June 4th - Arizona second day. Standing on a corner.

The next morning we returned to the Canyon.  When we got to the gate, Laurie asked about the senior discount mentioned.  We had paid $30.00 for the regular fee.  We were informed if we had a person over 62, the fee would have been $10.00 for a pass that allows a senior to enter with a car and three other people. This card gets you into every National park for the rest of your life.  As I was 62, I got the card and even a $20.00 dollar refund. Cool.  We took a tram to the east this day nd walked back along the trail to the visitor's center.  Great walk, very hot.  There are so many fascinating rock formations and cool birds and such.  We had fun.  We got back and while at the center, a couple of Elk wandered through and got drinks.  The ranger constantly announced a warning that these were wild animals and to stay away from them lest they injure you.  Yes, it was clear that some people needed this warning.

On our way back to Williams, we picked up a couple of geocache finds.  We visited the Veteran's park in Williams as well and picked up two more finds before heading east.

As we drove down I-40, I knew we would come to the town of Winslow.  The last time we drove through here, I wanted to stop and get a picture of us standing on a corner as the song says.  Laurie had been sleeping, so I just drove through.  This time I was determined to do it.  As we came to the town, I headed for the downtown area so we would truly be in Winslow.  To our surprise, there is a park in the center of town dedicated to the song that made them famous! A corner of the park is paved with flat stones, surrounded by a wall with a mural and on the street is a bright red flatbed Ford truck.  We waited our turn to take pictures and look around.  We had snacks and beer at a pub there, too.  There is a virtual geocache where you answer questions about what you see to get credit for the find.  Finishing up, we headed out of town.  Just on the edge, there is a 9/11 memorial with two steel beams from the twin towers.  We later stopped for the night near the state border.

An old Crosley.

9/11 Memorial

June 3rd - Arizona Day One

Cruising into Arizona, our first stop was at the welcome sign for a picture of us.  Another couple arrived about when we did, and we took their pics and they took ours.  Right there at the border is a huge water power plant on the Colorado River.  Great view.  Just a few feet up and across to the other side of the highway, was a geocache location.  We now had Arizona.  We drove on through the desert to the town of Williams.  We've been here before.  Williams is at the junction of I-40 and the road that leads to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. We stopped and obtained a hotel room, dropping of our peace lily which travels everywhere with us.  Then we headed to the canyon 20 miles down the road.  It was evening, and we took a tram out to the west viewpoint to catch the sunset.  Normally, when you take pictures of a sunset, it's the sky and the sun as subjects.  Here, it's the eastern walls of the canyon and how the fading light creates shadows and colors against the walls.  If you've never seen the Canon, pictures won't do it justice. If you have, I'm not sure most pictures are anything more striking than the ones you've seen. 

Afterwards, we drove back to Williams and had dinner outdoors at a nice restaurant with a local boy singing and playing guitar.  Tired and worn, we went to our room and crashed, planning on returning to the canyon the next day.

Power plant on the Colorado River

Welcome

A local

June 1 - 3, 2016 - Goodbye California

"Well I never been to England, but I kinda like the Beatles
Well, I headed for Las Vegas - only made it out to Needles
Can you feel it?
It must be real it feels so good
Oh, feels so good"
 - Hoyt Axton


Home from TAPS, we had a couple of days to get packed and on the road.  On the first, we stopped in to Alesmith's new brewery and tap room.  Much nicer and spacious than the old place.  Alesmith is one of the premier brewers in San Diego. [alesmith.com] The brewer has a deep love of San Diego especially San Diego baseball.  They honor one of San Diego's biggest sports heroes, Tony Gwynn.  Tony set records as a player and they brew the San Diego Pale Ale .394 as a tribute to his highest batting average.  Alesmith has opened a Tony Gwynn museum on the taproom premises.

A little more noodling around, and we left, heading up Interstate 15 towards Riverside California.  As we had planned to stay with Laurie's Mom this trip. we had driven out in our Jeep rather than the truck and Travel trailer.  This made our pack a bit tight, but allowed us the mobility of an SUV.  North to the sleepy (because it's so hot!) town of Barstow where we made a right turn and took I-40.  A while later, past the southern border of the Mojave National Preserve, up to the Arizona border and the town of historic Needles.  We stopped for a bite to eat and then, before traveling on thought we'd get a quick find there.  I never imagined I'd be geocaching in 115 degree heat.  But, there we were.  A quick Park and Grab and on the eventually cooler climes.  But hey, it was a dry heat...

Alesmith's new brewery and Tap room.

We would have looked around more if it wasn't as hot.  I love heat, but there are limits.

There is a cache here somewhere.