Cruised abandoned Route 66 in Arizona

[89AKurt]

First of the original pavement. This is also a quick side road adventure for everyone to drive on.


This is where most people won't go, dirt road.



Then beginning of a stretch of paved section. Most traffic goes left, original road straight. The phone lines are abandoned, glass insulators still in place.



The pavement is enviably cut by the superslab.


First shortcut is easy.

[89AKurt]

End of the pavement, Route 66 continued under the superslab.


Martian terrain:


Close to the bridge the road gets worse. Cattle guard.


A fairly step hill to the rock bench.

The original road is under the superslab.

The original road is below.


The superslab bridge is beyond, on the horizon. Totally skips over this little canyon.


The downhill side of the road is boulders mortared into a wall, a steel culvert comes through here.


Some of the original guardrail below the road.


First glimpse of the bridge.




Mid span plaque location, south side:

North side:

[89AKurt]

I was the only person out here. Parked on the bridge.




I should have parked about 30 feet forward.

[89AKurt]

About a quarter mile past the bridge.


The downhill rock wall is laid with the road grade.


I noticed how many cans have been tossed here. Looks like mostly oil cans.

What passed for a guardrail.



The alignment is just behind me going to the right. Now it's follow the fence.



The gate was open, no 'no trespassing' sign.


Went through an open yard, aimed for the driveway.


Across the superslab is the original Twin Arrows. There is a new resort to the east, I avoided it.


Gotta take a break and catch up. Have more Twin Arrows, and then Two Guns.

[best view]

Thanks for the info and pics I always look forward to seeing your post

[KevinK7]

Originally Posted by best view

Thanks for the info and pics I always look forward to seeing your post

Ditto
I definitely look forward to these posts.

Thanks for taking the time to upload and post, really really cool stuff

[Carl Spangler]

Thanks again for posting pics and description of your little adventure.

[89AKurt]

Thank you everyone! I have Twin Arrows pictures. If there is one icon, this is it.



NO GAS. Tell me something new.

My fav.


On the ground at the pump.


This is the eastern side of the interchange. This segment of original pavement can be seen on the Flickr map, or Google.



This is what you see most of the time on the superslab. Two Guns is not on the mileage sign.


On the return stage, after you get past the overpass, look to the left or you'll miss it.


You can see the dust storm. They warned of 50 MPH gusts.

A tease, upcoming Two Guns, home of Mountain Lions, abandoned service station.
https://youtu.be/B1jgnNSdB1U

[MikeB]

Kurt -- Sounds like an awesome adventure! Google Maps shows Welch Rd. running south of I-40. Is that where it intersects the old Rte 66? Also, would you recommend the Ash Fork Rte 66 museum? We'll be in the area this fall and would like to explore some of the old, unmaintained sections.

Thanks,
Mike

[Ol Blue K20]

Thanks for the tour and pics. Never boring, Thanks again!

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Kurt -- Sounds like an awesome adventure! Google Maps shows Welch Rd. running south of I-40. Is that where it intersects the old Rte 66? Also, would you recommend the Ash Fork Rte 66 museum? We'll be in the area this fall and would like to explore some of the old, unmaintained sections.

Thanks,
Mike

I did that several months ago, Welch Road. Not the museum.

Thanks OlBlue K20.

TWO GUNS. Sort of a town, built near the bridge over Canyon Diablo.
The service station is also long abandoned. Other than no glass, it's intact.





Canyon Diablo bridge:




Building at the west side of the bridge.


Panorama of MOUNTAIN LIONS:


What is behind that wall:



This would make a killer diorama.




Another set of buildings:







This is the west severed end, more like peters out, the concrete box culvert beyond is the original highway, and one more ruin further out.


Coming back from the west end. The 50 MPH gust where creating a dust storm, couldn't see the Peaks.


*edit* Found this picture:

[89AKurt]

Return stage, heading into the dust storm. Sounded like a jet taking off.
https://youtu.be/W3VverqwsPg

New signature avatar:

['68OrangeSunshine]

Cool pix, Kurt. I think I remember a flashback of the store that was there at 2 Arrows in 1967... They had some great cherry cider. A gallon wasn't enough for 3 thirsty travelers.
Their large selection of Taiwanese rubber tomahawks was amusing, but I didn't bite.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 89AKurt

Return stage, heading into the dust storm. Sounded like a jet taking off.
https://youtu.be/W3VverqwsPg

New signature avatar:

Ever see ''Secondhand Lions'' [2003] with Bob Duvall, Sir Michael Caine and Haley Joel Osment? Your sign brings that flick to mind.

