September 15, 2006: Marlies’ Birthday! Getting a leisurely start this morning, the convoy battled strong cross winds as they toured Route 66 of which much was Interstate 40. A pleasant section of the old road still goes past the old Jack Rabbit Trading Post and through Winslow, AZ. Winslow was made famous by the classic Eagles song “Take it Easy” and a statue and mural on the corner of 2nd Street mark the line in the song “standing on the corner in Winslow AZ…it’s a girl my Lord in a flat bed Ford…” A tour of Winslow’s one-way system while admiring their old Valentine diners and neon signs drew the attention of the local media.
Through Flagstaff (well a quick stop for tea and doughnuts) and onto Williams. The terrain changed from flat and featureless to one with hills and trees. Route 66 once again showed its favourable side and wound up and through the pretty pine forests and hills, leading the cars on its gravel road. Rustic log cabins replaced brick and concrete but the old neon signs were still apparent. Out of the blue, the Parks General Store, a 105 year-old store, appeared where an impromptu birthday party for Marlies ensued. You guessed it – tea and cup cakes! The elevation rose to 7410 ft above sea level, disproving the claim that the Continental Divide was the highest point on the Mother Road.
This evening, the little company ate at the Café where it all began. 51/2 years ago, Ron, Veronica and Diana found themeselves in Williams, AZ, after a day at the Grand Canyon, eating a simple meal at the Pine Cafe. The threesome fell in love with the nostalgia of Route 66 and said they would one day drive the length of Route 66. The dream has become reality, thanks to all the folks who have made it possible.
September 16, 2006: A train ride to the Grand Canyon, complete with train robbers. At least the cars were safe with Pete the garage owner watching over them parked around his vintage petrol pumps while the group was away for the day.
Congratulations to everybody, and I hope that at least one of the party had a harmonica to while away those long hours on the road - unless someone has worked out to fit an Austin 7 with a sound system - possibly the next project?
Anyway, I hope the locals were friendly and there were no 'Deliverance' style problems with our friends in the South, and Dad, I will see you next month.
Best wishes from Cardiff,
Ally
Posted by: Ally Parkhurst | September 15, 2006 at 11:39 PM
Hi there, folks,
Hope you are all having a fabulous time. Wish I was there with you!
Best wishes,
Reg Nice
Posted by: Reg Nice | September 16, 2006 at 02:22 PM
Must have been an emotional day for Diane and Veronica. Well done to you all.
7000 ft above sea level; sounds to me like you just knock it into neutral and coast to the coast!!
Thanks mum and dad for the phone call and the presents. And Chris says keep taking the tablets.
Still loving the website, looking forward to the updates every day.
Good luck to all,
from the Towcester Cookes
Posted by: colin cooke | September 17, 2006 at 03:19 AM
We are following your travels with enthusiastic enjoyment and a lot of envy! You have probably stirred up the whole worldwide A7 movement to take part in some epic runs! (I hope so!)
Enjoy the rest of your trip and keep feeding us with the details on the web page.
Very best wishes to you all from the Austin Seven Club of Western Australia
Posted by: Keith Donetta | September 17, 2006 at 06:50 PM