Day 2B Kingman, Seligman, I-40, and Route 66

At this rest area, where we stopped for lunch, the heat nearly singed the hair from our arms. We avoided the picnic tables in the sun and set up our chairs in the shade. The wind ADDED heat ...

2008-05-27T07:26:44Z

elf1
At this rest area, where we stopped for lunch, the heat nearly singed the hair from our arms. We avoided the picnic tables in the sun and set up our chairs in the shade. The wind ADDED heat ...

For nearly 140 miles between Barstow and Needles, there are no signs of human presence except for endless lines of barbed wire fence and the Interstate straight on to the horizon. Plus two r ...

2008-05-27T07:30:16Z

elf1
For nearly 140 miles between Barstow and Needles, there are no signs of human presence except for endless lines of barbed wire fence and the Interstate straight on to the horizon. Plus two r ...

Linda tries to let the air circulate.

2008-05-27T07:26:44Z

elf1
Linda tries to let the air circulate.

Lunch in the shade

2008-05-27T07:26:45Z

elf1
Lunch in the shade

This section of I-40 is apparently a Blue Star Memorial Highway. Out here, in the middle of nowhere, two guys were selling jewelery.

2008-05-27T07:26:45Z

elf1
This section of I-40 is apparently a Blue Star Memorial Highway. Out here, in the middle of nowhere, two guys were selling jewelery.

The rest area also had this nifty sign saying that your vehicles can crush burros. I guess those donkeys are so wiped out from the heat that they can't escape!

2009-07-24T04:57:18Z

elf1
The rest area also had this nifty sign saying that your vehicles can crush burros. I guess those donkeys are so wiped out from the heat that they can't escape!

The only other sign of humanity were the trains--billions and billions of trains--crossing in the distance as we sat and ate. Here are two trains coming from opposite directions. The rail tr ...

2008-05-27T07:31:35Z

elf1
The only other sign of humanity were the trains--billions and billions of trains--crossing in the distance as we sat and ate. Here are two trains coming from opposite directions. The rail tr ...

Late in the afternoon, we arrived at Kingman, Arizona, and checked out the Historic Route 66 Museum in an old power building. The building was comfortably cool--yay!--and the exhibits intere ...

2008-05-27T07:31:57Z

elf1
Late in the afternoon, we arrived at Kingman, Arizona, and checked out the Historic Route 66 Museum in an old power building. The building was comfortably cool--yay!--and the exhibits intere ...

Life-sized dioramas showed the history of people traversing Route 66 (or its predecessor). Covering all those miles of nothing--no water, no shade, nothing--in our air-conditioned van at 70 ...

2008-05-27T07:26:46Z

elf1
Life-sized dioramas showed the history of people traversing Route 66 (or its predecessor). Covering all those miles of nothing--no water, no shade, nothing--in our air-conditioned van at 70 ...

And some of them were apparently very pregnant, too. I just can't imagine!

2008-05-27T07:26:47Z

elf1
And some of them were apparently very pregnant, too. I just can't imagine!

The museum included some cool old gas pumps. This one was before my time.

2008-05-27T07:26:47Z

elf1
The museum included some cool old gas pumps. This one was before my time.

So were these gas prices. Outside the museum, we paid $3.79/gal on Sunday, $3.82 the following Friday.

2008-05-27T07:26:47Z

elf1
So were these gas prices. Outside the museum, we paid $3.79/gal on Sunday, $3.82 the following Friday.

Another diorama; a Studebaker with its pet dog in the rear window.

2008-05-27T07:26:47Z

elf1
Another diorama; a Studebaker with its pet dog in the rear window.

A somewhat more modern gas pump.

2008-05-27T07:26:48Z

elf1
A somewhat more modern gas pump.

With still very cheap gas prices. Remember when they had to cut holes in the face place to make room for the dollar position in the price per gallon because it had never gotten that expensiv ...

2008-05-27T07:33:19Z

elf1
With still very cheap gas prices. Remember when they had to cut holes in the face place to make room for the dollar position in the price per gallon because it had never gotten that expensiv ...

There were several simulated stores in the musuem with old products to stir your memories. This one is interesting because I have a very similar blue ceramic pot sitting on my desk at home. ...

2008-05-27T07:34:34Z

elf1
There were several simulated stores in the musuem with old products to stir your memories. This one is interesting because I have a very similar blue ceramic pot sitting on my desk at home. ...

More fun old games and things. Which do you remember?

2008-05-27T07:26:48Z

elf1
More fun old games and things. Which do you remember?

We just stood looking at all these things for ages, playing "hey--do you remember when--??" Really, we're not that old. Really.

2008-05-27T07:26:48Z

elf1
We just stood looking at all these things for ages, playing "hey--do you remember when--??" Really, we're not that old. Really.

More old favorites--strawberry Quik and Koolade and other healthy additives.

2008-05-27T07:26:49Z

elf1
More old favorites--strawberry Quik and Koolade and other healthy additives.

Linda remembered always having a premium saltine tin; I don't remember that we ever had one.

2008-05-27T07:26:49Z

elf1
Linda remembered always having a premium saltine tin; I don't remember that we ever had one.

An old Chevron sign.

2008-05-27T07:26:49Z

elf1
An old Chevron sign.

Across the street, in true Route 66 style, a very nifty-looking fast-food place. But we weren't hungry yet and so didn't stop. I loved the colors! Not quite the same as bright purple with bl ...

2008-05-27T07:35:50Z

elf1
Across the street, in true Route 66 style, a very nifty-looking fast-food place. But we weren't hungry yet and so didn't stop. I loved the colors! Not quite the same as bright purple with bl ...

That evening, at our hotel, we packed our packs for the next day's Havasu trek. It didn't seem like all that much--but 3.5 liters of water really pushed up the weight in my pack.

2008-05-27T07:26:50Z

elf1
That evening, at our hotel, we packed our packs for the next day's Havasu trek. It didn't seem like all that much--but 3.5 liters of water really pushed up the weight in my pack.

Next door to our hotel, another nifty-looking Route 66 restaurant, the Roadkill Cafe. Never got a chance to eat there, either.

2008-05-27T07:26:50Z

elf1
Next door to our hotel, another nifty-looking Route 66 restaurant, the Roadkill Cafe. Never got a chance to eat there, either.

Our motel for Sunday night--the Historic Route 66 Motel in Seligman (pronounced sa LIG man).

2008-05-27T07:26:50Z

elf1
Our motel for Sunday night--the Historic Route 66 Motel in Seligman (pronounced sa LIG man).

And there it all is. A very basic hotel, spacious rooms that were clean and in good repair. I liked how the beds were on opposite sides of the room, rather than next to each other as in most ...

2008-05-27T07:26:51Z

elf1
And there it all is. A very basic hotel, spacious rooms that were clean and in good repair. I liked how the beds were on opposite sides of the room, rather than next to each other as in most ...