Today we rode from Sedona, AZ to Needles, CA for a distance of 252 miles. We first traveled 89A from Sedona to Flagstaff and enjoyed the 15 mph “twisties” through Oak Creek Canyon in the cool mountain air. Then to Kingman on I-40 where we picked up Route 66.
In the thirties, farmers leaving the Dust Bowl states for California used Route 66. After World War II, people traveled Route 66 for the adventure of the open road in their convertibles and station wagons. There is an industry of Route 66 memorabilia available at a variety of businesses along the route. I talked to a docent in the Route 66 Museum in Oklahoma and he said many Europeans pass through the museum. They tell him they fly to Chicago, rent a motorcycle or car, travel Route 66 to Los Angeles and then they fly home. Such is the international allure of Route 66.
Route 66 has been ever present as we traveled from Oklahoma to California. Usually I have ridden short stretches to get gas or pick up some refreshments. Today our trip from Kingman, AZ to Topock, AZ was our longest run through the Black Mountains on the “mother road”. We passed through Oatman, AZ with its population of burros, which are descendants of burros used in the gold mines. I had to slowly thread my way through a group on my way out of town.
The route is very desolate and one can imagine no air conditioning, radiators boiling over, and weather problems like the dry washes we saw which made the road impassable during flash floods. The RT 66 travelers were a hardy bunch.
