My Route 66 Adventure STOP PRESS, BLOG CONTINUES AT http://morebighroute66.blogspot.com/: Message from Steve and Julie

Arrival

Well after all the last minute jobs to finish and the vagaries of Guildford City Cabs I finally made it to Chicago for the start of my Route 66 adventure. Its been 35 C here today but forecast to drop to 17 C tomorrow.

As usual the last minute packing resulted in a few items missed - but I arrived a day earlier than strictly necessary in order to get some jet-lag respite before setting off on a motorbike. So a shopping trip tomorrow then.

Had a quick stroll around the vicinity of the hotel this afternoon - interesting pubs, restaurants etc - but very hot after the UK.

Well I suppose I'd better read the joining instructions, make a shopping list and turn in for the night.

I'll be back tomorrow with my impressions of the 'windy city' and of the other folk on the trip after we meet up tomorrow afternoon.

Mood Music: A bit tired but mellow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hB3eCv_FOk

(you have to press the arrow at the top left to get back to this blog, but better still let it play and re-load the blog in another window by pasting http://bighroute66.blogspot.com/ in the browser )

Last minute shopping and a slight panic

Soundclip for today is a bit more upbeat though the day did not start out too promisingly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlou_2lMLAc

Click the link then reload the blog to read on

Was woken by a loud thunderstorm last night around 4 am and of course didn't get back to sleep. Spent the morning buying the bits & pieces I had forgotten to pack - such trifles and fripperies like a shaving razor and waterproofs !

Was just about to have a mid-day jet lag induced snooze when I rashly decided to check the small print of my trusty old holiday travel medical insurance - to find that they only cover the riding of motorbikes up to 125cc - the hog I'll be riding is 13 times bigger and so a major crisis unfolded.

Eventually was able to buy a policy online and print out the required documents in the hotel business centre - phew. Given that the cost of treating a sprained wrist in the US would require the sale on one's primary residence its a bit of a relief. I can now set off as planned tomorrow rather than heading back to the airport or alternatively hiding under the bed in the Chicago Holiday Inn for 2 weeks and pretending I did Route 66.

June 10 th Exodus

Met up with the group last night - great bunch of people from the UK, Ireland, Belgium, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece, Switzerland, Austria and the Isle of Man ! Our intrepid tour leaders Laura and Mike took us to dine at the Chicago Hard Rock Cafe (where else ?). Photos below.

Plan is to go by minibus to the Harley place and get issued with bikes. We plan to hit the road around 11 am.

Today's leg is from Chicago to Springfield 201 miles. We had thunder and rain in the night and will probably have some rain on our journey today - so today's sound clip can only be:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-2TNXqEP-Y

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Message from Steve and Julie

Go Howard Go !!!!

1 comment:

kayeJune 19, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Really enjoying these travels with you, brilliant! Bike- scary, Id have to take the bus or horse!! love Kaye
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Day 1 - Chicago - Springfield 200 miles

Arrived at the Harley Centre at 9 am and were presented with our bikes. Set off on the road out of the city and along the route. We stopped at Joliet for icecream, at Dwight for lunch in a diner and at Pontiac to see a museum.

Although it had rained during the night, the day cleared up and the afternoon was 26 deg C and sunny. We arrived at the hotel in Springfield just before the rain started but not before safely parking the bikes under cover.

Sound Bite from today a little predicatable:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK7TIhlnCTw

Day 2 - Springfield - St Louis 100 miles

Had a good nights sleep (at last) and a hearty breakfast. Baggage was loaded into the van and we were on the road for 9 am. Despite the occasional threat of rain the weather was good if humid.

A few miles outside Springfield we stopped for coffee at an old Route 66 Diner followed by the morning briefing from Laura, our tour leader (aka Lala but apparently no link to the Teletubbies - I did politely enquire).

