A SHORT THANKSGIVING UPDATE

(NOVEMBER 24, 2018) After returning home from my Amtrak Arizona Adventure, I spent a few days catching up on some home chores and really just resting up. The weather here in the New River Valley has been for the most part cold with a few days of ice and rain. If I haven't told you I miss the Arizona weather.

My sister and I spent Thanksgiving in Hickory, North Carolina with our mom who really prepared a feast. It is always good when I get to visit mom but she really goes all out for Thanksgiving. We managed to miss most of the holiday traffic by traveling to Hickory early Wednesday morning, and arriving at mom's about noon. 

We spent a great Thanksgiving Day with Mom and Wayne, visiting, eating, visiting some more and eating. Friday morning again wanted to again avoid traffic and left mom's about noon to arrive back in the New River Valley about mid-afternoon. The University of Virginia was playing Virginia Tech in Football in Blacksburg and we managed to avoid that traffic by arriving home right at the start of the game.

As we officially begin the holiday season I hope each of you had a very Blessed and Thankful Thanksgiving. I am so blessed to be able to spend it with my family. And as we move on toward Christmas, I hope each of you will not remember the reason for the season and share your blessing with family and friends.

Saturday I spent the day re-packing my back pack for my next mini adventure which will start on Sunday. But more about that in my next post.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

THE AMTRAK ORDEAL

(NOVEMBER 9, 10, 11, 2018) Today, I resume my Amtrak trip back home here in Chicago.  I don't board the Eastbound Capital Limited until 6:40 p.m. so I have several hours to kill here in downtown Chicago.

Checkout time at the Club Quarter Hotel is noon, so I was in no hurry to checkout. I walked down to a nearby Dunkin Donut and had a couple of donuts and a cup of coffee.  As a walked down the street I got to experience some Chicago Weather with 20 mph wind and snow flurries so when I returned to my room, I used the time to edit some photos and re-organize my backpacks.

About 11:30 I used the app on my phone to check out of the hotel and began the half-mile walk to Union Station.  It had stopped snowing but the temperature on my phone showed 29 degrees and the wind was still blowing.

By the time I completed the 10-12 minute walk, I was pretty cold and quickly made my way to the Metropolitan Lounge and checked in.  Once I was checked-into the Metropolitan Lounge I stored my backpacks in to free baggage storage room.

 The Metropolitan Lounge he in Chicago is a large area spread over two floors with very comfortable chairs and plenty of electrical outlet to charge your phone and other devices.  The lounge also features free drinks and snack and all in all it is a very comfortable place to wait. 

In the early afternoon the sun came out and I decided to walk around the block and have lunch at Beggar's Pizza. Yep I opted for another Chicago Deep Dish Pizza and it was very good and filling.

After lunch, I made my way back to Union Station and settled down and and passed the time reading and editing photos until it was time to board my train.

At about 6:15 the first call to board Train #30 the Capital Limited, which is an over night train to Washington, D. C.   We was scheduled to depart at 6:40 p.m. and arrive shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday November 10. 

We departed right on time at 6:40 p.m.  and quickly made out in the darkness into Indiana.  The Capital Limited does not have a dining car so they give you boxed microwaved meals for dinner. I had my boxed dinner as we made our way toward South Bend, Indiana. 

About 9:30 p.m. my sleeping car attendant made my bed and I ended the day by reading a little before turning in somewhere east of South Bend Indiana.

I slept good, but was surprised to wake up about 6:30 a.m. and look out the window and see the Cleveland Browns Football Stadium.  We were schedule to arrive in Cleveland about midnight and should be in or getting close to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

My car attendant told me that after leaving South Bend, a freight train had broken down in front of us and we could not get around it and were stopped for over 3 hours.  Once we got going again the dispatchers pulled us over onto a siding where we waited for another two hours while they moved timed freight past us.

So he in Cleveland we were running over 5 hours late and it was obvious that I would not make my connection in Washington. 

