Wednesday 21st May

Breakfast at Route 66 cafe before leaving williams for kingman. Dry but very blustery, lovely stretch of road. Went on Interstate 40 as far as Ash Fork, then switched to old 66. Crosswinds all the way, desert and juniper trees were our backdrop for the morning. Stopped at Seligman for coffee at the Snowcap (loos very intresting), old 66 frontier town, full of 66 memorabilia shops and tourists - lots of Japanese taking photos of everything. Continued on to Peach Springs, there was no let up from the buffeting wind - great clumps of tumbleweed were flying everywhere, one struck my boot - glad it wasn't my leg! Scenery mostly desertlike and very flat. Had lunch at only eating place in Peach Springs - the Hulapai Lodge. Short ride to Route 66 cafe at Truxton, where we couldn't resist sharing their home made cheesecake! 25 miles further on, after riding through some lovely rocky terrain, we stopped at Hackberry Stores where we bumped into the AMA group again (first seen at Meteor Crater). They were also staying in Kingman that night. Hackberry is very interesting, lots of old retro photos, furniture and 66 stuff. Maxine got the lo-down from an old lady who seemed to know all there was to know! Road into Kingman was wide open desert with scrub again, as ever we were accompanied by the railroad. The flatland is surrounded by fantastic purple mountains and the town sits in the middle. Stayed same place as AMA group and had really good Chinese for dinner - as recommended by their tour guide, Frank.