Kingman, Az

Well, obviously the first thing on our minds Friday morning was our truck. In addition to the engine light being on it was idling very rough - to the point of sounding like it was going to stall at any moment. 

not good

We had passed an AutoZone on our way in and so there we went. The truck was checked with one of their fancy dancy machines - the fellow reported - "6th cyclinder - can be this, this, this or this'. hmmmm - not sounding so easy this time!

Derek went in and came back with their list of mechanics and off we went. The first place and closest - of course (how else were we to choose?) didn't have enough guys on that day and so sent us to this place.

Mike Taflan's on Andy Devine Ave.

After a time (the mechanic needed to be called in -  and then called twice) our truck was inspected. 'When was the last time you had a tune up ' was the question. Since Derek and I just looked at him blankly (we have had a TON of work on the truck in the last few years but a simple tune up escaped us) - hmmm - the mechanic rescued us - 'don't worry - I can tell you!'

And so - about 4 hours later and with $218 less in our pockets we were back on the road. Our spark plugs were changed and some 'stuff' (women speak) was poured into the gas tank. Yes, yes I know it is all much more technical then that but I've got to admit that when Derek starts talking 'truck speak' my mind tends to wander.

{special note: when we got back on the road the truck didn't sound or run any better and we were shaking our heads! grrrrrrr But after traveling the next few days and putting more stuff in the tank - it finally ran much better and the engine light went off about 1/2 way through Idaho.}

Down the Interstate we went - exit 48 - next up.

We had pretty much decided to skip old Kingman since we had been twice before and we were behind schedule now, if such a thing existed.

But since we needed gas and the visitor's center was - just over there - we decided to stop in and have a late lunch. I was thrilled, I just love this stop - not exactly sure why - I guess because it is so familiar.

If you want to ensconce yourself in Route 66 memorabilia - this is THE place.

+ wifi!

Love this building - here's the pic from this trip and below is the pic from our Desert Wanderings Tour 2008.

Lots to see in the Power House and a really good Roue 66 store. We've shopped several times at the store when the R 66 theme was still so shiny and new to us. 

Every time we visit multiple trains pass by - so it must be a busy busy line.

Sure feels like spring here! Pic courtesy of Derek who keeps track of plants and trees.

Just across the street sits a locomotive and we visit here each time as well. Strange feeling for me this  time as Cassia and I went over while Derek stayed behind for some internet time.

WoW!

If you would have told me in 2008 that I would be back to this place in four years with our almost 3 year old toddler - well - I won't tell you what I would have said! Sure is amazing!

'Nope I won't look at the camera!'

Cassia 2012

 Cowboy Derek 2008

Across the street is a great diner - Route 66 style - Mr. D'z. In 2008 Derek and I went for the whole deal - burgers, onion rings, fries and malts. Living on credit - ahhhh - those were the days.

Today - we had sandwiches in our trailer. To congratulate ourselves on our restraint we decided to make a trip over and treat ourselves to malts. We can't leave the USA without a malt! 

Cassia and I in front of Mr. D'z.

Yum! I had a vanilla malt and Derek chocolate. I know, I know - Cassia's ice cream is huge! Somehow my request for a 'child size ice cream' got lost in translation. Dad had to make the sacrifice and finish it for Cassia.

Back to the truck and back on the road. See you again - I'm sure - Kingman!

We headed out of Kingman north on the 93 headed to Vegas. I LOVE this part of highway 93 - a nice smooth drive. 

Our destination was to the Home Depot in Henderson. But as you will see from a few posts from now we didn't make it. Derek took a right off the highway and almost got us in to some serious trouble. All worked out but it was pretty tense for a while - still don't think I can laugh about it!

Thanks for takin' the time to check in on our trek!

Teresa

Today's Interesting Link: I just found this new blog - Frugally Sustainable by Andrea. I have toured a bit and really enjoyed today's post 'Help - I want to be a stay at home mom... but don't know if I can afford it!' It is worth a read. People look at us and wonder how we afford to do what we do also - it just comes down to making choices. We can't all make the same choices but at the same time I do believe that in our over consumerized (is that a word? it's coming up underlined) world - much savings can be attained by either cutting things out or making them yourselves. I think I'll try making the liquid soap and the tooth powder when we get home.

JOSHUA FOREST PARKWAY

From Wickenburg we followed highway 93 AKA the Joshua Forest Parkway. We also wanted to take this route last and so we were happy to be on a new road for us!

