We didn't use the pool this morning - temperature was 11C when we checked out.
As I suspect most do, the hotel had some decor from the 50's, including some vinyl chairs in the breakfast area. And these artifacts.
Since we had some time to burn before we would be able to check into the Excalibur Hotel in Vegas, we decided to do a circle tour, heading east on Route 66 from Kingman to Seligman, 87 miles out, and returning via I-40.
Among other things, we were able to get pictures of a few Burma-Shave signs.
Or, you're not as old as me!
I left out the Burma-Shave sign this time. There were dozens of these sayings across the U.S. in most states (except for a couple that wouldn't allow signs that close to the road and a couple where there weren't well-traveled roads).
The nostalgia continued.
Our first trip across the states in the late '60's was in a VW bus. We headed due west and by the time we had crossed Iowa we had burned out the engine. Towed to a VW dealer in Omaha, Nebraska on a Saturday morning and spent the weekend camping in the parking lot. On Monday, a Mormon gentleman took the family under his wing, providing dinner at his home, while I handed tools to the mechanic who was installing a new engine. Pushed the van back into the lot for the night. On Tuesday, a black lady took the family to Council Bluffs, across the river, for the day. That night the van was ready and we continued west. In Cheyenne, Wyoming the air hose to the engine collapsed and wouldn't let the van get past 40 miles an hour so I pulled into a VW dealer two hours before they closed for the July 4 holiday. A mechanic went to a discarded Bug in the yard, cut out a section of heater hose, inserted it in the air hose and we were on our way. In Bakersfield, California we burned out the bearings in a rear wheel. By the time we arrived in Los Angeles our vacation funds had been spent and our bank balance at home was just $200. I was never so glad to cross the border as I was when we reached Windsor after that trip!
Genetically inspired, David took a Fiero like this one across the continent to Los Angeles alone. Then drove it to Myrtle Beach just to join some Optimist members for a golf week, before returning to L.A.
Route 66 was gradually twinned into, or bypassed by, the Interstate system, but in the 70's, when we took a Ford Econoline van to Los Angeles, we travelled a lot of miles on the two lane "mother road". Didn't know the significance at the time.
A lot of the old businesses along Route 66 have old cars in place to set the mood.
We stopped for lunch at the Roadkill Cafe (you kill it, we will grill it) and ordered "tire tread" elk burgers - excellent!
Some other scenes.
Altogether, a fun day! On the way home, we plan to visit at least a couple more Route 66 remnants. So, stay tuned!
The landscape along this route is striking.
Approaching Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam the terrain took another turn. This is what would have been the lower end of the Grand Canyon if Hoover Dam had not intervened.
The dam is over the next hill past this bridge. You can't see it unless you exit the highway and we had toured several times in the past so we kept going this time.
Lake Mead above the dam. The dark island with the white bottom indicates how far down the lake has fallen from its maximum level - probably about 100 feet. Need more rain!
I had been checking out the mountain ridges because I knew there were Bighorn Sheep in this area. But, why would a self-respecting Bighorn stay up on a barren mountain when he or she can find such nice grass beside the highway?
After we got settled in, we headed for the Casino at Excalibur. I lost $13.80. Mardi lost only $5.60. Does that mean she's the winner?
Then, dinner at Dick's Last Resort, here in the hotel. Discovered that paper hats are not unique to San Antonio.
No comment!
How about this one? Kind of topical.
I saved the best for last.
Tomorrow we go for a Sales Presentation to earn some extra vacation.
We left Las Cruces and headed northwest into New Mexico. Early on, we came up to an inspection station - trucks to the right, cars to the left. After passing the K9 smell test we were quickly passed through.
Next up was a 21st century version of the Burma-Shave signs (for those not old enough to remember, we will show the originals on our trip home on parts of Route 66).
There were repeated signs like this, and others of a similar vein.
The main message: turn off all lights, including brake lights, so you don't trick other vehicles into thinking they should follow (and hit) you.
Next up was an old ghost town.
Steins is fenced in, and appears to be privately owned. Surprised that they are not trying to make some money off of it!
We saw several Pecan orchards along the way. Apparently, they can stomach a dry climate.
This overhead screening was well done!
One of our rest stops in Arizona was interesting.
After passing Phoenix we headed northwest and soon encountered Saguaro Cactus. The one on the right is a Democrat, raising his middle finger at the Republicans.
At a higher elevation we saw Joshua Tree forests.
As we neared the end of our drive today, the fading light gave us some interesting pictures.
Sorry about the bug splatters in the following picture.
Tonight we are in Kingsman, Arizona, which is just west of the Grand Canyon and not that far from Las Vegas. In the morning we will explore the historic Route 66 portion of the city before continuing to Las Vegas.
But, before we let you go, it's time to talk about a couple of political issues:
First, it seems that our adolescent Prime Minister has got the whole globe atwitter about his use of the non-word "peoplekind" to replace "mankind". If he had perhaps used "humankind" (although that word too contains the forbidden m-a-n letters) it wouldn't have attracted so much attention. For example, Manitoba would have probably accepted being called "Humanitoba" much better than "Peopleitoba". And the wag who said that Trudeau should "person up" could have said "human up" and come closer to what was required.
Hopefully he will learn, because he is the only current Federal leader who has a chance of getting my vote.
Second, I have purchased online my membership to the PC Ontario party, so I can vote for Christine Elliott to become leader in March.
I suppose that Caroline Mulroney might be an acceptable second choice, but I don't think we really need another silver spoon celebrity at this point.
The concern I have is that Christine and Caroline could split the sane vote, leaving Doug Ford's followers to push him over the top. And, if you don't think I'm in favour of a silver spoon celebrity, how do you think I'd feel about another rich bully?
Bottom line: the Liberals are ripe to be taken down. I think Christine Elliott has the best chance to accomplish that, and I suspect that Wynne's Liberals are quaking in their boots at that possibility!
We had intended to go back to the Riverwalk this morning but rain and cool temperatures changed our mind. Too bad because, in a city surrounded by a fairly boring Texas landscape, the Riverwalk is almost magical. A beautiful area, exploited exceptionally well.
So, we headed west. The bland landscape around San Antonio gave way to hilly areas.
Around El Paso, the I-10 highway comes close to the Rio Grande. That's Mexico on the other side. No need for Trump's wall here, just surveillance to catch the swimmers. The derogatory term for Mexican migrants, "wetbacks", comes from this source - folks swimming across the river with a few belongings tied to their backs.
Tonight we are staying in a Drury Inn in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In addition to hot food at their 5 to 7 p.m. "Kickback" they give out three free drinks (used to be just 2). Very civilized.
A short edition tonight. Tomorrow we head further west.
