Convergence in Flagstaff, Arizona

It was another great day to be driving on open roads with the wind in your hair, subject to (a) you having a convertible and have the top down (just me!), and (b) you have hair, which counts me out, leaving just Teddy! It was a pretty good day for the rest of us too.

Today's goal was to reach Flagstaff, Arizona, and link up with three more E-Type crews for the journey east to Santa Fe. Kjell Nelin and copilot Scott had traveled down from Bishop, CA. Lynn and Jan Gardner were on their second day travelling from Boise, Idaho, and Mike King traveled up from Phoenix, Arizona. LLoyd, Jerry and myself left Barstow around 9am, and headed east on I40 through Needles, CA and on to Kingman, Arizona. This section of I40 runs straight through the desert in many places alongside Historic Route 66. Last year at the start of the COLT we experienced some of these sections of Route 66 when traveling in the opposite direction. It was a pleasant surprise to see large areas of yellow wild flowers by the roadside at various points along the way - sorry no photos. We reached Kingman in good time, and stopped to refuel our cars and ourselves with lunch. Rather than carry on to Flagstaff on I40, we decided to take a more interesting route via Route 66, retracing our trip from the Southwest Oil Leak of 2011. The road took us through the small communities of Hackberry, Peach Springs, and Seligman, all of which we visited on the SOL. Each of these towns became ghost-towns overnight as a result of the opening of I-40 in 1978.  

Seligman, Arizona

Remember this from the SOL? Just outside Peach Springs at the Grand Canyon Caverns

After leaving Seligman we drove along the undulating section of Route 66 where Mike King's Series 3 became a casualty of fuel starvation 3 years ago.....

When we reached the Knight's Inn in Flagstaff (13% of reviewers give it a thumbs up on tripadvisor!) Mike King had already arrived. We were soon joined by Lynn and Jan Gardner, and then Kjell and Scott. I doubt that the parking lot has ever accommodated six E-Types at once! Two Series 1's, two Series 2's and two Series 3's. Lynn recounted that the only problem they've had so far is fuel starvation in the section of road from Seligman towards Flagstaff.... Could this be the work of  the spirit of  a Seligman gas pump attendant who lost his job when the I-40 opened......?

From L to R: Mike's S3, x, x, Lloyd's S2, David's S2, Jerry's S1, Kjell and Scott's S1, x, Lynn and Jan's S3

At nearly 7,000ft, it was considerably cooler in Flagstaff than where we had come from, so we wrapped up warm before walking to dinner at the Lumberjack Brewery. 

A beer before heading inside for dinner

Tomorrow we head for Santa Fe, New Mexico where Drew and Mary Scherz arrived today. Over the weekend we will be joined by the remaining Leakers before the "official" tour starts on Monday.