May 24 248 miles. Flagstaff to Boulder City, NV Side trip to Hoover Dam. Staying at the Best Western for 2 nights in the historic downtown area.
Left the cool refreshing wooded and green confines of Flagstaff headed back out into the desert on our way to Kingman along the old route 66. There's a long stretch of old mother road that peels away from I-40 for about 100 miles. It's great for giving you that sense of traveling into yesteryear although it's unfortunate to see the impact the interstate brought to a number of the little towns along the way that were once vibrant communities serving weary travelers. A stop at Hackberry General Store is a required stop as it was where Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire spent many seasons working on his pencil illustrations.
Route 66 and I-40 come back close together at Kingman which has kept that town going. We spent a few hours there at their museum and then had a late lunch at Mr. D'z Diner. Delicious chocolate malt! Even got the extras in the metal mixing cup. Great display at the museum showing the locations importance for travel and the evolution of Route 66. It was also a WWII training center for air force gunners. Trained over 35,000 men. It's been a transportation hub since the original wagon train trail was surveyed going right through the area. Followed by the railroad. Followed by Route 66. Followed by the interstate. It's geographic location between mountainous ridges makes it a natural throughway. It was also the hometown of Andy Devine. If you're over 50 the name probably sounds familiar but do a search and you'll go "oh... that guy".. A mainstay sidekick character in westerns.
In Kingman we took a planned detour north 100 miles off Route 66 up to Boulder City, NV. The most boring 100 mile drive I've ever done. Straight road and flat desert almost the entire way. The town is cute and sits aside Hoover Dam which was originally called Boulder Dam - hence the towns name. It was a completely federally planned and built town to accommodate up to 7,000 men working on the dam. Interestingly, it's one of only 2 towns in Nevada which prohibit gambling. Availability of water from Lake Mead makes for a lush oasis with golf courses, green lawns and lush palm trees in an otherwise inhospitable area. Forecast for tomorrow as we go look at the dam is upper 90's.
We stopped at Mr. D's a number of times. Wonderful outdoor seating, ideal for doggy travel. We owned a home in Vegas for 20 years, so we know these stomping ground really well. Welcome to the West!
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