May 9, 2012 - Get your kicks on Route 66

Leaving the Day’s Inn at Gallup, New Mexico at 6 am, the temperature was in the 30s.  We drove west on historic Route 66 and Interstate 40 to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Parks.  We were surprised that, although the state of Arizona doesn’t recognize Daylight Saving Time, the Navajo Reservation, whether in Utah, New Mexico, Colorado or Arizona does use DST.  Therefore, we would be three hours behind home time in some places and two hours behind in others.  The question, “What time is it?” often had a difficult answer.

The Painted Desert was beautiful in the morning.  The rocks just shined in the light.  Photos can’t do the place justice.  Panorama views throughout the park were breathtaking.

The Petrified Forest was similarly remarkable.  There were places within an easy walk of the road where the ground was littered with giant petrified tree trunks.

We made it to Holbrook, Arizona by 11:30 (Arizona time) and had lunch at a great place that was well reviewed by Jane and Michael Stern on RoadFood.  Joe and Aggy’s on historic Route 66 in Holbrook specializes in Southwestern dishes.  The décor is 100% roadside diner from the heyday of Route 66.  Mary had a green chili enchilada which is one of their specialties.  I had a Navajo taco which is a local favorite made with a fry bread shell.  Everything was delicious and inexpensive.

We had to backtrack on Rt. 66/I-40 to Chambers, AZ to drive toward Chinle, AZ.  We made a stop at the historic Hubbell Trading Post near Ganado, AZ.  There were lots of Navajo rugs and jewelry from Navajos, Zunis and Hopis but everything was pretty expensive.

The Chinle Holiday Inn where we will be staying for two nights is nice.  The hotel and restaurant is on the Navajo reservation and is operated by the Navajo Nation.  It is off the road and quiet.  It is very close to Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “Canyon de Shay”) where we will be touring on Thursday.  We ate dinner at the hotel restaurant.  Mary had a club sandwich and I had a Navajo sandwich which was shaved turkey on fry bread.  Both meals were so large that we split my sandwich and saved her club for lunch tomorrow.

Visitors to the canyon bottom are only permitted if accompanied by a licensed Navajo guide.  We are scheduled to go to the canyon with a guide in the morning then we will drive the canyon rim, which is permitted, in the afternoon.  It should be a good but long day.

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