roadhound

I'm a little late to the discussion but I would like to add my .02 worth. First, I commend you for opening up the forum to allow guests to see the images. I suspect there are a lot of people out there like me who will lurk on a message board for awhile before jumping in and saying something. I was a guest on this forum for a few months before signing up and wanted to make sure that it was a worthwhile place to spend time and contribute. Seeing the images will only help to encourage return visits by Guests and hopefully they will register and contribute to the discussion. Second, in regards to posting pictures, the guidelines that I follow are 792x528 @72 DPI with a quality setting of between 8 and 10. The pictures are linked to my own website and are generally speaking around 125k in size. Some variance in size may occur based on the detail in the image. Although all of the pictures that I do post here can be seen on my own site I do try to avoid directly sending the viewer away from this site. Finally, Thank You for providing this forum. The information that has been provided to me by others on this forum has been extremely valuable in helping me to plan my road trips. The knowledge shared by Keep the Show on the Road, DennyG, ypsi-slim, and others has been a great resource for me so far and saved countless hours of research on my part by pointing me in the right direction. Roadhound

quote name='Dave Reese' date='May 25 2007, 08:02 PM' post='6794'] As to asking the hotel clerk for restaurant suggestions, we find that the hotel desk in a small hotel is normally beneficial as long as the hotel does not have a restaurant. We also have found that many store clerks are a great resource for special interesting dining choices. When you ask a local for their advice, they often will make the effort to come up with a good local suggestion. I find that too. Usually the desk clerk wants to steer you towards the best in town. I almost missed the photo. I had my back to them taking the photo below when my wife, who was sitting in the truck honked the horn and pointed at the mailboxes and sky. The scene faded quickly with the sun being completely blocked by the clouds a few seconds after I snapped the picture. The Beale was looking the worse for wear with the front boarded up and exposed framework on the side. The Brunswick on the other hand had a crowd at the bar and looked to be hopping on a Thursday night. More photos coming soon.

After we completed our 3 day stay in the Grand Canyon we headed south to Williams. We tried to get an early start but instead we stayed in the park until noon before starting the days driving. Our planned destination for the evening was Kingman. As we left the Grand Canyon heavy rain, with high winds, were moving in and they expected snow in the evening. I was wishing we could stay another day. Along the way to Williams we stopped at the airport in Valle and my son and I toured the Planes of Fame Air Museum. If your in the area it's worth a stop with many warbirds and antique aircraft in the hangar and a few vintage jets parked out back. You can't miss it, its the only building at the airport with a four engine Lockheed Constellation in front of it. After completing our tour we headed into Williams, gassed up, and then headed west on the Interstate. Getting off of the Interstate at exit 136 we drove Route 66 through Seligman and on towards the Grand Canyon Caverns. Originally I had intended to stop in Seligman but due to our late start we were pressed for time if we wanted to take the tour of the Caverns. Yet another reason to go back and take things a bit slower. Grand Canyon Hotel in Williams-What does $3.50 get you? This was the second time that I had driven the section of Route 66 between Seligman and Kingman. The first time was in 1991 and I had heard the Route 66 song but did not know much more than that about the road. I remember lots of open road with very few cars. It hasn't changed much since then, still a great road to drive. The area around the caverns is much like I expected it to be. The buildings are worn but still look functional. It's not hard to imagine what the place looked like back in 1962, just fewer cars now. The building that houses the tour has a gift shop and restaurant. We didn't eat there but it looked like they made a good hamburger. The Grand Canyon Tour itself was well worth it. There must be a course that cave tour guides take because they all have the same dry wit and corny jokes. One of the interesting things about the caves that I was not aware of was that it was deemed a fallout shelter in the early 60's and enough food and water is still stored there to support 2000 people. In typical government fashion the food and water were supplied but only 3 rolls of toilet paper were given. Grand Canyon Caverns-Enough food & water for 2000 people and 3 rolls of toilet paper After we finished our tour of the cavern we continued westward toward Peach Springs. The weather had been overcast all day and the skies ahead looked like it was going to get worse. By the time we had passed through Hackberry we had seen hail, torrential downpours, blue skies, and rainbows. Quite a mix of weather in a short time period. Mailboxes at Peach Springs Somewhere near Truxton Somewhere near Truxton We made it to Kingman and after checking into a motel we all agreed that a Mexican meal would hit the spot. We were told by the desk clerk that the El Palacio, across the street from the Beale Hotel, was the best Mexican food in town. The desk clerk did not lie. Hotel Beale and the El Palacio Enjoy the Journey

Now you have a reason to go back. More pictures coming soon. Rick

Unfortunately I didn't get the sign from the east side as I would have been shooting into the sun (which I usually try to avoid). I didn't take notice of the price either. Sounds like they made a mistake that was captured permanently. Even though it is right of the Interstate the location of the trading post was not ideal as far as capturing west bound travelers. Approaching from the east (heading west) on the Interstate you don't see the site until your past the exit. From the west (heading east) your still close enough to Flagstaff that anybody needing gas would have stopped and topped off. Not hard to see why it didn't make it.

