On June 29th, we departed Las Vegas. We did so bravely (or perhaps foolishly, given the heat). Our destination was Lake Havasu City, Arizona, for a two-night stay.
Our journey began as any respectable road trip should. We made a pit stop at the Pilot Truck Stop in Willow City for gas. We also enjoyed a gourmet lunch at Taco Bell. Because nothing says “adventure” quite like a Crunchwrap Supreme, right?
The Road Less Paved (and More Burro-Filled)
Our real adventure kicked off when we hopped onto legendary Route 66 from Kingman, Arizona.
We soon hit a “character-building” stretch of gravel road that went on for what felt like an eternity. Just when we thought our car might permanently become a dust bunny, the road transitioned into something resembling pavement. We then wound our way through a breathtaking pass. It was complete with tight turns. The views made us briefly forget about the gravel trauma.
And then, they appeared.
Head-Butting for Head Scratches: Our First Burro Buddies
As we neared Oatman, we started encountering burros, and let me tell you, they don’t believe in personal space. The first one we met was practically an equine road block. It confidently held court in the middle of the road. This created a standoff between our car and an oncoming vehicle. Eventually, this furry traffic cop decided to grace us with a path. Leesa, ever the intrepid photographer, rolled down her window for a quick snap. Quicker than you can say “hay,” his head was in our car. I’m pretty sure Oreos aren’t on the burro-approved diet, so we settled for a friendly nose tap. He seemed… unimpressed, but also not inclined to leave.
Oatman: The Burro Kingdom
Upon entering Oatman itself, we discovered it wasn’t just a town; it was a burro-run metropolis. They were everywhere. They casually strolled the streets. They lounged on sidewalks. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were also working the cash registers. These four-legged celebrities are undoubtedly the true stars of Oatman. The town boasted plenty of charming little shops. We were too mesmerized by the furry residents to do any actual shopping.
As we were reluctantly leaving, we spotted an adorable mama burro. Her baby, or as I like to call them, burritos, was right in the middle of the road. The little one was nursing. It was such a sweet, Kodak-moment scene. We just had to stop for a photo. And what did our new friends do? You guessed it – both popped their heads into our car window, eager for their close-up. So, yes, we left Oatman with three new burro besties and a car that smelled vaguely of donkey.
The way out was like a burro nursery rhyme come to life, with lots of foals. It seemed like a couple of super-mamas were running the whole burro daycare, just like cows do! We finally tore ourselves away from our newfound fame.
Then we continued on to Lake Havasu City. We arrived just in time to dream of floppy ears and hopeful snouts.
Meeting our new burro friends was genuinely one of the coolest parts of our trip. It wasn’t just a memorable stretch of our journey; it was a full-blown burro-fied adventure!
Have you ever had a wild animal encounter that made your road trip unforgettable?
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I have to mention driving through Yellowstone as a kid. Whenever the traffic slowed, our parents would say, “Roll up the windows.” (4-60 air conditioning). This was because of the inevitable bear(s) begging for food from the passing cars. The most memorable encounters were the bear tapping on the window we had rolled up and the sadly oblivious parents who had put their children on the back of bear cub twins to take a picture!