Route 66

 Song - Route 66 by Nat King Cole

Monday - April 7

                                 Prong Horn Antelope near Chino Valley

Heading back north to Kristy’s this morning to go further North to the town of William’s on Route 66 for some Mexican food for lunch and a good old chin wag. 

            Mr. B got to meet both Paul Bunyan and Zoltar in the same day!

We had a nice visit during lunch and William’s being on old Hwy 66 was interesting. We went to a tasting bar and I had a half flight of whites, Mr. B had a flight of reds and Kristy had a flight of mixed. It was interesting to hear about Arizona wines. 

Then we walked down the historic Main Street and went through several shops. Mr. bought me some Malachite & silver earrings & a silver bracelet. Headed back to Kristy’s in Chino Valley to meet her neighbor, Monica. At first I was the only one on the porch and she ducked her head around the corner asking who I was.  After introductions were made she said “we don’t worry about robbers but we do worry about wanderers”! PS - It’s a Senior Mobile Home Park!!!  Delightful person. So glad Kristy has her for a neighbor & a friend.

 Mr. B and I headed back to Prescott to freshen up and Kristy came about an hour later so we could have dinner together. We had tried out the bar but the music was too loud so we went into the lobby but there was a golf convention there and that was too loud too so we waited for Kristy outside on a bench. When she arrived, we headed into the Peacock Room for dinner. The bar music was just right in there!  Great dinner & visit. 

Choo-Choo-Choosing What to Do Today

Song - Train Whistle

Sunday morning Mr. B bolted out of bed and said "Let's take a train trip today!"

 

So we went to the nearest train station and jumped on a train heading for Old Town Sacramento.

We passed birds enjoying an early morning in the wetlands of Suisun Bay.

And cows huddled under a tree.

And unfortunately, many, many homeless encampments, some more elaborate than others.  We saw one that looked well maintained with a picnic table and umbrella!

 They are renovating the old Sacramento station (note the white plastic on the far left).

 Inside was beautiful - or soon will be.  Marble floors and these lovely old benches.

 Old Town Sacramento has been fairly well preserved but the shops and restaurants are all a little tacky with your typical touristy junk - T-shirts, candy, mugs, etc.

 

The back alleys had some fun sights.

 

We did find a good bar that served a great Chinese Chicken Salad!

We walked along the river boardwalk to the Crocker Museum to see the Toulouse-Lautrec and La Vie Moderne exhibit.

The Crocker also houses the work of California premier artists like yummy Wayne Thiebaud's work!

"Boston Cremes" - 1962

We headed home on the 3:35 train. Jim purchased us a glass of wine from the dining car and we sat back and watched the day winding down.

Crossing the Sacramento River

Our happy ticket taker

Beautiful flowering orchards that went whizzing by!

Birds of all kinds

We knew we were almost home when we saw Mt. Diablo in the distance.

And crossing the old railroad bridge over the Carquinez Strait

My favorite part of the day?  Asking Zoltar what to do tomorrow!

“It's my experience that most folk who ride trains could care less where they're going. For them it's the journey itself and the people they meet along the way. You see, at every stop this train makes, a little bit of America, a little bit of your country, gets on and says hello.”  -- David Baldacci