When we had gotten up and around and had breakfast, we checked out of our hotel and drove into town to find some historic Route 66 signs. Route 66 has been swallowed up mostly by huge interstate highways. In some small towns, especially in the southwest, they have preserved some of the old Route 66 charm. Gallup, New Mexico is one of those places. Aidan was only 3 when the movie Cars came out and he has been in love with the soundtrack ever since. If you know the song "Life is a Highway", then you know that it talks about the places that Route 66 crosses. We were lucky to visit many of those places along our journey, but the one place he wanted to visit most was Gallup. As a 3 year old boy riding along in our car, he would sing that song as loud as he could. Driving down Route 66 we just couldn't resist playing that song. As I looked in the backseat, Aidan (who claims he is "too cool" to sing along) was singing louder than anyone else in the car. I just had to smile!
When we travel we eat local as much as we can. A favorite local New Mexico burger place. Yummy! To find the best places to eat, just ask the locals. People always say that "southern" people are the friendliest people around. I would have to say people in the southeast were
some of the friendliest people we have ever met. (Not to mention we happen to have New York license plate on our rental car from Georgia.)
We drove about 1 hour and arrived at the Petrified Forest National Park. Sorry about the interesting picture. That is what happens when you set your camera on a rock. There is a 28 mile driving route you take with your own car.
One of the most interesting places I have been! It looked like a different world. Amazing and breathtaking. I wouldn't call it beautiful, but so fascinating. The rocks sometimes looked like snow. In the distance you could see trains passing through the desert terrain. Many years ago those trains carried people that would stop, get off and steal as much as the petrified wood as possible. Some of the most valuable wood in the world. Hot soaring summer temps made it so desolate and berran. A must on my visit list!
After another 2 1/2 hour drive we stopped in Flag Staff, Arizona. We at at the is fantastic pizza place called Oregeno's on the campus of Northern Arizona University. Temps in the low 70's with the mountains on top of us, a small quaint town, we absolutely fell in love with this place and the people.
1 more hour and we arrived at our final destination for the day, Grand Canyon National Park.
Driving in and turning the corner to our camp ground at the South Rim, we saw this guy. Hanging out just to say hi. They were everywhere. Everytime we ventured out, they were grazing around the woods. Spooked us at first, but after a while we got use to them.
Our camp for the next couple days. Would totally recommend Mather Campground at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. Clean sites, clean bathrooms, laundry facilities, stores right nearby.
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