Thursday, May 7, 2015

Standing on the Corner in Winslow Arizona

The weatherman was forecasting rain, so we had to leave our forest paradise before we got our motorhome stuck on that muddy forest road.  Our next destination was a campground between Flagstaff and Winslow so we could explore both towns.

We moved on a Sunday morning, and just had time to drive into Winslow for church.  Then it was time to head downtown.  We had to take the picture "Standin' on the corner in Winslow, Arizona."
This little town has capitalized on the Eagles' first hit song, "Take It Easy!"  The lyrics, "Well I'm standin' on the corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see.  It's a girl my Lord in a flat bed Ford, slowin' down to take a look at me."  They've taken a corner of a street on Route 66 that runs through town and made a photo opportunity that few people can pass up.  A nearby store was playing Eagles' songs through a loud speaker, and we were amazed at the number of people that stopped for a picture.  We saw a dozen different groups in the little bit of time we were in the area.

At that park we picked up a brochure listing other points of interest in Winslow.  We stopped by the La Posada Hotel just two blocks away.  It is another historical hotel that was built in 1930 and has an interesting past.  It was designed by Mary Jane Colter, the same female architect responsible for designing most of the buildings at the Grand Canyon (including the tiny dorms we stayed in at the bottom of the Canyon).  It was a grand Harvey House Hotel along the train tracks that are still active today.
Also along the train tracks is a city park that highlights a huge wood carving.  During the 1970's a wood sculptor named "Wolf" Toth traveled across the country creating a trail of wood carvings.  There is one in every state in his "Trail of Whispering Giants" and Winslow is home to the Arizona giant.  Has anyone back home seen the carving in Broken Bow, Oklahoma?

Not too far from the giant was something not listed on the chamber of commerce brochure.  But Denisa has a weakness for blooms, and she is always excited to see a century plant blooming.  Any time that a plant gets only one bloom in its lifetime, it seems that someone needs to take a picture of it.











The final place that we visited was actually five miles outside of town.  McHood Park is a reservoir along Clear Creek, and is a recreational area for locals.  When we found out that you can launch a kayak and row all the way up Clear Creek Canyon, we realized we will be making another trip back to Winslow, Arizona.

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