The rest of the trip to Washington was uneventful and we arrived at about 6:20 p.m. Move than 5-hours late. As we approached Washington the Conductor informed me that I was being placed on the Southbound Crescent, Train #19 to Lynchburg. Once in Lynchburg I would be taxied on to Roanoke.

Upon arriving in Washington I was met by an Amtrak Gust Services Agent and escorted to the Crescent.  On my original train I had a business class ticket but on the Crescent I was in coach.

We were about 20-minutes late leaving Washington, pulling out a couple of minutes after 7 p.m. with a 10 p.m. scheduled arrive into Lynchburg. 

Things were moving on pretty good until we arrived for out station stop in Charlottesville, Virginia. Here we sat for the next hours.  A southbound CSX Freight Train had struck a pedestrian a few miles in front of us so we were stuck here while everything was investigated.

While we were stopped in Charlottesville, our locomotive crew ran out of hours so even after the track was cleared we couldn't go anywhere until a new crew was shuttled up to Charlottesville.

Finally about 3:30 a.m. we pulled out of Charlottesville and about an hour and a half later I arrived in Lynchburg. There was a taxi waiting for me at the station I was off on the final leg of my journey.

I negotiated with the cab driver to take me all the way to my car was was parked at my former office.  So 6:30 a.m. picked up my keys and pulled out onto Route 460 and headed toward Christiansburg.

At 7:05 a.m.  on Sunday November 11, after 8,671 - miles,  I pulled into my garage and officially ended my 2018 Amtrak Arizona Adventure.

Even with the ordeal getting from Chicago to Roanoke, it was an absolutely amazing adventure.

CHICAGO.....CHICAGO

(THURSDAY - NOVEMBER 8, 2018) After arriving in the Windy City yesterday afternoon, I checked into the Club Quarter Hotel, which was about a half mile walk from Union Station down Adams Street.

Most of the Hotels close to downtown were well over $200 per night, but for whatever reason the Club Quarter was only $137. So after check out the reviews on Trip Advisor I made my reservation. This is the first hotel that I have stayed out where you have no actual interaction with the front desk. 

On the day that I was scheduled to check I received an email inviting me to download the Club Quarter App, which I did. Once I had the app downloaded and I had signed in, the app authorized me to complete my check-in through the app.  When I arrived at Union Station I completed the remote checking and as I was walking down the street received my room assignment and key through the app.

Once at the Hotel, all I had to do was go up to my room and use the blue tooth key on my photo to access my room.  One security feature that I liked was that guests have to use their room key to operate the elevators.

Once in my room, while I found it rather small, but clean and well made.  While the room was small the bathroom was larger with a nice walk in shower.  For the price, my room will serve me very well during the my Chicago Stay.

I stayed in last night, opting to have supper in the Elephant & Castle Pub located immediately adjacent to the hotel. It's a takeoff on an old style English Pub, while the food and beer was slight more expensive than I am accustomed to, it was very good and filling.

After a good nights sleep I was up early this morning and walked a couple of blocks to a Dunkin Donuts for a light breakfast and coffee.

Like I said earlier, my hotel is located right in the middle of downtown close to a number of attractions including, Willis Tower, Buckingham Fountain and Cloud Gate, known as the Chicago Bean.



So after my coffee I walked down Adams Street to it's intersection with Wabash Street. It is here that I find the Chicago Art Institute.  Also located a this intersection is a small sign that is of particular interest to me.  You see, right here in the middle of downtown Chicago, just a few blocks from the shore of Lake Michigan, the Mother Road begins. Yes, at this intersection Route 66 begins its 2,451 mile journey west to California.

After snapping a few photos of the Historic Route 66 sign I walked a couple of blocks north to Tribune Plaza in Millennium Park.  Here I find workers putting the finishing touch on the outdoor Ice Rink which is much like the one at Rockefeller Plaza in New York, only smaller. 

Just a few steps from the ice rink is Cloud Gate, a 110 ton sculpture that is a popular tourist attraction  known for it reflection of the Chicago Skyline and the clouds above the city.  Tourist also find it amusing to photograph their reflections which appears in the sculpture. I was no difference and had to snap a few pictures of
myself.

