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The mountains are calling and I must go...Got the t shirt in Georgia one year and this is our calling! We'll see y'all down the road!

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

A 450 mile day from Amarillo, TX to the state line of Arizona. Spending the night in Williams, AZ.

Waking up about 3 miles from the New Mexico/Arizona border.  A 450 mile day yesterday.  Not something we like to do, but really what else is there to do since everything in America is shut down?!  

WE left the rest area outside of Amarillo after getting ourselves ready and having breakfast. I didn't burn the bacon, because I put ham in Ken's egg burrito :) 

Ken went inside the rest area to see about filling a couple of water bottles. I told him that the drinking fountain would be turned off and it was.  The janitor saw him and offered to fill them. We have plenty, but you never know if there will be any available down the road. 

Jumped in the truck and off we went.  No stopping except for gas and potty stops.   We pulled over at a "picnic area" that was actually the dump.  Yes, garbage was piled high and blowing all over.  Just so weird. Lots of trucks on the road, but few cars.  Definitely lots of RVs heading east! 
Love to see the silos! 


Windmill with cattle..this is Texas! 


Advertisements for this place for miles 



Nearing Gallup, NM..Love the scenery changing!

The sky looked threatening..but only a few raindrops



Tummies full, we carried on across Arizona.  We thought we'd stay at the rest area that's at the 3 mile marker.  Uh no, CLOSED.  We found only 2 rest areas open all across Arizona.  Shame on them, the poor truckers!  Looking back, Alabama rest areas had closed their visitor centers but all up and down I 65 every one was open and well kept.  Texas too.  

Luckily next to this rest area is a truck stop so we pulled in and that's where we are now! We'll be pulling out shortly and we'll see where we end up tonight. 
Our spot for the night..


Even though America (along with others) is crazy now, America is still beautiful, so we'll enjoy the ride! 

I thought I'd post this before we left, but it didn't happen. Posting this Tuesday evening...

We left and had a beautiful drive through Arizona.  Trucks are plentiful on the interstate, which I know we need them but is also why we avoid interstates when we can! 

Dinosaurs!!


We made a few potty stops and then a drive through Joseph City..not much of one but a nice few minutes.  We stopped in Holbrook and visited the Safeway, figure might as well stock up on a few things since we don't know what Raley's at home will have.  No paper products though, all gone! 
When we were kids we always wanted to sleep in a Wigwam!


Love how they have the old vehicles in front of the WigWams :) 




I love the old motels!!


Nice park at the beginning of town, put away our groceries..No overnight
though :( 








Old building for the Meteor Crater

We went to the Passport America campground in Williams to check in once we got to Williams, AZ.  Another family with a fifth wheel were there too. Turns out they had reservations, never heard from the park..but it's closed.  Williams is a ghost town.  Sad to see as normally it would be hopping with families during Spring Break.  Williams claim to fame is "Gateway to the Grand Canyon".  You can normally catch the Grand Canyon Railway from here, but it's shut down too. Sad, sad. 
You could see this beautiful mountain from way off..near Flagstaff, AZ 


This is why we try to avoid I 40..oh well..

My mom loved coming into Flagstaff, AZ.  She loved the pine trees :) 

Our spot in Williams, AZ 


Williams, AZ a very patriotic town! We like that!











Sorry about the dirty windshield.  Another time we would have visited
Historic Brewing Company and Grand Canyon Brewing :(
 

This is just to show you..a ghost town. :( 













Old Route 66 motels! 

No one :( 


No cars

Same here..just so sad..

We found another RV park, Canyon Gateway RV Park. Nice park a little $$. $42.00 for the night.  We figure the last two nights have been free so $14.00 a night (like that figuring don't ya lol) .. Anyway, it is what it is.  

Once we parked we toured the town and found another Safeway. No paper products either but I did find some wine LOL.  Not my good stuff, but it'll get me through.  haha. 

Back to the park and I got some chicken thighs started for Ken and a breast for me. Not sure exactly how the oven will do so wanted to get them done early. 

Tomorrow we'll head for Armagosa Valley about 300 miles and the next day a little less than that and we'll be home.  It's too bad the country is shut down, but we have a great little place to go home to!  Cold from what I'm seeing but that's ok. 

Enjoy your evening it's Happy Hour time! 

10 comments:

  1. Williams is such a cool town. Too bad everything is closed but at least you can get pics of the buildings without cars in the way!
    Those teepees in Holbrook are interesting. I don't recall seeing them. I guess we better go back there!!
    Travel safe.

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    1. Yep I would come back in a heart beat to walk the streets! We've been to a restaurant The Pines I thinker's called..awesome food and atmosphere too bad it's closed! UHHH...

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  2. I do love Williams. Pretty soon we'll all be complaining about all the RV parks being full and the towns crazy with people. Funny how things can change. I have no problem with the truckers on the highway, I just let them all pass me! LOL

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    1. We let them pass too, but much prefer a back road..it is what it is now. Yes, you're right about the parks being full and honestly normally they would be now. :( I love watching families enjoying time together. Empty now...

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  3. It is sad to see everything closed but it makes for interesting pictures.
    Be Safe and Enjoy the rest of your trip.

    It's about time.

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    1. Thanks Rick. We are enjoying, just not what we wanted!

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  4. Great pictures of your ride. It has been a few years since we went that way but still recognized some of the ride. I thought those Wigwams would be fun to stay in also. I agree with you shame on Arizona for closing any of there Rest Areas. Actually, any state for that matter those semi drivers we are seeing out there need a place to stop. Glad to read you are getting close to home. Continue to stay safe...hugs

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    1. I know as kids we always wanted to stay..not sure why we didn't..maybe too expensive?..Yes, semi drivers need places to stay! We'll be home tomorrow..glad but sad..I wasn't ready..too bad the government made us come home early..oh well..at least we have a good place to come home too!

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  5. Long day but productive. Dolly and I stayed in Williams a number of years back when we visited the Grand Canyon. Still remember it . Sorry to hear everything is closed. Hoping I can wait it out but not so sure. Safe travels.

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    1. The way it's sounding it could be May..but who knows... I would love to explore Williams downtown one day.. when things are open. Yep sucks everything is closed! Still beautiful country to see! :)

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