29 ArizonaRealCountry.com July 2019 the cooks come up with. This July 4th is the 29th anniversary of this "eggcellent" event. Eggs judged most edible win. Where to Stay Yaqui Camp and Cottages is located at the base of the Black Mountains just off of Route 66 in Golden Valley. You can book reservations through AirBnB.com. This is a great stopover if you're traveling Route 66. They have cabin rentals and tent campsites. They are surrounded by thousands of acres of protected BLM land and have three trails that lead to natural spring water all under three miles. This is an off-grid property with solar showers and composting outhouses available to campers... each site offers a parking space, dispersed tent camping with a fire pit and access to camp amenities. Cottages have solar, heat, running water, a community compost toilet, and solar showers. Oatman is just 12 miles up the road. The sunsets are pink and orange and just breathtaking. Nights are dark and quiet with twinkling stars by the billions and the sound of coyotes or the occasional sighting of a mountain lion. Sunrises are beautiful with the smell of nearby campers preparing breakfast before heading out for that day's adventure. Along Route 66 Oatman is surrounded by Bureau of Land Management wilderness, which is also home to desert bighorn sheep. Outdoor activities include hiking, camping, hunting, photography, and rock climbing. Visit the wondrous Shaffer Spring Goldfish Bowl on Route 66 between Kingman and Oatman. A man named Shaffer found water seeping from cliff walls and built a basin made of indigenous rock and concrete. He set it where the springs could drain into it. Locals sometimes keep goldfish, snails, and plants in it to help keep the water fresh and algae free. The famous wild burros frequent the area and honeybees can be seen drinking from the bowl. A Monkey Paw orchid also grows on one side. 31 steps go up the mountain to the bowl but there are no banisters, so be careful. There are no road signs pointing out the Goldfish Bowl, so just watch for the stairs after mile marker 31 heading to Oatman. Rockhounding at the BLM Thimble Butte pull-off is a fun family activity. Here you can find fire agate and chalcedony roses. Watch for snakes and desert critters in warmer months. Cool Springs Camp is the last service station before heading up into the Black Mountains. Much of the original structure was exploded in the making of the movie Universal Soldier. The building was rebuilt in 2004 based on old photos and now serves as a gift shop and museum. It’s also a great place to stop, buy a soda and take in the views. Ed’s Camp is about a mile on down the road. The camp belonged to a man named Ed Edgerton, a miner who came to the area in 1917. When Route 66 came through, he decided to build a trading post upon his property and set the foundation. However, traffic increased at such a rapid pace, he simply put a roof over the foundation and an open-air trading post was born. Soon the Kactus Kafe, a gas station, and cabins were added to the camp. Today, it sits lonely and abandoned, piled with iron bed frames, rocks, old tires, railroad ties, and other debris with “no trespassing” signs posted around the entire area. The Cuesta Fire Agate Mine has been in operation since 1928. It is located on Oatman Highway 4 miles east of Oatman. This scenic location offers a pay-to- mine service, contact the mine owner Don Nelson, 928-565-4145 for more information regarding cost and availability. Sitgreaves’ Pass was first mapped out by Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves in 1851 while on an expedition to see if the Colorado and other rivers could be navigated by steamboat. From the top of the pass at an elevation of 3,550 feet, you can see across the Black Mountains into California and Nevada to the west and across the scenic switchbacks to the Hualapai Mountains to the east. Topock Marsh is a 4,000-acre marsh located where Route 66 crosses the Colorado River. As part of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, a popular bird watching area with over 300 species of birds. Topock Marsh is a good location to explore by canoe or kayak. If you don’t have your own watercraft, there are a few businesses in the area where you can rent boats, canoes, and kayaks. dconvertini vivelaruta66.com Cool Springs Camp Shaffer Spring Goldfish Bowl