ROUTE 66, STAGE 10: FLAGSTAFF - KINGMAN

Today may have been the most interesting when the historic atmosphere of Route 66 since we joined its route, there by Springfield (Missouri). But it is true that we have noticed a significant change ... so far we were only meeting with a small group of bikers, a handful of motorhomes like ours, or a lagging car, and we were almost always alone in the attractions. But from Flagstaff it seems that there are many more who have joined to travel this part of Mother Road, and that is the perfect stretch for those who are visiting Los Angeles and want to dedicate a few days to a unique road trip: part of the Route 66, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon of the Colorado ... not bad!

From Flagstaff, one of the highest points of the route, more than 7,000 feet (2,100 meters), we start down the I40 and it is well noticed by the gas tank. I don't know if we've said it before, but the big one eat a lot! In the first miles we are accompanied by the pine forests that surprised us both the day before, but for a short time ... Soon we will see the moors and plains that you can imagine without thinking of Arizona.

The first detour of the interstate is to get to know the beautiful town of Williams. One of those corners (according to them, the best stop on Route 66) as anchored in the past for a single reason: being just a couple of miles from the main road. Here there are no big truck stations, or fast foods, or almost traffic. The city is divided by the historic Route 66 twice, to respect a unique sense in each of the streets ... so we recommend you to reach the end for one and return for the other. Two points that you can not miss are the Twister Diner (Soda Fountain), a typical coffee shop with a small souvenir shop, and the Wild west junction, an alley with a few locals set in the far west, where the odd surprise awaits you.

You will have to return to I40 to reach the small town of Ash fork, in its main street that barely runs in a couple of minutes there are some places with posters and murals of not too much interest, such as the DeSoto's Salon, with the car on the roof.

Route 66 can be taken later at exit 39 to continue until Seligman, one of the most picturesque enclaves of the entire trip. In this section of the road you can start to see garnet signs on your right with several messages: it is the famous publicity of the company Burma Shave, they are usually cachondetes… but do not lose eye to the road!

Seligman is a certainly interesting place. What you will suddenly find on both sides of the road are local with the decoration that petalo in the years in which the mother road brought lots of customers. Which more striking! Actually they all cool, so park your second-hand Cadilac, take your boots off the asphalt and let yourself be surprised.

Well, go, we tell you some: the Delgadillo Snow Cap It is the first one you find, we saw the hamburgers and they did not have a pinton, so you better just enjoy your backyard where you store lots of junk. The Angel and Vilma's Shop, where you will find the room of an old barber who still smiles on your visit (if you do not have much time do not ask for a shave, it does not seem to be very fast). The J & R's Minimart with a beautiful mural of Route 66 with Marilyn Monroe. The Route 66 Gift Shop, the The Rasty Bolt, the Historic Seligman Sundries with a super cool police car or the Black cat Bar right in front of where to have coffee.

Oh, and if you have not yet taken the famous photo with the sign of Route 66 painted on the asphalt, at the entrance of Seligman and a few miles after leaving you can find them!

The road continues until Grand Canyon Caverns, some caves that you can visit in one of the tours (from $ 15). The motel and the Radiator Spring Gas service station are right next door, you don't lose anything in giving a wheel around. In addition some dinosaurs (again with dinosaurs ...) very majetes will welcome.

You are going through Native American reservations, and so you don't forget, tune in to the radio on one of the two channels you hear: Indian music! 10 minutes and now ...

But do not get too much, when you see signs indicating Hackberry Be alert because you will be arriving at one of our favorite stops of the entire trip: Hackberry General Store. Why? It is worth having old cars, lots of vintage items and a sign of the Route 66 dancer ... but we won with the cactus-zupo and the calm cat that slept on the air conditioning.

That place is a pass, similar to the one that comes next, the Antares Point (or Kozy Corner), with a giant green head, of those frikadas of the route, a vintage beetle and very cool views of the valley.

East section, the longest that retains the original route of Route 66, ends in Kingman, a city that with its continuous traffic and hustle contrasts with the stops we have made during the day. But that does not mean that it is not worth a visit, the first part of this long road (in the United States the towns are usually a huge road where all the businesses and homes scattered in the surrounding territory are concentrated) there is not much more than gas stations and fast foods, you will have to have a little patience to get to the old town and see interesting things, like the water tank, the Mr D'z Route 66 Diner and the Route 66 Museum which is right in front of a beautiful building, the Power House. Be careful because it closes at 4, so to the parrot with the clock!

We did not visit the Colorado's canyon, but if you want to do it, it would be during this day. We will do it later, so look in the next articles.