ROAD TRIP AROUND THE GRAND CANYON MAY 30 - JUNE 4, 2016
| 7 - WILLIAMS, ARIZONA |
Back in the day before cell phones, travelers needing to call someone used payphones requiring coins! How strange is that? Alex was a "coin collector" for Mountain Bell, just one of the companies of Ma Bell that the government broke up for being a monopoly. Now people pay hundreds of dollars a month for instant gratification when before it only cost pennies to talk with someone on the telephone. Do people really need to talk or text with friends while driving at 75+ MPH on a freeway while passing a semi? Would it be wise to wait an hour or so when you are stopping anyway for a break? But enough of my feelings about deregulation of essential services and "trust" in free enterprise.
Alex use to collect monies from payphones several days a week on routes through Flagstaff, Belmont, Williams, Ashfork, Seligman, Peach Springs, etc. There were also routes through Page, Prescott and Yuma. Not a bad way for a young person to see the state!
Anyway, Williams is the last stop on our 5 day journey. Much has changed in this town over the last 40 years. Next time we will stay in a motel nearer to the area on Route 66 that is closed down for party goers strolling around in the evening. We met friends Waymon & Donna Talley for dinner and then visited with them at their travel trailer for a drink afterwards.
On our way out of town we visit BeArizona. It's a pretty cool drive to see many examples of wildlife.
After a late breakfast in Flagstaff, it is time to head down the hill to Phoenix. HERE is a short video. Then the final decent from Sunset Point to Black Canyon City brings us into the 115 degree temperatures! What a coincidence, and appropriate, that an old school Marty Robbins song was playing on our MP3 player for this portion of the drive. Click HERE to see and hear it.