Another day of the mid-west plains - a succession of seemingly sleepy farming towns in the corn belt. We visited a red - brick section of the original Route 66 (inspiration for the Yellow Brick Road ? - Maybe but we're not yet in Kansas Toto!).

Another welcome break a town plaza and then on to see a rather bizarre Route 66 filling station where the original owner obviously had a rabbit obsession (the Route certainly attracted more than its share of eccentrics - present company excepted of course!).

We visited the original iron bridge across the mighty Mississippi - and as the photos show it is a really big river - at the moment due to high rainfall.

Finally into St Louis with its incredible arch and to the hotel. The tour company and the guides Laura and Mike have really perfected the routine into an enjoyable and smooth operation.

We park and lock the bikes in a pre-organised location, our room keys are already printed and as we grab our luggage from the van, Mike produces a treasure chest of chilled beer !

A quick shower and an evening at BB King's Blues Club is on the cards tonight.

Today's sound clips:

Something to do with the Mississippi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wah7MqEHFg

Something about St Louis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-al-Emb9TY

Something about roadkill:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UejelYnVI3U

Day 3 - St Louis to Miami (Oklahoma) Near Tulsa - 330 miles

Last Night five of us ventured out to BB's Blues club - about 10 mins walking distance from the hotel. Food and ambience very good - and we bought the T shirt!

Up early for an 8 am getaway. Our first stop was a petrol re-fill where we had the morning briefing and I snapped a fantastic classic car (see later). Almost since leaving St Louis the scenery became more rolling with valleys, woods and hills. This is the Ozark region. Still very gentle on the eye but definitely a bit less tamed and more mysterious than the landscape of the last two days.

Our next stop was a Route 66 store which had the worlds largest rocking chair in the carpark and some great souvenirs inside. Then on to Devils Elbow viewpoint and lunch at a BBQ grill cafe - very yummy.

Passing by the area's Harley Davidson store was too much of a temptation so we stopped for retail therapy.

The next part of the journey was on the original Route 66 (now a backroad) where we stopped at an old filling station. We were invited to freshly sliced water melon and friendly hospitality.

Although the day had started out overcast with a few splashes of rain, by the afternoon it was glorious sunshine and speeding down the old road with barely any traffic in sight was fantastic - past all these old hamlets which once made a living from the Route 66 passing trade.

We were originally scheduled to stay overnight in Joplin, however since being struck by a tornado a few weeks ago our intended hotel there was out of action. We rode through Joplin which is a sizeable town. We saw a few minor signs of damage and repairs from the route we took, but very poignant were the flags at half mast in honour of the people who lost their lives to the tornado.

We crossed briefly through Kansas before finally reaching our hotel in Miami, Missouri (Near Tulsa). A very long day.

Today's Soundclips all have a 'country' rock or blues feel to them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UaXI0Zaquw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCtbgWL8xHU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7XSOWwwvcs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9CdVeKr5bk&feature=fvwrel

Day 4 Miami, Oklahoma - Oklahoma City (200 miles)

On the road at 9 am to meet with the Bikers from the local BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) Chapter - of which our tour leader Mike is a key figure. One of the members runs a shop and museum in Miami which was very impressive and also slaked our vacation retail therapy needs. The BACA guys were really welcoming and rode with us to the Buffalo Park at Afton.

The scenery here alternated between fairly flat cattle framing land with woods and some undulating hills. Today was hot (upper 30's centigrade) with bright sunshine.

We rode on to the Will Rogers (no relation) Museum in Claremore where we also had a hearty lunch. Back on the road we had a stop at a lake where several decades ago a husband and wife had constructed a mini water park - centred around a rather impressive blue whale (see photos).

We rode on to Tulsa where we saw the original Route 66 bridge and then on towards Oklahoma City - a great ride along long country roads with little traffic, a hot sun but a good breeze.

Arrived in Oklahoma City to a cold beer, another welcoming hotel and a good meal at a New Orleans themed restaurant.

