Cross-Country Vacation 2023

Day 44 - Today's plan is to drive 400 miles in 7 hours. After a nice standard breakfast at the Best Western in Barstow, CA we headed towards Flagstaff on Needles Freeway (I-40). We soon turned off the highway at Newberry Springs to fill up with gas, then follow Historic Rte 66 to Ludlow, California. We stopped at the Ludlow Cafe and were the only customers. We enjoyed listening to stories of all the famous people that have stopped by over the years. (Click on any photo to enlarge) From here we followed Rte 66 to Amboy, CA. Mohave Desert view from Rte 66 Rte 66 The drive to Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark was interesting with evidence of lava fields as we approached. We stopped here with an intention of hiking to the crater. This was another special place that deserves its own page . To see more  https://travelingvtjs.blogspot.com/p/amboy-crater-natural-national-landmark.html We wanted to stay on Rte 66 but there was road closed signs so we had to t...

Day 51 - Today's plan is to drive 311 miles in 6.5 hours. (Click on any photo to enlarge) We started our day at Country Side Family Diner which was right across the street from the Big Horse Inn & Suites. It was a nice country style diner with the normal breakfast choices. After, we headed towards Funks Grove Nature Preserve. Along the way we found Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge on the Illinois River. This was an unplanned stop so we only spent 40 minutes here. This was a special place and a separate page will be created . To see more go to https://travelingvtjs.blogspot.com/p/emiquon-national-wildlife-refuge.html The next stop turned into a joke. I was searching for an nature preserve on Rte 66 when we drove past Funks Grove Maple Sirup . I have a way of sniffing out maple, so the joke was that this was my original destination. It wasn't, but we did turn around at the nature preserve and head back. They had never heard of Maple Creemee's so I showed ...