Route 66 for Vacation?

[fasterblkduc]

My hometown is on it. I grew up a block off of it. My gradeschool was right on it. What these guys are saying is true...it's not that exciting. Most of it is boring superslab and there are bits and pieces of the old pavement still there but not alot.

It's probably worth doing it just so that you can have the memories but just don't expect a lot of wow factor. Good luck and have fun!  [moto]

[John1454]

This thread reminds me of the kids movie "Cars".

[zenjim]

This thread reminds me of the kids movie "Cars".

As long as I get to park the bike in one of those teepee motels!

[Bill in OKC]

The longest stretch of original 66 is in Oklahoma.  One place, The Rock Cafe in Stroud, is in "Cars" and the owner was used as the inspiration for the blue Porsche Sally.  The place *was* full of original Disney art that the crew gave to her when they ate there.  Unfortunately it burned down last year, was rebuilt, but the inside was updated a lot and all the Disney stuff burned.  Still it is a nice place to stop and eat.

[GregP]

Drove out to Williams AZ this summer for a few days in the Grand Canyon.  I wouldn't advise a moto trip through the Mojave at this time of year.  It is blistering from just outside of LA until you get into the higher elevations of AZ.  118* in Needles in mid-Aug.  That's nearly 6 hours of retarded heat on a air cooled scooter(620).

As far as Rt. 66 in California and AZ, it's pretty spotty at best with a few tumble weed towns just off the 40.  

But don't let all of the buzz killers with FHE stop you from experiencing it for yourself!  [moto]

Free trip to Rome is sounding real nice. That is assuming you're not talking about Rome, NY.

[triangleforge]

If you do wind up making the trip or some variant, remember to give me a shout before you pass through Arizona; while the remaining Rt. 66 sections aren't all that remarkable aside from the buses of Japanese & European tourists, there are some bee-uteous motorcycle roads not that far off the AZ sections.

[Michael]

Route 66 is a great trip, well worth it. And it's still there, it's just labeled differently in parts.

I'm in Arizona, and I recommend the following:
- Black Barts Steakhouse. Flagstaff, AZ
- Meteor Crater. Between Flagstaff and Winslow, AZ

 

[metallimonster]

I've been toying with the idea of doing US Route 50 from Ocean City, MD to Sacramento, CA. which is one of the last coast to coast routes that is still largely intact and non-slab.  Just over 3,000 miles in length.  Going west to east, a great run would be from Sacramento to St. Louis.         

If you do this you will be going through the hocking hills area of Ohio which is the best riding in Ohio.  I ride there all the time.  If you do, stop by Athens Ohio, the home of Ohio University, my favorite place in the state and my hometown Chillicothe Ohio.

[junior varsity]

The problem with this approach is that, for the most part, it doesn't exist anymore.  For the most part, there are no Mom and Pop type places, or at best a handful.  You need more than a handful of Mom and Pop diners and motels for 2400 mile road trip.

Riding Route 66 is a great idea in a romantic sense, but in reality I think you'll find it not so much.  Much of the road itself no longer exists; the Interstate Superslab is all there is, especially out in the vast desert wastelands of the West.

Exactly. I just rode it this last summer; it was predominantly interstate only, with at the most a mile of 66 running along side the interstate and signs declaring it "Historic Route 66" - and covered with places that have long since gone out of business. I went from Dallas to Vegas. I probably wouldn't do it again, lest I be bored out of my gourd.

[Bill in OKC]

A couple of summers ago, we were at the Rt 66 museum in Chandler, OK just getting ready to leave.  We saw a GS with packed bags go by and then he stopped and turned around and pulled up.  It was a guy from Italy who had just retired from the Italian Army.  He introduced himself, said when he saw all of those Italian bikes he had to stop for a pic.  It was a retirement gift to himself to fly to the US, rent a bike and ride Rt. 66.  I hope he wasn't too disappointed, but he did look like he was having a good time.

[zenjim]

The longest stretch of original 66 is in Oklahoma.  One place, The Rock Cafe in Stroud, is in "Cars" and the owner was used as the inspiration for the blue Porsche Sally.  The place *was* full of original Disney art that the crew gave to her when they ate there.  Unfortunately it burned down last year, was rebuilt, but the inside was updated a lot and all the Disney stuff burned.  Still it is a nice place to stop and eat.

Good to know, thanks!

[zenjim]

Drove out to Williams AZ this summer for a few days in the Grand Canyon.  I wouldn't advise a moto trip through the Mojave at this time of year.  It is blistering from just outside of LA until you get into the higher elevations of AZ.  118* in Needles in mid-Aug.  That's nearly 6 hours of retarded heat on a air cooled scooter(620).

As far as Rt. 66 in California and AZ, it's pretty spotty at best with a few tumble weed towns just off the 40.  

But don't let all of the buzz killers with FHE stop you from experiencing it for yourself!  [moto]

Free trip to Rome is sounding real nice. That is assuming you're not talking about Rome, NY.

Sadly, I rode through the Mojave in august before. The bike faired way better than me. I was stopping every 75 miles. And don't worry, I won't let the buzz killers stop me no matter how much good sense their advice makes.

[zenjim]

If you do wind up making the trip or some variant, remember to give me a shout before you pass through Arizona; while the remaining Rt. 66 sections aren't all that remarkable aside from the buses of Japanese & European tourists, there are some bee-uteous motorcycle roads not that far off the AZ sections.

I am down for that offer, thanks.
You haven't lived until you've seen the buses unload on Hollywood boulevard though.

[zenjim]

Route 66 is a great trip, well worth it. And it's still there, it's just labeled differently in parts.

I'm in Arizona, and I recommend the following:
- Black Barts Steakhouse. Flagstaff, AZ
- Meteor Crater. Between Flagstaff and Winslow, AZ

 

That's what I'm talking about! Thanks Michael!

[drew.bradshaw]

Highly recommend Ted Drew's Frozen Custard in St. Louis, Mo (Watson Rd Old RT. 66; three blocks from my house so hit me up)
as well as the Missouri Hick in Cuba, Mo (eff'n great bbq)
There are one or two of the old style motels (built in garage or carport attached to a room) in st. louis still, but they are definitely on the lower end of places to stay.