From Cloud Gate it was a little less than a mile walk down to Buckingham Fountain. This is the large fountain that was featured on the opening of the TV show "Married with Children." I was disappointed to find that the fountain was down for maintenance and not working. But I did walk around an snap a few photos.

The parks along Lake Michigan are filled with sculptures and works of art including one of Illinois favorite son, Abraham Lincoln. This 9-foot tall statue of President Abraham Lincoln show the president seated and reflecting on the loneliness and the burden he felt during his presidency.

After walking down to to the Shore of Lake Michigan it was time for Lunch. No visit to Chicago would be complete without having a real Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.  I made the short walk to Giordano's Pizza. It was recommended by several people and by the looks of the crowd it is quiet popular.

So for lunch I had the Individual size cheese, sausage and pepperoni deep dish pizza. It was really quiet good and filling. It was a drastic change from the traditional pizza but again it was unique and very good.

After lunch, it was just a short walk to the Willis Tower. This Chicago landmark was originally known as the Sears Tower when it was built in 1973.  The 110 story high landmark is popular with tourist for it's sky deck located on the 103 floor.

Getting to the sky deck is not an easy task. You must first go through security and then purchase your $24.00 ticket. Once you have your ticket you get in line for the 60-second elevator ride to the 103-floor.

Once on the 103rd floor you get a magnificent view of the Chicago Skyline and for miles in every direction. When I work up this morning it was cold and overcast but as the day wore on the clouds gave way to sunshine which afforded me a wonderful view from the sky deck.

Once on the 103 floor you can spend as much time as you want, but once you get to the actual sky deck, which is a glass enclosed ledge where you can photograph yourself standing above the Chicago
Skyline, you only have about a minute to snap your photos.  You are time by employees who keeps the lines moving.

I ended up spending about an hour total at the top of the Willis Tower and after buying a magnet for my collection I made my way back to ground level and walked back to the Hotel.  A check of my FitBit show that I have walked a little over 21,000 steps, or a little over 10-miles. 

Once back at the hotel I took a little break before heading out for supper. Since Wake Forest was playing North Carolina State tonight, I decided to return to the Elephant & Castle where I could have a beer or two and watch the game over dinner.

Turns out that Wearing my Wake Forest pullover was a good move on my part.  Seems that Chicago folk are very hospitable.  I ended up watching the entire game in the pub and in the end not only did the patrons pay for my drinks but to celebrate the Wake Forest victory a new friend Dave Argossi paid for my meal. I love Chicago.

It was a little after 10 when I got back to my room and after a long day of walking around the Windy City, I was soon off to bed. Tomorrow I will check out of my hotel and make the walk back to Union Station where I will spend most of the day before boarding the Eastbound Capital Limit for Washington D. C.

EASTBOUND ON THE EAGLE

(MONDAY - NOVEMBER 5, 2018) For one of the few times this year I set an alarm clock and got up at 6:15 this morning as I am scheduled to board the Eastbound Texas Eagle at 9:15 this morning at the Tucson Station.

But before I head to the station I checked out of the Hotel and walked next door to the IHOP and had breakfast because boarding the train after 9 I am pretty sure the dining car will be closed.  After Breakfast I mad the short mile and a half drive to the Enterprise Rental Office on North Shore Drive.

Turning in the rental was quick and easy. I had planned on getting a Lyft ride to the Amtrak Station but, the young lady at Enterprise offered to drive me the mile and a half to the train station.

I arrived at the Tucson Train station about an hour before the my scheduled departure. So I took the opportunity to walk around downtown Tucson and have a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop.

The Texas Eagle was about 30-minutes late arriving at Tucson and there is no priority boarding for sleeping car passengers so I lined up with the coach passengers. I found my roomette and quickly settled in.

The trip back east will cover the same ground as I covered coming out so I am planning on just sitting back and enjoying the ride.

We arrived in El Paso in the late afternoon and it was dark by the time we got to Alpine. I went to bed right after we left Sanderson, Texas and managed to sleep straight through and woke up at our long station stop in San Antonio.

