Oatman and Route 66

We took a little trip up to Las Vegas to visit Walter and Nancy, neighbours from home.  Our first stop was Oatman, an old mining town along Route 66.  We were there in 2015 during our first snowbird trip.

Years ago, when the mines shut down, the donkeys that were used to haul the ore out of the mines were turned loose in the desert.  To this day their descendants still live in the desert however they are now a tourist attraction as they make their way into town each day to get their ears scratched and fed an assortment of treats. 

Lori has a thing for silly donkey pictures.
This ones for her

Lunch at the Oatman Hotel.
The waitress wanted to get in on the action. 

Yes that's $1 bills plastered on the walls

The donkeys' nose kept following the guys hand.

Vintage Oatman Hotel sign

Parking is at a premium

Lineup at the treat shop.

A super view just off of Route 66
with a graveyard at the point.

No passing lanes on Route 66 
but some pullouts to take in the views.

Next up Vegas. 

Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA)

We took Darlene and Rick out to BTA on Saturday for a little walk in the park, so to speak.  We always enjoy our visits there and are happy to share one of our favourite places with friends. 

With the February rains and recent heat the colours are starting to come back.  We may yet be in for a great spring bloom in the desert.

This desert tortoise was out for a walk
although he wasn't going anywhere fast. 

Great place to get shots of Cardinals

The Thompson mansion

We are off to Vegas for a few days to visit Walter and Nancy, our neighbours from home.  After being tour guides for them for their visits to Phoenix we are looking forward to what they have planned for us.  We know our visit includes a Golden Knights game and a tour of The Sphere but the rest will be a surprise. 

Till we get back. 

Budweiser Clydesdales

 The Budweiser Clydesdales were coming to Mesa Market and Lori just couldn't pass up an opportunity to see them and the Dalmatian up close and personal.  Rick and Darlene, friends from Winnipeg, had also arrived in town for a short visit so we picked them up and met up with JC and Guylaine.

It was hard getting an unobstructed shot but I managed to crop out most of the heads and hands in front of my lens.  From the time they arrived it took them well over an hour to get the trucks positioned, beer wagon and horses unloaded and then get the horses all hitched up.  The horses have obviously been through this many times as they were very calm and well behaved as they waited for everything to come together.  

After they were all hitched up and took a couple of circuits around the little area they had fenced off we took off for lunch at the Olive Mill.  I think they were going to make a circle around the Market area, pose for some pictures and then get unhitched and loaded back on the trucks.  A lot of work for a few minutes of pulling the wagon.  Must be worth it to Budweiser as they have been doing this since 1933 when they bought their first set of Clydesdale horses from a fellow from, of all places, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Apparently he was using them to promote his brewery in Winnipeg and Budweiser decided it was a good idea.   

There was a lot of speculation in the crowd about how big these horses are.  After a quick google search I found out that they are about 6 feet high at the shoulders and weigh around 2,000 lbs. That's a lot of horse.  

The trucks and trailers (3 of them) make quite the impression

2 of the 3 trailers each carry 4 clydesdales.
8 horses total.
The 3rd trailer carries the wagon and gear. 

The horses waited patiently to be unloaded

And then waited some more as each of
the horses were outfitted and hooked up.

JC, why so grumpy

After all the horses were hitched up the Dalmatian made his appearance. 

It was hard to get a shot of all 8 horses and
the wagon without someone in the way

Their halters, bridles, etc are pretty elaborate and very showy.  

 

Over 2 hours standing in the sun and then 3 circuits of the cordoned off area in the parking lot and they were off for a short ride around Mesa Market.  

We had planned to also take in Boyce Thompson Arboretum however we decided we had enough sunshine for the day and headed off to Queen Creek for lunch at the Olive Mill.  One of our favourite watering holes.  

We will do BTA the next morning when it's cooler and we have a little more energy.