Soundclips for today reflect (among other things) the railway activity seen today and yesterday and the almost imperceptible but still tangible feeling of mobility compared with my impressions of the mid-west on the first two days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omwpY42J1Fk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5e3M6v-rCQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVECupaqI0M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sr8J-RGh6Q

Day 5 Oklahoma City - Amarillo (260 miles)

An 8 am start again came round all too soon and before we knew it we were on the road again.

Out of Oklahoma City the scenery was undulating hilly terrain which was increasingly arid. We saw evidence of recent tornadoes in wrecked farm houses, equipment and trees. We also saw a few drilling rings for oil and gas.

We put a few miles on the clock before stopping at a Route 66 Museum in Clinton with its much appreciated Air Conditioning. The weather toady was in the upper 30's C although humidity was lower and a dry breeze was welcome apart from gusts which made steering tricky.

A buffet lunch was followed by a visit to the barbed wire (or 'Devils Rope' Museum) in McLean, over the border into Texas. Another fuel stop and a visit to an old Route66 filling station (now abandoned).

A last 50 mile scoot down the freeway brought us to our lodgings for the night. A quick shower and off to sample Texas' finest prime rib as a group. Yummy and great fun. And so to bed with the prospect of another 8am reveille.

Sound clips for today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Zha3BWbl8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QynK5IDalmA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2zdJ7UBP3U (for Liz)

And the one you've all been waiting for:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW5eUA0I938

Day 6 – Amarillo – Santa Fe 300 miles

We made it through the Wilderness (no that’s not a link to a Madonna sound clip) but that’s what it felt like by the time we reached Santa Fe.

We left our hotel at 8 am and headed into the West Texas flat and very dry pasturelands. Our first stop was to see the avant garde sculpture of several cars half buried in the ground. Shortly afterwards we stopped for coffee at Adrian which was officially the half-way point of Route 66.

Much of the original Route 66 has been by-passed with modern freeways and at Glenrio, just before the Texas – New Mexico Border we visited a ‘ghost town’ of old motels and garages which had died once the traffic had been re-directed.

Continuing on our way we were quite taken aback when driving through a gorge to emerge into classic barren and rocky 'cowboy cattle country'. We had a short break at Tucumcari and rode on through the wilderness to Santa Rosa for lunch and a Route 66 Museum with some amazing classic cars.

We headed north towards Santa Fe and began gaining height. The scenery changed to more hilly, less barren vistas with trees becoming more common. We approached the Pecos river in the Sangre de Chritos range and stopped at an historic missionary site.

A few more miles saw us in Santa Fe with welcome greenery and very pleasant quarters for the night. We had a group meal in a nearby restaurant and looked forward to a rest day tomorrow and an exploration of Santa Fe.

Soundclips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCRae5mRoRE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK_TXfKfyag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRvCvsRp5ho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyPYM5uUViI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xx5IvDW9S0

Day 7 Thursday 16th June, Santa Fe

Awoke to a warm sunny morning and so went off to explore Santa Fe. Beautiful architecture in the Adobe style.

The site of Santa Fe was originally occupied by Native American Indian villages (pueblos) from around 1000 AD. It was colonised by the Spanish in 1598 and subsequently claimed by the Republic of Texas when it became independent from Mexico in 1836. However the small military and trading expedition which set out to gain control over the Santa Fe Trail was overwhelmed by the Mexican army in 1841. In 1846 the US declared war on Mexico and a force of 1,700 gained control of the whole of New Mexico, recognised in a treaty in 1848. In 1912 New Mexico became the 47th State of the US with Santa Fe as its capital.

The Santa Fe Trail originally connected Missouri with New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 it was a vital commercial and military route until the building of the railway in 1880. Early travellers faced the threat of indian attacks, lack of food and water en route, unpredictable weather and rattlesnakes.

Other perils included The Wild Bunch (including colourful characters Bill Doolin, Tulsa Jack and Dynamite Dick) who robbed the Santa Fe train for $1,000 in 1893.

