February 1997

Well, it has been 3 years since we have been on the Mother Road. And it feels great to be back! It actually seems as if it has been longer. It’s funny how one can miss an object, or maybe it’s really just a feeling. A feeling of stepping back in time, a simpler life, a slower life. In any case, it’s great to be back.

We left Bend OR and headed south. We had a few stops to make to visit family and friends before we could get down to the business of cruising. Our first stop was Victorville CA, we stay at the KOA. A nice park and close to Route 66. We first visited the California Route 66 Museum. The women volunteers were real helpful and friendly, and very creative. They have done some one-of-a- kind shirts, jackets and clocks. Great looking. The museum has some interesting things there and is done quite nicely. We had a very informative visit. On the way out we were lucky enough to meet Dan Harlow, editor of Route 66 West (a great little publication that comes out quarterly). He is a great guy and very enthusiastic about Route 66.

We followed the old road from Victorville to Barstow. We had traveled this section before, but had somehow forgotten what was out there. It’s a pretty nice section. In Barstow we checked out the El Rancho motel, the owners are really promoting the Route 66 angle. The restaurant in front is closed and for sale, too bad. It’s a bustling town. The next section we did was Victorville. We had to take the interstate south to Hemet. It was sad to see Hula Ville was gone. We heard somewhere that it was being reassembled in a museum, can’t recall which one. Hope so, it was a fun little place to wander around.

Next stop was Needles and another KOA. On the way we traveled the road from Ludlow to Essex. We don’t do too much of the road on the way to places since we are in a 35 foot motor home and it’s not always easy to stop and look at things. We usually park and then go east and west in our Blazer, it lets us take our time and look at everything. And we don’t block up the road. It works really well for us. Roy’s in Amboy was open. We stopped and had lunch, pretty good burgers. We were glad to have a full tank of gas since it was $1.99 here! The bridge had been reported out, but has been repaired.

Roy’s Café -Amboy, California

Once in Needles we checked out the town pretty good. Had lunch at the Hungry Bear, not bad. We also met the owner of the Old Trails Bed and Breakfast, real nice guy. And full of information, a great help. There are a lot of old motels that are unique and interesting to look at. We drove over to Topock and drove all that we could find back into Needles.

From here we had 2 side trips to make, Lake Havasu City and Phoenix. As soon as possible we headed north to Kingman. We stayed at the Zuni Village RV Park, nice people. They were kind enough to let us check our email. We have stayed in Kingman several times; it was almost like being home. We were so saddened to learn of Jerry Richards passing. He will be missed by all; his loss is felt from Seligman to Topock. It was nice to see the work being done on the old powerhouse in preparation for the Route 66 Museum, it should be great! We had lunch at Mr. D’z, great burgers and atmosphere, a fun place. We also had dinner at El Palacio, great food, margaritas and atmosphere. From Kingman we always make the ride up to Oatman. Town was very busy, we are usually there when it is cold and off season, we’re used to it being quiet. Everybody had live entertainment and there were lots of tourists. Of course it was spring break and the weather was beautiful. We had a Navajo taco at the Oatman Hotel, they’re good and very filling. Another thing we always do is go to Hackberry and visit our friend Bob Waldmire. He is doing a great job with the old general store, it’s really coming along. If anyone out there has lots of time on their hands and likes living in the desert, Bob can always use the help. This time we also went to Truxton and ate at the Frontier Cafe. We met Mildred Barker, neat lady, and Ed Byers, who had lots of interesting and amusing stories to tell. It was a nice visit at both places. There are a couple of great side trips out of Kingman that are worth the trip, the almost ghost town of Chloride and the Hualapai Mountain.

Cheryl with Mildred Barker at the Frontier Restaurant

Truxton, Arizona

Next stop was Seligman and a KOA. Interesting fact about this KOA, it sits between 2 alignments of Route 66. Nice park and owners, the trains were a bit much (must’ve been 100 a day). We have always stopped here but never camped here. Of course we had to go visit with Angel; he is such a neat guy to visit with. We were lucky enough this time for the Snow Cap to be open and we got to meet Juan and his wife Mary. Juan is quite the kidder, great sense of humor, I got nailed by the mustard bottle. For anyone liking the fact that Kmart has Route 66 clothing, I would like to encourage boycotting of the women’s line using a photo of the Snow Cap on the label, it is used without permission. After a burger at the Snow Cap we headed west on old 66. We had never been to the Grand Canyon Caverns and now was the time. They are dry caverns and were quite different from other caverns (Carlsbad Caverns) we have been in. There are some really unique formations, it was fun. We also went east of Seligman to Ashfork, nice piece of road for most of the trip; you have to take the Interstate the last 6 miles.

Partridge Creek Bridge (1926 alignment) - West of Ash Fork, Arizona

Our next excursion began at Williams, where we stayed at yet another KOA (they seem to be the only campgrounds open year round). Another place that was kind enough to let us check our email. It is usually under snow here so we have never stopped, what a mistake. Williams is our kind of town, slow paced, easy going, in the trees, close to anything you need, not too crowded (a rush hour was non existent unless you hit town when the train was returning or departing), and lots of friendly folks. The first place we stopped was Twisters where we met Dave Pouquette. He is a friendly, great guy. His shop is full of everything you want, or don’t. We had cherry cokes here. It is a must stop. Dave makes you feel like a long lost relative.