Day 5 - Grand Canyon to Needles, CA to finish the west Arizona portion of Route 66, then on to Tuscon.

After being disappointed in the eastern Arizona portion of Route 66, we decided to embark on the more promising western Arizona Route 66 half and roll briefly into California. We are going to be on a tight schedule, so we agree to limiting our stops and picture taking. It appears that we really didn't sacrifice any quantity in today's pics, but we really sacrificed quality. We hope you'll enjoy anyway.

Mile 1585 - Dean lets Travis sleep until 7:00 a.m.(CDT) or 5:00 local time. Dean gave Travis alarm clock snooze control, and probably regrets this. Travis claims that it only took him 45 minutes to get ready this morning.

 We eat breakfast in the room and start packing up for the day. We retrieve the car and start loading up. After allowing the car to warm up for a few minutes, Dean starts feeling guilty about disturbing the entire park with the rumble of the car exhaust and shuts the car down.

We took a couple of sunrise pics before leaving the park. Dean promises not to subject Travis to any more picture taking of the Grand Canyon. Travis is happy. Local temperature is 37 degrees. Dean asks to put the top down, and Travis says no. Dean wants this recorded as a formal complaint.

Mile 1593 - We officially leave the Grand Canyon National Park.

Mile 1645 - We enter Williams, AZ which was the last town with Route 66 to get bypassed by the new I-40 in 1984. We saw an old Santa Fe railroad bridge with the painted advertisement "It's Fun To Ride Santa Fe."

Mile 1647 - We stop for gas. $1.559 / gal. Travis assumes driving responsibilities. Dean asks Travis to put the top down, where he says no again. Dean asks why not, and Travis says that he can still see his breath. Dean solicits help from one of the locals for his cause. Even though the local agrees with Dean, Travis leaves the top up. Local guy starts up a conversation with Travis about his car. He gives Travis advice on how not to burn his engine down. Travis assumes driving responsibilities.

Mile 1649 - At gas station next to interstate, we note that gas is $2.099 / gal. That's a $0.54 markup from what we paid just two miles into town.

Mile 1678 - Navigator alerts Travis while in his "driving zone" that there is a squirrel in the road. Travis takes evasive measures and avoids a needless slaugher.

Mile 1682 - Stop at old cement bridge over Santa Fe railroad. Our fixation on bridges continues.

Mile 1690 - Stop in Seligman, AZ for souvenirs and pictures. Stop at Delgadillo's Barber Shop turned souvenir store. Mr. Delgadillo has been instrumental in Route 66 preservation and Mrs. Delgadillo was extremely friendly. Upon asking her about old 66 and Seligman she said "The day they opened I-40, cars stopped coming down Main Street."

We went next door to the famous Snow Cap Burgers for another photo opportunity. At 9 a.m. local time, Travis finally let's Dean put down the top. Yeah! Don't worry mom, I'm wearing my sunscreen.

Leaving Seligman, we begin a 150 mile stretch of historic Route 66. Both of us are very excited to finally be on such a long continuous run of the original route.

Mile 1700 - On long straight stretch of Route 66, we saw some kind of ground hog crossing the road. Due to Travis' evasive driving maneuvers, more needless slaughter avoided.

Mile 1710 - Travis stops to let Dean out to take some "open road" shots. The views are amazing and Dean wants to capture that. Travis notes that Dean wastes a good 10 minutes of driving time. You can judge for yourself:

Mile 1720 - We begin to spot a lot of remains of the ancient Route 66 along the road, the concrete culverts and roadbed still remain even though it hasn't been used for at least 60 years. Along this stretch we can see an additional roadbed used for 66 at one time as well.

1750 - Travis shoots a U-turn in the middle of the highway to the Hackberry Trading Post at Dean's request. Travis almost pulls out in front of a car. "Driving Privileges?" is what Travis thinks he heard Dean say. Took some pics and bought a couple of things from the lady at the store. Dean once again talks a complete stranger into posing with Travis. If ever in Hackberry, we highly recommend checking out their facilities, they are beyond description.

The Route 66 brochure says we are about to enter the Mojave Desert, Dean wonders if the Firebird will need any waterbags before this is all over. He hopes not!

Mile 30523 - Enter what is called the "Longest Curve" on route 66 (7 Miles long). Travis and Dean both agree that there were lots of straight parts in that curve.

Mile 1795 - Once again, Dean makes Travis stop for some pics of the Mojave Desert and the Joshua Trees. Travis starts making Ansel Adams wisecracks, but Dean is still out in the Desert with the camera. Dean considers picking up some lava rocks in the desert, but refrains. It's a good thing because he finds out later that he might go to jail for something like that in Arizona. I can just hear it now "Lori, Dean's in Jail out on the Hualapai Reservation, can you wire some bail money?" Dean also takes this opportunity while stopped in the middle of the Desert to change into shorts for the day, it gets hot in the Desert you know. Dean seems a little concerned because Travis is stopped in the middle of the road while Dean is changing. Hey Dean, it's the Desert, we can see 5 miles in al directions and no one is here. The Mojave Desert gets less than 6" of rain a year. How can anything grow here we ask ourselves.

Mile 1803 - We are on an old pre-1955 portion of Route 66 from Kingman, AZ to Topock, AZ. This is a very rough and winding portion of 66 that crosses Sitegreaves Pass. Travis is thoroughly enjoying negotiating the winding and hilly mountain road. Dean notes that this road may hurt their average time somewhat.

