 |
| Excitement this morning as we set off for Laughlin, Nevada. We have been assured by several locals that towing along Historic Route 66 from Seligman to Kingman will be no problem so off we go and of course singing Get Your Kicks On Rote 66….. |
 |
| The 83 mile stretch of 66 was a far more scenic drive than the route we would have taken along I-40 and we're told it has a lot less potholes too and of course no semi-trucks so there's another plus…..yes that's the railroad running along side of the road… |
 |
| A double whammy as I see several trains….I'm quite easy to please ! |
 |
| We did pass through a couple of small communities along the way including Peach Springs but they are not close to an I-40 exit so have sadly become ghost towns over the years….Kingman was a huge industrial area and where we join the I-40 for the last half of our journey today….we pass from Arizona through a little of California where the road surface on the interstate was, to be polite, terrible, and even worse when we exited the I-40 onto The Needles Highway, we actually thought we can't be on an actual road this must be wrong but no it was the road…….once we passed into Nevada the surface improved and we arrived safely if rather shaken up but at least as I had packed the cupboards well, no spilt wine or beer !!…..Camp Harris set up at the Laughlin KOA/Avi Casino and our cheapest campsite so far as subsidised by the casino….here for a week to check out the area and enjoy the sunshine and the pool…. Our campsite is on the Colorado River in Nevada once we cross the river into Bullhead City we are in Arizona... |
 |
| This stretch of Historic Route 66 is NOT recommended for towing…. it begins 13 miles from our campsite and passes through the town of Oatman, Az……. |
 |
| Oatman now a quaint tourist town grew up through gold mining and Route 66…..by 1953 a lot of the mines had played out and The Mother Road was re-routed to avoid the treacherous Black Mountain stretch between here and Kingman….there are still working mines on the north side of Oatman…. |
 |
| Burros a big feature of Oatman, they are descendants from the pack mules and donkeys turned loose by early prospectors….this little herd are the local entertainment (feeding time is at noon in town) and supposedly wild, umm……. but there are many wild Burros in the mountains protected by the Department of The Interior…... |
 |
| A nice quaint little town and interesting for a stroll…. |
 |
| Oatman Hotel and now an Historic Landmark….Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon here in 1939….Gable would then often return to play poker with the miners…. |
 |
| The road going out of Oatman to Kingsman……it winds up and over the Black Mountains... |
 |
| Great views from the road, we drove as far as the Sitgreaves Pass summit 3,500ft…... |
 |
| This one didn't make the curve….. |
 |
We drove back through Oatman and on farther along Historic Route 66 towards Golden Shores…..we suddenly saw an American Flag flying from a rocky outcrop in the middle of no-where and stopped at the roadside to have a walk and check it out…..It was really interesting, it's a memorial for war veterans and was built by an 80 year old local man…at the memorial there is a copy of a newspaper report explaining how and why it was built…. |
 |
| Such a quite peaceful spot and ideal to sit here and have our lunch sandwich…. |
 |
| The library at Golden Shores….. All of the way from Golden Shores back to Laughlin, approx 15 miles is acre after acre of cotton fields with huge bales of cotton at the side of the road….2 songs today….Those Old Cotton Fields Back Home and Pick A Bale Of Cotton….. |
 |
| The beach area on The Colorado River at our campsite/casino…. |
 |
| Lake Mohave, Az part of the Lake Mead Recreational Area …..Lake Mohave was created by the construction of the Davis Dam on The Colorado River… |
 |
| Talking to locals the lake level is very low but it's still a peaceful and beautiful area…. |
 |
| You don't see too many of these….apart from the Snoopy balloon at golf tournaments... |
 |
| Our lunch spot….real Derby and Joan with our fold up chairs and our sandwiches…..so peaceful ….. |
Hi Sue & Michael,
ReplyDeleteRoute 66 wow !!
At least the dodgy road surface in places will keep you in practice for driving in England when you return ,we still have potholes from last winter.
Good to see that you have arrived in warmer climes, pool sounds good.
Have you had a chance to do any panning for gold or as it all gone?
Like the spot for your Derby and Joan lunch.
Glad to see that you found a library.
Lovely sunny Sunday November morning here, just off for a walk in The Wyre Forest.
Keep on singing.
All the best,
Ann & Dave
It was so peaceful at our lunch spot, had the place to ourselves…..now in Bolder City, Nevada, near Vegas…..right on beautiful Lake Mead…off on scenic drive today….there's a old railroad walk here that we shall do in next couple of days…railroad no longer there just the tunnels etc….it's 4.5 miles to The Hoover Dam and then back….
DeleteHope you had a good walk in The Wyre Forest, sounds a perfect day for it….
Must be time now for a Guinness :)
Cheers
M & S