On the Road Again (Day 5)

Day five found us still in Kingman, Arizona. I knew our replacement rental would be awhile getting to us, since it was coming from two hours away. So I decided I would sleep late that morning. Unfortunatly my insurance company had other plans.

At roughly seven a.m. (Arizona time) my claims adjuster from Farm Bureau gave me a call. "I'm sorry to bother you, Miss Nunn, but my name is Jason ... and I'm calling concerning your recent wreck. Can you tell me what happened?"

Groggy from just having been woken up and having had very little sleep the night before due to the excitement from the accident, I proceeded to tell my adjuster everything that happened, "Well, I was on my way to the Grand Canyon and the road was really bad because it was curvy, gravels, and sand. And the other guy, he came around the curve and...."

"I'm sorry, Miss Nunn. I don't mean to interrupt you, but I'm talking about the accident that happened in Berea about a week ago."

"Oh yeah! That accident!" I think I turned red over the phone. Ummm...yeah, it had been a rough couple of weeks because just the week before some idjit rearended me on my way to work and then here I was getting sideswiped by another idjit in the middle of the Arizona desert. Shew!

Anyway, with all that being settled we decided to walk down to the local Arby's for a quick breakfast. It was on this walk that I discovered I was actually staying right along historic Route 66. I was very pleased with this discovery! For those that know me well enough, then ya'll know I'm a bit obsessed with Route 66. Since before I was legal driving age, I've wanted to take a road trip down the entire length of Route 66. I'm not sure why, but I just always have. So any time I accidentally run across it, I turn into the equivalent of a four year old. I'm pretty sure I was standing on the sidewalk, looking up at the Route 66 sign, pointing and jumping up and down at some point that day.

Kingman, AZ is a nice little town. Not too big, not too small. The roads are laid out nicely, the people are friendly, and the living is affordable (I've done research on it since getting home from vacation, that is how serious I am about living there one day.). There are lots and lots of Route 66 references throughout the town as well. Which was fun for me. :-)

Around three that afternoon the tow truck from Las Vegas called to tell me that he had my replacement rental downstairs waiting for me. I was so, so, so happy that he had finally gotten there. See, I used to not mind sitting around waiting for things. A day in the hotel would have been relaxing to me. However, eight months ago I was in a very bad accident (as most of you know) and it jostled my noggin' around a bit. Closed head trauma. No big deal, except I can't remember anything from that wreck and I can't remember most of anything from that entire day and night. Even after all this time. Its like it never happened at all. Not a memory, not a dream, not a thought. I don't quite understand it. But what I do understand (and find very strange) is that since then, I feel like I have adult ADD. I can't concentrate on anything anymore. I can't even finish a book (and I LOVE to read). I can manage to watch television programs that last an hour or less and read short stories and magazine articles, but to actually focus my attention on something for more than an hour at a time drives me crazy. I think it has something to do with the accident and the bump on the noggin', but I'm too chicken to go to a doctor for it. :-P

Anyway, that is just the long way of explaining why I was ready to tear my hair out after spending all day locked in a hotel. Finally, though we were on the road about fifteen minutes after the rental got there. We headed towards the South Rim entrance of the Grand Canyon this time. Paved roads all the way. :-) We passed a lot of little towns that I would have loved to stop and take a gander at, but there was no time. The sun was setting and we wanted to see the Canyon before it got dark.

We made it just in time.

There was some construction going on, but the road to the actual park was beautiful. Tall, tall trees everywhere and signs to watch out for bear and whatnot. Fun! :-) We got our three day pass (although we didn't use it) and found parking. It was VERY cold that evening. Mom and I both wore jackets and we were still freezing. The trails were nice and level and really there wasn't much of an incline, but breathing was still a bit tricky. I suppose because we were at a higher elevation and all that. Not that it was impossible to breath or anything, but there was a noticable shortness in breath.

The Canyon itself was amazingly beautiful. Everyone should go see it at some point. I can't wait to go back and take the time to actually explore a bit. See all the trails and all that jazz. I took so many photos that I finally managed to fill up my memory card. First time ever! And I've had that camera for YEARS.

Anyway, when the sun set, we headed back to Kingman for our final night in Arizona. The next day would find us on our way back to California and well on our way to Disneyland! :-)