Williams, Arizona

I thought the day after the grand canyon, nothing would be able to satisfy me. After something so spectacular, how can my new high expectations be fulfilled? The answer lies in Williams, because this was an impressive city of rich western history. The ride to get there was so so. Everything starte off swell with another camp cooled oatmeal breakfast and detour to national gepgraphic canyon exhibit. My knowledge of canyon exploration and wildlife was enhanced through photography, art, and placards. I made a miniture grand canyon out of gravel at lunch that was destroyed when Kelsey sat on it. I learned never to tell Sara a riddle because she will take 45 minutes to figure it out and then be grumpy because she's doing way too much math for a simple question and still not coming up with the answer. After finding out what a bust Bearizona was on the outskirts of town, we fell into the middle of Williams and historic rt. 66. The town had a ms. Rt. 66 pageant and was having a mile long car show when we got in. We walked up and down the strip and saw some real American muscle. There were ford pickups from the 30s and 40s, mustangs, t birds, gtos, hot rods galore and so much more. The sparkle, paint jobs, and attention to detail was amazing. All up and down the strip, live bands were playing. Steve bought a round of 3 dozen fresh mini doughnuts that we ate on our way to go get ice cream. The second the donuts were down, I had a cotton candy waffle cone in my hand as I sat in a red and white upolstered booth, singing along to a beach boys cover of deuce coupe while a waitress in a poodle skirt an bow frame glasses served other customers. Ok, that was a little bit of a run on, but I hope you can appreciate just how perfectly cool this scene was. We rode bikes to shower at the middle school thst had only scalding hot water and then no hot water. The tenperature range was extreme, but even though i burned one nipple off and froze the other one off, I still got clean...I think... Maybe. I got back to the church, threw my laundry out for lundry crew and then caught a glimpse of a staged old west shootout. I ate another vegetarian meal of lasagna, bread, and salad as I am coming to prefer meatless options. After I hung my soaking wet laundry up to dry and accidentally interupted a makeout session in the tent. I accidentally interrupted the same couple when I was trying to stargaze later that night...total fail on my part, but their mothers would be happy with me I'm sure. After townhall, most people buckled down and settled in for the night. Since I try to go until I die, I took a night out on the town with the only other person on the trip with a wonderlust to match mine. We went back to the western knoock in town and sat on a wooden bench outside the typhoon saloon and listened to some sweet live music. Men walked by in spurs and a couple that just got married had there first dance in front of this crowd to honky tonk blues. Their wedding photographer dressed in a kilt took pictures as they stumbled awkwardly across the crushed stone ground. The bride was clearly wasted which made it an even more fun site to see. I was both thrilled and honored to be witness to a strangers dance even if it was sung by a raspy smoking character from the band 44rimstone. The originality of this experience made it great. Everyone in this outdoor venue was atleast double my age which I don't really understand because this music was actually great. The only thing I can guess is that rt. 66 just isn't a popular vacation spot if you're younger than a baby boomer. I enjoyed walking around town reading the historical plaques on buildings denoting old telegraph and bank offices that revealed the rich history of the town and the road. After a disappointing stroll to cruisin 66 to find they don't sell banana splits, it was homeward bound and sleep time for the night. I couldn't believe that once again we stumbled upon a pocket of American greatness in the middle of nowhere.