Day 75:
As we left Flagstaff, headed for Laughlin Nevada, we noticed a marked change in the vegetation and surroundings. We left the crater yesterday in twilight, soon darkness as the curtain falls much faster in the lower latitiudes. We must have climbed somewhat but didn't notice, as this morning we were in an area very much like Penticton. Rolling hillsides, close-in and not in the distance, covered by a thick crop of Ponderosa Pine with their long needles. Stretches of brown grass here and there, like meadows between the trees, but the scenery dominated by thick pine forests. Beautiful, absolutely.
Then down again into the desert of Arizona, then up into mountains again (few pines this time) then down to the desert valley, the road another ribbon into the distance. Through towns like Seligman and Kingman, and truck stops like Sky City whose only attraction seemed to be fuel, a huge truck parking area, a McDonald's, and a monster casino. We got gas and coffee, a stretch and a look around, then off again upward into the hills.
Passed through a final mountain range, very high, knowing from Hal the GPS that Bullhead City and Laughlin were very close but no signs of them yet. Crossing the Arizona Divide, 7335 feet, then the signs '6% grade for eight miles, stop light at the bottom, use extreme caution', and 'truck runaway lanes at two miles and seven miles', and other stuff like that. Now our attention is certainly focused if it wasn't already. And down we went, slowly first and then relentlessly, down and down, left and right through the hills. Suddenly the vista of the valley bottom and the Colorado River opened below us, startling and beautiful. Still down, steadily, 120 to 125 kph for us at about 2800rpm, braking intermittently, cars and trucks flying by beside us. Even the runaway lanes were downhill, but covered with loose gravel with a gravel berm at the end of them. Taking that route would be interesting and probably make you quit wanting to drive a truck. Finally at the bottom, the traffic light as advertised, still on the 6% grade. After that, levelling out a short bit later, then across the Colorado, into Laughlin and the Aquarius Casino, our home for the afternoon and evening.
Contrary to our settled habits, we actually made a reservation this time. Only the second time we reserved accomodation for the night. As it turned out we need not have bothered, the town wasn't busy. And the front desk didn't have our reservation on file anyway, we only made it that morning in Flagstaff and it was still stuck in the internet system. Damn computers. Anyway, long story short, the front desk clerk was very helpful, Jan and I were just glad to be there and not impatient, they retrieved the reservation, and things resolved themselves very well with our room being upgraded to a river-view unit on the 17th floor of the hotel, right beside the Colorada River, thanks for your patience. Nice.
Off we went, wandered the casino, walked the river-walk, enjoyed the town and casino sights, went to a classic car display, and did other tourist stuff. Later, in the room, we watched the shadows lengthen as the sun fell in the west behind the hotel, and the mountains took on a grey then purple haze, replacing the shades of brown of the day time sun. 'Purple lights, in the canyon' as Dean Martin sang so long ago. This was vintage Arizona, unforgettable in its beauty, matched by the hills of Nevada behind and to the north. Tomorrow, California, just around the corner.
