On The Road - Day 18 - Flagstaff to Seligman

Wednesday 23^rd May

Flagstaff to Seligman today however there is a short delay getting started as we detour into the gift shop at the resort.  Just as well we are checked out, great stuff  – a small purchase of a handbag and scarf and off we go.  A few stops for photos as we depart however.

We note today there is a Red Flag alert for Flagstaff and are quite happy to be moving away from potential danger.  A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are either happening or are imminent. “Extreme fire growth potential” is possible with strong winds and low humidity.

Arriving at Williams we quickly see this is going to take some time to get around all the interesting shops.  This is such a neat town.  We figure parking the car is the best and walk up and down the streets packed with shops of memorabilia, cafes, motels and jewellery. 

I had two must see’s on my list and they were Twisters 50’s Soda Fountain and  The Red Garter Bed and Bakery – an 1897 bordello with a very interesting history and suggestions that it may be haunted also. 

Twisters was incredible – spotlessly clean and friendly service.  Two malted milks – these are our absolute last for this trip!!  Yumm so good (chocolate/caramel and cherry). 

Dozens of photos taken, a visit to the Grand Canyon Railway (you can catch the train from here – it takes about 2 ½ hours each way giving you about 3 ½ hours at the Grand Canyon) and the Visitors centre and we reluctantly depart promising ourselves that we need to come back to stay.  We had tried to book into The Lodge but were unsuccessful. 

A little shopping spree had us seeking the Post Office.  After off loading our latest purchase we hit the road again.

Onto Ashfork, a town really devastated by the Interstate.  Ashfork is a flagstone town – acres of the stuff packed in colours and sizes.   

The main interest point in this town is the old gas station coverted into a hairdressing salon with a 1958 Desoto sitting on top of the building.

We arrived in Seligman early thankfully – staying at the Historic Route 66 Motel tonight.  This town also was a surprise.  I was expecting to see a lot but it really appears to be a thriving little town with so much funky stuff going on here. Seligman is the birthplace of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona.  Delgardillo’s is the place to visit for sure.  Renowned for playing jokes on customers and their world famous SnowCap, there is just so much more to take in around their location.

We chat awhile with the owner of the Road Runner and decide to take his recommendation and eat at Lilo’s instead of the Road Kill Café which had been our original choice.  No complaints with Lilo’s at all.  Its packed and its late, people still arriving after 8pm. 

The neons are all lit up now so we decide to do a quick drive and click some photos.

And so ends another day – we are in love with Arizona.