Here in San Antonio the Westbound Texas Eagle joins up with the Westbound Sunset Limited to become one train traveling all the way to Los Angeles.  So on the way back eat the two trains are separated with the Sunset Limited continuing on to New Orleans and the Texas Eagle continues on to Chicago.

Shortly, before 8 a.m. about an hour late, we pulled out of San Antonio and headed north toward Austin and eventually to the Dallas - Fort Worth Area.

About 9:30 p.m. we arrived in Texarkana and about an hour later we were in Hope, Arkansas and shortly after leaving Hope I turned in and woke up as we arrived in St. Louis. St. Louis is a service stop and crew change.

Leaving St. Louis we passed by Busch Stadium and as we crossed the Mighty Mississippi and entered Illinois I got several good views of downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch.  Shortly after leaving St. Louis I had breakfast. 

The rest of the trip through Illinois was uneventful and we arrived at Chicago at 2:20 in the afternoon, which is about 90 minutes late.

I am taking a little break here in Chicago and will be spending the next two nights here in the Windy City before boarding the Capital Limit on Friday for the overnight trip to Washington, D. C.

It was a short half mile walk from Union Station down Adams Street to the Club Quarter Hotel which will be my home for the next two Nights. Tomorrow I plan on getting out and exploring a little of Downtown Chicago.

Here are a few photos from my eastbound trip on the Texas Eagle.

Crossing the Mississippi River in St. Louis

The Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis from the Illinois side of the river

The Post behind the border fence is the actual border between the United States & Mexico.

The Border Fence is only a few feet from my roomette window

Shortly before arriving in El Paso I see this large cross on the Hill

Looking across the Rio Grande at Mexico near El Paso, Texas

Crossing the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas

A foggy Austin, Texas

The westbound (left) and the eastbound (right) Texas Eagles meet in Fort Worth, Texas

LAST DAY IN ARIZONA

(SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 4, 2018) This is my last day in the State of Arizona. My hotel here in Tucson is located just northwest of downtown Tucson and is right next door to a IHOP Restaurant. Even though the Comfort Inn offers a free breakfast I decided to have breakfast at the IHOP before beginning my last day in Arizona.

My only plan for today was to visit the Pima Air and Space Museum. The museum is located just a little south of Downtown Tucson and is adjacent o Davis Monthan Air Force Base. Something I really wanted to do was tour the "Bone Yard" at the Air Force Base. The "Bone Yard" is the slang name for the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group. It is basically where old planes are stored and the usable spare part are removed for use on other aircraft.

When I first looked many, many months ago tours of the Bone Yard were performed through the Pima Museum. While tours are still conducted by the Museum, visitors have to go through an extremely lengthy security check. The request and information must be submitted at least 10-days in advance.

Well, a few days ago when I was researching the Museum I discovered I had missed the deadline for submitting the security application. So I won't be touring the Bone Yard but I will be spending most of the day touring the Air and Space Museum.

The Pima Air and Space Museum is one of the largest Non-Government funded aircraft museums in the United States. The museum is home to roughly 300 aircrafts that are house in several hangers. Many of the larger aircrafts are stored outside on more than 80-acres.

I first arrived at the Museum and spent a couple of hours roaming around the hangers before making my way outside see the the more than 300 large aircraft's that are stored on the property. Among the outside displays are a couple of B-52 and some decommissioned commercial aircraft's.

 One of the really cool outside displays are several airplanes that were part of the Presidential Fleet, including a Douglas 118A that was used by both President's Kennedy and Johnson before and after the purchase of SAM-26000 Jet.

Columbine One

Also on display is Columbine I, the C-121 that was used by then General Dwight Eisenhower when he was Supreme Allied Commander during World War II.  This was the first of three of the three Columbine airplanes used by President Eisenhower.  Columbine III which was used while he was President is on display in the Presidential Hanger at the Museum of the Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

By the time I finished my tour of the Pima Air and Space Museum, so before I headed back to the hotel I decided to take one more drive through Gates Pass and the cactus forest west of Tucson. This was a very scenic drive and a fitting way to end my Arizona Adventure.

