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| West Arizona |
Once I had a smart phone, I quickly learned that as I approached each little wide-spot-in-the-road town in western Arizona, I could get internet long enough to look the town up on Wikipedia to read about its history. Almost all the little towns along I-40 have one thing in common--they started as railroad towns. Kingman, Arizona was a stop on the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad was behind the creation of many towns. Later it became the Santa Fe RR, and now is the Burlington Northern Santa Fe RR. We have a BNSF line that runs within two miles of my house, so I see these engines from the time I leave home until halfway along my journey.
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| Eastern Arizona |
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| New Mexico |
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| Needles, California |
Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn
Echols for her historical novels. The first three novellas in the Eastern
Sierra Brides 1884 series, Big Meadows Valentine,
A Resurrected Heart, and Her Independent Spirit, are now available. He Is a Good Man was published as
part of the Lariats, Letters and Lace anthology.
Please tweet this blog post:
Before there was the highway there were the railroads. I-40 AGAIN...@ZinaAbbott #PrairieRosePub http://bit.ly/1TbYIAg
Zina,
ReplyDeleteI took a trip along I-40 to and from my trip to Phoenix a couple of months ago, so some of your pictures were familiar in a general New Mexico landscape sort of way. :-)
It is interesting to see how scenery changes as I drive east. One of the biggest factors is annual rainfall. The other is soil composition.
DeleteBeen on I-40 a couple of times, and yes, long stretches of scenery. Love that you take photos and study the towns you're traveling through.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip. Doris/Angela
I do it to combat the boredom, plus I plain get curious about why people would choose to settle in some areas. And, especially when the air is clear, what at first glance appears stark actually has a beauty all its own.
DeleteI do it to combat the boredom, plus I plain get curious about why people would choose to settle in some areas. And, especially when the air is clear, what at first glance appears stark actually has a beauty all its own.
DeleteI do it to combat the boredom, plus I plain get curious about why people would choose to settle in some areas. And, especially when the air is clear, what at first glance appears stark actually has a beauty all its own.
DeleteI do it to combat the boredom, plus I plain get curious about why people would choose to settle in some areas. And, especially when the air is clear, what at first glance appears stark actually has a beauty all its own.
DeleteI've never traveled that road, but it does look desolate. Where is everybody? The landscape is so different from what I'm used to here on the eastern seaboard. There are so many interesting places to stop and check out, it's hard to resist. If I'm traveling with my sister, I know in advance we won't get anywhere we're supposed to before nightfall.
ReplyDeleteI'm just wondering, have you ever taken the train instead of a car on your travels? Seems like that could be fun and you could get up and move around, too.
Sarah,
DeleteI've done train travel from Colorado back to Illinois. It is about the same as driving, but a lot more relaxed. Doris
Train ride is on my bucket list, although my first one I want to take is from Sacramento over the Truckee River gorge to Reno. The second, the bid one is the Northwest tour through Washington, Montana, Canada and other states.
DeleteTrain ride is on my bucket list, although my first one I want to take is from Sacramento over the Truckee River gorge to Reno. The second, the bid one is the Northwest tour through Washington, Montana, Canada and other states.
DeleteLove I-40!
ReplyDeleteIt is one of my favorites. I love visiting AZ.....
DeleteExcept in late June through early September.
One of the big benefits of working as a subcontractor for the BIA was the drives I was able to take west of the Mississippi. Kansas to Albuquerque was a regular trip; and I loved driving I-40. Also route 66 (the old and the newer route). In can be desolate, but the view is often breathtaking. And to be able to do it in a few days as opposed to how long it took pioneers to cross this country...that is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt about the savings in time and convenience compared to pioneer days. We drive in two days what took wagon trains over two months, plus there is a truck stop or rest area every 20-50 miles with snacks and flushies.
DeleteNo doubt about the savings in time and convenience compared to pioneer days. We drive in two days what took wagon trains over two months, plus there is a truck stop or rest area every 20-50 miles with snacks and flushies.
Delete