Route 66

John Roberts · Feb 6, 2012

It's just occurred to me that doing Route 66 would be a hoot to celebrate my 66th birthday, indeed, what better?

I'm not sure I want to do all of it (or, I believe I should say what is left of it) because it's 2,500 miles long and I have an idea that the MidWest wouldn't appeal. Having said that I would be very interested to read your views.

One small thing, though, we'll be doing it by car as my wife really doesn't like the idea of getting all togged up and sweaty to ride a bike which won't have air con or a roof or... etc etc :blagblah

She also says that 2,500 miles of looking through a windscreen would sure as little apples be better than looking at the back of my helmet.

So, any best bits/bits to avoid/unmissable bits, or should I do it all?

Incidentally, searching Route 66 only brings up titles with Route in the title and is of little use. I'm telling you that to show that I have done a search before asking.

Schtum · Feb 6, 2012

I wouldn't bother. As you say there's not that much of it left and some of what is there is pretty cheesy - have a look at Seligman for example.

I think you'd have a much better time, going to California and driving Highway 1 from San Francisco down to LA, San Diego and possibly even Tijuana. If that's not enough, head over to Las Vegas, Death Valley, up to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe......

turnipbmw · Feb 6, 2012

We are off April/May

Fly to Chicago pick up car, 200 miles a day until we get to San jose, spend my 50th with my uncle, tour Bay Area on one of his bikes, dump car at San Jose airport then fly home.

28 days car hire was approx £400 compared to 14 on bike for £2000 and as you say - will be better for the other half

Girlfriend actually wants to camp so will be looking into a National Park ticket but will also do a few motels etc

Plenty of info - we have about 6 books already

As other half hasn't been before I expect I shall take her to Lick observatory, Santa Cruz, Rickenbackers, USS Hornet, Marin, maybe a few days up north on highway 1 and no doubt my uncle will take us to flea markets and garage sales :blast

sven · Feb 6, 2012

Chicago has some fantastic architecture and museums (check out the German U-boat U505 in the Museum of Science & Industry :thumb2

), but the plains of the mid west are incredibly dull - there's nothing of interest until you reach the areas Schtum mentioned.

We're riding the bit between Seligman and Williams at the end of May before heading to the Grand Canyon, Monumant Valley, Rockies, etc.

£2100 is expensive for 16 days bike hire, but it just wouldn't be the same in a car. Luckily Trudi is a very enthusiastic pillion and insisted on spending the extra

flytoolow · Feb 6, 2012

Id have to agree with Schtum about Route 66.

I travelled from Oregon to Texas back in 2005 in a Porsche. I spent about 30 miles on Route 66 somewhere in New Mexico ( I think - dropped south of I-40 ???). It almost broke my back. Most of what I travelled was just potholes & and ram-shakle towns, Drunk Native Indian migrants asking for money on every corner. I was disappointed to say the least, not just because the state of the "Great American" road...but to see the desolation that it had left behind when the Interstate was built.

My advice - California is good ( PCH1 - State Parks - San Francisco - I have No idea of LA). Las Vegas - OK, Grand Canyon - amazing. I rather liked Santa Fe. Texas...Very big. Sedona is nice in AZ...

Given the time, Id do it again...but dont focus on "Route 66", there are some much better places to see and experience. Have your picture taken on Route 66...and then move on...

Have fun in any case.

iftikartaxis · Feb 6, 2012

route 66

JUST DO IT
tick the box done

A group of oldish lads from the lambretta club are shipping there Lambrettas over in a container and riding it 2013

so get out there even if you only do some of it

good luck :beerjug:

Lord Vader · Feb 6, 2012

We had exactly the same idea with Route 66 but after a bit of research and asking a lot of questions we changed the trip completely.
Go over to the ADV forum and have a look in the trip planning section.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=742884