Tomorrow, I am scheduled to turn in my rental car at the Enterprise Lot on N. Shore Drive and then make my way to the Tucson Amtrak Station where I will board the Eastbound Texas Eagle for my return trip to Chicago.

ROOKIE MISTAKE AND OLD TOMBSTONE.

NOVEMBER 2 & 3, 2018) After finishing my visit to the Casa Grande Monument I made my way to my hotel in Tucson. While making my way to my hotel I made a couple of stops for gas and coffee and saw a bunch of people wearing Colorado Buffalo attire. So being curious I checked and found that Arizona Wildcats were hosting The Colorado Buffalo's in a Pac 12 Football.

Arizona Wildcat's Stadium

So after checking in to the hotel I got on Stub Hub and found that ticket for the game was dirt cheap. I ended up buying a $10 ticket and made my way up to the Stadium in Downtown Tucson. My game ticket cost me $10 bucks and it cost me $20 to park about 3/4 of a mile from the stadium.

Now here is where the rookie mistake come in. Leaving the room I forgot to change batteries in my Nikon Camera and when I turned it on NOTHING. Battery was completely dead. So I knew I was in trouble.

The McKale Center

I had my Cell Phone with but for some reason the battery life on it is horrible. Probably because I am such a social person and I have so many apps running. Even though I charged it in the car I had only about 20% battery life so I was unable to get any photos or video from the Game.

Yes, I have a huge external battery and a smaller external battery that I use for the phone but again in my hast to get to the game I forgot to get them out of my camera backpack.  I didn't want to carry bags and stuff into the game because I want to go through the quicker NO BAGS security line at the stadium.  Come to find out nether the Bag line or the NO BAG Line was busy and I could have gone through either without any delay.

I knew when I was able to buy a ticket for only $10 that the stadium would not be over crowded. My seat was 9 rows up on the 40 yard line so I had a great seat for only $10.  At kickoff the Arizona Home side of the field was better than 3/4 full while the Colorado side, where I was sitting was only about half full.

I had  good time and enjoyed the game but it was a different experience from attending a game at Virginia Tech, Wake Forest or any other ACC School.  Even though both teams were playing to become bowl eligible there was no enthusiasm. Arizona ended up winning the game 42-34.

I stayed for the entire game and from exiting the parking lot was easy, But my GPS seemed to take me the long way back to the hotel but I made it and I wasted no time in getting to bed.

This morning I check out of the Hotel. Even though I am staying in Tucson, I am moving to another  Comfort Inn for the next two night. I has a cheaper rate and I will be using some of my Choice Point for a free stay.  It cost only 8,000 points per night to stay free. So for 16,000 points I am staying free for my last two nights in Arizona.  And I still have over 100,000 points and have reached Diamond Level for 2019.  This will basically give me double points for every 2019 paid stay, free room upgrades and a few other perks.

Once I checked out of the hotel I made my way east on Interstate 10 to Benson Arizona and after a quick stop for coffee, I made my way to Old Tombstone.

You can't come to Arizona and not visit the site of the famous gunfight at the OK Corral. On the way into town I was surprised to find historic Boot Hill Cemetery.  So my first stop was the last stop for the people buried here.




Like everything else in Tombstone there is a charge for entering Boot Hill. I paid my $3.00 and received my map of the Cemetery with a few of the more notable graves highlighted.

Of course the most famous grave at those of the men who died in the Shootout at the OK Corral; Billy Clanton and brother Frank and Tom McLaury.  Their grave are in the near corner of the cemetery in Row 2. They are covered by a large mound of Rocks with wooden headstones. "Old Man" Clanton is buried nearby.

Some of the other Graves of interest in Boot Hill is Lester Moore, whose headstone reads, Four Slugs from a 44....No Less No More. And George Johnson whose headstone details the ultimate mistake.  It reads, "George Johnson,
Hanged by mistake 1882. He was right, we was wrong, but we strung him up and now he's gone."

