Epilog

Well, we are back at home finally. Five weeks is a long time to be away.  We stopped at the family farm Thursday to visit with family and rest a little before making the final 160 miles Friday.  It was our first time to camp in a barnyard.  Today I cleaned the camper while Nancy did laundry and put things away in the house.Won't be taking any more 5 week trips for awhile.

Foggy cotton field

Barnyard camping

Woolfolk Farms herefords

Barn cat

Country road

Texas in our rearview mirror

Drove from Amarillo to Ft. Smith, AR today, not very entertaining. Weather was clear but windy and cool.

Sunrise in Amarillo campground

KOA in Alma, AR

I-40 forever

Spent the day driving I-40 from Gallup, NM to Amarillo, TX.  Actually saw gas for $2.99 a gal, much better than the $4.79 per gallon in California.

Beautiful rocks

Another nice day with temps in the 70s and 80s

Lots of mesquite

Lots of flat open spaces

Lots of lava rocks

Small desert town

Lots of abandoned buildings

Yoda makes friends

Texas panhandle

Getting our kicks on Rte 66

We had intended on  going to Death Valley National Park today but had to change our plans since it is closed due to budget impasse.  A friend recommended that we visit Oatman, AZ, an old mining town that is now a tourist trap.  I wanted to see some of the old Route 66 anyway so off we went. 

Our campsite in Needles

Colorado river at dawn

Colorado river at Needles, CA

 Volcanic rock

Extinct volcano

Hotel in Oatman, AZ

Hwy 66 in Oatman, AZ

Downtown Oatman

Mountains at Oatman, AZ

 Volcano cone in Oatman

Once we left Oatman the real fun began.  Hwy 66 became very narrow, crooked, and steep as it wound its way over the mountains.  We did get some spectacular views though.

View of Hwy 66 winding up the mountain

Interesting layers of rock

 Finally, after about 15 miles of hair raising curves, we came to this.

Interesting rock strata along roadway.

More of  Route 66

Restored Burma Shave signs

Back on I-40

Last day in California

All good things must come to an end and so it is with this trip.  We said our good byes to the rest of the group and headed east.  We didn't quite make it out of California, tonight we are camped beside the Colorado river in Needles, CA. We are anxious to cross the river into Arizona tomorrow, gas is 50 cents cheaper and the speed limit for trailers is 55 mph in California.
It was a pretty drive today starting with vineyards and orchards, then into the mountains, then across the Mohave desert. The weather continued to be nice with highs in the low 80s and lows in the 40s.

Miles of almond orchards

Not sure what this is

More orchards

Lots of roses and flowers

Lots of wind turbines

and oil wells

Then came the desert

Plane parking lot

Lots of trains

 The desert is desolate but has a stark beauty of its own.

Dark rocks look like a shadow on this hill

Lots of volcanic rock

Mirage makes this dry valley look like a lake