On the way west we stopped in Elk City, Oklahoma and toured the National Route 66 Museum. Route 66 goes through town, but out of town it is buried under Interstate 40.
For the night we camped at the Elks Lodge in Amarillo, Texas. After taking care of business in the lodge we drove to the Cadillac Ranch. Ten Cadillacs are buried there. They are getting old though and are rusting away.
10-31-10
Today we are at the Elks Lodge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We arrived here at 11:00 AM.
After lunch we drove along the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway.
Our first stop was the Tinker Town Museum in Sandia Park.
For over 40 Ross Ward carved, collected and assembled his folk art displays.
Doreen and I liked this little museum.
Our next stop was Madrid, a former mining town, then ghost town, and now tourist town.
We still enjoy perfect weather.
11-1-10
We went to Old Town in Albuquerque for shopping and tried to have lunch in our favorite restaurant.
Unfortunately the restaurant was not open at 11:00 AM. We waited for a while and then went to another Mexican restaurant. The food was good there too.
One of the Indian jewelry sellers told me that our favorite restaurant opens on Indian time.
Since we have spent a lot of time in Albuquerque before, and seen most of the interesting places,
we took it easy the rest of the day.
11-2-10
We moved to Grants, New Mexico, today. The Elks Lodge appeared to be deserted. Nobody was there. Leaves were piled up before the entrance. I had a strange feeling, but set up the motorhome anyway.
In the morning we visited the El Malpais National Monument.
“The Badlands” is the term used locally to refer to lava flows. The lava is mostly covered by vegetation.
We drove to the Natural Arch.
In the afternoon we walked the Inscription Rock Trail Loop at El Morro National Monument. Here Indians left pictures of animals and other objects on the wall of the Rock.
The first inscription by a European was by Don Juan de Onate in 1605. There are some fancy inscriptions.
El Morro was popular with travelers because of the water in the pool. There is no spring, only water collected by rain and snow runoff.
Many years ago we were able to go on top of the rock, where some ruins from Indian dwellings are.
11-3-10
This was a driving day. We arrived in Williams, Arizona at noon. Williams is the gateway to the Grand Canyon.
After a long rest we went into town. Williams is a small town and it did not take us very long to cover the place.
11-4-10
We arrived in Laughlin, Nevada, at 10:00 AM. We looked for the Ramada Express Casino, it had changed to the Tropicana Express.
Not only did the name change, the new owners charge now $ 7.00 a day for staying at their parking lot. Dumping is $ 5.00. It used to be free. I am not complaining, $ 7.00 is still a bargain.
In the afternoon we went to Oatman. Doreen wanted to see the wild burros again. They come into town in the morning; they know they get fed by the tourists. The stores sell carrots and hay pellets.
The babies have stickers on their head to warn the people not to feed them carrots, they could suffocate.
Doreen had bought a bag of hay pellets and fed the critters. When she went in one of the stores she gave me the bag.
While I fed one burro another one came and pushed me and started kicking the first one.
I almost got kicked. I threw the bag at him and stepped to the side. Those beasts do not share.
Twice a day they have gunfights in front of the hotel.
Carol Lombard and Clark Cable spent their honeymoon at the Oatman Hotel.
Doreen did not fall this time and break two ribs. Several years ago Doreen was walking on the side walk and watching a baby burro nursing in the middle of the street. Walking on a side walk from the 1880s and watching what is going on in the street is not a good idea.
The temperature went up to 90 degrees F today. It did not feel that hot though.
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