Across Arizona

Long day of driving.  The first section was through California desert and badlands and it was desiccated and hot.     The only thing of note was the acres of solar panels which I’d never seen here before and which must be a good thing. A few remnants of irrigated agriculture but very little.  All changed when we crossed into Arizona;  the roads become worse and the settlements were mainly RV parks with aspirational names including Quartzville, Viksburg and Hope.  Hope consisted of a church and not much else and the exit sign read, rather brilliantly ‘you are now beyond Hope’.  

We were getting very low on petrol (and lunch) and each new ‘town’ had shuttered cafes and gas stations with nowhere to buy anything.  We finally limped into Salome (tag line, ‘she danced”) and found a thriving mini mart and gas station where we grabbed food.  V had a hot dog, which I loathe so I had a healthy lunch of crisps, a banana and an ice cream.  All washed down with a beer which meant we had to eat it in the car but with a door open so it was legal.   This big Coca Cola truck was unloading. 

We then drove up into the mountains which was much more beautiful. Extraordinary views and up into Prescott National Forest there were lovely trails and more prosperous seeming small towns.  We stopped for a cup of tea in Prescott itself (disaster - a young American server couldn’t begin to understand how to make tea and gave me hot iced tea mix. Very odd) 

On to Vik’s friends in Flagstaff a town we’ve been to often and a nice dinner with Michael and Rosie.  Much colder up here of course.