A couple of other graves that you might find interesting are the graves of John Heath who was taken from jail and lynched. Red River Tom who was shot by Ormsby and finally the grave of Two Chinese.

From Boot Hill I made my way into Tombstone and managed to find "Free" street parking just outside of the Tourist area. From where I parked I made my way up to the site of the OK Corral shootout.



The shootout site is NOT free. There is a $5.00 charge is you just want to see the OK Corral where the shootout happened and a $10.00 charge if you want to see a reenactment. I fell for the hype and ponied up $10.00 for the reenactment.

The reenactment lasts about 10-minutes and is really cheesy and is nothing like the original shoot out. My advise is don't waste your money. Pay the $5.00 if you want to see the original site and let it go. I can say I have been there, done that, and when on my way.

The site of the Shootout at the OK Corral.

I walked along the main tourist area where carnival barkers are out front of every site trying to lure you in to their business. I did have an overpriced drink in the "Big Nose Kate Saloon."

After visiting the tourist area of Tombstone it was time to head out. Rather than retrace my journey I decided to head down to Sierra Vista, which is a pretty good size town for this area. It has everything including all of the chain hotels, restaurants and yes even a Wal-Mart.

Sierra Vista is also the site of the Southern Arizona Veterans Cemetery. While I was having lunch in Sierra Vista I did a little research and found that the famous clown Emmett Kelly, Jr. is resting in the Veterans Cemetery which was close by.

So after lunch I headed over to the Cemetery and thanks to Find-A-Grave, I quickly found the final resting play of Emmett Kelly, Jr. His dad was also a famous clown and is resting in Sarasota, Florida.

After departing Sierra Vista I made my way back to Interstate 10 and since I still had time I decided to take the scenic drive through the Eastern Branch of the Saguaro National Park.  This is one of the place I had not intended to visit but since my Tombstone visit was shorter than planned I decided to take the drive through the park.

The Saguaro National Park is actually divided into two branches; and East Branch where I am at today and a west branch which is actually a little northwest of Tucson.

I was able to use my National Park Senior Pass to gain my free admission to the park and after picking up a map from the ranger I began my drive through the park. The drive through the park is all on a paved road with pull out along the way where you can hike or simply park and get up close photo of the various types of cactus.

The entire drive is a little over 8-miles and was absolutely great, I spent a little over two hours driving the 8-miles and did manage to walk a couple of the shorted hiking trails. As I was on one of the trailed I met another couple who was kind enough to inform me that there was a rattle snake next to the trail a little ways ahead of me. Since I am afraid of any kind of snake I made the quick decision to reverse my course and head back to the car.

I really enjoy the drive and my visit to the East Branch of the Saguaro National Park. It was a totally unplanned and unexpected experience and one that I would highly recommend.

The day was getting short when I exited the park and I headed to my hotel where I will spend the final two nights in Arizona.

As I said earlier, I chose this Comfort Inn because it only costs 8,000 point per night for a free stay, and because it is only about a mile and a half from where I will turn in my Enterprise Rental.

Once back at the room I check my Twitter Page and some one has sent me a direct message asking me it I would recommend Tombstone. Basically, if you are visiting for the first time, sure, just to say you have done it but definitely lower your expectations. Tombstone today is definitely a Tourist trap. Everything there is pricey and really kind of cheesy. I would not recommend paying for the Shootout Reenactment or any of the other reenactments as they are mostly performed by bad actors who try way too hard to be funny.

Boot Hill was worth the $3.00 and I enjoyed my visit there the Most. I would recommend spending about an hour or so walking around the cemetery reading the wooden grave markers. Other than that, Tombstone itself is over rated. I am glad I went but I have no desire to re-visit.

So today is over and time to look forward to tomorrow, the final day of my Arizona Adventure.

GOING TO PRISON

(NOVEMBER 2, 2018) I spent the night in the border town of Yuma, Arizona. I say border town as is only a few miles north of the Mexican Border and is adjacent to the California State Line.

