Traveling west on I-40

Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Spending a couple of days at Kingman, we explored around, did some chores, and cooked some delightful meals. Enjoying a Root Beer Float at a “Route 66” Diner, I decided to make a few notes about our experiences subsequent to my preceding journal entries. It is a goal to keep my journal current for my benefit of recalling things that I want to remember, however it is difficult to stay current.

We discovered an interesting historical background concerning much of the Interstate 40 segment which we have traveled. We knew that most of the I-40 western segment parallels or overlays Route 66 but Route 66 was not first. Much of old Route 66 is built on the Beale wagon road (1857) that followed the 35th parallel from Arkansas to California. Edward Fitzgerald Beale was a military General, surveyor and experienced western explorer. He was commissioned by the United States to build a wagon road to California. In his survey he was ordered to use camels as pack animals, an experiment of the US Army. The camels did quite well in the desert project however other folks, horses, and mules, didn’t get along with the camels, so the Army abandoned any further “camel projects”. Nevertheless, the road was a huge success, as the Beale road became a popular immigrant route, leading us to Las Vegas, and many travelers to California. It was also paralleled by the Transcontinental Railroad. Build it and they will come!

Leaving Holbrook, we moved on west to Winslow and enjoyed some more Route 66 memorabilia. Of course, we had to visit downtown and the Eagles tribute featuring “Standing on a Corner in Winslow Arizona”. Winslow needs all the tourism it can get so do stop by if you have the opportunity!

Our next campsite was at Flagstaff Arizona, just off Interstate 40 but a quiet little retreat. We had to find a veterinarian for Jack because his seizures had become more frequent and severe. After four hours and likewise hundreds of dollars we were told that there’s nothing they could do for him, except anti-seizure medication. Fifteen-year-old Jack has a brain tumor and the vet says that the tumor always wins. Now, we just want to make him comfortable and try to return some of the devotion that he has given us. It’s one-day-at-a-time.
I have enjoyed Chile Rellenos on several occasions but none compare to Rosie’s at cousins Richard and Helen’s home. Rosie’s are best, can’t be beat, so my search has ended. We attended our customary Sunday Mass at San Francisco de Asis, overlooking downtown Flagstaff, from the base of Mount Elden.

Continuing west, we crossed the Arizona Divide and found a pleasant campsite at Williams, overlooking the town and Interstate 40. We learned that the Arizona Divide dictates the watershed of Arizona to two outflows, for the east and west slopes. Williams is named for one of my favorite Mountain men, ”Old Bill Williams” , who was an explorer, trapper, Army Scout, and later Protestant Preacher, who spent the remainder of his life in service to the Osage and Ute Indians.
Williams was the last town on Route 66 to fight being bypassed by I-40. After years of litigation, the state finally agreed to build three I-40 exits to Williams and presently one would suffice. Oh well, Williams has lots of room to grow!
To our surprise, after setting up camp, we experienced lots smoke from a controlled burn that we learned about from the camphost. We tolerated the smoke all night and thankfully departed west, with a prompt departure. Forest controlled burns are necessary but you don’t want to be in it!

Leaving Williams (6,800’), for Kingman, there are lots of ups and downs, surprising because Kingman is at 3,333’ elevation.  
We also learned that the only road descending into the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River is off old Route 66 at Peach Springs, on the Hualapai Reservation. This is downriver from the Grand Canyon National Park and upriver from the Grand Wash confluence. 
Well, here we are at Kingman, at the Fort Beale RV Park, in the Hualapai Valley. We explored the “old town”, along Route 66 but the “new town”, along I-40 is where the restaurants and shopping are situated. We met several couples heading to winter quarters at Yuma.