Route 66 solo October 2014
 

Hi All,
I am a Brit named Steve soon to be doing Route 66, travelling solo on a rental Triumph Bonnie from Chicago to LA, then on down to Dallas Texas to finish. Dates are 27 September to 21 October.
I am using the usual Route 66 guidebooks and keeping my options open and flexible, does anyone have suggestions about particularly good places to see and/or stay overnight, things and places to avoid, etc.
If anyone fancies riding along for odd bits of the route, I'd be glad to be in contact.
Looking forward to my trip and to maybe meeting up with other HUBB dwellers.

Cheers All. Steve.bier

If you are up for a little walk you can hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and an Indian village called Supai. It is one of the prettiest spots I have ever seen. Has a couple of waterfalls over 200' that fall into aquamarine pools.

Access is near Peach Springs near Grand Canyon National Park. Also some of the old Route 66 complete with Burma-Shave signs.

Route 66 solo October 2014
 

Thanks Juan,

I did the hike you describe a few years ago when on an RV trip with my wife, agree it's an excellent walk and a beautiful place to stay for a night.

Thanks for the info, ride safe!

Cheers, Steve.bier

Wow! About 99.99999% of Americans haven't been there.

There are so many sites to see its hard to say. Do get a Route 66 map available in every local store. The signage is excellent in the East but the further west you go the signs start to disappear.

Some of the signs will point you to the original Route 66 and in places that is a gravel track, fun! Do take the old route from Barstow, nice windy UK road, which of course frighten most Americans.

We went in October and the weather ranged between freezing cold and a heatwave of 37C in California.

Most of the sites are along the way and very easy to spot. I bought a Route 66 app with lots of photos of things to see

have a great time,
Lilian :D

Congratulations Steve.. I'm sure you are going to have a great trip!

My name is Brian. I'm a native of Arizona..

I assume you will be making a stop in Flagstaff Az on your trip. If you have the time I would suggest allocating at least 2 days in Flagstaff.

Accommodations in Flagstaff vary quite a bit. As far as I know there is only 1 Hostel.. But there are also numerous Route 66 era motor hotels that are inexpensive.. or several better hotels depending on your price range & comfort level..

You should allocate 1 day to visit the Grand Canyon.. If you would like to get off the bike for an afternoon.. you can ride West to Williams and catch the train that goes to the G.C.

If you have a second day to spend.. I would suggest a ride down highway 89A to Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona. The scenery is some of the best in the Southwest.. If you return early.. You might be able to catch a tour of the Lowell Observatory.. or ride east to Meteor Crater..

Be sure to pick up a bag of Carrots in Flagstaff ( or in Kingman if you stop there for lunch/gas ).. you WILL need them when you pass though the town of Oatman. ( don't worry. it will be very apparent why when you get there )..

Gas prices are about $3.70/gal in Flagstaff and #3.40/gal in Kingman.

If you have more questions about the Arizona portion of your trip I'll be happy to answer whatever I can....

Brian

Route 66 solo October 2014
 

Thanks for the info, Lilian and Brian. I was hoping to visit Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon if time so thanks for confirming that it would be a worthwhile side trip. I'm doing some more trip planning soon so will maybe have more questions as a result.

Thanks again, Steve. bier

I second Sedona, its a mini monument valley. The meteor crater is worth a deteor but I think its quite expensive to get in now. Painted desert is another favourite place. Lots of great diners as well.

Route 66 solo trip
 

Hi All,


Now on day 4 of my ride from Chicago to LA, spent yesterday in Cuba area staying at Wagon Wheel Motel for two nights to visit Meramec Caverns and local nature park. Ozarks are really pretty at start of fall, with all the tree colours etc.
Leaving today for Joplin, celebrating my 64th birthday on 1st Oct by riding across the tiny corner of Kansas that R66 runs through.
Happy to meet up with any others en route, don't have a US cell but check this HUBB thread .
Cheers, Steve, bier

Have fun--keep in mind winter is creeping in in the higher elevations. Interstate 40/Route 66 start going into the mountains, I believe, starting in New Mexico if my geography memory serves me. From New Mexico westward through Arizona, you will be in higher elevations. While not necessarily Mt. Everest elevation, you will be potentially in snowstorm elevation for this portion; plus cold temps even without snow. Not to scare you, but check the elevation for your own sake and the temps.

If you plan to swing through the southern border area, let me know. I am in Yuma, Arizona which Interstate 8 runs through about 170 miles east of San Diego, and continues east where it meets up with Interstate 10, if you intend to follow Interstate 10 back to Texas.

Have fun, but check the weather, especially in the higher elevations.