $1 bill that we stapled to the ceiling (it’s a thing … along with signing your name/messages on the walls etc). Had a lovely (very) late lunch, partly because we jumped ahead an hour on our 250km journey today. Also had a glass of local Pinot Grigio which was delish too!

However, tonight will be an earplug night … not only are we ON Route 66, there is also a train line across the road and since arriving, there are trains from each direction approximately every 5 minutes.  They stretch for MILES too – never seen anything like it. We measured one today – at least 8km long!

Monday we were up bright and early – 8am 🙂 and headed off on Route 66 for historic Seligman – see pics below … my favourite was “Roadkill Café” whose slogan is “You kill it, we grill it” and “Eating is more fun when you know it was hit on the run”. Calm down to a panic …. we didn’t take them up on their offer – we’ve not seen any sign of wildlife, never mind hitting anything with the RV.

En route to Flagstaff not only spotted the snow-capped “San Francisco Peaks” (highest mountain in Arizona at 12,633 ft) – but also drove for miles with snow patches on the ground next to the motorway.  Stopped for lunch in Flagstaff (at the first place we saw) and was delighted to find it was a typical old diner.

See if you can spot the smaller sign in the pic above … “Danger – Men Cooking”