This is our accommodation for the evening! Drinking by the pool with so many personalities! Meeting stars! Report in later.
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Our accommodation for tonight
Blog might not be till tomorrow! Big night.
This is our accommodation for the evening! Drinking by the pool with so many personalities! Meeting stars! Report in later.
This is our accommodation for the evening! Drinking by the pool with so many personalities! Meeting stars! Report in later.
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Off Road Adventure
After a delicious hot breakfast we relaxed at our motel this morning as we didn't have to be at our adventure until 12.30pm which was about 1 and half hours up the road
I think Si made a sneaky phone call to our insurance broker Craig to check my life insurance was up to date before booking this adventure!
Arizona ATV Adventure Tours here we come! 1 bike or 2? He of course booked 2. So off we went. There were only 4 in the group all experienced bar little ole me. I thought I should just double up with Si but we did the small confidence course and I was semi confident!
This is the most fun that you can have sitting down. 3 and half hours of off-roading fun in fact (37 miles). Yeah baby I was pumped! Plus to top it all off in the safety briefing Ray our guide was talking about rattlesnakes. I had to ask how often do you see these? Almost every day - and yep today was one of those days! We got our moneys worth! I was directly behind Ray and he did the hand signal to slow down then got me right up beside him. Across our path was a nice long rattler! He stopped for a bit then just slithered into the bush. My eyes (and heart) were popping out of my head!
The tour takes you through Sonoran Desert, through giant Saguaro and Octillo cactus. We went into Box Canyon which is 7 miles long and at some points only 10 feet wide with cliff faces reaching nearly 900 feet high!
I think just quietly my husband was very proud of me - crikey I was proud of me. Think I have definitely found a new hobby!
Found the closest bar to get a pitcher of Bud to wash the dirt away and then hit the road for Wickenburg, Arizona
Found a motel and had a well deserved shower. Bout to head out for dinner - a big manly steak and more beer! Yum.
I think Si made a sneaky phone call to our insurance broker Craig to check my life insurance was up to date before booking this adventure!
Arizona ATV Adventure Tours here we come! 1 bike or 2? He of course booked 2. So off we went. There were only 4 in the group all experienced bar little ole me. I thought I should just double up with Si but we did the small confidence course and I was semi confident!
This is the most fun that you can have sitting down. 3 and half hours of off-roading fun in fact (37 miles). Yeah baby I was pumped! Plus to top it all off in the safety briefing Ray our guide was talking about rattlesnakes. I had to ask how often do you see these? Almost every day - and yep today was one of those days! We got our moneys worth! I was directly behind Ray and he did the hand signal to slow down then got me right up beside him. Across our path was a nice long rattler! He stopped for a bit then just slithered into the bush. My eyes (and heart) were popping out of my head!
The tour takes you through Sonoran Desert, through giant Saguaro and Octillo cactus. We went into Box Canyon which is 7 miles long and at some points only 10 feet wide with cliff faces reaching nearly 900 feet high!
I think just quietly my husband was very proud of me - crikey I was proud of me. Think I have definitely found a new hobby!
Found the closest bar to get a pitcher of Bud to wash the dirt away and then hit the road for Wickenburg, Arizona
Found a motel and had a well deserved shower. Bout to head out for dinner - a big manly steak and more beer! Yum.
Monday, 10 September 2012
Ghosts, Underground & Shoot-outs
Absolutely no un-wanted visitors last night people! We both had a great sleep! You can stop laughing at me now family - we are outta the haunted hotel! Really was a great place to stay. While we were sitting in the lounge a young couple checked in and they wanted the room the female ghost last "made her appearance"! Why pay for that? A newly married couple checked in also and we enjoyed some delicious wedding cake.
This morning we read up about a mine tour. Because Bisbee is a major copper mining town we thought why not. (thinking open-cast!)
Bought the tickets and lined up to be dressed. Looking the part we were asked to board the train! Nek minnit heading deep into a underground mine! 1500 feet later we were in the deep constant 47F year round temperature mine. Can I tell you my heart was beating pretty quickly. This would not be a job opportunity I'll be sending my cv too! The tour lasted over an hour and I was pretty happy to see daylight. A really good tourist attraction though. Great value and great local guide who was full of history and humour. For some reason he opted to focus some of the jokes on me!
He showed us the 'bathroom facility' they had to use in years gone by and of course I had to ask can I sit on it? Wouldn't have been pleasant I can tell you.
Left Bisbee and next stop was Tombstone. What a wild Western town. Fun was had from the moment we got there till we left. All good timing again. As soon as we arrived there was a historic gunfight about to start at Doc Holliday's Gunfight Palace. Front row tickets and we were in. Great show. The acting was the best we have seen so far.
Headed down the road to Big Nose Kate's Saloon for lunch. Live music, great food and fantastic atmosphere. The girl that served us had Si speechless. She was busting out of her bustier. His expression was priceless. Even I was impressed! Good fun, even on top of the piano!