Mile 1832 - We finally leave the pass and empty out back onto the Desert and eventually the Colorado River Valley. The river forms the border between California and Arizona. Stopping at the river we can see the first bridge to carry vehicles over the Colorado. It was completed in 1916 and is still in use to carry a gas pipeline over the river today. It seems though that this part of the river has become quite a recreational area for some wealthy people and several expensive houses are being built and NO TRESSPASSING signs are all over the place. Dean somehow manages to negotiate the signs and get a good glimpse of the bridge.

Still a fascination with bridges? At least this one is historically significant we tell each other.

Mile 1833 - We get back on I-40 and cross the river over into California. This is Dean's first trip and the state really put out the welcome mat.

Mile 1835 - See sign on I-40 promising historical Route 66 at the next exit (Not in any brochures). We decide to exit and take a look. Come to find out, the stretch was only 3/4 of a mile wide.

Mile 1840 - We get stopped at the agricultural inspection station. We declared our bananas, but they were allowed to stay in the car. When asked how we could come up from Texas without some grapefruits, we showed the officer our crammed full back seat and he let us go. What do you think they do with all that fruit they collect? Dean thinks he saw them eating oranges when we drove back by.

1841 - Getting lost #9. Again while following directions from interstate signs, and not our brochure, we are led astray. We aren't sure why this was classified as a lost and the previous bad direction one wasn't, but a judgement call was made at the time. This time Dean was navigating, but where is the California brochure? Perhaps left back at Travis' house.

1843 - Entered Needles, California. Elevation of Needles is 623 feet, quite a change from the 7000 feet we had been earlier that morning. We stop and gas up for $1.979/gal. Dean assumes driving control (In case you haven't figured it out, we change with every fill up.) We ate lunch on Old Route 66 and took a few pics before leaving town.

On the way out of town, Dean can't resist stopping for one more pic.

You may notice yet another stranger in this pic (No not Travis!) It's Dave the Hotel Proprietor. Much to Travis' embarrassment (aren't you used to this yet Travis?), Dean rings the hotel bell to ask Dave to come out for some pictures of Dean and Travis together (look for those in the album soon). Dave should be looking for us on the Internet. Hello Dave, thanks for the pics!

Travis notes in the travel log that Dean is officially crazy because he won't stop talking to people he doesn't know. Dean notes that everyone is very friendly about the route and that we have learned a lot from the locals.

This concludes the Route 66 portion of our trip. We drove the Route from Shamrock, Texas to Needles, California. A lot of the Original route remains in some form and fashion and we had a blast looking for it, unfortunately we took 4 and a half days getting out here, and now only have 3 to get back. Be sure to be prepared for more driving from here on out.

Mile 1888 - Dean is stopped by the Arizona Highway Patrol outside of Lake Havisau City, AZ. Kansas License, Texas Car with 1967 plates, speeding in Arizona, coming from California, going to New Mexico, let's see you explain that one. Dean didn't see the sign coming about 3 miles back changing the speed limit from 65 to 55. (Dean argues to Travis that he thinks the 55 zone is very poorly marked, Travis laughs and starts taking notes in the Travel Log). Dean was going 70 and this usually constitutes a $110 fine and a "record" in the state of Arizona. Upon hearing about our trip the officer says "Cool" and tells me he will reduce it to 65 in a 55, that makes it a petty offense and makes the fine only $35. Thanks AHP, Dean thinks. Travis and Dean contemplate taking the officer's picture while he is filling out the ticket but decide that we'd just as soon leave well enough alone.

Mile 1900 - Do you know where London Bridge is? It's in Lake Havisau City, AZ of course! We aren't sure why, but we drove over it and took a few pics. I know what you're saying "Not another bridge!" Trust us, this one really didn't fascinate us either, but how often does one drive over London Bridge?

Mile 1909 - Dean finally asks Travis for the extra pair of sunglasses. Travis claims moral victory, Dean now thinks Travis is annoying.

Mile 1943 - Took wrong turn looking for Arizona Highway 72 (SR-72 they call it) and had to back track. Got lost #10.

Mile 1981 - Stop for gas in Hope, AZ. $1.739/gal for what must be the only gas station for a hundred miles. If you've followed closely, you now know that Travis resumes driving.

Mile 2000 - Somewhere in the middle of the Desert of Arizona.

Mile 2055 - After about 40 miles of driving on I-10 into Phoenix, Travis begins to become cranky. Remembering some advice given to him by one of Travis' former travelling companions, Dean offers Travis a coke and a banana. Travis again notes that Dean is annoying, but eats the food anyway. We both agree that the non-interstate route is much more enjoyable.

Mile 2074 - 6:20 local time, we cross the Phoenix city limit.

Mile 2097 - Stop by Mike and Nancy's House. Mike was a college roommate of Travis, and now lives in Phoenix. Mike was out of town on business, but Dean took the boys for a spin in that "Car that they forgot to put a roof on" according to Foster and Garrett. Hi Garrett! Hi Foster! Hi Nancy! (from left to right). Hey Mike…you forgot to tell Travis you bought a new car, and your yard is starting to look unkept.

Mile 2099 - Stopped at Mobil station in Phoenix for $1.669/gal. Dean resumes driving and we take a back route to Tucson to stay the night.

Mile 2208 - Arrived in Tucson, AZ at 9:40 local time.

Mile 2223 - Found a cheesy motel, the "Frontier Motel" and checked in. Went to get a bite to eat.

Mile 2226 - Arrived back at Motel and called it a night. 641 total miles for day 5, a pretty full day.

Tomorrow we hope to be sending you regards from Presido, TX in preparation for our Big Bend tour. We have a long two days ahead of us so be sure to expect more from the car shots and much less narrative, we hope you enjoy it. See you tomorrow!