mkitchen
Explorer
I posted up in the Four Corners section that I had three days available and was thinking that a solo trip in and around the Flagstaff area would be a fine way of spending those days. As is normal for this forum, the suggestions came rolling in and a plan was made. I have learned that for me, a vague idea is more enjoyable than a more specific schedule. The goal was to stay on dirt roads for as much of the way as possible and to be on the least used, but still legal trails. This was certainly the plan for this trip and it worked out very well.
My original goal was to pack up my old 71 F 250, Reuben, for the trip and it was going to be me and one of our three Corgi's. The other two Corgi's were going with Mo to a gal-camp (Sisters on the Fly) that she was going to the same weekend, hence, the free time. Got some more work done on Reuben, like getting the CB hooked up and doing some improvements on the wiring. With a 41 year old truck it is easy to find improvements that should be done.
On the day before I was to leave, my son, Sam, called me and told me that he was able to get the time off and would be able to go with. Not too sure that there wasn't a bit of brow beating by Mo to get Sam to go. She gets concerned when I wonder off on my own with Reuben and my vague itineraries. The two of us and one well fed Corgi was a bit of a crowd for Rueben's cab and the shell is set up for one solo with a dog or two folks who are close and don't mind sleeping close. So on to plan two; transfer all the gear that I just took out of my 06 Tacoma, Catsup, (yeah we name our vehicles) and put in Reuben, back in Catsup and Muffin Top, the trailer.
With vehicle issues sorted out, we headed out on Friday, 9/7 from Kingman AZ. We took rt 66 to Seligman, had a great breakfast at Lilo's Diner and then further east on 66 to where it hooks up with I 40. At that point we crossed over I 40 and again followed a very old and abandoned section of 66 and then went south with the goal of getting to Ashfork without going on I 40.
We managed to avoid I 40 but we did end up on Hwy 89 about two miles south of Ashfork. So back on pavement to Ashfork and then north from there and back on the dirt. Following suggestions, we took off east once we got north of Ashfork and we were looking for an old tunnel built for the railroad. Didn't find the tunnel but we did find some nice country and some fun two tracks to travel that took us from Ashfork to Williams, where we were again on pavement.
Topped off the tank in Williams and off again on rt 66 east. To stay of the interstate, we took the turn at BeArizona and it took us to Circle Pines rd and on the Great Western trail. Some albino buffalo seen as we went by BeArizona.
I have done the GWT before and though a nice trip, it was a bit too well used of a road for us. We took FR 72 instead. As with most of my short cuts, it was a bit shorter but took longer. It turned out to be a nice two track that put us back on the route to Laws Springs where we hoped to spend some time and do some exploring. Laws spring is one of the watering holes on the old Beale trail. in one of the photos you can just barely make out a name carved in the stone from that time.
After Laws, we again took off towards Kendrick mountain. I was going to go a bit south from there but we decided to go north and see what came about. We took some very small two track roads that were just what we wanted. They were small enough that if we were in Reuben, we would have had to push through some of the brush and limbs. Not sure what roads we were on but we had to start looking for a more well used road to find a camp site. I avoid making new sites to camp. A fellow can usually find a good site that has already been used when on the more used roads. We finally did find a nice spot with plenty of time to make a nice taco dinner and enjoy a walk. We had some company at the camp and never did get to find out where they were from. I believe that they were Great Pyrenee's. They never did get close enough to pet but they hung around most of the night. I think they thought Gus looked like dinner, so we kept him pretty close.
That was the first day. I still have two days to go but I am out of time right now. I will get back and post the rest shortly. Writing about the trip helps me to re-live it.
Mikey
My original goal was to pack up my old 71 F 250, Reuben, for the trip and it was going to be me and one of our three Corgi's. The other two Corgi's were going with Mo to a gal-camp (Sisters on the Fly) that she was going to the same weekend, hence, the free time. Got some more work done on Reuben, like getting the CB hooked up and doing some improvements on the wiring. With a 41 year old truck it is easy to find improvements that should be done.
On the day before I was to leave, my son, Sam, called me and told me that he was able to get the time off and would be able to go with. Not too sure that there wasn't a bit of brow beating by Mo to get Sam to go. She gets concerned when I wonder off on my own with Reuben and my vague itineraries. The two of us and one well fed Corgi was a bit of a crowd for Rueben's cab and the shell is set up for one solo with a dog or two folks who are close and don't mind sleeping close. So on to plan two; transfer all the gear that I just took out of my 06 Tacoma, Catsup, (yeah we name our vehicles) and put in Reuben, back in Catsup and Muffin Top, the trailer.
With vehicle issues sorted out, we headed out on Friday, 9/7 from Kingman AZ. We took rt 66 to Seligman, had a great breakfast at Lilo's Diner and then further east on 66 to where it hooks up with I 40. At that point we crossed over I 40 and again followed a very old and abandoned section of 66 and then went south with the goal of getting to Ashfork without going on I 40.
We managed to avoid I 40 but we did end up on Hwy 89 about two miles south of Ashfork. So back on pavement to Ashfork and then north from there and back on the dirt. Following suggestions, we took off east once we got north of Ashfork and we were looking for an old tunnel built for the railroad. Didn't find the tunnel but we did find some nice country and some fun two tracks to travel that took us from Ashfork to Williams, where we were again on pavement.
Topped off the tank in Williams and off again on rt 66 east. To stay of the interstate, we took the turn at BeArizona and it took us to Circle Pines rd and on the Great Western trail. Some albino buffalo seen as we went by BeArizona.
I have done the GWT before and though a nice trip, it was a bit too well used of a road for us. We took FR 72 instead. As with most of my short cuts, it was a bit shorter but took longer. It turned out to be a nice two track that put us back on the route to Laws Springs where we hoped to spend some time and do some exploring. Laws spring is one of the watering holes on the old Beale trail. in one of the photos you can just barely make out a name carved in the stone from that time.
After Laws, we again took off towards Kendrick mountain. I was going to go a bit south from there but we decided to go north and see what came about. We took some very small two track roads that were just what we wanted. They were small enough that if we were in Reuben, we would have had to push through some of the brush and limbs. Not sure what roads we were on but we had to start looking for a more well used road to find a camp site. I avoid making new sites to camp. A fellow can usually find a good site that has already been used when on the more used roads. We finally did find a nice spot with plenty of time to make a nice taco dinner and enjoy a walk. We had some company at the camp and never did get to find out where they were from. I believe that they were Great Pyrenee's. They never did get close enough to pet but they hung around most of the night. I think they thought Gus looked like dinner, so we kept him pretty close.
That was the first day. I still have two days to go but I am out of time right now. I will get back and post the rest shortly. Writing about the trip helps me to re-live it.
Mikey
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