Posted: 10/11/2006 7:24:21 PM EDT
|
anyone ever ride the "mother road"? My sister and I are planning to do so next summer. TIA. |
|
Yes. Do your homework first as there are some areas where there are no longer any support services, the sane traffic having moved to I-40. The stretch from Needles to Ludlow in CA Mojave desert is pretty, the somewhat nearby I-40 is almost as pretty. There are no services on either in that stretch, lot's of traffic and cell coverage on I-40. There are cell coverage holes and litle or no traffic on "National Trails Highway" old 66. That's about 120 miles of NOTHING. And depending on the repairs, you can find some areas where the old road is blocked due to flash flood damage. Fill up on gas in Kingman, Topock, or Needles on the east or Barstow in the west and make sure you have extra water and clothing in case you break down in the desert. Stay with your car or at least stay on the road. Do not try to walk cross country, unless to the BNSF RR mainline, when it is very close to the road (which it is in most areas) where you can probably flag a train for calling for help. Check with CALTRANS to see if the road is open before taking it. That said, take your time, and play tourist. Get your kicks on Route 66. |
 RIP Bobby...! |
Nice write-up, I'm sure the OP will find this info invaluable. |
|
Oh yes. I-40 is a great stretch of open road to FEEL & EXPERIENCE the vast size of our great country! Nothing like cruising over the Continental Divide and riding along with the countless truckers that keep our country alive. There is a 20 mile section in New Mexico where you can scan your FM radio tuner up through the numbers and you won't get any radio station! I thought that was amazing considering I take for granted all the radio stations available in the cities. Some of the gas stations in New Mexico have 86 and 88 octane... but no 87!!! Crazy! This sounds corny, but the Pixar movie CARS captured the I-40/Route 66 feel in a most excellent way and having made the drive across our country a few times on that magic road really made me appreciate that movie's story even more! The most amazing part about driving the miles of I-40/Route 66 is the way the terrain constantly changes from forest to prairie to desert to mountains and so on. Driving 1000 miles or more in a single day on I-40 makes you realize that people who claim our country is overpopulated have never taken the time to drive across the country. No way anyone can think that after making the drive. You can't help but get that "Manifest Destiny" feeling in your bones when you're on that road... |
|
Traveled to California many times on Route 66, great experiences traveling that highway. Progress is not always for the better. My family and I met some wonderful people along that highway. Every place you stopped was a piece of America. I used to love the old diners, and cafe's, each unique, great people. |
|
Thank you everyone, especially PaDanby. Dawn, I plan on riding it from beginning to end(Chicago is where it starts, and ends in CA. We're not going to ride it back, we plan on stopping in Vegas and riding through Utah, Wyoming, and Nebraska on the way back. Next summer we're planning on it. |
|
If you're active US Military, stay for free at the USARV Park at Gallup, NM, west end of town on old Hwy 66: USARV Park Merlin |
Thanks Merlin but I ain't milspec. Thanks anyway! |
Except the discussion is talking about US 66, running (as noted) from Chicago to Santa Monica. Not I-66 in Northern VA. And when you are in Winslow, stay at the La Posada. It's a refurbished Fred Harvey Hotel. Lot's of trains though. |
I'll check into that PaDanby thanks. I saw your earlier comment five2one about Winslow AZ, I'll be standing in Winslow with cell phone in hand. 
|
At the right time of year, you can sometimes see bald eagles out there too. |