We started the day today at a T/A truck stop in Kingman, Arizona. We wanted to fill with diesel before we hit California gas taxes and we weren’t sure what we might find along today’s route. Plus we wanted to weigh the RV to be sure we could still carry the solar panels we want to get. Unfortunately, we arrived at the truck stop about the same time as three busloads of tourists so everything took longer than usual. It’s a good thing we don’t have to keep to the type of schedule the truckers do. And it looks like we can still get two solar panels with the accompanying gear without going over our weight limit.
Then we set out on Route 66 headed to Oatman, Arizona. We’d been warned that RVs over 30 feet shouldn’t try this road. We saw a sign that said trucks over 40 feet were forbidden. We knew that meant a steep and winding road was ahead of us. We saw signs saying “Do not enter when flooded” where the dry washes crossed the road. But we went anyway. You’d think after having driven Alkalai Road in the Bighorn Mountains and refusing to take a road around Dead Man’s curve we wouldn’t risk taking this road. But we did. We took it slow and easy. We pulled over for for other vehicles we met or who wanted to pass. And we climbed that narrow, twisty road to Oatman. Where we met a tour bus. Apparently going down the other side would be easier.
Oatman has two claims to fame: The old Oatman Hotel and the burros that wander the street sticking their nose into anything they think might contain food. The street is narrow and full of burros and tourists and the shops along the street now cater to those tourists but everyone ought to go to Oatman once to see the burros.
Just through town, before heading down the hill, Dave decided to try our antenna system again. When he pulled over we each had three bars on our cell phones. He plugged in the antenna and we each got five bars. The antenna/booster works! The Sprint air card we use to get Internet, though had no signal to boost so we still don’t know if that part works.
Once we got down the other side of that mountain, we crossed the Colorado River into Needles, California. Lunch was high on our list of things to do next so we stopped at this Burger Hut for lunch. We are in California where the dining room is open to the air and where most people like their food spicy. We decided we’d order our burgers plain and add our own seasonings in the RV. The cook was offended that we wanted them plain. I explained we had our own sauce. Then he came outside and saw our RV smiled and said, “Perfect.”
This is the El Garces Hotel in Needles, California. It was built as a Harvey House along side the Santa Fe railroad. It is about to be restored to its previous grandeur.
We pulled into the Desert View RV Resort without a reservation. We have made no reservations anywhere so far on this trip. When we told the greeter we’d like to stay two nights she looked worried then said she’d see what she could do. She found one spot. They have a rally coming in this weekend and some of the people are coming tomorrow but some aren’t coming until the next day. So as long as we promise to leave before the others come we can have this spot.
So, we are settled here for the next two nights. The spaces are close together but they have oleander hedges and trees between them which keeps you from looking into your neighbors windows. It doesn’t keep you from listening to their conversations though. Be careful what you say.
TTYL,
Linda