Day 4: Phoenix, AZ/Tucumcari, NM

Pretty straightforward day today. Scraped ourselves out of bed after a fantastic day with Drake, Ryan and Dean (and lots of pizza and frosty adult beverages), then headed up to Flagstaff and took highway 40 into New Mexico. It was pretty much a no-frills drive.

It was so good to spend some time with the guys. A well-timed reminder that years can go by between seeing friends and yet you can still fit together just as easily as before.


Fort Courage in Houck, AZ was definitely a high point. Very well-equipped trading post that certainly saw better days back when Route 66 was hoppin'. I don't think the restaurant has served an 'Ice Creme Sunday" for at least a decade, but there is a pretty wide selection of geodes and plastic bows inside the gift shop.

Tucamcari Econo Lodge (on a scale of 1 to 5)

Cleanliness: 4
Rat Population: hard to say, but the trap out back was a whopper
Best feature: 10% off a the Denny's next door



I'm tired, so I'm going to let the photos tell the rest of the day's story...

Willie is a maniac in the swimming pool, but Simon was not nearly as enthusiastic. Coaxed him in eventually, but he always bounced right out again.





One of these guys didn't have to go to work this morning.





A storm was a-brewing tonight in Tucamcari!