For Sometime Santa Fe has come to embody a special 'South Western' culture which draws on its American Indian and Hispanic roots, aptly encapsulated in the state moto 'New Mexico - Land of Enchantment'. This is a mixture of understated 'pre-Columbus 'spiritualism and 'otherness' which expresses itself in the bold indian motif artwork and the unique silver and turquoise jewellry.

But today was our day off and some of us having paid rather over the odds at a pretencious restaurant last night, we opted for the option of a courtyard party with bring your own nibbles and tipple, an improvised but adequate sound system and a Pizza delivery service. We had a great time and raised a glass of bubbly to mark the engagement and forthcoming nuptuals of Erik and Valerie.

Soundclips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLXQltR7vUQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww5GXbk58R0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF3fd_DOChM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hYV-JSjpyU

and a couple added later:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_xmujSyxkU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SeZe1CKRv8

Day 8 - Friday 17th June. Santa Fe - Gallup 260 miles

Left the hotel at 8.30 and took a back road south out of Santa Fe. Our first stop was for fueland it was here we noticed a gopher popping its head out of its burrow right on the edge of a busy road (see photo below).

A glorious clear sunny morning but fresh cool air as we followed a winding road into mountainous country. We stopped at the old mining town of Madrid which is now an arty commune. We moved on for a coffee stop in Albuquerque.

We pushed on westwards through high semi-desert plains with sandstone bluffs and mesas (flat topped hills). We were now on the high extensive plateau which marks the southern end of the US Rocky Mountain range.

We had lunch in the commercial area of Acoma in the Hopi Indian reservation. We saw a magnificant blue custom Harley and observed the spectacle of Anne removing some studs from Patrick's jeans which were causing discomfort.

A few miles down the road we came to the visitor centre for the hilltop Hopi pueblo of Acoma. The village is still inhabited but today there were no tours - a walk around the visitor centre had to suffice. An impression of the pueblo is given by the two photos and the Google Earth satellite image shown below.

We re-joined the main road and journeyed onwards towards Gallup. The scenery was inspiring in the afternoon sun, however a gusty wind required a degree of concentration for the riders. Parallel to the road freight trains with four engines pulled trucks with double-stacked containers. Tumble weed blowing across the road completed the atmosphere.

We had a brief stop at the continental divide (7,275 feet elevation) and in Gallup, had a look around the Hotel El Rancho which had an old hunting lodge feel to it. The El Rancho has been visited by film stars and presidents for decades and their signed photos were proudly on display.

We arrived at our hotel, five miles from the centre of Gallup at 6.30 and had the customary cold beer before settling in for the night.

Sound clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlFNA4EfexQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAcAo_fSEtc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt75y38J00s

Day 9 Saturday 18th June Gallup - Grand Canyon 268 miles

Photos Now Included

On the road again at 8.30 am. A sunny morning with a gusty dry breeze. Our first stop just a few miles down the road was an Indian trading post set under some spectacular cliffs.

(Note: BigH received a message from Garry's family that there aren't many photos of him in this blog. I have tried to make amends).

We rode at speed along the freeway, crossing the border into Arizona and consequently losing an hour. West Coast time is 8 hours behind the UK.

Our next stop was the Petrified Forest where trees which had died and fallen into the swamp in prehistoric times had become mineralised and turned into silicate rock. We rode around the park trail stopping off at various locations. At one point you could see where the old, abandoned route 66 road ran, complete with old telegraph poles and a rusting car.

We had lunch in a diner in Holbrook, complete with row of teepees with classic cars parked outside. Our next stop was Winslow, as in the song 'Take it Easy' by the Eagles ...' I was standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona. Such a fine sight to see. Its a girl my lord in a flatbed ford, slowing down to take a look at me'

The corner in question has a bronze statue of a musician with guitar and in the shop window behind him is painted a 'reflection' of a red ford driven by a smiling, engaging blonde lady !!

