Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
Show Low (yeah, right!) to Williams, AZ

174.8 miles
Glorious sunny day

We packed up early to get on the road. We had a date in Williams with my good friend Mark, who was driving up from Palm Springs to meet us for my annual birthday celebration of watching the Kentucky Derby!

We couldn’t have asked for a nicer day to drive – beautiful blue skies, no traffic, and amazingly good roads. Should you ever be in the area, I highly recommend taking SR 377 up to the main drag, I-40, rather than the more heavily traveled SR 77. It’s in great shape, and takes you through several really gorgeous changes in scenery, from forested hills to rolling grass plains to amazing rock formations and back, thru National Forests and Apache land and Navajo lands. Something happened to Sooz’s camera, so most of the day’s pictures were lost, but it was a wonderful drive.

Since we were a day late getting to town because of the wind delay, Mark was assigned the task of finding an appropriate bar to watch the Derby. He found a great dive, the Sultana – a very fancy name for a very local working man’s bar. Suzie and I were the only girls in the place, and most of the regulars were missing a few teeth, but it was an old classic with photos and knick-knacks and trophy heads on the walls. We had a ball!

Great race, but so terribly sad that the end had to be so tragic for the filly.

After the race, we crossed the street to another classic old joint – the Canyon Club, which was a total kick in the butt! Definitely not a place that tourists would drop in to. There was a shuffleboard table right in the middle of the main room, with a major tournament going on with the regulars - cowboys and working folk.

When they learned it was my birthday, the drinks didn't stop coming. One older codger took a brief break from the game to dance me around the floor (no one else was dancing!) - there was a gay guy at the next table - a black gay guy - who was so damned funny and witty and kind and sweet, who kept us laughing non-stop with his stories.

We had dinner at a place they all recommended - and already the name escapes me - the Red something - that was true gourmet dining - absolutely terrific meal! Totally unexpected in this little country town!  (6/15/12 -found the business card for the restaurant - Red Raven! )

There is one main street in town - one parallel secondary street of businesses, and several cross streets and that’s about it. It appears that half the town is owned by the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and RV Park and train, but the other half is just a delight! The hotel and RV Park even offer a Pet Resort for day care for your companions.

Mornings are still too cold for my blood, and I'm sure winters are not an option, but I'm seriously considering spending some time here in the summer! What a fun town!!

Tomorrow is a big day – the train ride to the Grand Canyon! I can’t wait!

Grand Canyon Railway RV Resort
711 N. 7th St.
Williams, AZ 86046
1-800-THE-TRAIN
www.thetrain.com