Week 7 - middle days - starting back East.

On the road

   We left San Diego on Saturday, March 24.  We drove Route 8, across southern California and Arizona.  What a day of contrasts!  We had temperatures from the 30's into the 70's.  We had elevations from -44 to 4,000+.  We drove up arid mountain passes into the Sonora desert, through El Centro and Gila Bend.  We were so close to the Mexican border at two different spots that we could see the fence beside the road.  We saw ATV's going up and down sand dunes.  We turned north, passing Phoenix and got onto Route 17 where we climbed into beautiful passes into the mountains were we could see snow. 

Sycamores by Camp Verde, Arizona

"Montezuma's Castle" a cliff dwelling that has nothing to do with Montezuma!

"Montezuma's Castle" outside of Camp Verde

    We stopped at a hotel in the small town of Camp Verde.  Then we drove to what is called Montezuma's Castle, but which is a cliff dwelling.  As it is a national monument, we got in for free - our first use of our new card.  It was only a short walk, but lovely, along a rushing creek lined with Arizona sycamore trees which were beautiful.  When we got back to the hotel (Days Inn), we went in the outdoor hot tub, which felt great.  We had a nice chat with two Navajo boys from Tuba City. Then, we ate our supper which we got at the local supermarket: some fruit, ham, yogurt and bread for supper.

Rushing stream, sycamores by "Montezuma's Castle"

    On Sunday, we drove almost 500 miles, up I-15 to 1-40 outside of Flagstaff.  It was another day of gorgeous contrasts.  The mountains around Flagstaff are gorgeous with lovely high valleys.  We climbed on more than one occasion today to over 7,000 feet.  Mount Humphreys, outside of Flagstaff was impressive at almost 13,000 feet.

Mount Humphreys, outside of Flagstaff

 As we drove across the rest of Arizona and into New Mexico, it got drier, but remained at high elevations.  We drove around Albuquerque.  Along the way, we saw quite a number of wild horses and a few antelope.  We were lucky that the weather was mostly overcast with times of sun.  Again, it was a day of great contrasts - green and lush to sandy and dry.  We saw a temperature of 38 in the mountains of Arizona and a temperature of 88 as we approached our destination - the little town of Santa Rosa on Historic Route 66.  It is touted as a town of lakes and their advertising makes it look great, but...Santa Rosa has definitely seen better days.  The lake in town was mostly dry.  And, the much-advertised "Blue Hole" was interesting, but not terribly impressive.  It is a deep hole (81 feet) which scuba divers use for training, but it is not much bigger than a few swimming pools.  But, evidently, it connects by underground tunnels to other lakes throughout the region, although the connecting tunnel had to be grated off due to its danger.  Anyhow, after a drive around the town, we had Mexican food at Comet II, a diner on the old Route 66.  Then, a dip in the hot tub at the Quality Inn.

Along old Route 66, which has seen better days