2023 EB Day 5 - In The Beginning…

Our fifth day in the road would take us to the birthplace of historic Route 66, but not before breakfast at Mr Dz's...

...and a stop at Giganticas Headicus, the new home to the cars that lined the road to the currently closed Grand Canyon Caverns.

Hackberry didn't disappoint, on this occasion full of bikers from the continent.

We jumped back on the road to get ahead of them into Seligman to meet the man who started it all.

Angel Delgadillo fought to make 66 historic after suffering ten years of decline after the interstate was opened and his town died.

Today he celebrates the marvel that historic Route 66 has become with visitors as they stop by and his daughter Clarissa and son in law Mauricio made sure he was there for us to chat with.

It's truly inspirational and to hear him speak so modestly about what can be achieved in life, is a privilege.

He tells us he's 36 (he turned 96 a week or so back) and that's his secret!

Lunch at his brother Juan's Snowcap Diner brought unexpected extras - You want a straw?.... or Mustard with that?... Simple gags that have stood the test of time, continuing to entertain.

Down the road after crossing back and forth on the i40 is Zettlers Store...

..and pretty soon after we're in Williams with a main street lined with 66 touristy shops and cafes, proudly boasting being the final town bypassed back in the eighties.

After checking in to the Wild West, we hot footed it up the i64 to explore the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, hoping the sun might bring new colour to the walls.

The Mule Deer weren't hiding though, clearly visible as we drove by.

Despite the lack of bright light, it's still a spectacular place to have dinner and soak up the sheer magnitude of this place.

Back in Williams, the town's neon was doing its job.... the start of nightlife for some... and bedtime for us.