HOME MAY 10

We got up and attended the retirees breakfast in Prescott before heading for home. Got home about 11:30 am another years long ride over. With many shorter rides to come before next years long ride.

A short recap of this year:

Route 66- left home April 14, Chicago April 20th, Santa Monica April 27, home April 28, 15 days, total miles just shy of 5000

Taking JB home-Left home May 3 in KC May 4, Illinois May 5, left KC May 8, Home May 10, 8 days, total miles just over 3500

FRIDAY MAY 9 HEADING TOWARDS HOME

Woke up to a beautiful day, temp in the high 40's sunny sky very little traffic on the road, perfect day to ride.

As we prepared to leave an older couple came out of a room near us and waved, they were obviously headed for breakfast near the office. As the wife tried to walk on the husband stopped her and stood still for about two minutes as we suited up and started the bikes. Driving off the husband gave us another wave and a thumbs up, great start to my day. It does make you wonder though was he reliving things he also did in his younger days or wishing he had...I hope the former.

Headed down to road, sun at my back, wind in my face, 96 cubic inches under me, a good friend riding with me and all was right with the world.

The day couldn't stay that nice and towards afternoon we picked up a lot of wind making it a more difficult ride. Arriving in Flagstaff found out there was a shortage of motel rooms due to NAU graduation. We made the decision to keep heading south and ended up stopped for the night at a Days Inn in Prescott Valley. The motel had the requirements met, government discount, hot tub, Denny's next door, once again all was right with the world.

We will make the Retirees breakfast in the morning before turning and making the ride home to stay for a while.

Stats for today include over 700 miles and two time zone changes, stopped at about 6:30 local which was 8:30pm Amarillo.

HOMEWARD BOUND MAY 8TH

Said our goodbyes after breakfast and headed out with JB leading the way to get us out of town. Made it almost a mile before the honda broke down and had to be jump started. Went to the KC honda dealer and they decided the battery just needed a good charge as we had already tightened the terminals.

Headed out at 10:30 and rode and rode and rode. Five gas fills later we found ourselves in Amarillo at 9:30 at night for a daily total of 650 miles under beautiful skies and cool temperatures.

Plan on Flagstaff tomorrow then and early start Saturday to make the Prescott Retirees breakfast before finally returning home and calling this years trip officially over.Oh well....

WEDNESDAY MAY 07, STILL IN KC

With all the thunderstorms west of us we decided that we didn't really need to leave today and fight the weather.

Great lunch at a place called "Mother's" then sight seeing around KC. Good day all around glad we got to spend another day with the Henderson family. Susie and Aaron made salmon for dinner and we sat at the table telling stories and reminiscing for awhile.

Al and I will hit the road tomorrow and put some miles on heading west no real goal but to head towards home.

SOMEWHERE IN IL MAY 6

Left the hotel this morning and headed due west towards the river. Great two lane roads through the farm country until we reached the river. Turned south along the river, absolutely gorgeous road under a cloudy sky with very little traffic. It was one of those rides you want to go on forever but sadly we eventually came to the interstate and turned towards KC.

The weather stayed cool and cloudy all day ideal riding conditions except for the Missouri department of transportation closing lanes to literally watch cement dry.

Back at JB and Susie's we decided to go out for mexican food since we missed cinco de mayo and headed downtown for a great meal, conversation and beer.

May head out tomorrow depending on the weather if it is as forecast we will park on the couch here in Gladstone until it passes.

CINCO DE MAYO

JB and i went to his local dealer for an oil change before packing up and heading for Litchfield IL. Drove by some of the devastation in Gladstone, thankful that JB and Susie's place is ok. Took our time driving to IL but finally arrived in time for Al to get his brand new motorcycle!

Found a nice motel just down the road next to route 66 with a paddle wheel boat in a pond next to the motel. Will head back to JB's tomorrow put the first road miles on Al's bike and get ready for the ride back to Phoenix probably starting Wednesday.

SUNDAY MAY 4 HAPPY B-DAY GENNA

800 MILES

Left Santa Rosa at a pretty god time and headed east again on I-40. Great weather, no traffic tie ups today, just movin down the road. I told JB since he was leading at lunch time that if he wanted something other than a Subway I was ok with that he said that sounded good to him. Fifteen minutes later JB lead us to a Subway, oh well some habits are hard to break.

Short breaks except for dinner at Applebys and we continued towards are goal of JB and Susie's. Some where around 11:30 we puled in and I was extremely happy to call it a day. We made 800 plus miles which is a new daily high for me.

Tomorrow it is on to Illinois to buy Al a motorcycle.

SATURDAY MAY 3 BACK TO MISSOURI

After a long breakfast with Bruce and Barn, Al, JB, and I hit the road about 8:30. We didn't get as far today as we wanted to but still drove until 8:30 PM. We had to slow down for a grass fire, a car fire, an overturned truck, and lots of New Mexico construction. Ended the day in Santa Rosa NM after about 600 miles. We are a few hundred feet down the street of the Route 66 Cafe where we had breakfast a little over a week ago.

