Topock and Golden Shores Arizona on Route 66

Exit 1 in Arizona

 I didn't though. I came in to Arizona from Needles, California. On the right as I crossed the Colorado River I saw the white arch "Old Trails" bridge. This bridge now carries a pipeline but used to Route 66.  After crossing the bridge I got off at the first exit but couldn't find a good spot to take the pictures.

There aren't that many Route 66 specific sights in the Topock/Goldon Shores part of Arizona, and somehow I missed taking pictures of one of the important ones, so a few of these photos are from Wikimedia Commons instead of being ones I took.

 

Historic Old Trails Bridge built in 1914 in Topock, Az. By Wikimedia user Marine 69-71 CC-BY-SA

If I had taken a right off the exit then gone into what looks like a Industrial area, I would have also had a good view of the bridge, similar to this view.
 
Looking at Google, I see I also could have gotten off of Interstate 40 at the last exit in California (Park Moabi Rd) and made my way to this overlook. From there you can get a great view of the bridge.

 

Santa Fe Water Tank on the historic Route 66 in Topock, Arizona built in 1906. By Wikimedia user Marine 69-71 CC-BY-SA cropped by me
 

As you drive towards Topock, one of the first things you see is the old railroad water tank with the Route 66 shield on it.

Topock66 Restaurant
I was getting hungry so I sotpped at Topock66 restaurant which had a great view overlooking the Colorado River. There are water act ivies available so people come up from the river for some food. 

They have interesting bathrooms at Topock66, somehow a little bit disturbing too.

 

Topock drive-thru sign

Golden Shores and Topock are somewhat intermingled. Here you can see the still in progress Topock drive-thru sign in front of the Golden Shores Community Recreation Center.  It's a small place, but they have a library (it's in the same building as the rec center), so I'll cut them some slack.   There are a number of cities that have these drive-thru signs. Since I wasn't driving my own car I didn't take a picture of it at any of them.

 

Lake Havasu Water Works tanker
 

There is also an old Philips 66 gas station that has been decorated with some old artifacts like this tanker wagon painted for Lake Havasu Water Works.

 

I somehow missed seeing Old Trails, AZ.  There isn't much there and I guess I didn't notice it.  Google Streetview provides a picture of it though.

 

Next stop, Oatman, AZ.  You can see all my Route 66 posts here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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