Bordo

Guys,
For those that may have done it or would know more about it than me, how long would I need to do a proper ride of Route 66 ?? My buddies and I are planning a big bike trip to the US within the next few years and we are tossing around a few ideas which will incorporate a good ride across as many states as possible. I realise we would have to do it at this time of year due to extreme weather in Chicago. I thought of Route 66 but of course there would be plenty of other ideas that we could think about. I'd appreciate any advice from those that live in the USA or who may have done this ride. Cheers.

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The More I Know The Less I understand - Don Henley

GhostRider

US highway 50 is the longest continuous road in the US. Route 66 is the most nostalgic but it's really busted up with the interstate 40. I've gone both ways (east to west and west to east.) I would give it at least a week to really chase things down from Chicago to the monument in Santa Monica.

Bordo

Thanks Ghost,
I appreciate the info.

__________________
The More I Know The Less I understand - Don Henley

GhostRider

Do yourself a big favor Bordo, take a ton of film because you'll need it. There is a great museum in the Oklahoma City area and another in the Kingman Arizona area. When you get into New Mexico don't forget to make the ^^ run up through Santa Fe and do go a bit off coarse to see the area and museums at Los Alimos where the developed the first nuclear bombs. There's a backroad called the Turquoise Highway that you can take going up or back from Santa Fe that is awesome.

CanadianBird

Film, who uses film these days? Take re-chargable batteries and a charger, imo.

GhostRider

I do and unless you have about $4,000 invested in your digital camera, it won't even come close to my 35mm.

Strek

Lots of great museums up in my neck of the woods.

GhostRider... What museums are you talking about in AZ and OK?

GhostRider

These are Route 66 dedicated museums. The national Route 66 Museum is in Elk City Oklahoma, which is just west of Oklahoma City and the Powerhouse Route 66 Museum is in Kingman, Arizona. Both of these would be a must see for me.

Check out this site as it has some great stuff on the Mother Road.

Route 66 - Traveling the Mother Road

Strek

GhostRider ... Oh yes those sound like excellent suggestions

Those would fit right in with the trip Bordo is planning for sure and provide some of the historical background. The museums up here are great but they don't have the Rte 66 focus at all. Sounds like you have made the trip and are very familiar with the cool things to see.

Now if you want to see and go inside a WWII era German sub and see the story of its capture or see some of the finest Art from all around the world we have that. We also have the largest (mostly complete and intact) skeleton of a T-Rex and a great Egyptian mummy exhibit. Pretty cool stuff to see. I prefer to go to places like that in the middle of friggin winter on the coldest nastiest days of the year. This way I don't feel like I'm missing out or not taking advantage of the nicer weather days.

GhostRider

Very cool. Just north of Elizabethtown, Kentucky is Fort Knox. Sure, the depository is there but so is the George S Patton Museum and if you like tanks and artillery that place is awesome.

I have done Route 66 both ways and can tell you all sorts of stories where we were trying to pick up the actual road. Some of the older sections (pre 1930) are still around and you would ask why they were so narrow. They were built for cars half the size of the stuff they built later on. Some of the road like that in the San Bernardino area of southern California actually comes to a dead end right off the interstate. The road is awesome and the journey can be a fantastic one.

smurf211

Ditto, I have a Canon Elan 7e and it cost about $6 to have a role of 24 developed to CD. Analogue images still beat the digital one unless you are up in the high end stuff. I keep it in reserve for special occasions and really good shots that may be forthcoming.

Also. don't forget Meteor Crater, it is right off I 40 and everyone ought to see it once. I've been by there so many times and I always forgot to take the shortcut and check it out... // sm

swazijmw

You will find this site very informative...www.pashnit.com

testrider

and check out this site for maps and Route 66 forums:

The Mother Road: Historic Route 66

GhostRider

Plus 1 in the film. Any more, I have to send my black and while off because I am too lazy to develop it myself and I'm not building another dark room as it really isn't cost effective. Digital is good for being quick but to even come close to the quality of a 35mm and especially for depth of field you have to be up in the 12 meg area. Nikon has some great ones as does Canon but the price again, isn't cost effective. My Minolta SLR is still the way to go and I can monitor the light and shutter speed right in the view finder.

Oh hell yeah, Meteor crater is awesome. You can see Grand Canyon Caverns off of old 66 on the way into Kingman too. Hey, if you want a great place to eat, stop at the diner in Seligman known as Westside Lilo's Cafe. Bikers on the old road generally stop and the food is like home cookin. Don't forget the Oatman ghost town too. Them dang wild donkeys still roam through town. Last I heard they had closed the post office at Amboy and the school too. I guess a guy is trying to bring back the motel and Roy's cafe. All this talk makes me want to go too. This will be an unreal journey...

Styles

Beyond the route itself, one helpful approach to its enjoyment is knowing its people. You might find Jon Robinson's Route 66: Lives on the Road helpful. Some years back my son got to drive a bit of it with Robinson. Interesting guy, he said.




Styles

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"STyle is the fashioning of power, the restraining of power." A. N. Whitehead

GhostRider

Absolutely and the stories each has to tell are even more interesting. This is why to me, no trip on the Mother Road is complete without all the stories from the folks that still live just off of main street USA in towns that were once booming simply because of a road.

Bordo

Thanks for all the info guys. I certainly have a lot of research to do. Cheers.

__________________
The More I Know The Less I understand - Don Henley

automan25

I've never been on any section of route 66, so I'm just guessing here, but wouldn't it be a ride more suited for a goldwing or a big Harley? The Bird needs some twisties, and with all the heat she produces, would be more comfortable in cooler weather.

My wife and I are hitting the road (each on our own bikes) and heading from Seattle to San Jose, CA this week to visit my brother. We'll take the coastal route as much as possible. Very twisty, very beautiful, and very fun, provided we don't get stuck behind too many RVs. This route sounds more enjoyable than what I know of route 66.

I guess my point is there are countless places to explore all over the United States. Perhaps Route 66 is a little overrated? Can someone who has traveled 66 and other routes chime in?

CanadianBird

I tend to agree and although I've ridden many states and roads I havent' ridden 66, nor would I. Just riding up from California, Oregon and Washington is fantastic. imo. As I stated, join www.pashnit.com

GhostRider

Route 66 isn't overrated at all and based on folks who haven't been on it thinking it is like the interstate, trust must, there are places on 66 that will pucker your butt. Unlike running the slab where the road simply runs where it wants having taken the shortest distance between 2 points, the Mother Road flows with the topography bending and turning at will with the land. There's a lot to see and stories to hear on that old road and some of the scenery is awesome. Highway 1 is water, water and more water. It's also wind, traffic and lord know what else.