Arizona: view from the Meteor Crater Visitor Center
Oatman, a former gold mining town was part cowboy kitsch and part authentic western. It was certainly aware of its appeal to tourists but was also clearly a real community, and the grizzled, grey-haired, grubby stetson-wearing Willie Nelson lookalike in the hotel cafe was definitely not faking.
The place was bizarre; almost every square inch of every wall (and some of the ceiling) was covered with old dollar bills bearing personalized messages and scribblings from their previous owners. We had a fine, no-frills fried breakfast there.
East of Oatman is a particularly awe-inspiring stretch of old 66 which climbs out of desolate desert to zigzag wildly through the craggy Black Mountains.
Soon after we rejoined I 40 we stopped for a shake and a root beer float at the Snow Cap in Seligman. Another wonderful piece of faded Route 66 tat. Great old-school shakes, too.
East of Flagstaff we stopped at Walnut Canyon to see the 1,000-year old cliff dwellings of the Sinagua people. We were disappointed to discover that the main cliff trail was closed because of a major rock fall but we still had a great view of these amazing old 'houses'.
Although it was quite a way off our planned route we realised we were too close to the famous Arizona meteor crater to pass up a visit. We were very glad we did because it's every bit as impressive as photos suggest. We took the one-hour rim walk in scorching 93-degrees-in-the-shade heat (what shade?) and it was definitely worth the dehydration and sunburn because not only did we get great views into the crater but the information provided by our guide was genuinely fascinating, and included plenty of historical facts we'd never heard before.
Next we retraced some steps and headed north to Tusayan via a completely unnecessary detour over unpaved roads through a small forest (thanks a lot, Google Maps!) We stayed in a hotel just a couple of miles away from the entrance to the south rim of the Grand Canyon; obviously the main order of business for the following day.
The Grand Canyon. One could say a lot, but it's pointless. Let's just say that it's true what everyone else says: pictures and films simply do not begin to do it justice. You cannot get a full sense of the jaw-dropping scale and majesty of this colossal, nature-sculpted marvel. One's first view of it is... breathtaking, awe-inspiring and a whole mess of other cliches. Here are some pictures anyway, but trust us, they don't tell the story nearly well enough. The only way to fully appreciate the sheer vertiginous visual impact and profound sense of vast geological age is to simply stand there and gaze.
Nothing like having a great time on a road trip:D
Posted by: Belllini Valli | May 23, 2008 at 08:02 AM
There's... Just a brick wall with a window on it? How surreal!
Nothing is worth sunburn!! :P Nice to hear from you, I hope you enjoy the rest of the trip!
Sorry to "out" you, Jack, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! :p :p :p
Posted by: Manggy | May 23, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Sounds like a great road trip! Great photos.
Posted by: Kimberly Ann | May 23, 2008 at 11:40 AM
now look what you did. i want a root beer float!
it must be so nice to get out of dodge and go on a roadtrip. sounds like you guys are having a great time!
Posted by: frenchtart | May 23, 2008 at 11:46 AM
I'm so jealous. I'd love to see the Grand Canyon someday.
Posted by: Ruth E | May 23, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Great shots Ann. There's something about that saloon thing that makes me want to scream Yee Haw. I love this travelling the country vicariously. I don't even have to pay for the gas.
Posted by: giz | May 23, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Classic western road trip. Great shots. They remind me of the great family road trip as a kid through Rt66 and then several others over the years in the west. Nice to enjoy the trip with you two.
Posted by: Pasticcerra | May 24, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Ooh, so cool. That meteor crater! Never been there. I would love all the facts about it.
Posted by: Lori Lynn @ Taste With The Eyes | May 25, 2008 at 07:40 PM
What an incredible trip. I gotta do it someday. The meteor crater is surreal!
Posted by: Zenchef | May 26, 2008 at 01:32 AM
This is awesome!!
I am so jealous (and so are Perch and Trout... I asked them too)
xoxo
Posted by: Sophie | May 26, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Gorgeous photos! They make me feel like I'm there too as I almost got scared of heights :)
Posted by: Lore | May 27, 2008 at 05:39 AM
Terrific photos! Before we married, my husband lived in Flagstaff and loved it. To this day, we talk about moving out there. But at this point in our lives, a vacation would be much more practical!
Posted by: Sandie (Inn Cuisine) | May 27, 2008 at 04:05 PM
thanks for this delightfyl roadtrip. I love the photos...hope I can go dosn this route one day.
ronell
Posted by: Myfrenchkitchen | May 28, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Loved meteor crater! And I remember the dollar bills all over!
Posted by: MyKitchenInHalfCups | June 01, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Hey Ann, great photos. Oatman is one of my all time favorite places - were the burros out? And did you stop in Ed's Camp? Even stranger than Oatman, to my mind. Really a trip through time, isn't it?
Posted by: Donna | June 09, 2008 at 02:51 PM