Fed the horse and rode out of town and have found our ranch for the night at Tucson still in Arizona. Was raining when we arrived but Si and I have still been in the pool. Only us - typical! But it was perfect temperature. Still about 23 degrees.
Thinking about the farmers and lambs at home. Typical lambing weather Southland is having. Keep warm everyone!
This morning we read up about a mine tour. Because Bisbee is a major copper mining town we thought why not. (thinking open-cast!)
Bought the tickets and lined up to be dressed. Looking the part we were asked to board the train! Nek minnit heading deep into a underground mine! 1500 feet later we were in the deep constant 47F year round temperature mine. Can I tell you my heart was beating pretty quickly. This would not be a job opportunity I'll be sending my cv too! The tour lasted over an hour and I was pretty happy to see daylight. A really good tourist attraction though. Great value and great local guide who was full of history and humour. For some reason he opted to focus some of the jokes on me!
He showed us the 'bathroom facility' they had to use in years gone by and of course I had to ask can I sit on it? Wouldn't have been pleasant I can tell you.
Left Bisbee and next stop was Tombstone. What a wild Western town. Fun was had from the moment we got there till we left. All good timing again. As soon as we arrived there was a historic gunfight about to start at Doc Holliday's Gunfight Palace. Front row tickets and we were in. Great show. The acting was the best we have seen so far.
Headed down the road to Big Nose Kate's Saloon for lunch. Live music, great food and fantastic atmosphere. The girl that served us had Si speechless. She was busting out of her bustier. His expression was priceless. Even I was impressed! Good fun, even on top of the piano!
Fed the horse and rode out of town and have found our ranch for the night at Tucson still in Arizona. Was raining when we arrived but Si and I have still been in the pool. Only us - typical! But it was perfect temperature. Still about 23 degrees.
Thinking about the farmers and lambs at home. Typical lambing weather Southland is having. Keep warm everyone!
Sunday, 9 September 2012
Bisbee, Arizona
First stop today was a Petrified Forest about 25 miles out of Holbrook just off Route 66.
It's one of the largest petrified wood deposits in the world. Did a couple of tracks one in particular I needed a push up by Si. No matter how much walking we are doing here we aren't getting any fitter. Could have something to do with the intake of food and alcohol.
We heard about a town called Bisbee still in Arizona. It's a very old western town with a mining history. Carried on driving and got here about 6.30pm.
I did a stint of driving today. Ended up driving down a windy mountain road to the bottom of a gorge and back up the other side. Si was having a good look around - but I still haven't seen the view, I was concentrating so hard. Most of today's driving was off freeways so only 1 lane each way. Fun times.
When I took over the co-pilots seat again I made us some yummy salami, cheese and pickle snacks. Again - fridge worth every dollar!
Si has checked us in to the Copper Queen Hotel. Seemed to be a great choice and it has over 100 years of history. Lovely old rooms and a lot of character!
HOWEVER - I have since read the guest information book and story has it that it is haunted! There are 3 resident ghosts. Wonder how much sleep Corina will be getting tonight? Bets?
Had Mexican for dinner and now sitting in one of the upstair lounge areas of the hotel enjoying a drink by the fireplace (which isn't going thankfully).
Will check out the local attractions tomorrow and who knows where we will end up!
It's one of the largest petrified wood deposits in the world. Did a couple of tracks one in particular I needed a push up by Si. No matter how much walking we are doing here we aren't getting any fitter. Could have something to do with the intake of food and alcohol.
We heard about a town called Bisbee still in Arizona. It's a very old western town with a mining history. Carried on driving and got here about 6.30pm.
I did a stint of driving today. Ended up driving down a windy mountain road to the bottom of a gorge and back up the other side. Si was having a good look around - but I still haven't seen the view, I was concentrating so hard. Most of today's driving was off freeways so only 1 lane each way. Fun times.
When I took over the co-pilots seat again I made us some yummy salami, cheese and pickle snacks. Again - fridge worth every dollar!
Si has checked us in to the Copper Queen Hotel. Seemed to be a great choice and it has over 100 years of history. Lovely old rooms and a lot of character!
HOWEVER - I have since read the guest information book and story has it that it is haunted! There are 3 resident ghosts. Wonder how much sleep Corina will be getting tonight? Bets?
Had Mexican for dinner and now sitting in one of the upstair lounge areas of the hotel enjoying a drink by the fireplace (which isn't going thankfully).
Will check out the local attractions tomorrow and who knows where we will end up!
Saturday, 8 September 2012
Bears, Cars, Crater & Wigwam's
Had dinner at the oldest diner in Williams last night. Bloody awesome! Si reckoned best burger he's had to date. Lots of really cool stuff to look at too.
Was sad to say goodbye to Williams this morning. Can't recommend enough for people to stay at this town in the future.
On the way out we stopped at Bearizona. It's a drive through wildlife adventure! If it has adventure in the advertising then we are in. Especially driving through in a rental car! Nothing happened Hertz honestly!