It's going to be a big round trip starting and ending in San Francisco going through most of Utah,a bit of Arizona

sven · Feb 6, 2012

iftikartaxis said:
JUST DO IT
tick the box done

A group of oldish lads from the lambretta club are shipping there Lambrettas over in a container and riding it 2013

so get out there even if you only do some of it

good luck

Hope they're taking a back-up van :eek

My Lambretta GP200 couldn't manage the 12 miles to Len's Scooters in Shipley without breaking down or something falling off - I think I'd buy a Vespa GTS300 for the trip if I wanted to do it on a scooter

yalcrabm · Feb 6, 2012

I did part of route 66 last year. From lake havasu where old london bridge is up to oatman, kingman, peach springs, sleigman, williams, then onto flagstaff. Others told me that it was a bit tacky and cheap but go for yourself and see. I enjoyed doing the bit i did but i wouldnt do the full length as it is pretty much the same. I would head out to monument valley, yosemite park, sequoia park, death valley, the grand canyon as they are great places to see. I did all these last year and had a great time we did 3000mls. We flew into san fransisco and flew back from salt lake city. We are booked to go back in september flying to salt lake heading up to jackson then to yellowstone, deadwood, big horn, crazy horse monument, mount rushmore,etc etc as there is so much to see. Go and enjoy it for yourself. PS i do it in a car aswell the same reason as you the wife.

Micky · Feb 6, 2012

Now there's an idea John

Mighta come with you but I wouldn't dream of doing it without a 'bike

Now lets see ... I'm 66 next year (end of this year actually)

Can we get a team of four or five 66 years old together for a month next year

ebbo · Feb 6, 2012

We drove a short stretch of Route 66 last Easter, some of it was real rough, it was a blessing to get off it. The bit through Seligman thou is fine, stop at the Canyon Lodge motel, dine at Westend Lilo’s Café and visits Angel in the Rust Bolt over the road and your Route 66 needs will be fulfilled :beerjug:

I would not ride all of Route 66, the dream is far greater than the reality :rob

iftikartaxis · Feb 6, 2012

gp200

sven said:
Hope they're taking a back-up van My Lambretta GP200 couldn't manage the 12 miles to Len's Scooters in Shipley without breaking down or something falling off - I think I'd buy a Vespa GTS300 for the trip if I wanted to do it on a scooter

well theres a young lady from OZ shes riding north to south OZ on her lambretta along with an italian called tino sacchi and wife
for charity
give over the GP200 is a fantastic machine i have never not got home with mine broke down YES but always managed to get it going
have you still got it or any parts :beerjug:

Rushy · Feb 6, 2012

Schtum said:
I wouldn't bother. As you say there's not that much of it left and some of what is there is pretty cheesy - have a look at Seligman for example.

I think you'd have a much better time, going to California and driving Highway 1 from San Francisco down to LA, San Diego and possibly even Tijuana. If that's not enough, head over to Las Vegas, Death Valley, up to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe......

flytoolow said:
Id have to agree with Schtum about Route 66.

I travelled from Oregon to Texas back in 2005 in a Porsche. I spent about 30 miles on Route 66 somewhere in New Mexico ( I think - dropped south of I-40 ???). It almost broke my back. Most of what I travelled was just potholes & and ram-shakle towns, Drunk Native Indian migrants asking for money on every corner. I was disappointed to say the least, not just because the state of the "Great American" road...but to see the desolation that it had left behind when the Interstate was built.

My advice - California is good ( PCH1 - State Parks - San Francisco - I have No idea of LA). Las Vegas - OK, Grand Canyon - amazing. I rather liked Santa Fe. Texas...Very big. Sedona is nice in AZ...

Given the time, Id do it again...but dont focus on "Route 66", there are some much better places to see and experience. Have your picture taken on Route 66...and then move on...

Have fun in any case.

yalcrabm said:
I did part of route 66 last year. From lake havasu where old london bridge is up to oatman, kingman, peach springs, sleigman, williams, then onto flagstaff. Others told me that it was a bit tacky and cheap but go for yourself and see. I enjoyed doing the bit i did but i wouldnt do the full length as it is pretty much the same. I would head out to monument valley, yosemite park, sequoia park, death valley, the grand canyon as they are great places to see. I did all these last year and had a great time we did 3000mls. We flew into san fransisco and flew back from salt lake city. We are booked to go back in september flying to salt lake heading up to jackson then to yellowstone, deadwood, big horn, crazy horse monument, mount rushmore,etc etc as there is so much to see. Go and enjoy it for yourself. .

Sorry to 'piss on your chips' John but i'd have to agree with these guys. You would be missing out on some great riding and some stunning scenery if you stick to the 66. The guys above have named some far better places to ride & see...........the Best of the West ! (*Avoid LA though*)

I have a great map I can lend you and would be happy to meet up and talk you through the 12,000 miles I did over there in early 2004

Ian R

John Roberts · Feb 7, 2012

Rushy, and others, I do agree wholeheartedly with what you say about the Western end of the trip, I did a 3,000 mile loop starting and ending in LA, via the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Williams, Phoenix, Scottsdale, San Diego, Tijuana, and LA. Not sure of the order (or mileage) but a trip I would very happily repeat, and preferably on a bike of course this time. Next time would include Lake Tahoe.

