Dad and Karen visit,

November 5th, 2010. Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge.
I have some catching up to do. Last weekend, my father and his wife Karen came to the refuge and visited us. Joyce and I got permission from the refuge manager to allow them to camp in the empty 3rd volunteer site.
We took my father and Karen on several scenic rides in the area, showing off the best of what we had discovered to include London Bridge in Lake Havasu City.

After visiting the bridge we took them to the final Friday Concert in The Park series on the beach not far from the bridge. 

We had a good time listening to the rockabilly group in the cool evening air.

My father, Joyce and Karen from the scenic overlook on Hwy. 95

We also took them to see the Parker Dam about 4 miles down the road from our site. The photo below is on the lake side. We also drove across into California.

We came across a group of wild burros eating some lush green grass. We got out to take pictures and the burro below started braying and came trotting after us. We all rushed back to the Jeep. After all they are "wild". It turns out this one just wanted something to eat. Unfortunately we didn't have anything to give it. Just as well, as it would have probably stuck its head in the window if it saw a carrot.

My father and Karen had seen our post: Our Visit to Oatman. They had decided that they also wanted to pay a visit. So this became a good opportunity to take our truck for the long drive to Oatman. It was time to stretch the truck's "legs" as it had been sitting for a while. 

Oatman, Arizona

Hidden by the public restrooms is a Desert Tortoise enclosure. We found these rather large tortoise chasing each other around in a circle in the enclosure.

As you may recall, Route 66 passes through Oatman, Arizona. I just like this picture!

After leaving Oatman heading towards Kingman, Az., we stopped at Cool Springs Camp.

From the very earliest days, Cool Springs camp and service station was an important stop for motorists traveling Arizona's Route 66. Cool Springs was built in the mid-1920s and has been connected with Route 66 from the very start. The story of Cool Springs reflects the larger story of Route 66. The Mother Road gave it life. The hey-day of Route 66 was the hey-day of Cool Springs. 

When Route 66 declined in this area, so too did Cool Springs. Route 66 is the most celebrated of the old US highways, and the Cool Springs area is perhaps the most spectacular and unique stretch of the Mother Road to be found anywhere between Chicago and Santa Monica; a “must-see” for the adventuresome automobile enthusiast or historian.

 Cool Springs Camp is in the middle of nowhere between Oatman and Kingman on Route 66. The building has been restored and is now basically a novelty shop with snacks. It's a cute stop with lots of memorabilia to see inside.

On Halloween (Joyce's Birthday) we all took a ride in the Jeep out to The Desert Bar.

The "Nellie E Saloon" (DESERT BAR) is situated in the Buckskin Mountains, in Parker, Arizona, on land that was an old mining camp. The camp was located on the portion of land that is now the parking lot.

It's about a 5-6 mile drive in the desert on a primitive rough dirt road to get to the bar. There's a few old vehicles, tractors and chassis laying about on the grounds. 

It's nothing fancy but we had a good time listening to the live band. Half the fun was just getting there and back!

The rest of the week we spent working here at the refuge, landscaping, putting up signs and general maintenance. Yesterday was our day off so we went in to Lake Havasu City. Joyce did some shopping at the mall and I took the Jeep to have the tires rotated. We have nearly 5K mile on the Jeep so far and 12K on the truck!

Our Visit to Oatman, Arizona

October 11, 2010, Bill Williams River NWR

Today we took a long ride out to Oatman, Arizona in the northwest corner of the state. The ride took us along Historic Route 66 from I-40 north. We were both surprised that Route 66 was so narrow, twisty and hilly. In fact there were signs indicating that trucks over 40 ft. were not allowed. 

It's a beautiful drive through the desert. After about 80 miles of driving from Parker, Az we finally arrived at Oatman and the tiny visitor center on the outskirts of town. After getting a little history lesson we found a place to park our Jeep on the north end of main street in the quant old town and began our walking tour. This leg of the former Route 66 is now called Oatman Rd., the main street through town.

One of the first things you see are the Wild Burros standing in the street. In fact when driving through town we had to wait till the burros let us pass. Oatman is famous for the burros.

Oatman was once a gold mining town. The town has a rich (in gold) history to include a fire in 1921 that destroyed many of the original buildings. Shortly thereafter the largest mine near the town shut down and by the 1940's all the mines were shut down. Oatman was able to survive however by catering to motorists and tourists because fortunately for the town, Route 66 passed through the center of the town. This kept the town alive till the early 50's when Oatman was bypassed by Interstate 40.

Oatman nearly died once the interstate opened. However, enterprising parties turned the town into a tourist attraction thanks to the wild burros that frequent the town for handouts and the renewed interest in Historic Route 66.

Built in 1902, the Oatman Hotel survived the fire of 1921 and is the oldest adobe structure in Mohave County. We ate lunch in the hotel on the first floor in a room with dollar bills stapled all over the walls.

Although "wild" the burros appeared to be very tame as they walked up on the porches and pressed visitors for treats of carrots. Most of the shops sold burro treats. The burros are not shy and will trot up to you and check your purse and / or pockets if they think you have treats or anything in your hands.

Looking down Historic Route 66 from the perspective of a burro.

The story goes that the burros are descendants of those belonging to the old miners that were let loose after the mines closed. 

After leaving Oatman, we continued north and east towards Kingman on Historic Route 66 again enjoying the twisting switchbacks of this scenic road as we climbed to Sitgreaves Pass at 3550 feet before descending towards the valley and Kingman, AZ.

From Sitgreaves Pass looking southwest towards Oatman

Just before reaching Kingman we jumped on I-40 West and then turned south headed back towards Parker, AZ and the Bill Williams River NWR. It was good long drive and worth the trip!