Flagstaff, Arizona: It is my custom to not write negative things on this website, but Gallup, New Mexico, is was not for me. We have a tourist magazine touting all the wonderful things to see on Historic Route 66 - on its 100 year anniversary - in Gallup, but nearly every establishment is boarded up. Closed. For Lease. For Sale. The roads are in terrible condition and though we were only in the city two hours gathering our supplies last evening, we were held-up by two (separate) long trains. One wasn’t even moving. Even our RV Park advertised they are located on Historic Route 66.
Our first big trip after DT retired and our Only Child had gone off to college, we drove our (first) bus along Route 66. Even then (2000) it was in disrepair and several portions are either closed or follow I-40. On this trip we have seen portions of Route 66 with grass growing up along the centerline.
Okay. Rant over. Carriage return. New paragraph.
Arizona is just 24 miles from Gallup, so we are back in the Pacific time zone. Though we have been to Petrified Forest National Park several times - and just two years ago - we once again stopped. Today is the 110th Anniversary of the establishment of the National Parks Service! We really just did a drive-through, stopping to view our favorite vista points again.
More petroglyphs! There is a famous rock in the park called "Newspaper Rock" because it is where people left messages, drew what they had hunted, and who-knows what it all means, but still fascinating. One thing to ponder: we have seen native petroglyphs from all across the west. Thousands of miles apart, the drawings are so similar. Apparently news traveled fast then, just as it does now.
Next along I-40 in Arizona is Winslow, and y'all know what happened in Winslow, Arizona.
the background depicts a girl (my lord) in a flatbed Ford.
Since our last visit, the city have added a statue of Glenn Frey. Frey wrote the famed Eagles song, Take It Easy with Jackson Browne... and though the other statue is not supposed to be Jackson Browne... it's all a mystery to me. On the opposite corner now sits the Take It Easy gift shop.
Winslow was fading after I-40 bypassed it, and they are trying their best to get tourists to visit with a tribute to Take It Easy. I feel the song is iconic - a classic - but will younger generations just drive by Winslow? Maybe Winslow should get BTS to write a song about their town. Or Taylor Swift? (NOTE: Maybe the people of Gallup need advice from the people of Winslow?)
And one more stop along our way - Walnut Canyon National Monument. Another site we have visited before, but such a super interesting part of Arizona. Around a thousand years ago, people who the Spanish called Sinagua (People Without Water) settled into the overhangs above Walnut Creek. Stone walls were constructed to create rooms. The area was rich with wildlife and plants. When there was water in the creek, life was good, and they eventually learned to store water in clay pots. They farmed corn, beans and squash. Eventually they gave it up and moved southeast, and it is believed they were absorbed into the Hopi tribes.
There is a trail (with steps and handrails) down into the canyon, and another short trail along the rim.
And now - six photos (taken by Dave) from inside the canyon:
It is so impressive that just a few hundred people - with little water - could build this so long ago. The canyon is also famed for bird life - and the only bird I heard or saw was a raven. Bummer. It was hot, and it was nearly 4p. Maybe the birds had all clocked-out?
We continued to Flagstaff and checked into a brand-new hipster campground. It is super nice and modern, with a little beer/wine bar with snacks... but is there some-sort of regulation that RV parks must be within earshot of a rail line?
Before leaving lovely Gallup this morning, I marinated two boneless/skinless chicken thighs in the juice of one lime and a tablespoon of the Taco Seasoning from Jacobsen Salt Company'. Then I made a quick bowl of pico de gallo (two diced Roma tomatoes, about two Tablespoons diced red onion (white onion is also good), one minced jalapeño (half-seeded), and a handful of minced cilantro - tossed with a big pinch of Kosher salt and the juice of half a lime… leaving half a lime to squeeze into our margaritas tonight. Toss a bit of the Pico de Gallo into a mashed avocado and you have instant guacamole, the rest of the Pico de Gallo will be perfect over our tacos.
Well, we did have guacamole and margaritas, but we were too tired and it was so late (one hour time change!) to eat much. One taco each - leaving plenty of grilled chicken for nachos tomorrow night? Who knows.
You will not be surprised we are going into Grand Canyon National Park tomorrow for a few days!
Until my next update, I remain, your Arizona correspondent.
Campsite Information: Flagstaff Mountain RV Park & Campground