|
|
Day Three: Carson, CA to Flagstaff, AZ (via CA-91, I-15, and I-40)Miles today: 475 Total Miles: 1222 |
| Another late start, which is becoming a pattern. Decided not to stop in Vegas on the way to Flagstaff so I figured I'd sleep in. Couldn't leave too late though or I'd be stuck in the rush hour traffic going up to the desert. Left after 2pm and managed to hit the early rush hour traffic on the 91. |
A view of the Anaheim Hills from CA-91 |
Traffic on CA-91 going through one of the passes that seperates the LA Valley from the Inland Empire |
Thunderstorms building over Cajon Pass (along I-15), seperating the Inland Empire from the high deserts. Stopped in Barstow around 5pm, just like I used to on my frequent trips between Vegas and LA. Just as windy as I remember. Got on 40 with a nasty cross wind all the way until I turned off to get on 66 at Ludlow.
|
I-40 outside Barstow (missed the sign that gave the distance to Wilmington, NC, which is the other end of I-40) |
Wind power! |
The starkness of the high desert |
|
A long way to civilization |
|
There was maybe five cars between Ludlow and Needles on 66, all going in the opposite direction. I forgot how desolate this part of the Mojave Desert is. A little creepy too, being so empty. It feels like you could die out here and no one would find you for weeks. 
Route 66 near Ludlow. |
Sunset over the high desert along Route 66 |
The whole reason I took this part of Route 66, the Amboy Crater |
The volcano in the desert. What's striking about this is that it sits in the middle of a lava field, something that you don't expect to find out here, so far from the plate boundaries. |
| Hit Needles and the AZ state line just after dark. 
This might bring back some memories for someone... |
Finally, another state other than California! It was too dark after this to take any more pictures. Stopped outside Kingman at the turn-off for US93 (my stop usual stop between Vegas and Phoenix when I did that drive) around 930pm. Called the Vegas WFO to ask about the winds since I estimated they had been gusting into the 30s and 40 mph range the entire time. They were a little surprised to hear that I was in the CWA, but not too much since they knew I had gotten the job in Melbourne. Wind Advisory for their area, High Wind Warning further east, which would explain me getting pushed off the road several times by the wind. Did the 2 hr climb to Flagstaff in pitch black and rain/drizzle, arriving at my hotel in Flagstaff around 1230 am after taking a wrong turn down I-17 to Phoenix. Started snowing hard about 30 mins after I got to the hotel. Good timing.
|
All Photographs © 2009 Arlena L. Moses |