Day 5, VLA, Pie Town and Seligman, AZ
Miles: | 471 |
Start Point: | Madrone, NM |
Sun Rise: | 7:11 AM MDT |
Start Weather: | At 6:00 AM MDT the temperature was 40.1 ° with 72% humidity. The conditions were clear with a wind speed of 1.1 MPH and wind gusts of 2.9 MPH. |
End Point: | Peach Springs, AZ |
Sun Set: | 6:03 PM MST |
End Weather: | At 6:00 PM MST the temperature was 68.7 ° with 15% humidity. The conditions were clear with a wind speed of 9.4 MPH and wind gusts of 18.1 MPH. |
Table of Contents
Very Large Array NM
View a list of places like this or a map.roadsideamerica.com
The VLA is a radio telescope with 27 independent antennae, each of which has a dish diameter of 82 feet and weighs 230 Short tons. The antennae are distributed along the three arms of a track, shaped in a 'Y' configuration, each of which measures 13 miles long.
The VLA is present in the 1997 movie Contact, as the location where the alien signal is first detected
We were on the road before sunrise again heading toward Pie Town. I took this route on my 40 to Phoenix motorcycle ride back in the spring and wanted to share it with Laurie. You can read about my visit to the VLA and Pie Town this spring here.
The first stop was the Very Large Array (VLA). The radio antennas are cool and the views are very nice. The air was clear and crisp unlike what we would run into the next day.
Very Large Array, NM
Very Large Array, NM
Very Large Array, NM
Very Large Array, NM
Very Large Array, NM
Very Large Array, NM
Pie Town NM
View a list of places like this or a map.Next up was the Gatherin' Place in Pie Town. I had a traditional eggs and bacon breakfast while Laurie had pancakes with a mixture of fruit. They were both very good. I then picked out a blackberry pie for the road.
These folks are also very fond of the 2nd amendment and both had pistols on their hips. The temperature was in the 60's so it was a very nice day. When I was here in the spring on Ruby the Gold Wing, the temperatures were around 30 and snow was falling.
The Gatherin' Place, Pie Town, NM
The Gatherin' Place, Pie Town, NM
The Gatherin' Place, Pie Town, NM
The Gatherin' Place, Pie Town, NM
Laurie
The Gatherin' Place, Pie Town, NM
The Gatherin' Place, Pie Town, NM
Bobby, Laurie
The Gatherin' Place, Pie Town, NM
The Gatherin' Place, Pie Town, NM
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook AZ
View a list of places like this or a map.nps.gov
I hope to do the 40 to Phoenix ride again next spring. Laurie will fly out to Phoenix again and spend several days with me. One of the things we want to do is to stay in the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ. So we stopped to check it out.In the arid Arizona desert, the Wigwam Village Motel in Holbrook still provides Route 66 aficionados the opportunity to "Sleep in a Wigwam!"
While passing through Cave City, Kentucky in 1938, Chester E. Lewis was impressed by the distinctive design of the original Wigwam Village constructed in 1937 by architect Frank Redford. An astute observer may notice that the Wigwam Village is not composed of wigwams but of teepees. Mr. Redford, who patented the wigwam village design in 1936, disliked the word 'teepee' and used 'wigwam' instead.
Mr. Lewis purchased copies of the plans and the right to use the Wigwam Village name. The purchase included a royalty agreement in which Mr. Lewis would install coin operated radios, and every dime inserted for 30 minutes of play would be sent to Mr. Redford as payment. Seven Wigwam Villages were constructed between 1936 and the 1950s. Finished in 1950, Mr. Lewis' village was the sixth, thus its designation as Wigwam Village #6.
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ
Old Route 66, Seligman AZ
View a list of places like this or a map.We blew through Flagstaff and stopped in Seligman, Arizona. This was a tourist trap but in a good way. The prices were reasonable. Laurie had a nice chat with Donna at the Road Kill. We also enjoyed talking with Angel and Vilma in their gift shop. Definitely check out both places if you are ever in the area.
Seligman Arizona on old Route 66.
Laurie
Seligman on old Route 66.
Laurie
Seligman on old Route 66.
Seligman on old Route 66.
Laurie
Seligman on old Route 66.
Seligman on old Route 66.
Seligman on old Route 66.
Laurie
Seligman on old Route 66.
Seligman on old Route 66.
Laurie
Seligman on old Route 66.
Grand Canyon Caverns, Peach Springs AZ
View a list of places like this or a map.The campground at Grand Canyon Caverns was great. Only a couple of people there, wide open spaces, huge sky and the silence was deafening. We built a small fire and enjoyed the quiet and stars. I tried a little Milky Way night photography. I need to try a little harder, but got a decent photo that shows the Milky Way. Will definitely return someday.
Grand Canyon Caverns CG. No one here and it was very quiet.
Grand Canyon Caverns CG. No one here and it was very quiet.
Grand Canyon Caverns CG. No one here and it was very quiet.
Elevation Changes During the Day
The day started at 4,799 feet and ended at 5,520 feet. The highest altitude was 7,997 feet and the lowest altitude was 4,623 feet.