[blap]

Great pics

[fun in dirt]

Originally Posted by 89AKurt

This is past where I came in, going west.

Love this pic!!! (same view as in the CARS movie.) We went on a few short spots of Rt 66 about 7 years ago in AZ. I would love to hit these areas you're showing in my '72 when finish its build. Thanks for sharing your adventure!

[body bolt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Ever see ''Secondhand Lions'' [2003] with Bob Duvall, Sir Michael Caine and Haley Joel Osment? Your sign brings that flick to mind.

There's a short film (I can't remember the name) that shows up on TCM occasionally about a poor Navajo boy and his mother. The boy is selling I can't remember what in from of a trading post when a rancher proposes they take a mountain lion he has captured and start a roadside attraction. The film is of course more detailed.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by body bolt

There's a short film (I can't remember the name) that shows up on TCM occasionally about a poor Navajo boy and his mother. The boy is selling I can't remember what in from of a trading post when a rancher proposes they take a mountain lion he has captured and start a roadside attraction. The film is of course more detailed.

Thanks. That's an interesting plotline. Probably the origin story of Kurt's artifact. Navajo are the local indigenous people.
I know if some guy wanted to take my pet and put him in a cage for strangers to gawk at all day, I would not be thrilled.

[Carl Spangler]

These are just the coolest pics. Brings back lots of great memories. We had a small ranch north of Prescott for a few years.

This is a pic about 15 miles out on a 'dead end' dirt road up off of Williamson Valley road.

[KevinK7]

Originally Posted by fun in dirt

Love this pic!!! (same view as in the CARS movie.) We went on a few short spots of Rt 66 about 7 years ago in AZ. I would love to hit these areas you're showing in my '72 when finish its build. Thanks for sharing your adventure!

That pic of Kurt's in indeed an incredible shot
Those endless views out west are priceless...

[Happy_dan]

Originally Posted by KevinK7

That pic of Kurt's in indeed an incredible shot
Those endless views out west are priceless...

What took you so long to reply to this thread? Where are your pictures?

[MikeB]

Kurt - looks like one of the pictures was taken with a fisheye lens. What type of camera gear are you using?

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Cool pix, Kurt. I think I remember a flashback of the store that was there at 2 Arrows in 1967... They had some great cherry cider. A gallon wasn't enough for 3 thirsty travelers.
Their large selection of Taiwanese rubber tomahawks was amusing, but I didn't bite.

Thanks for the comment! Love cherry anything. I skipped the tomahawks too, preferred the moccasins.

blap: Thanks!

fun in dirt: Appreciate that pick.

body bolt: Thanks for the information, new for me.

Carl Spangler: Thanks for sharing. Been forever since I have been there.

KevinK7: I've had friends from back East, who were in awe. I grew up with it.

Happy_Dan: Who me?

Mike B: Some with the Nikon camera with a 200mm telephoto lens, and the iPhone in 'panorama' mode. One of the Winona bridge was vertical panorama.

Another trip, to Oatman, in another vehicle, love this pickup.

[slikside]

Kurt,

Part II here is just as stunning as Part I. Awesome effort all-round. One of the most entertaining threads I've seen on this board. Love the visuals. Thanks for the tour!

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by 89AKurt

Thanks for the comment! Love cherry anything. I skipped the tomahawks too, preferred the moccasins.

blap: Thanks!

fun in dirt: Appreciate that pick.

body bolt: Thanks for the information, new for me.

Carl Spangler: Thanks for sharing. Been forever since I have been there.

KevinK7: I've had friends from back East, who were in awe. I grew up with it.

Happy_Dan: Who me?

Mike B: Some with the Nikon camera with a 200mm telephoto lens, and the iPhone in 'panorama' mode. One of the Winona bridge was vertical panorama.

Another trip, to Oatman, in another vehicle, love this pickup.

Last time I was in Oatman I was on my Harley. Two DUI check points, one in one out.......