Monday morning, April
7, we took the 60 towards Globe, Arizona which would take us to Interstate
40 (part of the old route 66). The drive
was much as expected as far as scenery goes for that part of the county. Our first unusual spot to take a picture of
began in Holbrook, Arizona. Holbrook was
where we would get on I-40 to head to Albuquerque. We came around the bend and saw this unique
Indian Rock Shop. They had blow-up
gigantic dinosaurs out front. It was
pretty funny. Not much else there. We did see Window Rock, AZ. This is the name of Jeff’s company that he
works for. According to Wikipedia:
Window Rock (Navajo:
Tségháhoodzání) is the city that that serves as the seat of government and
capital of the Navajo Nation, the largest territory of a sovereign Native
American nation in North America. Window Rock contains the Navajo Nation
Council, the Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park, as well as the Navajo
Nation World War II Memorial. Window Rock's population was 2,712 at the 2010
census.
Our first stop was Albuquerque, New Mexico at a Fairfield
Inn. This Fairfield Inn was unique in
the fact that the room they gave us was on the bottom floor and had 2 of the
largest cockroaches we had ever seen in the bathroom—needless to say we asked
for another room on the inside center of the hotel and it was just fine. Tidbits like these are definitely necessary
for comic relief. I had been through
Albuquerque before when Marilyn went TOK training in Taos, New Mexico but we
stayed in Santa Fe, not Albuquerque.
This was just a rest stop. We
walked around an indoor mall and drove through Taco Bell and took our meal back
to the hotel.
We started our
longest travel day of the entire trip to Nauvoo the next morning, April 8,
Tuesday. We went from Albuquerque,
New Mexico to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
On the way through New Mexico, we saw a billboard
advertising the following: “Worth Waiting For ... Worth Stopping For …
Clines corners is on your way to Everywhere when you are traveling in New
Mexico. Stop by on your way through for
fuel, gifts, and food as well as maps and directions to all of the great
destinations in our enchanting state. (It is actually 50 miles in either
direction from anything)
How can you not stop and see if there is truth in
advertising. Well, it was true. This was probably the biggest and cleanest
truck type stop we have ever been too. (see the website-http://www.clinescorners.com/--for
more pictures and information for this interesting place) There were at least 20 clean stalls in the
bathroom which is always a plus).
As we travelled on we also saw a billboard advertising
Stuckey’s. Now this is noteworthy
because on our honeymoon we drove from California to Indiana. Chuck raved about Stuckey’s and Nickerson
Farms, other travel type stops. We
couldn’t believe that we would be able to stop at one again after 40
years. Alas, all the billboards were old
and when we came upon the first one it was closed down, as were the other 2 0r
3 we saw. It was still fun to reminisce
that fun trip on our honeymoon.
I-40 is known for being part of the original Route 66. We enjoyed driving along and seeing the
scenery. When we would stop for a rest
break to walk, stretch or get gas we found some of the names of the places
funny. After Cline’s Corner we came to
stop in the Texas panhandle near Amarillo called Domino. We thought it was funny because when we were
on a trip to Utah with Mom and Marilyn once we were caravanning and everyone
chose a handle (like a nickname or call sign for short wave radios, etc.). We have used those handles intermittently
over the years. The boys thought Mom’s
was pretty funny because when we asked her what she would like to be called she
came with the quick response of “Old Pete”.
Chuck chose Domino, I chose Sunshine.
Toot n Totum was a funny one we came across in Oklahoma just
before we came to Oklahoma City. We
stayed at a Fairfield Inn in Oklahoma City.
Chuck was very happy because they had a Luby’s Cafeteria. Chuck first went to Luby's cafeteria when he
was working in Texas. A
co-worker--Frankie Kogel--took him there.
He loved it. He got to back again
when Jared and Alexandria lived in McAllen and now once again he was able to go
to Luby's cafeteria in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
We thought we might be able to drive down in Oklahoma City to see the
Memorial for the Oklahoma City Bombing but the hotel was too far away and with
the traffic it just didn’t work out.
April 9, Wednesday,
began with our trip to Independence, Missouri. We stayed at the Fairfield Inn Kansas City
Independence off the I-35. This was very
near the church sites in Independence.
This was only about a 5 and half hour trip and so we were able to go and
see the Independence Visitors Center and Liberty Jail that day.
The next day, April
10, Thursday, we checked out and began our journey to Hannibal, Missouri. The interstate I-35 took us to Adam-Ondi-Ahman. We began here first because we weren’t sure
of our time. On the way there we came
passed a Hallmark Distribution Center that I thought was interesting because
Kansas City, Missouri is the home of Hallmark.
After visiting Adam-Ondi-Ahman we felt like we could go back to Far West
and still make it to Hannibal before it got too late. On our way back we stopped and had lunch in
Gallatin, Missouri. Here is where we
were among “real American’s”. We ate at
The Corner Café where the clientele was truly Americana. This was where we had our first pork
tenderloin sandwich of the trip. It was
good. Pictures really show the flavor of
this place.
After having lunch we went on to Far West. Who would have thought that we would see a
“Deseret Book” type store on the way to the Far West Temple site??? The clerk that day was very nice and told us
to be sure and look at the “Thorny Locust” trees on the Far West Temple
site. Pictures will have to explain.
We had been told at the Independence Visitor’s Center that
going to Haun’s Mill was a tricky road and our time was running out so we opted
out of that trip.
To describe our feelings and experiences in Independence,
Liberty, Adam-Ondi-Ahman and Far West in words would not do it justice. What we can say is that each place was filled
with the spirit as we first stepped through doors or on the ground. As I mentioned above in regards to sacred
experiences, these experiences are treasured in the heart.
We will add here a chapter on some lessons and thoughts that
came to mind as we left those sacred areas that day on our way to Hannibal that
hopefully give credence to our feelings of that sacred time. Be warned!
This is the part where we go more in depth so if the reader just wants
to follow the time-line version skip to chapter 4.
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