JUN 29, 21 .. GILA BEND, AZ .. SENTINEL REST AREA

Life is amazing. We never know what is coming during any given day that will create a lasting (perhaps lifelong) memory.

Here is one example: 

Back in 2009, we were driving across Interstate 75 down in the southernmost part of Florida heading for Key West. We needed a rest area. No biggie. Off we pulled into a very pleasant rest area. As Patti headed for the restroom she was stopped by an attendant who told her that there was an alligator in the rest room and they were coaxing it out! Sure enough. In about five minutes, out came an alligator, and Patti was told it was now safe to enter.

Oh Captain. The 'nickname' for I-75 through the Florida Everglades is Alligator Alley! What did you expect?

No matter, we two will not soon forget this live and up close alligator adventure.

Arizona has some very pleasant rest areas along its major highways. In the Sentinel Rest Area, some 45 miles west of Gila Bend on I-8 at milepost 83.8, was a warning sign that Patti will not soon forget.

SENTINEL REST AREA

Below are photos of some of the informational displays in the rest area.

Below are some exterior photos of the Sentinel Rest Area.

Captain! What about the warning sign that you mentioned at the beginning of this post?

As Patti looked longingly out at the desert in the distance, and thought about possibly taking a short walk, to her right ahead was a blue sign.

Warning! Watch out for scorpions and rattlesnakes!

To this day we two still chuckle about the above warning sign.

Captain! Patti! You are in the desert of Arizona. What on this good earth do you expect to find out there?

Still smiling. Patti and Cap

JUN 27, 21 .. GILA BEND, AZ .. TIME TO EAT

Just in case you have not yet looked at our previous post showing the 911 Memorial in Gila Bend, Gila Bend is pronounced Hee laa Bend and it is located Southwest of Phoenix as you travel from Phoenix to Yuma, Arizona, via I-10, AZ 85 and I-8.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gila+Bend,+AZ/@32.9763919,-113.880517,8z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x80d528408d307de3:0x6dea177bee0b822b!8m2!3d32.9478236!4d-112.7168305

We have passed through Gila Bend several times over-the-years and have enjoyed two restaurants. 

THE SPACE AGE RESTAURANT

Located at 401 East Pima Street (AZ highway 85 and I-8 business route) here in Gila Bend, it is (at least in our experience) truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Into The Space Age Restaurant we go.

Wow! They mean Space Age!

The time has come to get a bite-to-eat. 

On this visit we enjoyed a late morning breakfast.

The menu.

You can order off the menu (above) or off the buffet food bar (below)

We opted to order off the menu on this visit.

And? 

That-is-that for breakfast. Now on enroute to Yuma, Arizona.

McDONALDS

We know, we can read-your-minds! McDonald's? Come on! Fast, clean with good restrooms ..

And?

Our truck does not have air conditioning! McDonald's is a welcome and pleasant and cool place to get-out-of-the-heat and relax.

802 West Pima Street, Gila Bend, AZ.

Nice and busy. McDonald's must be doing something well!

Yes! We could go in and just hang out, use the restrooms and cool down, but we much prefer to give them a little business.

Time to get back-on-the-road to Yuma, Arizona.

McDonald's really works very nicely for us.

Hugs from Patti and Smiles from Cap

JUN 25, 21 .. GILA BEND, AZ .. 911 MEMORIAL

 Let's begin by showing you where Gila Bend, Arizona, is located.

Just in case you don't have a basic knowledge of the Spanish language, Gila Bend is pronounced as Hee laa, Bend.

To see its location, please click onto another phenomenal Google Maps link.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gila+Bend,+AZ/@33.229478,-113.2542963,8z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x80d528408d307de3:0x6dea177bee0b822b!8m2!3d32.9478236!4d-112.7168305

I date back to December 1963 into February 1964 as to visits to, and passing through, Gila Bend. Patti and I date from March of 2018 having passed through Gila Bend en route from Phoenix to Yuma, Arizona, several times including this past April 2021.

We can't idly assume that each and everyone who happens upon our website knows what the 911 Attack was. The below link will fill you in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks

It is amazing to us that the small town of Gila Bend has a 911 Memorial. It deeply touches our hearts when we visit the Memorial.

It brings tears to our eyes.

The 911 Memorial is located at 201 East Pima Street (AZ highway 85 and I-8 business route).

The timeline of that fateful day.

The below photos were taken walking around Gila Bend's piece of steel from the World Trade Center's Twin Towers.

Notice the attractive fountain in the background of the next two photos below.

Below you can see the fountain up close. 

Now, for orientation purposes, we are going to show the below photos a second time.

What we want you to notice in the background of each photo are the flags and the cactus which we will show you in more detail below. 

In the distant background of each photo, you can see the 911 Memorial piece of steel from the World Trade Center.

The Gila Bend 911 Memorial truly is a beautiful work of art and a wonderful place to visit.

In Memory of All Who Died in the 911 Attack.

Patti and Cap