First Long drive on American Highways

We started off yesterday morning from Pasadena towards Grand Canyon, speeding in the overloaded Saturn on I-210 (interstate highway 210). The traffic was pretty high but the wind was higher. We had barely crossed 50 miles when we saw the sky overcast with dark clouds and the wind pushing the car towards right. Wondering what was happening we forged ahead and before we reached Barstow (70 miles) we had seen three large long haul trucks toppled beside the road. Reason: heavy winds.

Apprehensive we stopped at a fuel station for refilling and enquired about the conditions ahead. The lady said it was ok up the mountain but bad in the valley, since we were headed out onto the mountains, it was ok for us. We just surged ahead switching to I-40 and heading towards Kingman, Williams where we were supposed to take a detour on I-86 towards Grand Canyon.

At Kingman we stopped for lunch and visited a quaint museum (entry $ 4) which displayed exhibits about old Indian settlements in the region. The museum was undergoing renovation and hence a small area was closed but otherwise the maintenance is impeccable. Clean carpeted floors, airconditioned interiors, well lit exhibits and more than everything very very courteous staff.

We conversed with the staff who were too willing to give us more information about exhibits and the American-Indian settlements, reservations and how things worked way back a 100 years ago and how they work now. It is amazing... I had always wondered about how such a young country had grown so well and achieved economic prosperity so quickly. It is primarily due to the attitude of its people. They want to please every client. We were one of the few visitors to the museum and the staff were only too happy to talk to us and explain about the various facets of the exhibits and the history of the small town. Kingman is a town which is not even as big as a C class city in India, but the people are well educated (I don't mean academic degrees but have received a solid foundation in their primary and secondary schooling), speak good English, are very courteous.

I could write a lot more about what we saw and how we missed an exit and ended up in Flagstaff instead of Williams. An experience of buying a car in US and the foot massage in Singapore Airport etc etc. Unique experiences just working in my mind. Will write them up soon. For now see these pictures and enjoy.