On the way out of Flagstaff heading towards Two Guns I had noticed two oversized arrows sticking out of the ground next to an abandoned trading post and cafe that were right off of the Interstate. On our way back west after our stop in Two Guns and Canyon Diablo we took the Twin Arrows exit and took a look around. I haven't been able to find out much about this site other than it being one of the many trading posts set up for Route 66 travelers. It must have stayed in business past the introduction of the Interstate or at least until gas was at $1.36 a gallon. If anybody has any more information please share. Twin Arrows Frozen in time at $1.36 a gallon No longer serving Breakfast (or hamburgers & malts) Enjoy the Journey

Thanks for the comment and I am glad that my photos are inspiring you to revisit this site. My regret on this trip was not having enough time to thoroughly explore the area. The destination for the family was the Grand Canyon and while that was mine too I also wanted to explore some of the old roadways nearby and along the way. I hope to go back someday too and take it at a slower pace than I did this last time. Rick More photos to come.

I didn't cross the bridge and explore the other side of the canyon. It may not be too apparent in the photos but the wind was blowing hard and those clouds that give the image such a dramatic look were soon upon us. As I got near the bridge, and was going to walk over it, the the rain started and I ran for the shelter of my vehicle. I did attempt to take some pictures before the rain got too heavy but they all have horizontal streaks on them caused by the raindrops falling sideways. Here's a couple of shots of the bridge. Rick

As promised in a previous posting I am putting up a few photos from a recent trip to Arizona last April. During our stay in the Grand Canyon we took a day trip to Flagstaff and points east. In the spirit of "Keep the Show on the Road" I am attempting to provide some information about the subject matter that I have been able to gather. If there are any errors in the text below please let me know. East of Flagstaff on I-40 is the town of Two Guns. Two Guns was originally called Canyon Lodge until the name was changed by Henry "Two Gun" Miller around the time that the National Trail was renamed as Route 66. Canyon Lodge was a natural crossing point of Canyon Diablo first when wagons were heading westward and later when autos became prevelent. During the heyday of Route 66 Two Guns was a stopping point that featured overnight accomodations, food, and a zoo. Two Guns is easily visible from the highway and can be accessed from the Two Guns exit. Campground Entrance Mountain Lion Enclosure Route 66 crossing of Canyon Diablo North of Two Guns is the remains of the settlement of Canyon Diablo. Canyon Diablo originated in 1880 when construction of the railroad was halted until a bridge was built over the nearby canyon. Financial difficulties caused further delays and the bridge was finally completed in 1890. The settlement had no law enforcement and earned the reputation as being meaner than Tombstone and Dodge City combined. The shacks that lined the main street hosted saloons, gambling dens, and brothels that stayed open 24 hours a day. The main street was aptly know as "Hell Street." A stagecoach ran between Canyon Diablo and Flagstaff. When the town got its first peace officer he allegedly put the badge on at 3:00 p.m. and was laid out for burial at 8:00 p.m. Five other men also took the position none of which lasted more than a month before they too were killed. The town died after the railroad bridge was built and little of the original settlement remains today. The largest visible structure is a standing wall and foundation of a trading post built when the site was the railhead for Flagstaff and Prescott. Many car bodies lie about the area and ground is littered with broken glass and rusted tin. Canyon Diablo The Canyon Diablo site is approximately 5 miles north of I-40 on the north side of the railroad tracks. The dirt road is very rough and a high clearance vehicle is recommended.

Thanks once again for the information KtSotR. I am making notes on the map and highlighting the points of interest. Although, with my 14 year old son coming along I may not spend much time in Salt Wells. Your explanation on the US 50\NV722 confirmed what I had thought. The copy of the LH strip map that I have shows the LH following present day US 50 with a dashed roadway marked "Under Construction" where NV 722 is. My 1941 roadmap shows US 50 following present day NV 722. I believe I will opt for NV722 when the time comes and make the short detour to Cold Springs. Great stuff! Keep it coming!

In my opinion you are both masters on the subject compared to a greenhorn like myself. Thanks for sharing the information that you have. I have a couple of more questions in regards to that section of the Lincoln. What year did the route that passes through what is now Dugway Proving Grounds switch to the the one that passes through Wendover? Was it prior to the creation of the US Highways? When was the Lincoln Highway through Dugway Provings Grounds closed? I would assume that it was shortly after creation of the base in the early 40's? I have a 1941 Road Atlas that was published by State Farm Insurance that shows the area prior to the creation of Proving Grounds but shows the route of the Lincoln Highway through the southern end of the Great Salt Lake as mostly an unpaved road with no designation and no indication of any military bases.