After having breakfast at Denny's next door to my hotel, I made my way to the Historic Yuma Territorial Prison. The prison site is maintained today by the State of Arizona as a historical park.  Several of the actual building and cell are open for tourists including the "Dark Cell" or what some called the hole. 

There is a small museum on site that has several authentic artifact from the prison along with stories of some of the more famous inmates. The prison was actually built by the inmates and opened in 1875. The prison remained opened for a total of 33-years and housed more than 3,000 inmates including 20-women.

One of the more famous inmates housed here at Yuma was Pearl Hart, who committed the last recorded stagecoach robberies in the United States. Click the link to read more about Pearl and he partner Joe Boot.

The prison closed in 1909 when the last prisoners were moved to a new facility in Florence, Arizona.  In the years that followed the closed the prison served as Yuma Union High School from 1910 -1914.

The Great House

I spent about 90-minutes at the Yuma Territorial Prison and then it was time to head east on Interstate 10 and my Next Stop at the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. 

It was a 200-mile drive across southern Arizona to the Casa Grand Ruins National Monument.  I was not sure what to expect but I wanted to get another Passport stamp for my NPS Passport Book.  The ruins are located just northwest of the town of Coolidge, Arizona.



The Ruins consists of multiple building that are surrounded by protective wall.  The best preserved building on the site is the "Great House." It stands 4-stories high and served a home to the Hohokam people who lived here several centuries ago.The Great House and the other building on the site were thought to have been abandoned about the year 1450.

Today the Great House is protected by a cover that was built in the 1940's.The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Place in 1966.

It took me about an hour to complete my tour of the ruins and get my Passport Stamp. Then it was off to my Tucson where I will spend the next few days.

Tucson will be my final Arizona Destination as I will use it as my hub for the next couple of while I continue to tour the area.

LONDON BRIDGE IS NOT FALLING DOWN

(NOVEMBER 1, 2018) After Spending the night in the old Route 66 town of Williams, Arizona, I decided to head west on the Mother Road rather than using Interstate 40.  And about 40 minutes later I arrived in Seligman, Arizona which is another town that is playing its history on Route 66 for all its worth.  Almost all of the businesses in this small town is playing off of the Mother Road.

Road Kill Cafe

Seligman is a small town with the main road through the town being Route 66. When I arrived in town from the east, I was surprised to see   Route 66 in Seligman is a big tourist destination and there were two other tour buses parked at the “Road Kill Café” on the west end of town. The Road Kill Cafe is one of the better-known stops in Seligman as it features such menu item as Deer Delectable, Bad Brake Streak, Fender Tenders, The Splatter Platter and Highway Hash. I didn’t try it because they were super busy serving breakfast to the tour bus patrons.

three large tour buses parked on Main Street with passengers milling about the various shops.

After walking around Seligman and snapping a few photos, it was back to Interstate 40 and off to Kingman. In Kingman I left Interstate 40 and headed south on Route 95 toward my next destination of Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Arriving in Lake Havasu City, I found it to be a much different place than the one I visited 40-years ago when my sister lived here, and I came for a visit. Back then Lake Havasu was hardly a town, just a small oasis in the desert with only a place the manufacture water beds and the McCulloch Chain Saw factory as the major employers.

But Robert McCulloch had a vision for the area and in the late 1960’s he ventured off to London and Purchased the London Bridge which was reported to indeed be falling down. He had the bridge dismantled and each piece numbered, and ship to the United States.

 

Upon arrival in the United States he brought his new bridge to Lake Havasu and reconstructed piece by piece over a man-made channel of the Colorado River. The official dedication of the “New” London Bridge took place in 1971 and since then the area has grown to be large resort town that centers around recreation along the Colorado River and of course The London Bridge.

When I was last here in 1972, there was still very little here except the water bed and chain saw factories and the newly dedicated London Bridge. The English Village around the bridge was still being constructed and there were no hotels or spas that today cater to the spring breakers and the outdoor recreation enthusiasts that flock to the area in droves.

Today the community is spread out over a side area and while people used to have to make the 50-mile trip to Kingman to shop, today they have everything they need in the city that was the vision of Robert McCulloch.