ROUTE 66 MONDAY APRIL 28, HOME

Left Needles this morning and crossed the border back into the United States got right back off I-40 at AZ milepost 1. Headed north and after a slight detour down the wrong road were headed north on 66. We had the road almost to ourselves as we headed toward Oatman, our destination for breakfast. The locals told us we were late and the Laughlin River Run was over the day before, said business wasn't as good as last year and they were glad it was a nice slow day.

Out of Oatman over the pass and down into Kingman is a hell of a road, narrow 15 mph switchbacks, either no guardrail or a small strand of cable, sand from the rains in the roadway, very few places to pull off. Riding it I couldn't help but think of the thousands who had travelled this way to reach California. The white knuckled fathers driving the cars, maybe in the dark to avoid overheating, the car sick kids with the constant switchbacks while the Moms tried to keep everyone happy, it must have been some trip.

Stayed with 66 through Kingman and northeast to Hackberry at one time a thriving mining town now a wide place in the road next to the tracks with a popular store. Sat on the porch of the store for a least an hour bothering each other and the other customers before heading on down 66 to lunch in Seligman.

Continued on 66 until Ashfork then turned south on 89. A few more stops for drinks and gas before heading towards the valley. Jan left first north of Prescott then riders continued to peel off as we got into town until I was riding alone down I-17. I know that sounds odd to feel alone surrounded by traffic but after two weeks of being with the group 24-7 I felt alone, I didn't like it.

No one seemed to be in a hurry today to keep moving. This was partially due to the fact that we stayed on 66 for over 200 continuous miles with stops at some great places. I think the main reason we didn't hurry was today also meant the end of another great ride, no one wanted to see the end.

I will update the web site with new pictures as soon as I get the guys photos, today or tomorrow. JB and I plus whoever rides back to KC with us will probably head out next Sunday, yeah back on the road one more time.

ROUTE 66 SUNDAY APRIL 27TH

Beautiful day out and a good day to try to make it into Santa Monica just fighting Sunday traffic.
Made it in to Santa Monica and apparently everyone else in the area decided it would be a nice day to go the pier and beach also.

Quickly found the two points considered to be the western end of route 66, the plaque designating route 66 the Will Rogers Highway and the sign over the pier "Santa Monica Pier".
Leaving the bikes in shifts we took plenty of pictures of both.

Headed inland stopping at a Harley dealership, our first one, to get me a new gas cap, apparently somewhere yesterday on the endless day I failed to put it back after gassing.

While eating lunch a guy walked in with a t-shirt that said "THE JOURNEY NOT THE DESTINATION MATTERS", I have heard that quote before but today it is so appropriate.

It was a little sad to reach the end, yes we are going back tomorrow to finish the Arizona portion, but our goal is still over.

Jumped on the old road once out of the LA area and rode back into Barstow stopping to get shots of the CA Route 66 signs. After Barstow decided that we would like to get to Needles so once more on I-40 making some time driving across the desert after dark, not much traffic, good road, cool weather, lots of stars, just a nice ride.

Checked in at Needles and went next door to eat, most of us had a beer and we all raised a glass to our last night on the road. Before the conversation could get melancholy it quickly turned to good natured ribbing, I took the brunt for missing an exit and Needles only has like three. The next thing you know the discussion started for next years trip and the areas left to ride tomorrow.

Last night, last motel, it will be good to be home. It will only last a few days then it is off to ride with JB back to Gladstone, MO, I'm sure he could make it alone but it will be fun to go with and it extends the trip a little bit longer, that can be a good thing.

ROUTE 66 SATURDAY APRIL 26TH

Woke up and as usual turned on the weather channel which said the outside temperature was 21 degrees. I figured that this must be incorrect so switched to a local station and found it was really 17 out. This delayed starting out until it was at least just freezing.

Entered Az and it felt like home. Rode 66 through Winslow stopped at Standin On The Corner Park and took the usual tourist pics.

Road some of old 66 in Flagstaff and on into Wiliams and Ashfork. Had to skip the Seligman area and Oatman due to the Laughlin River Run filling the area with bikes. All the motels where full or over priced so drove on to Barstow making it a 550 mile day. We will go back and ride the western Arizona portion of 66 before heading home.

ROUTE 66 FRIDAY APRIL25

Left the Blue Swallow this morning about the same time as the other guests. This included a young couple who had rented a car in Chicago and were following 66 to LA and two couples in Mustang convertibles doing the same thing.

Continued to see all of them throughout the day, the younger couple ended up at the Route 66 Cafe in Santa Rosa with us for breakfast and the Mustangs we ran into in the afternoon outside of Santa Fe at a gas stop.

Lots of driving today much of it on the interstate before stopping for the day in Gallop New Mexico,Arizona tomorrow.

