Flagstaff, AZ to Kingman, AZ (Day 10)

Today was a day that we strayed the most away from the interstate. The day started in Flagstaff as we drove the route out of town. We stopped by the Visitor’s Center so that we could get the Arizona Route 66 Passport stamped. I had sent off for this passport for Jon to collect the stamps across the state, but forgot it until I saw it when we were unloading the car to check into our hotel in Flagstaff. We had passed the first couple of stops, but that was ok, we had seen them, and Jon only needs 7 stamps to get a certificate. We got the stamp and headed out of town. We made one stop to find the Pine Breeze Inn that was in a scene from the movie Easy Rider.

The next part of the journey took us on some gravel roads through the Kaibab National Forest. The roads were actually pretty well maintained and the drive was nice. The only thing about this road was that it has that red dirt that sticks to the car pretty easily. We have to find a car wash to get some of the dust off the van.

Next we pulled into Williams. This was the LAST route 66 town to be bypassed by I-40 on October 13, 1984. The town is really nice, they take pride in their Route 66 History. There was a park right as you came into downtown, talk about clean! Williams has the Grand Canyon Railway station in the middle of the town, this is an old restored train that will take you right to the rim of the canyon and back. If we had time, this would have been the way to go! We stopped by the Visitor’s Center there in Williams as well as the Train Station to get stamps for Jon’s passport. That makes #2 and #3!

After Williams, we had to get back on the highway for a few miles, and I do mean just a few, before exiting right before Seligman and getting off the interstate completely. On the road towards Seligman, there are several of the old Burma Shave advertisement signs. These things are hilarious and Jon learned that this was the way that advertising was done. He liked reading them to us, even though some we had to explain the meaning of. Well, he wasn’t the only one, “If hugging on highways, is your sport, Trade your car, For a davenport” Mom had to tell me what a Davenport was. (a couch for those that don’t know).

We were ready for lunch, so we made a pass through the town and decided on the RoadKill Café. Tony and I stopped by there in 2005 just to take a photo as we were driving to Flagstaff on our first trip to the Grand Canyon. Remembering that, we decided to go on in this time. The menu was hilarious, and we ordered things like Poached Bambi Burger, Opossum Blossom, Fender Tenders and Caddie Grilled Patty.

Next we drove turned back around and drove back into the town of Seligman, you could just tell this was a happening place. It was home to the Delgadillo brothers, Juan and Angel. Angel was the town Barber and Juan, being jealous of Angel, built his own business, the Snow Cap, out of scrap wood. Angel wasn’t at the shop today, he’s 87 and long retired, but his little barber shop and gift shop are still one of the big draws in town. One step inside his shop, you will find all the business cards he collected and stapled to the walls and his barber chair waiting for you to take a photo in. Tony sat down, but everyone knows he doesn’t need a haircut! The Disney/Pixar people interviewed Angel before making their movie Cars, and it is said that the 3 ½ minute flashback in the movie where Sally is explaining how the town dried up when the interstate was opened. Angel told the Disney folks that traffic in town disappeared the day the interstate opened up. Jon got the folks in the gift shop to stamp his passport making #4!

Now the brother, Juan, passed away in 2004, but his children and grandchildren keep the Snow Cap operating and bring back his humor as best they can. Juan was known as a prankster, and you can tell by the double doorknobs on the entrance and exit to the place. Mom fell for it, by trying to pull on the wrong side of the door, but in her defense, the pull sign was above that knob. Inside, we were met by Juan’s son and granddaughter. Juan’s son paid homage to his father’s legacy by playing some pranks. He asked what mom wanted, and then asked if she wanted a look, and showed her a candy bar called Look. Then when Jon asked for a half and half ice cream cone, he brought out a cone cut in half. Jon said not that kind of half and half, and the guy said, what you want a whole? And then showed him a cone with the bottom cut out of it (giving it a hole). Finally he made Jon’s cone and asked mom what she wanted and she told him the same thing. He gave her a cone that looked a little bit different from Jon’s (the swirl of the flavors was different) and he asked was that close enough. Haha. Then Tony got a cone and mom paid for them. When he gave back the change, he gave Jon a $5, Mom a $5 and Tony and I $2 each! What a fun time just ordering ice cream!

Then we ventured to the back of the place where there is a little garden with the “outhouse” bathrooms, that Jon was a little scared to go in. They were decorated with funny things like a tv, a phone and a fake video camera. Jon didn’t like the video camera! The garden was nice and we sat in the shade, which is about 10-15 degrees cooler than in the sun.

Our next town to pass through was Peach Springs. This is in the heart of Haulapai Indian Reservation. This is also where the west rim of the Grand Canyon is, so on the ride in we got another peek at the Grand Canyon. This is also where the only road you can drive to the bottom of the canyon is and where the Sky Walk is, the glass walkway that goes out over the canyon. None of us would have wanted to venture out on the glass, so that was no big loss, but since I had no idea that there was a road to the bottom, that might have been a cool thing to do that we didn’t have the time for. There is a lodge there in town and Jon got his passport stamped for #5!

The last stop before Kingman was at Hackberry General Store. This place was cool, lots of old cars, more Burma Shave signs and a neat little shop. We stayed there for quite some time just looking around. The men’s room there is full of pin-up girls, so Jon decided to go to the bathroom with his eyes closed. Give him a few more years and that would definitely be different! Jon got his book stamped for #6 and we headed on in to Kingman.

Our night in Kingman was really awesome. First we went to dinner after checking in to the hotel. We found a BBQ place called Redneck’s that has the slogan of Eat BBQ on Beale St. without going to Memphis! It was really good, even though it was different than what we had pictured. Then when we got back to the hotel, we met a very good friend of mine, Leigh, that I met online 10 years ago! She and I are both step-mothers and we met on a website forum back when I first was married to Tony and just as Jon was born. She and I have gone through a lot in the time we have known each other, and we always were there to support each other, even though we only typed back and forth and spoke on the phone occasionally. We walked up the steps to the second floor where our room was, and there she was with her husband. She hugged me really tight and it was like hugging an old friend you haven’t seen in a long time, only this was the first time we had ever come face-to-face! Tony and I spent the evening with Leigh and her husband David in their room chatting and having some Jack and Cokes. It was awesome just spending time with them and solidified the fact that back 10 years ago, I made a friend online that is pretty special. I’m just sorry it took 10 years to come together to meet! I am hoping it won’t be another 10! They will always have an invitation to our home and a promise of a tour of Jack Daniels as well! Love you, Leigh!!!!

Tomorrow we continue our off I-40 journey as we drive to Barstow, CA!