ROUTE 66, FLAGSTAFF and the GRAND CANYON

This week is going to be something else. We are spending it in a Wyndham Vacation Resort in Flagstaff Arizona. After several months in the RV, this place is huge...cavernous! I think the best part is having a bathtub, and I know Ellen agrees wholeheartedly. Nice to have a dishwasher too. Downside? No RV neighbors to shoot the bull with. To be honest, I kind of miss the Excel already, maybe because I can't put my hands on anything at any time, like scissors and paper clips. I also miss my coffeemaker.

Yesterday was a day trip to the Grand Canyon. Simply breathtaking. The vistas are amazing, so full of unique landforms and zillions of colors. Oh yeah, it is also very deep. I've seen many photos and paintings of this wonder, but seeing it in the flesh honestly choked me up with awe. We entered from the east, stopping at Desert View. We clambered up the tower to get a four-stories-higher-view. We drove on westward, stopping at several view points, ending this experience by checking out the modern campground. It was full, and for $30 a night you can have a full hookup and very little space. Next chance we get we plan on viewing the canyon from the north rim which is supposed to excellent and much less crowded.

During the south rim jaunt, it was interesting to note the many many foreign languages. These European and Asian vacationers are enjoying a great budget trip with the great exchange on the weak US Dollar.

Flagstaff is booming small city with the beautiful San Francisco Peaks just north of town. Route 66 is the main thoroughfare with remnants of motorists' stops from the 50's and 60's. We had a good dinner at Black Bart's Restaurant and Saloon, done up in the wild west fashion, with the wait staff singing during our dinner. Good fun Broadway musical numbers, performed by University of Northern Arizona students with aprons. The food was plenty and good too!

We have a few more things to do in the area, the Lowell Observatory and a couple of National Monuments. Speaking of National Monuments (and Parks), Ellen got her "Golden Age Pass" when we were in Casa Grande, and it has saved us a lot of $ in entrance fees. When one reaches the age of 62, you can pay $10 for this thing and it lets you and 3 others in your party into a National Park or Monument for free. A lot of others were paying $25 a car to get into the Grand Canyon National Park! I would guess we have saved well over $100 in about a month! Ellen claims this is one of the few perks to getting old.