I would chalk it up to spring fever if it were not for that fact that my ability to drop even the most important things at the drop of the hat for an opportunity to take to the open road have been a part of my life for at least forty years. Quirks such as these are not to be over analyzed. That just gives one a headache and hinders the ability to savor the adventure, the voyage into the unknown that quickens the pulse.
One of the great blessings in my life is I have a wonderful wife who suffers from the addiction of the open road as well. Needless to say this can make things quite interesting.
Last Sunday presents an excellent case study. It was a quiet, relaxing day with no deadlines, no commitment and no pressures.
About 1:00 in the afternoon my wife informs me that she has a crazy idea. Of course, I respond by informing her that there is no such thing.
With that said we were soon on the road to Williams, 115 miles to the east, for dinner. Usually our adventures east or west begin with Route 66 but as I needed to be home by around 7:00 and there was a fierce storm due in that evening we chose I40, a sacrilege to the most ardent fan of the old double 6.
It was truly a grand adventure. On the long grade east of Ashfork we passed a pair of vintage Mercury sedans, a 1950 and a 1951. The storm clouds building over the mountains presented an ever changing panorama of ominous shadowing and the goldne oldies station set the mood.
Our arrival in Williams was met with blowing sleet and temperatures about twenty degrees lower than home. This just added to the feel we were really on an adventure and fueled our appreciation for the coffee at the Pine Country Restaurant.
Dinner, as always, was good. It was a near perfect blend of appetite sharpened by the cold mountain area and the adventure, a meal shared with a dear friend, and good food.
Restored and invigorated I again turned my attention to the website (www.route66infocenter.com) on our return. Still, I must confess, my mind was not fully engaged on creating a one stop site for those who also are addicted to adventures on Route 66 and other orphan highways. In the back of my mind thoughts of the next grand adventure and the ones that await us as we begin work on the next book, Ghost Towns of Route 66, were gathering with the intensity of storm clouds over the Black Mountains on a summer afternoon.
I wish my wife enjoyed road tripping as much as I. But, she goes to sleep if she rides too long. Oh well.Hopefully, I can pass my love of The Road on to my two children.