Tag Archives: Arizona

Back on the road

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Today the Balloon Fiesta is over for us.  I am sure there will be more coming in for this weekend but it is time to hook up  and head on out.  However, before we left we were treated to another show.  We rolled out of bed at an earlyish time but not too bad.  We saw balloons floating over our trailer like the previous morning.  They were taking off from the field and heading south with the wind.  Many went directly over our trailer.

BalloonLastDay

This wave of balloons cleared our parking area and we noticed another wave from the north coming in.  They would descend by the field, drop their marker (like the previous morning), then pop back up and continue on.  The vast majority of them continued to the south but a few actually set down behind the motorhomes about 3 rows back from us.  This was pretty impressive to see that maneuvering.  We turned to look at another coming in, lower, lower, lower, boom.  He landed right next to one of the Airstream rows and right behind our traveling buddies, Bob and Phyllis.  The pilot asked the group around the basket to help hold the balloon in place until his chase crew could get there.  Naturally, he got full compliance.  In this picture you can see Bob and Phyllis having a great time (they are the ones looking at the camera and beaming from ear to ear and their trailer is in the background).

BalloonLanding1

Roxie was right there also helping out.

BalloonLanding3

The crew got the bag deflated and down to the ground.  Again they asked for help to get the air out of the bag and there went everyone again.

BalloonLanding2

Everyone involved really enjoyed it and I enjoyed watching them.  There were enough hands already.

We got back on I40 W and backtracked a LOT today.  We made it to Holbrook, AZ and are at the KOA tonight.  We both had nice long hot showers in their restrooms.  We dumped both our tanks and now we are somewhat back to normal.  We will head to Cottonwood and the Dead Horse Ranch State Park tomorrow.

The most famous corner in the US?

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Flagstaff got to 24 degrees overnight but we stayed pretty toasty inside.  I was pretty beat and slept until about 9am.  I then remembered about getting that sticker for the transmission that would show what temperatures it was reaching.  I popped up then Bob and I went down and got one.  It doesn’t exactly work like a mood ring where it changes colors based upon heat.  This one has dots that change turn a color when it reaches each temp level but do not change color back.  It will show what the max was.  Fine with me.

Some other Airstreamers were going to have breakfast in Flagstaff then stop for lunch in Winslow.  Now Winslow is only 50 miles away from Flagstaff so we thought that is awfully close to have breakfast and then lunch.  We decided to leave a bit closer to lunch so we would be in Winslow at lunch.  The planned location was the La Posada hotel.  A former railway hotel that fell into disrepair but now is being restored to its full glory.  We pulled up and found 3 Airstreams already there.  The hotel is beautiful.  We headed straight to the dining room and got a table.  Bob went over to the only table that had more that 4 people at it and found those were the Airstreamers.  We talked a bit with them but they were already finished eating and were preparing to leave.  Not a problem.  We went and sat down to check the menu.

The waitress had a suggestion of the tacos made with Filet Mignon.  3 of us chose those.  Roxie chose red corn tortilla taquitos.  None of us were disappointed and the prices were very reasonable.  Roxie also tried their Black Bean/Creamed Corn soup which she loved.  The chance for dessert came, Bob and Phyllis ordered a bread pudding with many types of nuts and fruits in it (terrible description).  We had creme brule.  Both of them were very good but the bread pudding was the best.

LaPosada

There is another thing Winslow is famous for.  Do you know it?  The Eagles made this town very popular with their song “Take it Easy”.  There is a reference to ‘standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona” (sing it if you know it).  Well we had to go to THE corner.  We had to take some pictures.  I had to play the song for Roxie afterward on the iPod.  It was a weekday so it wasn’t busy at all.  We did the photo exchanges (all these will be on Flickr when I return).  Here is one of the corner that the city has setup.

Winslow

When we looked at the clock we realized that we had spent 2 1/2 hours in Winslow.  Wow!  We still had 180 miles to go.  Time to get on the road.  We left Arizona, eventually and entered New Mexico.  We got to the Grants KOA around 7pm (their time).  We were the last two RV’s in the campground as they were full!  I am glad I made that reservation 5 months ago.  There are approximately 20 Airstreams here and we are heading to Camping World to join up with the rest and all go en masse.  Should be fun!

Oh and about my sticker?  Not even the first dot has shown up (190 degrees).  I am not sure if that is good or bad now…