Getting our kicks on Route 66

As I begin to write I can't help wishing that someone would pay me to travel the world and record my introspective ramblings!  We have already had a great weekend in the US with Emma joining David and I for this short time; a weekend that would take us from LA to Phoenix and Flagstaff.

We flew into LA on Thursday (13th April), where, after a shower and breakfast we met up with David's brother Chris and his new wife Ann. (Anne is so incomplete without an "e".)  We were staying in the Manhattan Beach area of Los Angeles and they drove us down to the beach where we walked out on the pier and along the beachfront walkway, marvelling at the houses and colourful spring gardens. A walk was what we needed to try to clear our heads of the cobwebs of jet lag.

After lunch at a typical LA style organic restaurant, where David and Emma opted for the "hangover" juice and myself a honey lemonade, and a catch up on all the family news, we were taken to Venice Beach. A lack of time and the traffic did not allow us to get to Santa Monica! We walked along stopping to watch the muscle guys flex their oiled muscles and viewed the medicinal cannabis shop, along with the many tacky tourist shops.

Chris and Ann dropped us back at our hotel early afternoon where we were determined to keep moving so sleep did not overtake us. We went in search of coffee and found an Italian restaurant where we were surprised at how good the coffee was. I ordered a latte that came in a glass the size of a large beer stein. I needed some alcohol later to counteract the effects of this huge caffeine intake! After an early dinner at a great restaurant and a wine, it was off to the land of nod, which came as soon as my head hit the pillow!

Our flight on Friday was to Phoenix where we picked up a rental car and took off towards Flagstaff. Flagstaff, just south of the Grand Canyon and about a 2 hour drive from Phoenix, was originally a thriving rail and lumber centre. Situated on Route 66, it is today popular for hiking, mountain bike riding, rock climbing and skiing. We did none of these but used it as the gateway to visit Monument Valley and the startling red rock cliffs of Sedona.

Our day trip to Monument Valley was long but amazing! We had a tour guide who talked continuously for 10 hours and just when you thought he was going to let up for a while he would start on a new topic. He would even make eye contact with you in the rear vision mirror, I'm sure to check we were listening. I'm glad there were no questions at the end as I would have failed. I'm being a little unfair as he was very knowledgeable and had lots of great stories if all of them were to be believed!
( David did do a google search to check a few facts!)

On route to Monument Valley we stopped in the desert where a walk over the dry, sandy rocks saw us viewing the fossilised prints of dinosaurs. Tyrannosaurus Rex, pterodactyl, diplodocus prints all on view if you knew what you were looking for. We were also told quite bluntly that this would require a tip and we're also told the amount we were to tip!

It was a day of clear blue skies as we continued on, which seemed to highlight the redness of the imposing sandstone formations in Monument Valley, which is situated on Navajo land in Arizona, bordering Utah.  It was the landscape for many westerns and we could clearly imagine John Wayne and old wagon trains making their way through the valleys and over the dry rough terrain.

On Sunday we headed back to Phoenix via Sedona. We travelled through pine forests down winding roads with steep red canyon walls with the road following a small stream. Sedona is a pretty town known for its art community. Everywhere you look the canyon walls ascend above the town with the houses dotted amongst the trees blending in with the landscape. After lunch and a walk through the town looking at various galleries, we headed up to the church of the Holy Cross perched against the canyon wall with a stunning view over the surrounding area.

Interstate 17 took us back to Phoenix. A slight detour from the motorway saw us literally stumble across a cafe that had to be seen to be believed; Rock Springs Cafe at Black Canyon City, famous for its pies...pecan, coconut cream, banana cream, apple bourbon pie, etc. looked like something from a bygone era. We were a week too early for the Hog N Heat all you can eat BBQ and pie eating contest but enjoyed our slices of pecan (pronounced pee-caan) pie before driving on to Phoenix.

After checking into our hotel, it was time to return the rental car before taking Emma to the airport where she was off to join Chris in New York.  As for David and I, we have the next 4 days here in Phoenix while he attends a conference before we are off to see Dee and Paul in Albuquerque.

So see you in Phoenix and as John Wayne says "Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday."