From Uphill to Downhill along Route 66 in Arizona
Mother Road - Route 66 in Arizona is quite rugged in comparison with other US states. It's still downhill and uphill again, and other way round, to be a flatland for a while… It can not be said I was bored in Arizona, even though in terms of population it is the least populated state we go through along Mother Road - Route 66. All of 385 miles in Arizona you will take delight in blue sky up on the snow-capped mountains in horizon. Are you happy? This fucking kitsch will not hang in too long! Frost and snow storm will come again! Fucking bad luck!
Advance warning: “When you drive across America look sometimes around yourself. May be you would be surprised by discreet green signs includes appeal for worthy and godly citizens to report any suspicious things, respectively call 911 written by white text. It really works we could be persuaded by it in New Mexico first time at front of Navaho Indian reservation border and then again in Las Vegas, NV. So remember 'Big Brother' is still watching you! There is nothing like living in land of liberty!”
Wake up, barely wipe your eyes, stick your snout outside window and gape at like country bumpkin… you can see just snowing on Mother Road - Route 66 and your motorcycle is covered by snow in the level of 5 cm! It started to wake up in Gallup, NM. We are going into Rock Springs Mountains where fuck weather is. It's a dangerous drive in freeze and snow storm! This fucking weather hangs in next stop.
Lupton, AZ is known as Red Ring Rocks, where Navajo commercial center is. Those Indians could not learn a business for more than 100 years… there is just Indian Trade center without good service or willing staff. If you are lucky man you can meet even the old Navajo Chief!
We hope that in Lupton was enough snow and we let it beyond us go to Mother Road - Route 66 to reach town of Holbrook, AZ. Bad luck, snow is until before Holbrook, but it is not in the city! While still cold, but no snow. I am also pretty sick of snow! So we can see beautiful Wigwam Motel #6, but actually is closed. Wigwam Motel was built in 1950 and if you're interested to how Tee Pee is arranged you can see insight. All of them are arranged as individual bungalows, built from steel frame construction with wainscotings. Their diameter is 14 feet and elevation is 32 feet. Nice view on it. Pity motel is out of order... there are other motels in the city, such as Western Holiday Motel.
Mother Road - Route 66 continues through Joseph City, AZ. We just drove through and did not stop, but billboard from 1949 reminds on Trade center can not be overlooked. It's such a mastodon among the Big Boards...
So I put my ass right on the Route 66 sign in the center of Winslow, AZ. The city adopts its name by its founder or the founder gave his name? Who is fuck cares! It just calls as it calls and we can gape at lot of sights there. I looked forward to Winslow. Especially there is Standin' on the Corner Park and many other things to see, e.g. a lot of murals on the traditional brick buildings. I also stood on the corner as all of Mother Road - Route 66 travelers... Shop on the corner is actually Gift Shop like another shop on the second corner, which is directly over the way called Route 66 Road Works. I both something small and went on a sightseeing tour of the city. There you can find the largest map of Mother Road - Route 66 in the world painted on Meteor City Trading Post building, which was used as a scene in Starman movie with Jeff Bridges in the lead role in 1984. The other great thing, that Winslow gave to the World was the song "Take It Easy" by the Eagles band, written by Jackson Browne in cooperation with Glenn Frey. Jackson Browne stands on the corner and I stood up next to him too!
We continue to drive Mother Road - Route 66, so we stop motorcycles next to Twin Arrows Trading Post in Williams, AZ. It is old restaurant from 1960, which became famous in Forrest Gump movie with Tom Hanks in the lead role from 1994. Main restaurant eye-catcher consists of two large arrows stuck into the ground was captured in the film. Filmmakers should have problem according to choice the right scenes for the film in Williams, because there is very competitive food market. There is Twisters 50's Soda, Rod's Steak House or Red Garter Bed and Bakery, which occupied building from 1897. If you want to overnight here visit stylish The Canyon Motel from 1940 celebrates the time, when Train was King. You can accommodate right in Train as well as in the railway wagon. It's really great. If I could overnight somewhere I will stay at The Canyon Motel. Well, I just stopped and took some pictures...
Another town, where was shoot Forrest Gump movie is Winona, AZ. Filmmakers used Walnut Creek Bridge also known as Winona Bridge from 1925.
Mother Road - Route 66 seems endless, well sometimes you need overnight somewhere. We chose Flagstaff, AZ, city in the middle of mountain. It's a quite big city, so you can choose of many motels or hotels. Twilight Motel, which is from 1930 for example. Would you like a bit of culture? Go to Orpheum Theatre and then straight to Galaxy Diner. In the evening I went to the bar to refuel my life-force and chat with natives. I was lucky, because I met Dagg here, who was my personal guide in The Museum Club from 1918. He was Vietnam veteran, who did not like Japanese... When I guided by Dagg around club he was frightfully proud to mahogany bar, which was imported from Europe in 19th century... Dagg is Motel owner, but I do not remember the name. He was very sociable and bought me one beer after another, but never forget remind to me, there is dirty Cops... I suppose he lost his heart to local girl at which change of microphone… exactly I was in karaoke bar… After ten o’clock in the evening came some young’s, well I met with Travis and his girlfriend. They were fine, so greetings to Flagstaff.
