Day 16 - Holbrook to Williams

Well, that's our first night in a wigwam over. The wigwam itself is OK but between the aircon and the railroad, I've had better sleeps. We hit the road just before 9am. Our first stop was the Jackrabbit Trading Post, for some photos of the famous signage, amongst other things.

Our next stop, was in the town of Winslow. Yes, Winslow, of Standin' on the Corner fame, in the song Take It Easy, by the Eagles. Disappointment alert! There was no red flatbed Ford truck. I'd seen on streetview it was missing but when I mentioned this on Facebook, someone told me it was there, after the date the streetview was recorded. Seems they've taken it away again since. The crossroads has changed quite a bit since 2010 and there are a couple of diners now just along the street. we decided to go in one for breakfast. I had the special, 2 pancakes, 2 eggs and either sausage or bacon, I chose bacon. Now, what I was expecting and what arrived, were quite different. The pancakes were about 8 inches across and an inch thick! Needless to say I was full after those.

It's a Ford my lord, but not a flatbed!

A little way down the road, is La Posada Hotel. This is a Santa Fe railroad hotel, with it's own Amtrack stop. To catch the train, travellers just walk to the end of the hotel garden, to board the train.The hotel itself, built in 1929, is very nice and the gardens are really pretty. If there is a downside for me, it's the plus for others and how it was designed, the fact that the railroad is just a few feet away.

Being forced to use I40, we could at least make good time to our next destination, a slight detour off the Route, to the Meteor Crater. This is THE meteor crater. Created around 50,000 years ago, what they discovered here, provided evidence that proved for the first time that objects have and can strike the earth. What they found here allowed them to identify over 200 other strike sights around the globe. This one, is the largest and best preserved though. It's very interesting but a tad pricey, possibly as it's a privately owned attraction. Up on the rim, the wind was incredibly strong, at times blowing us across the path. Good job it wasn't blowing into the crater!

Meteor Crater, Arizona

Moving on, to stop at a couple of old abandoned trading posts, 2 guns (which once had a zoo) and Twin Arrows and then the Walnut canyon Bridge (1924), we arrived in Flagstaff. Flagstaff is notable as a railroad town and there is a visitor centre in the depot (station) and an old loco on display. The other place of note, one block across the street, are the Monte Vista and Weatherford Hotels. Both have had famous film stars staying in them over the years.

The Weatherford Hotel, Flagstaff

From Flagstaff we were heading for Williams, with a couple of unpaved sections to negotiate. The poor old Escape is filthy as hell and I'd hate to be the one to have to clean it when we drop it off!

In Williams, we are staying at The Drovers Inn. This is a Wild West themed complex, with bar, restaurant and gift shop too. The entire complex is made up of  old wild west looking wooden buildings. We have a themed room, the Movie room. This is great. It has all movie memorabilia on the walls, including posters from westerns and even a rifle above the bed. Not to mention the sticks of dynamite on the shelf. Catherine really likes it, so that's a bonus for me too.

The Drovers Inn, Movie Room

We took a walk up the main street and took some photos before having some dinner. We'll have to take a quick walk in he morning as it got too dark to view the Grand Canyon railway.

Tomorrow we'll be entering our final state, as we enter California and make our overnight stop by the Colorado River, in Needles.