Albuquerque, NM to Needles, CA - 2-27-06
The flat roofed adobe building of Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post is typical of the region. In fact, it was once a trading post on Route 66 in Albuquerque, NM and has been used as the backdrop for several films. They haven't changed much in hopes of preserving the original flavor and charm of the property although it has been updated to accommodate the modern traveler.
Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post was once a trading post on Route 66 in Albuquerque, NM
We were up at 5:30 this morning to a cool 27 degrees and were heading off 40 minutes later under an almost cloudless sky. We drove along old Route 66 for about 7 miles, past the Historic Rio Puerco bridge, before getting onto 40.
Farm west of Albuquerque
West of Albuquerque
Around Casablanca, NM, west of Albuquerque, NM
At 6:50a the sun is up in all its glory, painting a golden hue to the red grasses of the high desert and magnifying the deep red color of the surrounding mesas. Around Grants, NM we see miles and miles and miles of lava. I don't normally think of this area as having volcanic eruptions.
Around Casablanca, NM with train in the background
Around Casablanca. NM
Around Casablanca, NM
Hills between Gallup, NM and Manuelito, NM.
Around Manuellto, NM
Buffalo sign along highway
Billboards and cliffs along the road between Gallop, NM and Chambers, AZ
Red bluffs at welcome center in Arizona
We passed into Arizona about 9:00a at an elevation of 6,000 feet and a temperature of 47 degrees. We travel miles in this high desert terrain with the mountain ranges off in the distance. We know Flagstaff is at 7,000 feet so we will be going through the mountains.
About 450 miles east of Los Angles
At 11:33a we reached the summit at 7,335 feet with the temperature at 56 degrees. The summit is which is between Flagstaff and Bellemont . We started getting hungry and pulled into a rest stop for lunch; peanut butter and jelly burritos (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm).
Red bluffs in Arizona
Crossing Colorado River between Kingman, AZ and Needles, CA
We have seen lots of trains going east and west all day. We see trucks on the highway all the time but never think of all the trains hauling product to and from. The trains were colorful to see on the horizon with their bright blue, red, yellow and white cars. Like long paintbrushes they painted a strip across the horizon. Here are some up close, crossing the Colorado River.
At 2:57p we cross over the Colorado River into California and arrive in Needles to a cloudy 79 degrees. We are spent two days at the Desert View RV Resort. This is a KOA park that cost us $29.95 a night with a $5.00 discount for a total of $59.30 for our two nights, pretty good.
Colorado River, see the narrow ribbon of blue just below the middle of the picture
Fields around Bullhead City, AZ
Colorado River, Laughlin, AZ
We took a little side trip into Laughlin to try our luck at the casinos. As expected, they kept it all but we had some fun while it lasted.