Arizona is an ideal place to have a rest of Mother Road - Route 66 while a minute. But not so long so you do not have abstinent syndrome... In any case Flagstaff is an ideal basis to visit Monument Valley, UT or Grand Canyon, AZ. Distance between Monument Valley and Flagstaff is about 160 miles. You will gape at great red rocks in Monument Valley. I likened Grand Canyon the big asshole, which is approx 100 US miles far away from Flagstaff. You can spend there even a week, but you can not visit all of interesting park places. I had to make it in two days.
Hurry up on Mother Road - Route 66 again and we pass Bellemont, AZ. Unfortunately we missed also Route 66 RoadHouse Bar and Grill, where hangs neon banner "Pine Breeze Inn - No Vacancy" used in famous Easy Rider movie. Where would you expect it has been hanged? Of course, it was hanged above pool table...
We stop in the capital paving stone city in case of production, well in Ash Fork, AZ. Give your attention to Desoto's Beauty & Barber Shop, which used monumental eye-catcher on the roof. There is a car DeSoto Custom with Elvis as a driver above the entrance…
Road to Seligman goes straight and you can relax while driving motorcycle. I want to be in the city! In a city where rebirth Mother Road - Route 66 started! Seligman, AZ. Only 500 residents live here, but with greatest attractions concentration along Mother Road - Route 66. Supposedly Seligman was a model and inspiration for virtual town Radiator Springs in the Cars movie. You can find here lots of original gas stations and gift shops or restaurants. I mentioned only Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In from 1953 as a well known restaurant in Seligman. There are many other attractions. I choose beautiful Aztec Motel with plenty of murals and the other one The Rusty Bolt famous for its plastic figures dressed in curious clothes stayed on the balcony. Mainly plastic girls are really ready to fuck... I want to fuck them right now on the original building constructed at 1903.
Mother Road - Route 66 between Seligman and Kingman is very pretty. Go reasonably slowly and stare around yourself. Truxton, AZ is intersects by Mother Road - Route 66, where you can find Truxton Cafe, which was the first building built in the city in 1951, or from the same year the Frontier Hotel and Cafe. Mother Road - Route 66 continues through Hackberry, AZ, where is Hackberry General Store from 1934. Serves as Route 66 Museum and Gift Shop, originally was named Old Route 66 Visitors Center. Bob Waldmire was the owner. This building was used in Easy Rider movie and Roadhouse 66 serial story.
We get Kingman, AZ city. The headquarters of Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona founded in 1987 is in Kingman. There is also Hill Top Motel from 1954, which provides the best view of the city. Cool Springs Camp and Station originally from 1926 located on the Kingman suburb presents an Icon place. History of Cool Springs was troubled, when the original gas station was demolished in 1966 for the purpose of the movie Roadhouse 66. Subsequently this gas station, small motel with 8 rooms included, was rebuild and used in Universal Soldier movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme in 1991. Again, Cool Springs was destroyed for the purpose of film. There were ruins a certain period, but on the occasion of 40 anniversary was reopened at 2005 by Ned Leuchtner. Actually there is small Gift Shop and Museum only. It's really very nice and memorable place. Definitely stop.
Kingman is recommended place to overnight, because it is an ideal basis for visiting Las Vegas, NV, from which I return again to the Mother Road - Route 66 along the same way. I do not want to miss even a meter drivable lap of journey.
Mother Road - Route 66 in Arizona is full of beautiful villages and one of the most traditional is Oatman, AZ. Originally gold-diggers city over time turned into a tourist attraction with plenty of donkeys on Route 66. Donkeys are everywhere and shit also everywhere. Don’t use front brakes on the shit... just drive over, I think those shits and go ahead... In Oatman shoot Roadhouse 66, Edge of Eternity in 1959, Foxfire or How the West Was Won. I recommend spending some time here, at least for meal and city sightseeing tour. There are plenty of gift shops or leather goods as well to use of motorcycle. Best food in Oatmanyou can find in Olive Oatman Restaurant and Saloon known for their tacos with fried bread. I met Willie there. I mean Outlaw Willie of course. He tried to plunk me, when I want to leave without paying the bill. His guns were damn low, so I prefer to pay and made a photo with him... Do you know where Clark Gable and Carol Lombard spent their Wedding Night? In old Oatman Hotelfrom 1902, room No. 15 after they married in Kingman. Do not you want to try wedding bed?
Take on your motorcycle and go ahead to Topock, AZ. Impressive Old Trails Arch Bridge from 1916 is interrupt by Mother Road - Route 66, which became famous for The Grapes of Wrath movie made in 1940 directed by even more famous John Ford. Colorado River is bypass by Old Trails Arch Bridge. Film was shoot according to John Steinbeck’s eponymous novel, where was firstly used The Mother Road prefix.
Arizona ends, so we can start in California…
Send to:
