Today was warm and sunny, but this evening there was some rain. The low at night was mid 50s and that is not bad for me. I love finding the buildings from the yesterdays. When this hotel closed it was used by railroad for an office. Then what happens to these places when it is no longer of value to anyone and becomes vacant? Luckily for this building a group of interests individuals formed a group to save it. The photo above shows "Harvey Girls" Fred Harvey started a restaurant in 1876 which became the first food chain in the US. These grew along the Santa Fe railroad and other places through the west. There was a time where trains did not have a dining car. His restaurants provided a wonderful opportunity for many young women. Check it out https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/otmhar
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I did not take it easy, I went 26 miles today. I continue to average around 20 miles a day. Today the elevation is 4850'. There have been no big hills. I looks like I will be climbing from here. The temperature was back into the 90s and the wind was from the SW and they gave me a little push. Humidity was 19%. This is the Barringer Crater outside of Winslow. This land is on private land and it is a National Landmark. Scientists think that a meteor created this depression that is .7 miles across and 560' deep. Erosion has probably had some effect of the dimensions.
Hot day at 98 degrees with humidity of 11% and a wind from the southeast at 12 mph. Elevation of Holbrook is 5080'. Holbrook was the first chief engineer of the railroad and they decided to name the town after him. The railroad put this place on the map. The area was range land for herds of livestock. The history mentioned the decade long range war https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasant_Valley_War This account sounds like a Hollywood script. Seven Wigwam villages were build in different states during the 1930-1950. They are on the National Register of Historical Places. You will find some vintage restored vehicles parked on the grounds to help you feel in the yesteryear. Your hotel room will be in a tipi (not a wigwam). Their construction is steel and concrete. https://www.jackrabbittradingpost.com/Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City AZ. I am thinking that if I don't stop someone will say, "Did you stop at the Jack Rabbit?" "No." " Oh, you really should have and tried there Cherry Cider." Their tagline is "If you haven't been to the Jack Rabbit, you haven't been to the southwest." I have heard of this special park and I did not realize that it was right on my route. A pleasant surprise. https://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm This will give you some official info and more photos. Volcanoes nearby erupted and covered the forest with ash. This covering kept the air and organisms from eating the trees and the mineral rich water helped the hardening process.
Can I ride my bike on an interstate highway? Arizona does allow to biking on the shoulder on some interstates when an alternative route is not available. In some of the virtual photos you have seen interstate highways. I do not mind riding on these. My concern is the objects that may punctures your tires. The cars and trucks always give me a lane space. The riding lights help me to be seen. I live in a state surrounded by the Great Lakes. We have over 10,000 lakes and ponds. Many rivers and streams. We are never more than 5 miles from one of those. In this part of the country we find intermittent streams which rise up during gully washers. Here are some bridges that were along this stretch. These were built in the 1920s. When these arroyos would fill with water, people may need to wait for up to 24 hours for the water to recede. Building a bridge made a lot of sense.
Up to 96 degrees. Wind from the west at 11 mph. 10% humidity. Not bad for August. I know that packed, all your possessions, strapped on look.
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