Sorry to wander further off-topic, but a really nice trip that I fancy (OK, dream of) would be to carry on up to Vancouver from San Francisco and follow the Fraser Canyon then up to Jasper, down the Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary. Given good weather (well, it isn't always a given in the Rockies) it would be my trip of a lifetime. I've done most of that by car, perfect weather once and so-so other two times.

The Route 66 idea was just because I'll be 66 next birthday, but then again good ideas don't necessarily have to be sensible. :bounce1

yalcrabm · Feb 7, 2012

Sorry to wander further off-topic, but a really nice trip that I fancy (OK, dream of) would be to carry on up to Vancouver from San Francisco and follow the Fraser Canyon then up to Jasper, down the Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary. Given good weather (well, it isn't always a given in the Rockies) it would be my trip of a lifetime. I've done most of that by car, perfect weather once and so-so other two times.

I have toured around all that area aswell. We also went whistler when they were doing all the road infastructure for the olympics. Then we went over to vancuver island stayed in victoria for a couple of nights then onto bushard gardens, then up to the campbell river onto port hardy where we got the ferry up the inside passage (15 hrs) to Prince Rupert then we got on the rockie mountain engineer (train) for the day. Like you say it can be bright and sunny one minute the heavy snow the next

John Roberts · Mar 3, 2012

Micky said:
Now there's an idea John

Mighta come with you but I wouldn't dream of doing it without a 'bike

Now lets see ... I'm 66 next year (end of this year actually)

Can we get a team of four or five 66 years old together for a month next year

What are the practicalities of such a scheme, I wonder? Is it realistic? Just read about the crowd of Lambrettists (whattt?) hiring a container for their Lambretas, I wonder how much that cost. Or would it be better to rent bikes in the States. It's daft, I know, but I might- just might- consider taking my airhead with me. (Had it 30 years by now :bounce1

)

No, you're right, I haven't thought this out at all, I'll go away and ponder.

KBDave · Mar 4, 2012

Just came across this thread. I live in Flagstaff and concur with many other comments. The bits of 66 I've had the opportunity to travel around here are interesting, but not sure I'd travel halfway around the world to do it. Having said that, its your dream and I'll happily serve as a resource to you or anyone with questions about AZ, southern Utah or southwestern Colorado.

Micky · Mar 4, 2012

John Roberts said:
What are the practicalities of such a scheme, I wonder? Is it realistic? Just read about the crowd of Lambrettists (whattt?) hiring a container for their Lambretas, I wonder how much that cost. Or would it be better to rent bikes in the States. It's daft, I know, but I might- just might- consider taking my airhead with me. (Had it 30 years by now )

No, you're right, I haven't thought this out at all, I'll go away and ponder.

I'm thinking that I would have to take my own bike across, but for probably less money and a greater 'ticky box' plus all round greater experience I'd probably go with girlfriend Sue and have a couple of months in the South America's

KBDave said:
Just came across this thread. I live in Flagstaff and concur with many other comments. The bits of 66 I've had the opportunity to travel around here are interesting, but not sure I'd travel halfway around the world to do it. Having said that, its your dream and I'll happily serve as a resource to you or anyone with questions about AZ, southern Utah or southwestern Colorado.

That's good of you Dave, a great introduction to UKGSer's. A warm welcome to ya

GSTourer · Mar 4, 2012

KBDave said:
Just came across this thread. I live in Flagstaff and concur with many other comments. The bits of 66 I've had the opportunity to travel around here are interesting, but not sure I'd travel halfway around the world to do it. Having said that, its your dream and I'll happily serve as a resource to you or anyone with questions about AZ, southern Utah or southwestern Colorado.

Good posting for your first Dave :clap

John Roberts · Mar 4, 2012

KBDave said:
Just came across this thread. I live in Flagstaff and concur with many other comments. The bits of 66 I've had the opportunity to travel around here are interesting, but not sure I'd travel halfway around the world to do it. Having said that, its your dream and I'll happily serve as a resource to you or anyone with questions about AZ, southern Utah or southwestern Colorado.

Croeso, Welcome, and thanks for a very helpful first post, you'll fit in just fine! :thumb2

Going out now, I'll get back to you and Bilko ASAP

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