“On the Road Again, On the Road Again, I just can’t wait to get on the Road Again." In case you don’t remember, these words are from a song by Willie Nelson, tilted “On the Road Again."
Since I drove a truck, I can relate to this phrase all too well. I looked forward to seeing places I had only heard of and dreamed about. Little did I know that some of the same roads I used to travel from Kansas City to Los Angeles, would someday be traveled by some of our children to their new jobs and homes in the great Southwest, namely Arizona.
In case you have never been to Arizona let me give you an abbreviated expense free tour. I will only mention some of the more well known places.
From Kansas City you head out to Liberal, Kansas. On the way there you can see the world’s deepest hand dug well and the largest meteorite on record. All this is in Greensburg, Kansas. From here we take off west again, bypassing the famous cattle town, Dodge City. In case you care, Wyatt Earp was the Sheriff. We finally arrive in “Pancake” that’s the nickname for Liberal. This is where the International Pancake Race is held. The town also has a replica of Dorothy’s house from the story “The Wizard of OZ.” In between all these towns the fields are covered with wheat, in most places as far as the eye can see, either just sprouting in the Fall and Spring or waving in the Summer breeze waiting to be harvested.
Next we head for Guyman, in the panhandle of Oklahoma and then to Dalhart, Texas home of the famous XIT ranch. This brand was and is still used on their cattle, it was a way of saying to cattle rustlers and outsiders to XIT (in other words get out).
Heading south on Highway 54, from Guyman, we come to Tucumcari, New Mexico, then West on Interstate 40 to Albuquerque and Gallup, New Mexico. As you enter the state right away you notice a sudden difference in the land. The rolling, flat land of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas has been left far behind. The lay of the land begins to become more mountainous and some 60 miles before Albuquerque you might even see snow on top of the Sandia Mountains in the month of June. Just west of Grants you can visit the fort where the old TV western movie “F Troop” was filmed.
Next we come to the Continental Divide. The continental divide runs from northwestern Canada along the crest of the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico. This is where streams flow west and east from the Rocky Mountains. Every continent except for Antarctica has a continental divide.
Although this next place is not on the route to Phoenix, it is the only place in the United States where four states come together at one place. Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado meet at the Four Corners. Here a person can put each of their hands and feet in four states at the same time. The unique landmark is on Navajo Nation land and is open for visits from the public. There are several Indian Reservations across New Mexico, too many to mention.
Now it’s onto Flagstaff, AZ., where you will find the highest mountain in Arizona, Humphrey's Peak, altitude 12,633 feet. From here we head south on Interstate 17, near beautiful Sedona and close to the Redrock mountains, which have been seen in many western movies. As you descend from Flagstaff you finally come to the desert floor and there in a huge valley lies Phoenix surrounded by it’s neighboring towns and the mountains in the distance. A literal vacation paradise and a perfect retirement community.
Well, that’s it for now. I hope you enjoyed your quick 1250 mile trip from Kansas City to Phoenix.
If you have never been to Arizona, here are a few pictures for your enjoyment, CLICK HERE, while my wife and I prepare to get “On the Road Again.”
