Williams, AZ

Williams, AZ - the Gateway to the Grand Canyon  

June 26 - 29

The trip from Desert Drums to Williams, AZ was a whopping 82 miles. If you know us at all, you know we are often VERY early (well, Dad mostly...like 45 minutes early to most things). Dad fortunately decided that we didn't need to be so early arriving in Williams that we beat the campground managers to work!  We pulled out of Camp Verde at 8:00 AM which was the latest start for us since Day 1, and I'm pretty sure Dad thought we were behind on the times. The drive was all interstate from I-17 north, then onto I-40 west. I am obsessed with the fact that Knoxville is also off  I-40. Weird, but I think it's just totally cool how the interstate system connects all across the USA. Well, obviously, that's the whole point, but I think it's awesome! We did pass under the sign to Los Angeles, but that sign may be the closest we get (ha, ha!) I think I'm nervous now....

Easy peasy we leave the interstate and there is an RV park off to right that I can see clearly, but that isn't ours. We navigate  to the Grand Canyon Railway RV Campground which is  in a compound with the Grand Canyon Hotel. Great! We made it with no problems. Well, it's been a few days since an "it's always something moment," so here we go. Dad had made a reservation for this campground, but it's not on their books. The lady at the desk calls a few numbers and our reservation is no where to be found. She also says that people get the Grand Canyon Railway RV Campground and this other place confused all the time, but she doesn't know the set up of the other campground. Like if they can take 45 footers or not. So Dad checks his phone log, and we discover that somehow, he had made reservations at the other RV park (remember the one we saw getting off the interstate earlier?). So - shoot! What are we going to do? The GCR (Grand Canyon Railway) is SO nice! We had done our research and looked at all of the reviews, and this was where we wanted to stay. Back to the Newell to discuss what to do. I checked the Big Rig Best Bets book and this GCR was the only big rig approved place in Williams to stay. So that makes it an easy decision for me. We are staying here and if we have to pay at the other place, oh well. We know this place can take us, and of course, when we call to cancel, the other park says they can take 45'. Duh, they're always going to say that. Fortunately they didn't put up a fight, and Dad hasn't seen a charge on the credit card yet. Even better, GCR takes our Passport America membership and that's a few $$ off the cost for the three nights we planned to stay. I was really proud of us that we made the correct decision and didn't leave immediately to go to the place where our reservations really were. The GCR has several interesting activities and many things for people to do. Because it is connected to the GCR Hotel, guests of the campground are allowed to use the hotel facilities, including a really nice fitness room, indoor pool, and perfectly manicured lawn areas. At the campground, there is a beautiful gathering place to be social around a fire (which is totally contained because everyone is on fire watch in that area). We met a guy with a Prevost who is heading to the Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort next....maybe we'll see them there!



Our campground in Williams, AZ

Williams is a tiny town that is close enough for a bike ride, but Route 66 goes right through, so it is a tourism Mecca for people visiting the Grand Canyon. There are plenty of restaurants that have a very 50's style and all of them play 50s on 5 from Sirius Radio. We spent the first day in Williams riding our bikes, making friends with our neighbors in the Prevost, going to Twisters for dinner, and going to the evening shoot out with the cowboys. The shoot out takes place every evening at 7:00 PM on different blocks throughout the town. It's about a 15 minute skit about four cowboys robbing the bank. In case anyone is planning to visit here in the future, I won't give away any details...but it was loud, and I hate loud!! But definitely worth the short bike ride over.



Downtown Williams, AZ - right on Route 66!

Dad with the sign.

The cowboys at the shoot out. Pretty entertaining.

A delicious dinner at the diner.

Dinner with the King - dind't I just see him in Memphis?

Yes - it worked, and no - you don't want to know what it cost.

So far, we have enjoyed the town and our few days here. I am saving a special post for the Grand Canyon because it needs one all of its own. Today, Thursday, we have been planning the next few days up towards the Oregon coast and towards Washington as well. As I mentioned a few posts ago, my computer has started to bite the dust, and Dad has been working on it probably for three whole days total to try to back up my entire hard drive.    When my hard drive does crash, he can install a new hard drive and restore everything and all programs without, hopefully, too many more problems. Well, today while planning, Dad's computer just turned off in the middle of choosing between three routes. The computer said it was over-heating, but to the touch, it wasn't hot at all. So that was exciting in a nervous way. We couldn't do this trip without his computer!! Google Earth and RV reviews are my most frequently visited sites (well, next to this one to check on my growing fan base). Hopefully, the computer can make it the rest of the trip, and if it doesn't we will have to do something about that!!!

Next leg.....VIVA LAS VEGAS!!!!