This day was packed with adventure. We left our WigWam Motel early for the drive to Scottsdale/Phoenix, hoping to catch a 10:00 a.m. concert at MIM (more on that later). It was about 42 degrees at Holbrook when I woke up in the tipi, and not much better when we started driving. Wore ALL my layers to stay warm, plus using the auxiliary seat warmer Mike loaned me…It worked! We hammered top-down to Winslow, AZ, for breakfast and (of course) to see the “Standing on the Corner of Winslow Arizona” attraction in the Old Downtown section. We made it before other tourists started crowding in, and parked across from the famous Flatbed Ford mentioned in the Eagles song “Take it Easy”. Photos ensued: we were determined to make this the second Route 66 kitschy thing we did today (first was WigWam Motel).
As usual, we met more people because of the cars and charity stickers all over them. Met a cool father-son duo from Kansas who were on a no-agenda road trip just to spend time together. Long conversations were the order of the day, and Mike made sure everyone we talked to went away with one of our C3on66.org flyers and some Team Boomer/BEF bracelets. If nothing else, we’re getting the word out about Cystic Fibrosis Month, Team Boomer, and Colorectal Cancer early screening and prompt attention concepts. AND meeting interesting people in the process.
Across the street from the famous Winslow street corner was a small coffee shop/diner. Breakfast and coffee for us, with no hurry because we were already behind schedule to make the concert. After loading into the cars again, and more conversations with strangers, we hit the road in earnest on Route 66 then Route 37 heading down from the mountains to Phoenix. Yes it was cold. Yes we drove really fast once we got to the best roads. Yes it was awesome! We went through a few different temperature zones on the way down, so scenery changed from high desert to scrawny woods to sparse green forest, all the while winding through remarkable mountain passes and mesa/rock /etc. formations. For an eastern USA guy, the scenery out to the sides of the roads looked much like most western cowboy movies I ever saw. I have no photos, because I was driving. Mitch miraculously shot some, see his blog for what I’m trying to describe.
The fast drive down the mountains led us to remove most of our layers of warm clothes. We rolled into Scottsdale, near Phoenix, around noon and went directly to MIM, the Musical Instrument Museum, where Mike volunteers as a docent several days a week. What a place! Displays of every type of musical instrument in the world, features of various artists who have played them, the history and progress of music styles and machines over the centuries. PLUS live music, performed in the open auditorium section every hour. We didn’t have time to see everything, it’d take at least two days. Mitch and I want to go back ASAP.
Last stop before going home: Roger Penske Racing Museum in Scottsdale. Housed in a huge luxury vehicle sales and service complex, dealing with Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley, etc., it blew us away. Boy, did I ever feel out of place with my tie-dyed T-shirt. We didn’t see any other car guys, so explored the racing cars until the place closed about 5:00. Several Penske Indy 500 winning cars, and other Champ-series racers were on display, in perfect condition, looking track-ready right now. The meticulous attention to detail in design and race-prep could be seen on every car. astray were closing, Mitch and I took a lap through the used car lot…so cool, many of them priced at $250,000 or more, sitting there in the weather like a used Honda!
We finally made it to Mike’s house and got to hang with Karla a few hours. Wonderful time catching up after many years being apart. Several of their friends came for supper, one of whom was Mandi, the lady who sold Mike the Miata he’s driving on this adventure…AFTER she’d used it to win TWO National Autocross Racing championships. Fun evening! Take it easy out there!!
Tomorrow: back UP the mountains toward Flagstaff, then back to the Route 66 trek.
