Rain, Snow & Wind in Arizona

We got up early today to have breakfast with Erin & family before we all left Tempe, AZ.  Gerry had bought a few trinkets to give to the kids to help entertain them on the long drive back to Utah.  Caden wound up with a plastic tic-tac-toe game that he didn't have the faintest idea what it was.  Not surprising since he is only 4, but he is a very smart child.  I showed him how to play and he beat me.  Humm!

We bid them a fond farewell and were scheduled to meet them in Las Vegas for dinner.  The elements had something else in mind for us and the meeting never took place.  They were going to visit with a friend of Erin's and then hit the road.  We left on time and had an interesting time on the road.  Once we got past Wickenburg, AZ the weather started to change a little.  The wind picked up and it began to rain and then turned to snow.  We noticed an abnormal amount of traffic heading south on RT 93 and were wondering why.  Then it dawned on us that there was a problem on I-40.  Yep, it was closed down from east of Kingman to Holbrook, AZ.  That's well over 140 miles of Interstate highway closed due to the snow and wind.

We were making good time and by chance called Erin & Herbert to see how far they were behind us.  They had decided to take I-17 to Flagstaff and then I-40 west.  Oh Oh!!  We told them to stop at the soonest time and check if the road was open.  It wasn't and they had to turn around and head back toward Phoenix in order to cut across country and pick up Rt 93.  Two roads they tried were turnbacks due to the snow and whiteouts.   The last we heard they were thinking about staying in the Phoenix area and trying again in the morning.  We just want them to be safe!

We continued on and when we got to I-40, it was fine for a couple miles and then the snow started.  Blowing snow.  It wasn't too bad and we continued on to Kingman.  What a difference when we got there.  There was a mini blizzard going on and the snow was falling about an inch in 30 minutes.  The roads were quickly covered and it got a little hairy for a while.  I stopped for fuel at the FlyingJ and it was really coming down then.

FlyingJ exit area

FlyingJ - cheapest fuel around

 We decided to keep on driving and once we got about 15 miles north of Kingman the sun came out and it was a beautiful day.  We made really good time since I was driving 75mph and people were whizzing by me running interference from the cops.  Bearbait!  Love it.  We stopped and I got a nice shot of the Colorado river from up high.  

Colorado River

We drove over the new bridge by Hoover Dam and were very disappointed since you couldn't see over the sides.  It looks like just another part of the highway.  We plan on stopping on the way back and getting some photos from beneath the bridge.

We are settled into the hotel and are getting ready for bed.  This has been a very tiring last couple of days. 

Good night.