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We had our earliest start today, 9:48 AM. We stopped in Moriarty, New Mexico as planned, to disconnect the Ranger so that we could climb the Sandia Peak just east of Albuquerque, and we have decided to finish the drive in two cars. With the early start and separate driving we managed a respectable 422 miles today.

By the way for anybody keeping track of the horrible drought conditions throughout the country, (they are whining about the drought in the media in South Carolina where a kid playing in the yard can dig a hole 3 feet deep and it will fill with water) the vistas all the way to the east side of Arizona are very GREEN and it is the end of August.

We are spending the night in Gallup NM at the Best Western Royal Holiday, do not stay here, it is over priced for the run down state of the rooms and trains come in to town blasting their air horns every half hour all night long, honking their horns over and over, it is like they are going through your room and I am a really heavy sleeper ask anyone. There is another Best Western on the east end of town, I don’t know anything about that one.

This motel has all the stuff you might want; WiFi – not really but there is an internet connection in the room and two computers in the lobby for public use, microwave, refrigerator, HBO and plenty of TV stations, heated pool (summertime) jacuzzi indoor all year, washer/dryer on premises, cont’l breakfast at 7:00am. The normal rate was $59. They have weekly rates and there are discount coupons in the travel log books you get at the information centers. The rooms were old but clean. It’s walking distance to all of downtown Williams, a coffee shop and Twisters Soda Fountain across the street. Check out was a bit annoying, they were not able to give Randy a good receipt, but we had been there for 9 nights and kept extending our stay. I’ll let you know if we have a problem with them charging more.

While we were doing a job in Pittman Valley, just this side of Flagstaff, AZ, we stayed in Williams, and took in some of the sites there. My first stop was at Wild West Junction on Sunday morning. I was too late for services at the small church in the corner of the courtyard, but I had a wonderful visit with Cozette and Jerry. She’s the minister and he is gonna be Santa this year. They are working with Helping Hands and getting some presents and CHRISTmas cheer to those in need for the holidays this year.

The following Sunday I was able to attend the services and it was such a wonderful fellowship. Randy and I went for an early dinner in the Typhoon Saloon & Restaurant, at the Junction. The food was just great. The service was like something from the past, beyond friendly, one of the owners Mike, took our order and had some good suggestions on what to get. It was a really enjoyable meal. We had to stop eating, so as not to bust, the portions are very generous. We also visited the museum, Mike has been collecting for years and it is worth looking into. It was an altogether wonderful experience.

There is also a really neat looking Mercantile Store, I peeked in a few times, but I was always on my way someplace else. I will definitely go in and browse, when we go back to do the finish on the job in Pittman Valley.