Last 4 days Aug. 31 Yes we did make it home. I have messages and questions about the trip and my neighbors did a great job watching the house. Here is how the drive home went. Friday the ride to the pick up was all uphill but very scotter friendly so there were no problems I did not get lost. Given my past record a good thing not even a turning mistake. A couple of time I was afraid I miss something but aways I just worried. The pickup also when well there were ready for us and were very friendly. Loading sucked. Firstly driving scooters up into the truck is very scary. You go up and have to have a lot of power and then you have to hit the brakes hard. In addition on the ramp there is no space for feet to be put down so if you start to fall you will fall off for sure. But no problems. Tieing the scooters in place took some time but went smoothly. Then gear had to be tied down. Now problems....
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Day 27 Aug 27 Victorville to Pasadena Total miles 82 Less miles than yesterday but sure seem longer. We saw all of the different parts on Los Angles suburbs the good the bad and the ugly. Some of the scenery was great. Most of the ride in towns running straight but a lot of stop lights so it was stop and go all the way making it a long ride for the day. The route followed all of Old route 66. Towns passed through (all seemed like one town): Victorville Cajon Junction Devore San Bernardino Riatto Fontana Rancho Cucamonga Upland La Verne Glendora Duarte Monrovia Arcadia Pasadena As for more news on the Hotel last night the bed look great but there were no sheets just a great looking cover and an top sheet and no top sheet. We discussed and just suffered through. Then in the morning found a coffee maker but no coffee. Left the hotel early and grumpy without coffee. Got onto the route and missed the first turn due to traffic and...
Day 26 Aug 25 Ludlow to Victorville Milage 94 Another day of fast running few sights. No real problems a couple of cars passing on Solid lines and I would be much more relaxed with a few less cars. The Route followed Historic Route 66 on State Road 66 Towns passed through today Ludlow (Motel rooms were clean cafe food OK) Newberry Springs Daggett Barstow (nice town lots of Old Route 66 buildings still standing)’ HelenDale (no comment as did not see much of it just the gas station outside of town) Oro Grande (has nice pizza shop with the name cross Eye Cow) Victorville. The ride was smooth all morning. When we stopped at Elmer Glass Ranch for pictures. Dianne drove up on the shoulder and then when returning to the road dropped the bike no harm to her or the bike. But she was shaken up a little. But she she still finished the ride without any problems. The scenery was a little boring a lot of desert and a lot good views but very poor...
Day 25 Aug 24 Needles to Ludlow Mileage 104 A long ride without a lot to see. Mostly desert landscape with a few hills. Rode along old Route 66 till they closed the road and then had to take the interstate longer than I wanted to. It is not that I do not feel safe it is just I do not like the noise and constant cars buzzing pass. Towns passed through Needles Goff (population 23) Fennel (not sure it is town but on interstate and has gas.) Ludlow Stopped in Fennel to fill the tanks to be safe could have made it here but with my comforting spare tank did not want to take a risk. Ludlow is a booming town a DQ gas station under construction, therefore one working gas station, one cafe and one 9 room motel. I think the town population is dependent on the number of trucks that stop here and hotel guests. Hot again to day and I think I got too much sun as I have a head ache and my means my hands and leg hurt too. Once a little pain pass in the re...
Day 24 Aug 23 Kingman To Needles CA Total Mileage 62 miles Not a big day but big accomplishment we are now over the pass Dianne was most worried about, in California and less than 300 miles to finish. So Things are good. The ride was on old route 66 most the way. Towns for today: Kingman AZ Oatman Golden Shores Arizona Shores (Kind of) Needles CA The pictures can not credit to the scenery today tall mountains, bluffs and desert. We are back into the heat when we started it was 78 F and in Needles on the other side of Sitgreaves pass it 100F. Once over the pass the scenery and climate definitely change from almost to desert to true desert. The temperature also went up about 20F and you just feel the heat pass right over you. Oatman is cool with will donkeys that we heard on the way up to pass. Dianne kept up all the way even with the lack of guard rails she had no problems. I think she was pleased to start down the other side...
Day 23 Aug 22 Seligman to Kingman Mileage 93 (includes some sightseeing) Angry today as someone ripped off our spare gas from the back of the bikes but the ride was smooth and fast and followed Old Route 66 Towns passed through Seligman Peach Springs Truxton Valentine Hackberry Valle Vista Kingman At 5:30 heard a car pull into motel looked out the window and I could see the front of the bikes and all was good. Could also see the front of gray van in front of room next door a new car. Thought it was a late check in. Heard a door slam and looked out again could still see the front of the bike with no change. We I went out to load bikes the jerry cans were gone. As I was leaving Seligman I saw what looked like the same car in-front of the air pump by the giant Route 66 picture spot. The guy saw us closed his hood hopped in the car and jumped onto 1-40 west at high speed. I am still mad some one would take emergency supplies like that....
Day 22 Aug. 21 Flagstaff to Seligman Total mileage 74 It was a fast run followed by a very long wait is a very small town. The route today followed I-40 with scenic rides along old Route 66. The towns we passed through were: Flagstaff Parks (just a gas station and some RV parks) Williams (had a McDonalds and a rodeo today) Ash Forks (had murals old gas stations and once was the start of Railroad) Seligman We finished our ride at noon and we did not want to go another 60 to 80 miles depending on who you believe for distances. So we stopped at our hotel (Historic Route 66) expecting to get in but they were still cleaning room. Now they had just the last people leave and were just starting to clean. This I can understand we were early. So we went and had a bite of lunch at the Roadkill Cafe (nice spot good food). The hotel had no other waiting customers but they started to clean at room 1 and went all the way to room 16 so they finished our room at...