Road Trip

It rained a little while we were in New Orleans....

We saw a show!!!

Listened to some awsome Jazz!!!

Some people had a really good time....

The street music amazing!!!

So many blogs about the walk to Tybee here is what we did about a month ago.... Road Trip to New Orleans: Bourbon Street = fun

St. Louis Cathedral... We stayed at the Naval air station in Algers...across the river from the french quarter... we too the ferry across the river everyday....$1.00/ car... and this was the view!!

Two Guns, AZ

Ghost Town : Two Guns AZI think this is fun seeing where we are in this world of make believe and walking...

So we zoomed right past Flagstaff. We made it to Two Guns... a ghost town in Arizona. This is a great little site someone made that tells it better than I ever could... http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/twoguns.html

Parks, Arizona Kaiboab Natioanl Forest

Wow!!! what a great push everyone!!! We are almost to Flagstaff. As of now we are walking through Kaibab National forest. when looking this place up the one subject that is repeated over and over is the abundance of amazing hikes in the area. ...Sounds like motivation to my ears. hikes... we are have some hiking trails in our areas... short long and inbetween... with the wonderful weather why not get out there and and conquer a trail.... let me know of any you find... and don't forget the camera... here are some OOP (other peoples photos) from hikes in Kaibab forest.

Seligman Arizona.... A Real Cowboy town.

Cowboys inhabited this area and helped creat this town.

Roof top view of the town....

Very unique souvenir shop. Lots of maniquins. right along route 66.

Need to gas up?

You Kill It, We Grill It," says the Roadkill Cafe. Try deer delectables, fender tenders, swirl of squirrel, or the splatter platter at this quirky cafe on Route 66. Seriously though, the cafe is famous for its char-broiled burgers, steaks and ribs. The cafe is located at 502 W. Highway 66 in Seligman, Arizona.

In the mood for somthing more sweet?

When pioneers along the Beale Wagon Road passed through this area in the mid nineteenth century, it was known as Mint Valley. Later when the Prescott and Central Arizona Railroad planned to connect the area to Prescott, in 1886, the settlement was called Prescott Junction. Completing the tracks, the train had to run backwards to Prescott Junction because there wasn’t a turntable in Prescott.

Before long, the Railroad went out of business, shutting down the junction. However, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad took over the abandoned rail line, and the town changed its name to Seligman, in honor of the Seligman brothers, who helped finance the rail line south.

At the turn of the century, Seligman was populated primarily by cowboys working the large ranches of the area. Along with these rough and ready men, came a piece of the Wild West, complete with shootouts on the streets. At this time the saloons and brothels outnumbered the churches three to one. Over the years, Seligman settled down but today, is still populated by people working at some of the state’s largest ranches.

Another 50 miles to Flagstaff .... keep walking...

Are we there yet?

Kingston, Arizona

Old wagon trail called White cliffs.

Well 100 miles to Flagstaff AZ...and this is about as close as we get to the Grand Canyon.

We are past Kingston AZ...but there is not another oasis for many more miles....

Needles CA and the AZ boarder

We have arrived in Needles CA. a small town of about 5,000 residents. It is located on the boarder of AZ, NV and CA. The Colorado river seperates CA from AZ. Long before the town of Needles was founded; this valley was home to the Mojave Indians for thousands of years, many of whom still live in the area today, called the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe.

When the railroad pushed westward at the Colorado River in 1883, the town was founded and called "The Needles,” after the sharp peaks at the southerly end of the valley.

Needles, like Death Valley, is known for extreme heat during the summers. Temperatures in Needles routinely reach 120 °F (49 °C) in late July and early August.

In January, the normal high temperature is 63 °F (17 °C) with a normal low of 40 °F (4 °C). We should be loveing the temp!!! thank goodness its not July! Annual rainfall is about 5 inches
In late 2000 to early 2001, skateboard legend Tony Hawk donated $10,000 to the Needles Skate Park, which is still in use today.

A close up of the Needles. Looks like quite a climb.

The Colorado river winds through the town. with some great camping areas along the bank.

Historic U.S. Route 66 passes through the city, lined with motels and other shops from that era. Needles is a tourism and recreation center, a tradition going back for decades.

Guess we better keep walkin'

Mojave Desert

We are actually about 50miles out of needles.

Joshua Tree

As a family we have been trying to "Walk" ride bike, swim etc... to Tybee island... Starting in L.A. at Aaron and Bethany's house....So I added up all of the reported miles (200.1) and we are now deep in the Mojave dessert. Inside of the Mojave national preserve. These are pictures of the desert. So nice and warm...walking to Tybee island...

From the Mojave National Perserve web site:

Desert solitude in Southern California
Singing sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests, and carpets of wildflowers are all found at this 1.6 million acre park. A visit to its canyons, mountains and mesas will reveal long-abandoned mines, homesteads, and rock-walled military outposts. Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Mojave provides serenity and solitude from the crowds of major metropolitan areas.

Visitors to Mojave National Preserve should expect bright, clear skies, seasonally strong winds, and wide fluctuations in day-night temperatures. At low elevations, temperatures above 100 degrees F. typically begin in May and can last into October. Annual precipitation ranges from 3.5 inches at low elevations to nearly ten inches in the mountains.
Three of the four major North American deserts are found at Mojave National Preserve: the Mojave, Great Basin and Sonoran. Dozens of seeps and springs coupled with varied elevations and soil types create microhabitats that support a diversity of plant and animal life. Cactus gardens, relict plant communities of white fir and chaparral and the densest, largest Joshua tree forest are all found here.