The novelty wore off pretty quickly though!

Interestingly I had asked one of the ladies at the Wickenburg Chamber if the 93 had steep grades...

'no' she said!

Now I can't figure out if she just didn't want to tell me the truth - or it just doesn't seem steep to her...

Well let me tell you - it DOES have some steep parts - I felt pretty bad for our little truck trying to pull the trailer up some of the climbs through the Poachie Range.

The Joshua Tree for which the parkway gets it's name.

We thought the word 'forest' was a bit strange for the collection of Joshua Trees but I guess that is because we come from a place of dense forests - but there were quite a few Joshua's in one place.

This was one of the steeper climbs although hard to get from a photo.

Interesting rock formations along the way - not the best pic but the best of the bunch.

Now here is a good story for you!

As we were flying down a hill we looked to the left and saw - just in the nick of time - what appeared to be a group of wild horses running and kicking up some serious dust. There was also a truck and trailer parked out there also. There was left turn lane in but by the time we realized what we were seeing it was too late to slow down. 

'DARN!'

said Derek.

All the way down the hill he was upset that we missed the turn off! 

'That would have made a great picture! Wild horses! and Cassia could have seen them!' says Derek

And so by the time we were at the bottom of the hill and found a crossroads....

tick, tick, tick

yup - Derek was going to go all the way back UP the hill!

At the turnoff at the top - there was what you ask?

yup - a GATE! so we couldn't go in

and the 'wild horses'?

They were wild no longer and calmly grazing in the bushes quite a ways away - we could only see 2 of them.

And so the three of us just stood for a few minutes realizing that what we thought we saw and what we really saw were two different things!

We couldn't get in, it wasn't a boondocking site and they weren't wild horses.

All was not lost - Derek got a nice mother - daughter pic.

Now don't get me wrong. If you have power to spare - or a nice little sports car - this is a great drive. Very scenic - good road. But for us - with a V6 pulling our trailer we just don't do mountains very well.  

The alternative is the Quartzsite - Parker - Lake Havasu - Kingman route along the SR 95. Since we had done that before - and lets be honest - it is a pretty busy road - we thought this would be a better way. Now that we have done it I'm not sure - pros and cons on both.

We actually weren't even planning on this route until sometime around Buckeye. Our original plan from way back in Florida had been to FINALLY visit Prescott and Sedona - up to Flagstaff - back to the Grand Canyon - onto Page and Kanab and over to Cedar City Utah and through the Great Basin. 

But not to be this year.

We ultimately decided that it was 1) too early - brrrrr 2) too steep and 3) too far out of our way - the last two mainly being affected by the quickly rising fuel prices and our corresponding falling bank balance.

The landscape is desert - beautiful but dry. Just before Wikieup the highway intersects the Big Sandy river - WoW! the moisture has allowed Cottonwood to grow - what a neat combo!

The lighter green are the trees.

Not a whole lot in Wikieup - pretty much a gas station town.

We eventually hit the I40 and rolled into Kingman. We headed straight to the Home Depot on N Stockton Hill Road. Sadly a delivery truck parked right behind us and kept his engine running all night. Because our truck was running rough we didn't move - finally we fell asleep. First time that has happened to us at HD.

A beautiful sunset over Kingman that night - Derek took these two pictures - and if you can believe this is exactly how they came out! Amazing colours!

And so another day on our journey came to a close - a very busy day - Buckeye Hills Recreation Area to  Wickenburg to Kingman! All the traveling was good for Cassia though - she got a few naps into the day and thankfully her fever was gone and she was feeling much better by the time we reached Kingman.

We knew that the first thing we had to do in the morning was head to Auto Zone to try to figure out why our engine light had come on and why the truck was running so rough. The engine light had come on during our 2008 tour and we had pulled into the Ottawa, Oklahoma Auto Zone - a new chip was all that was needed. We were hoping that this would be a repeat!

Cheers!

P.S. I see we have passed over the 10,000 mark of site visits! yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Teresa

Today's Interesting Link: Interested in weather? Derek and I sure are - it's one of our hobbies I guess. On fb we have 'liked' Firsthand Weather. Here is the website - actually in adding this link it was my first time at the site - we really appreciate all the regular updates on fb - especially during the last few days with all the tornado activity in the east.