Oatman AZ

Friday
March 18

Almost forgot the old mining town of Oatman AZ.

Glad I didn't miss the spectacular stretch of old Route 66 thru the mountains.

The two lane road was fortunately paved and the twists and turns were like a roller coaster ride,

 almost as bad as Mt. Mansfield in Vermont.

On the way to Oatman is a spot in the road called Cool Springs,

 the site of this restored 1926 Mobil station.

 Inside, Craig the manager will be happy to sell you a soda pop and show you around the museum.

Arriving in Oatman we find the main street full of friendly wild burros.

Oatman was a gold mining town 100 years ago. Burros were used in the mines and when the mines closed the burros were released into the hills where they live today.

   

They come into town to wander among the tourists, Snowbirds and motorcyclists.

These two cowpokes

got into a gunfight at high noon on Main Street

Dusty, a Sam Waterston look alike,
was the cuter of the two.

Too bad he lost the fight.

This group of Brazilians had rented all black motorcycles in LA

 and were touring around the West

Another group had come into town in vintage cars

that were getting dusty in the parking lot.

That night, my last in Arizona before heading to California,

I'm treated to a great sunset at Needles.