You drive around for a couple of miles seeing a variety of animals. Rocky mountain goats, American burros, American bison and white bison, wolves etc. But the most exciting was the black bears! Cool I tell ya, especially when they are walking right beside the car!
You then park up and walk around another enclosure with a few more animals. They have bear kindergarten which was neat. Nice little cubs rolling around like JayDee!
Carried on to Flagstaff. Caught the car show! What a great setup and a huge amount of mint cars on display. Geoff - I've included a picture below just for you! Still no 63 galaxies. Think they been all exported to NZ!
Next stop was a Meteor Crater just east of Flagstaff. 50,000 years ago a meteor hurtling at about 26,000 miles per hour crashed landed. The crater is 700 feet deep and over 4000 feet across. Got to touch a original piece of it! Pretty impressive.
Hit the road again and turned off for a brief look at Winslow. Ok, for those that are familiar with The Eagles - start singing now. "Standing on the corner of Winslow Arizona". Yep we stood on that corner. Not a lot else there but a good stop. Plus pretty good root beer.
Made our way to our overnight stop which is Holbrook. If you know Route 66 and saw Billy Connelly you may have seen the 'famous' Wigwam Motel. Visited and took pictures but after looking around and seeing how close to the train lines it is we opted for something on the other side of town.
Just eaten at Denny's and now ready to blob out!
Another adventurous day.
Was sad to say goodbye to Williams this morning. Can't recommend enough for people to stay at this town in the future.
On the way out we stopped at Bearizona. It's a drive through wildlife adventure! If it has adventure in the advertising then we are in. Especially driving through in a rental car! Nothing happened Hertz honestly!
You drive around for a couple of miles seeing a variety of animals. Rocky mountain goats, American burros, American bison and white bison, wolves etc. But the most exciting was the black bears! Cool I tell ya, especially when they are walking right beside the car!
You then park up and walk around another enclosure with a few more animals. They have bear kindergarten which was neat. Nice little cubs rolling around like JayDee!
Carried on to Flagstaff. Caught the car show! What a great setup and a huge amount of mint cars on display. Geoff - I've included a picture below just for you! Still no 63 galaxies. Think they been all exported to NZ!
Next stop was a Meteor Crater just east of Flagstaff. 50,000 years ago a meteor hurtling at about 26,000 miles per hour crashed landed. The crater is 700 feet deep and over 4000 feet across. Got to touch a original piece of it! Pretty impressive.
Hit the road again and turned off for a brief look at Winslow. Ok, for those that are familiar with The Eagles - start singing now. "Standing on the corner of Winslow Arizona". Yep we stood on that corner. Not a lot else there but a good stop. Plus pretty good root beer.
Made our way to our overnight stop which is Holbrook. If you know Route 66 and saw Billy Connelly you may have seen the 'famous' Wigwam Motel. Visited and took pictures but after looking around and seeing how close to the train lines it is we opted for something on the other side of town.
Just eaten at Denny's and now ready to blob out!
Another adventurous day.
Friday, 7 September 2012
Day of R&R in Williams AZ
After a rare sleep in enjoyed our complimentary breakfast at motel.
Did a load of laundry at the local laundromat across the road. I've decided to get rid of the washing machine at home and just go to laundromats. They are an extremely social place. I think you learn more than you do at a hairdressers! That's how social they are!
Walked back up the street of Williams browsing all the various route 66 shops. If money was no object and you had a container at your disposal to bring home you would have a field day! Think next trip will be a container trip for sure. However we haven't got to Vegas yet, it still could be this trip!
Had a mouth watering wood fire pizza at the local Italian for lunch washed down by the traditional Bud. Hope our friends recognize us when we meet in LA - both looking extremely healthy to say the least!
Back to the motel for a afternoon nap! What a treat that was. Been a very enjoyable relaxing day and both feeling refreshed and rearing to go again.
Check out the picture below of Si pretending to take a leak! This was in the men's bathroom at the restaurant last night. What a novel idea. Think our games room needs redesigning!
Did a load of laundry at the local laundromat across the road. I've decided to get rid of the washing machine at home and just go to laundromats. They are an extremely social place. I think you learn more than you do at a hairdressers! That's how social they are!
Walked back up the street of Williams browsing all the various route 66 shops. If money was no object and you had a container at your disposal to bring home you would have a field day! Think next trip will be a container trip for sure. However we haven't got to Vegas yet, it still could be this trip!
Had a mouth watering wood fire pizza at the local Italian for lunch washed down by the traditional Bud. Hope our friends recognize us when we meet in LA - both looking extremely healthy to say the least!
Back to the motel for a afternoon nap! What a treat that was. Been a very enjoyable relaxing day and both feeling refreshed and rearing to go again.
Check out the picture below of Si pretending to take a leak! This was in the men's bathroom at the restaurant last night. What a novel idea. Think our games room needs redesigning!
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