Route 66

Posted by: FangfossFlyer on 12 September 2015

I am thinking of taking some time out to drive down Route 66.

Would love to do it on a Harley but my wife is not keen so thinking of some old American car from the 50's/60's.

Visions of driving along with all those great Amerixan radio stations playing that I remember from previous trips to the States - which I hope still exist?

I guess some of you have done it?

if so any stories, adventures, places not to miss, pictures etc.

Richard

Posted on: 17 September 2015 by Skip

Be sure your car is air conditioned and reliable. It runs through some remote desert areas of the West, roughly parallel to I 40. Very hot in the summer and adjacent months.

Posted on: 17 September 2015 by Mr Mole

And in some bits of eastern Arizona...it doesn't exist at all. Apart from the line of old telegraph poles, and the rusty car....and the tasteful marker. It's the section that runs through the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest NP., which is itself well worth a look.

And then there's the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook(?)....with the '50s cars out front

And when you're at the Painted Desert and look to the west you can just see a mountain peak on the horizon....nice you think, I wonder what it is...so you look at your maps and discover it's Humphries Peak....and it's still one hundred miles away! Surreal.

Posted on: 18 September 2015 by Derek Wright

Probably the best parts of Foute 66 in AZ and NM are the bits through towns like Albuquerque and Santa Fe, lookout for the extravagantly sized motel forecourts with the rooms around the forecourt, also look out for the extravagantly designed buildings.

I would think that it would be best to go westward from Chicago, the weather and scenery will be improving on the way.

The road that I think would be more interesting is Route 60, it goes from Virginia Beach to LA (almost), on the way in New Mexico is goes very close to Point Trinity, directly into Phoenix, it might be worth taking a diversion to Williams and Kingman to take in the Grand Canyon.

I shall be staying in an apartment alongside Route 66 in three weeks time for a couple of weeks.

Posted on: 19 September 2015 by FangfossFlyer

Thanks,

I have the map out looking up these places and dreaming.

Richard

Posted on: 19 September 2015 by Mick P

Richard

My in laws did the Route 66 thing a couple of years ago and the simple truth is that a great deal of it no longer exists.

I am now in my dotage and retired and I spend 6 months of the year travelling to wherever takes my fancy.

I have to say, a car journey through France / Switzerland / Italy will murder anything that America has to offer.

I have not done Route 66 myself but I have spent 3 weeks driving around California and believe me, Tuscany beats it hands down.

Just something for you to ponder.

Regards

Mick

Posted on: 19 September 2015 by FangfossFlyer

Mick,

Interesting and yes something to ponder.

Richard

Posted on: 19 September 2015 by Derek Wright

I would not ever want to compare driving in the US with driving anywhere in Europe.

It is only when the Satnav tells you to turn left in 169 miles as it does (at the first junction) do you get the US buzz.

I enjoy the European experience but it is much more stressful, but the food is far better.(Mainly)

Posted on: 19 September 2015 by CharlieP

it's all good. But the thing about touring the American West is its scale. You will be driving for many miles, as compared to anywhere in Europe. The southwest has wide open spaces and dry, brown desert, which is not found many other places. What I have seen of Route 66 is the occasional, partially convincing, bit of nostalgia. But it is fading. My family drove that route back in the 50's when I was 12, so I have a few memories of it.

But don't let us talk you out of it. Do some research.

Charlie

Posted on: 19 September 2015 by Derek Wright

Where I shall be in a few weeks time