My son is 14 and I suppose he has the same interests as the typical teenager (skateboards, music, cars, etc.) but he also has a keen interest in American history. From your other posting (Carson City to Fallon) I know that he would enjoy Fort Churchill as well as the the Eisenhower camping spot. Cheers, Rick

Sounds Great KtSotR! Don't worry about too many pictures, the more the better. One of the purposes of the trip (or any road trip) for me is to take pictures. When I can see the photos that others have taken it helps stir those creative juices and increases the yearning to get on the road. I've been doing some research myself over the last couple of days and I think I have mapped out where the Pony Express Stations where between Carson City and Faust, or at least where they think they where. I don't plan on hitting them all but those that are near US 50 are fair game. I also ordered a copy of Sir Richard Burton's book, $17 including shipping. One of the things that I will be interested in is where to plan to stay for the night as my son and I travel. I was planning on camping for at least half of the week but expect that I will need a good shower every few days. Looking forward to the information to come! Rick

I'll say. That's a lot to absorb. I am going to need some time to digest it all. Its a deal. Small price to pay for all the information I have recieved so far. I've done a fair amount of photography so expect to see lots of pictures. I have copies of the strip maps in electronic form. I wish I had originals. I was able to spend a little bit of time today browsing the University of Michigan photo archives. What a great collection of photos. I was able to figure out approximately where some of the photos were taken and others that I have to assume our now within the Dugway proving grounds. Specifically Black Point, Granite Mountain, and the Goodyear Section. Was the lighthouse ever built at Granite Point? That would be something to see if it was still standing. I hope you don't mind if I start asking specifics related to sights that I need to see along the way as time goes on. Maybe break it down into a seperate posting on the forum covering a limited distance along the route? For instance a seperate post to discuss sights between Fallon & Eureka. Thanks again for all the info!

First let me thank you both for the wealth of information that you are passing along. This is great stuff, keep it coming. My objective for this trip is to, just as you said, "immerse yourself in what travel was like 90 to 150 years ago in this country." I have no desire for a Disneyland type of experience. I plan on taking 5 or 6 days for the entire trip with most of it being spent between Carson City and Salt Lake City. As far as dusty and unpaved roads go - I look forward to it, that's why I went for the 4 wheel drive option when I bought my truck. I plan on making the trip in the July-August timeframe. I know that is not the best as far as temperature is concerned but it is the only time I have available. I like to start planning a trip like this well in advance so that I can start making notes on my map about places to stop. I hate finding out after I get home about someplace that I should have stopped and didn't because I didn't know about it. So, thank you very much for the references, I have my homework to do. Lastly, Dave, your stream of consciousness posting captured my sentiments exactly. Rick

Thanks for the info Denny. I will definitely have to pick up a copy of that book and read it before I hit the road. I've looked at the area on google earth, looked at the topo maps, but none of that can really give you a true picture of what the traveling would be like. To bad that section is sealed off within a military base and the bypass around it doesn't sound like to much fun. Cheers, Rick

I have a question that I hope somebody on this board can help me with. I am planning a road trip following the Lincoln Highway from the San Francisco Bay Area to Salt Lake City. I am using a strip map (year unknown) as reference and trying to re-concile it with the Delorme Gazateer for Northern California, Nevada, and Utah. Finding the general route is not a problem until I get to Ely, Nevada. From their the strip map that I have shows the Lincoln Highway going north out out of Ely, then east through the Shell Creek Range and Antelope Range to Ibapah & Gold Hill, Ut. After Gold Hill the road heads south and then east across the Great Salt Lake Desert. My questions are these: Is the part of the Lincoln Highway that passes through the Great Salt Lake Desert still accessible or does it lie within the Dugway Proving Grounds? There is a road shown on the Delorme map that goes south of the Dugway Proving Grounds labeled as the Pony Express Trail but I do not believe that this road is the Lincoln Highway. Also, has anybody driven this part of the Lincoln Highway and can you offer any advice? (other than gas up and carry plenty of water?) Cheers, Rick

Hello, I'm a newbie to this forum and this is my first post. I was fortunate enough to find this message board recently and its refreshing to see that there are others as obsessed as I am with the old highways. Two weeks ago I took the family on a vacation and we drove from our home in the SF Bay Area to the Grand Canyon. Since we were driving it was 'required' that we take in as much of the Route 66 as we could fit into the schedule. I've attached a few of the night shots that I took along the way and once I finish working on the other shots I will post them as well. Cheers Route 66 Motel, Barstow, CA Hill Top Motel, Kingman, AZ Imperial Motel, Kingman, AZ Route 66 Motel, Kingman, AZ