Get your kicks on Route 66

        Today we followed other intrepid adventurers and pulled the Explorer on to I-25 and I-40 both associated with Route 66.  It was fun to see all the references to the iconic highway and tell the kids a little about what it meant, which of course they don't quite grasp, but fun nonetheless.
             I drove a long way today and the kids and I are both tired.  In fact, Evan, writing in his journal said, "The only thing exciting that happened was I threw up!"  We all laughed.  I was glad to get stopped before and he said he felt better when he was done.  Kids and cars and travel -- goes with the territory.
              Another of life's little wonders -- we stopped at a roadside gas station and cafe for gas and a bathroom break.  As we were looking through the curios I saw a woman and a man browsing.  The minute I saw her I knew I went to high school with her over 50 years ago.  She lives in St. George.  Her friend was a brother to another guy I went to high school with.  She was flabbergasted that I remembered her.  She remembered Dad was her teacher and he did as well.  Small world.  They were both a couple years older than I.
                We drove through lots of high desert country, crossed the continental divide, changed time zones and maintained an altitude of over 5000 feet.  It is high desert country. Saw some spectacular red buttes as we entered Arizona.  My favorite shade of red. I wanted to stop at a native American jewelry shop in Gallup so we did a little nosing around and had lunch while there.  We wondered about maiplas which is a lava based soil and black,  There was a petrified wood forest, a place to feed ostriches, buy all kinds of souvenirs and lots of "quirky" little shops as Abby called them.  
              It was a happy crew that climbed to a 7000 foot altitude near Flagstaff and just a few miles further saw the turn-off to Williams AZ.  We have a really nice motel and after washing three huge loads of clothes and eating pizza we are settling in for the night.  Grand Canyon tomorrow and a slower pace.