Further down the road we stopped in Winona (which gets a mention in the song 'Get your kicks on Route 66) but probably only in the interests of making the line scan. Not much to see in Winona apart from the original Route 66 bridge.

After many more miles of sunny riding in gusty wind the scenery changed suddenly as we approached Flagstaff: from semi-desert plain and mesa to Conifer forests, green grass and real pointy mountains (the San Francisco Range).

We stopped for a welcome coffee break to keep us going for the rest of the journey. The last leg was a great ride on a fast but windy road across a plateau initially covered by conifer forest but growing sparser as we approached the Canyon.

6.30 pm saw us at our hotel in Tusayan and after taking our luggage to our rooms we were back on the bikes to ride 5 miles to the Canyon itself. Although I have seen it twice before it still has the power to strike awe into the observer - its so vast.

We messed about taking photos of each other as the sun slowly set. Unfortunately cloud cover spoiled the sunset effect somewhat. Back to the hotel in preparation for tomorrow.

Soundclips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zuhxfrXocw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlIpbSTWyx4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzae_SqbmDE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqsMKvkzdwc

Day 10, Sunday 19th June, Grand Canyon to Laughlin, 300 miles or so.

Up early and round to the Heliport for a flight over the Canyon. A fantastic experience and strangely relaxing (although it was a relief when we got within 'jumpable' distance from the ground at the end). Meeting back up as a group we rode round to one of the canyon rim view points and enjoyed the views again.

(see someone's video of the flight off Youtube):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6zC-4sMWwo&feature=related

Leaving the canyon we retraced our steps to Flagstaff and then onto Belmont for a poke around the Harley Davidson store and a coffee. A good view of the 'pointy mountains' of the San Francisco range.

Onwards at speed along the freeway in sunny weather. While the cool wind was refreshing it was uncomfortably gusty - requiring a high degree of concentration - especially around trucks.

Lunch at Senigman at the Roadkill Cafe - good food and charming if leisurely service. We re-formed at a memorabilia store with strategically placed mannequins of stars and headed off for another long stretch of the journey.

Our next stop was Hackberry - a great old filling station and diner complete with old Chevrolet Corvette. By now we had, in stages, dropped down off the plateau where we stayed the night (elevation 6,000 to 7,000 feet). The temperature had risen, the wind reduced and the scenery changed to high grassland and mountain ranges - sometimes resembling a scene from the Lord of the Rings film.

Climbing up from a valley we stopped briefly at the old Cool Springs Route 66 service station and then followed a windy road over a pass down to the old mining town of Oatman. This was a classic Western small town set in spectacular mountain surroundings.

Another 20 miles saw us to our hotel an a welcome beer after a long but tremendously varied and exciting day.

Soundclips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wg1DNHbNU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoUkMdqjXuw&feature=fvst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWtCittJyr0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxSEDnJ-1eA

Day 11 Monday 20th June. Laughlin - Las Vegas 125 miles

Left the hotel at the leisurely hour of 9 am and blasted up the road for an hour or so, stopping for a break at a Texaco filling station in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The weather sunny with a breeze but becoming very hot when not moving.

Next stop was the Hoover Dam where we stopped for pictures, then on to Las Vegas.

Like it loathe it, you have to see it to believe it. Our hotel, the Excalibur has an understated 'castle' motif (not!!!). Retired to our rooms around 2 pm to prepare for the evenings festivities.

Sounclips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRY361U3A5Y

Dear Readers,

Just so you don't feel left out, BigH has been sifting through the archives to bring you a Virtual Las Vegas Showtime experience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUmi46hVh9U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyrQqmc5UT8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7K4jH7NqUw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn481KcjvMo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZerZbsEMKQ&feature=related

NOTE: due to space restrictions the blog is continued here:

http://morebighroute66.blogspot.com/