I found free parking at the Visitors Center and spend the next Hour or so walking across the Bridge snapping pictures along the way.  I did stop and have lunch in the English Village. What else could I have but “authentic” Ole English Fish and Chips.   While they were good and tasty, I could tell any difference from the ones I get at Red Robin.

After spending a couple of hours in Lake Havasu, it was time to head toward Yuma where I will be spending the night. As I was traveling near Quartzsite, I saw a brown sign, and everybody knows that I am a sucker for interesting brown signs.

This brown sign directed me to the Hi Jolly Monument in a cemetery in Quartzsite. As I arrived, I saw a pyramid made of what appeared to be rocks and petrified wood with a camel on top. This had to be it and sure enough I was at the tomb of Hi Jolly.

Who or what was Hi Jolly, well I’m glad you ask because just off to the side of the Tomb was a Historical Marker that answers that question.

In 1856, Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (Yes, the same Jefferson Davis who would go on to become President of the Confederacy) had the bright Idea to use camels to move freight and people across the desert southwest. So, Secretary Davis purchased more than 70 of the desert beasts and had them transported to the United Stated. Once in the United States the camels were distributed to various Forts throughout the Southwest.

Along with the camels came a handler named Hadji Ali who the soldiers quickly shortened to Hi Jolly. Well, the Civil War broke out a few years later Jefferson Davis got another job and without his support the Camel experiment failed. The Camel were set free to roam the desert for years to come. Some people today claim to have seen a camel or two roaming the remote reaches of the desert. I’m not sure if I believe that but stranger things have happened.

After the camels were set free, Hi Jolly decided to stay in the Quartzsite area. He lived into his 70’s and was popular and loved by the people of Quartzsite. When Hi Jolly died, his many friends in Quartzsite erected this monument to serve as his tomb.

Like I said, Brown Signs are fun and with out this brown sign I would have never found out the story of Hi Jolly and the Camels of the Southwest.

From Quartzsite it was a short drive to Yuma and the Comfort Inn where I would spend the Night. After a quick supper it was time to backup my photos and hit the bed. Tomorrow I am going to prison but that’s a story to be told tomorrow.

THE GRAND CANYON

(OCTOBER 31, 2018) This is probably going to be another post that is short on word and heavy with photos. Today I traveled about 80-miles north of Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon.  I chose to head up from Flagstaff and enter the Grand Canyon National Park at the Desert View - Watch Tower entrance.

This is my second visit to the Grand Canyon. I first visited the Park in 1984 with my day as we were traveling across country. Once again as I am driving up from Flagstaff, I memories of that trip with my dad are present at almost every turn.

As I was driving up Highway 64, I passed by the Little Colorado River Gorge.  In 1984 My dad saw this and thought it was part of the Grand Canyon. I remember him looking of at me and say, "I really hope that not all there is too it." He soon found out that there was a whole lot more.

I entered the Grand Canyon National Park and made my way to the Watch Tower and the Desert View Overlook. Just like in 1984, this was my first view of the Grand Canyon and it is just as spectacular today as it was back them.

It took me almost 2 hours to make the 22-mile drive to the Visitor's Center at the Main Entrance. Traffic was light and the overlooks were not very crowded so I took pictures from all different angles.

When I arrived at the Visitors Center I got my National Park Passport Stamp and then made my way to Mather Point, which is one of the most photographed spots in the Park and I can see why.

Here is a few of the more than 150 Photo I took during my Visit to the Grand Canyon.

The Hance Rapids

Mather Point

I had planned on spending most of the day at the Grad Canyon and I did. It was getting late in the afternoon when I headed south on Route 64 toward the Route 66 town of Williams Arizona. A little over an hour after leaving the Canyon I pulled into the Comfort Inn in Williams where I will spend the night. After having supper at the Pine Country Restaurant in downtown Williams I spent a little while walking around old Route 66. It was Halloween and lots of people were dressed up with their kids trick or treating at the local businesses.  It was a lot of fun spending  Halloween Night on Route 66 in Williams.