DETOUR THROUGH OATMAN, AZ

When we left the Hoover Dam, we decided to take a different route back, so we took Route 93 south to Kingman, AZ. From there we took Historic Route 66 through Oatman, an old mining town.

Route 66 was a narrow winding road, with many hair-pin turns so several times it seemed we met ourselves on some of the turns! Scenery along the way.

A sign about the mines seen just outside of Oatman. The sign reads: There are five active Federal Mining Claims in this area on both sides of the road. Due to changes in the mining laws everyone needs to get a permit to be on the claims. To get a permit see Don at 9044 Oatman Road.

Driving into Oatman.

Below: A sign on the outskirts of town: Oatman was founded about 1906, By 1931, the area’s mines had produced over 1.8 Million ounces of gold. By the mid-1930s, the boom was over and in 1942 the last remaining mines were closed as nonessential to the war effort.

Burros first came to Oatman with early day prospectors. The animals were used for hauling water and supplies. As the mines closed and people moved away, the burros were released into the surrounding hills.

Wild burros are protected by Federal Law from capture, injury or harassment. Help protect these living symbols of the Old West.

We drove past the Historic Oatman Hotel (below). The Oatman Hotel is said to be haunted with the ghosts of Clark Gable and Carol Lombard who were married in nearby Kingman in March 1939 and spent their wedding night at the Hotel. They enjoyed their stay so much they returned several times. It is said they have so many fine memories of the old hotel that they refuse to leave.

Wild burros roam the town, going in and out of the shops at will!


Or welcoming drivers as they drive through town!

REPEAT VISIT TO THE HOOVER DAM, BOULDER CITY, NV

Sept 26 - We drove from Verde Valley to Bullhead City, AZ/Laughlin, NV yesterday. We will stay here for four nights.

Today we decided to drive up to see the Hoover Dam again. We had been there in April 2001, but we heard there was a huge new bridge across the Colorado River and we thought that would be worth a 85 mile drive.

This is funny. When I told my daughter Stasia that we were going to the Hoover Dam she said she had just found a picture of us taken at the Hoover Dam! I wonder if her picture was anything like this one!! HA HA!

Close up!!

View of the new bridge that we came to see!! Picture taken from top of the Dam.

This is a picture of the Dam. No water flows over The Hoover Dam.

Water flows through releases at the bottom of the dam, allowing the Colorado River to continue its southwesterly journey through Arizona, Nevada and California. They have a saying: Food Grows Where Water Flows!

We didn't take the tour this time so I don't remember what these two towers contain. Water backed up by the dam forms Lake Meade.

The Hoover Dam was built in two states. The Eastern end of the dam is in Arizona!

The Western end of the dam is in Nevada!

When we left the Hoover Dam, we drove across the new Hoover Memorial Bridge. Unfortunately, the walls were so high we could not see anything below.

On our drive south on SR 93, heading toward Kingman, I told Ken that Arizona has so many beautiful places -- The Painted Desert, The Grand Canyon, Sedona, etc. -- but God must have forgotten this whole area when he made Arizona! This is the ugliest place we have ever seen!!

On our way south we passed the cut-off to the Sky Walk, the Indian tourist attraction where you walk out over the Grand Canyon on glass flooring! I would have loved to detour, but it would have added 80 miles to our trip. Maybe next time!!