ROUTE 66 THURSDAY APRIL 24TH

Woke up in El Reno and started west into an angry looking sky. It was dark gray down low and black with a saw tooth shaped pattern on the bottom up high. This looked just like what they show on the weather channel when they talk about tornadoes. oh well, headed right into, it you only live once.

The night before the lady at the motel said if you hear the tornado warning sirens go to the bathroom it's the safest place. I told her that if I hear tornado warning sirens going to the bathroom will be a natural act.

Stopped at a museum in Clinton that explained the history before heading down route 66 and crossing into Texas. Stopped in Adrian Texas at the halfway point between Chicago and Santa Monica. A local school bus driver saw us coming and called Fran the proprietor to stay open. We had some pie bought some souvenirs signed her pick-up and were westward bound.

Stopped for the night in Tucumcari NM at a historic route 66 motel The Blue Swallow (http://www.blueswallowmotel.com/) were we met Bill, the owner, and sat outside around an old refrigerator having a few beers. Bill got us a ride to dinner and it was the end to an almost perfect day. Lots of old 66 very friendly people everywhere we stopped along with great riding weather.

"Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments."- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 14

It is amazing to see how the superhighway has displaced so many small businesses and left towns virtually empty, this in the name of progress. Of course we need the better roads to move people and freight but it reminds me of the Walmart driving out the small business and the personalized service that went with it.

ROUTE 66 WEDNESDAY APRIL 23

Got an early start and headed down the road with the intention of riding Route 66 all day. We left Missouri and drove into the 14 miles that run through the edge of Kansas. Most of the road is very close to the original with lots of old buildings, bridges, and pavement. Saw some of the buildings and vehicles that inspired some of the characters in the movie "Cars".

Continued on into Oklahoma with Bruce leading and found ourselves on an original piece of pavement that is currently almost all gravel and dirt, only had to drive on it two miles before we were back on regular pavement.

Stopped for lunch at Al's Route 66 Diner were me met up with another retired guy, J.C. Allen, who is going to ride with us to New Mexico.

We got back on the freeway to get past Oklahoma City before stopping for the night in El Reno about 30 miles west Oklahoma City.

Trip is still everything we thought it would be, 66 may not be on the maps anymore but most of it is still around. Think about it, the small towns were 66 ran down the main street are still there the road may be repaved, the name may have changed but it is still Route 66 to us and the people that live along it.

ROUTE 66 TUESDAY APRIL 22

Woke up this morning to hard rain and winds. Decided to stay at the motel until the weather blew over. Didn't hit the road until almost lunch time but at least the weather had turned nice.

Continued down old 66, a continuous series of small town America, with us driving down the main streets.

Less than a tank of gas later we found ourselves in Joliet MO with plenty of daylight left. However, the sky was very black the wind was starting to blow and we pulled over to listen to the weather channel on the radio.

The nice man from the weather service said if you are in the Joliet area seek shelter, stay away from windows, expect golfball size hail, high winds, lightning.

We decided to call it a day early and take no chances, after a hour in the hottub and a good meal it seemed like we did the right thing.

ROUTE 66 MONDAY APRIL 21

Route 66 almost all day, stopped for service on AL's bike then back on old 66. Jumped on the interstate to get past St Louis then right back onto two lanes through the center of lots of small towns in the heartland of the country.

Lots of people out waving, as we drove by, from their riding lawn mowers and front porches, with kids running to the edge of the yard to wave as we came down the street. I don't think it's because they heard the hondas coming!

Stopped for the night in Lebanon, Mo a small town stuck between the interstate and old 66.
the old road is fairly well marked with signs but we still managed to get off track a few times today. Once it required us to backtrack several miles on one of the best two lane twisty roads we have seen so far, sometimes getting lost works in your favor.

Drove by a correctional facility hit the horn blipped the throttle and soon JB and I had a couple dozen inmates waving from the exercise yard at the Harleys going down the road, of course we waved back.

We are sitting outside the motel rooms right now just passing time and enjoying a mild night out. The bikes are parked on the sidewalk in front of the rooms, it is always good to find a motel clerk who has a husband that rides.

A year ago today the same six bikes were sitting outside a motel in EL Paso while we hoisted a beer to our first night on the road, same guys same bikes it just seems right.

ROUTE 66 SUNDAY, APRIL 20TH

Drove into downtown Chicago this morning looking for the origin of Route 66. All of the literature says it began by the lake at the Santa Fe building. Found the building and the road in front of the art museum that is supposed to have the sign "BEGIN HISTORIC ROUTE 66". This street like many others in Chicago was under construction and the sign had been removed, it didn't matter we had found the true beginning.

Drove to the north end of Lake Shore Drive before turning around and heading southwest looking for 66. Shortly after leaving downtown got off the highway and onto two lane old 66. Followed it all day through Joliet, Elwood, Pontiac, Normal, Bloomington, Funks Grove, Elkhart, and a dozen other small town main streets.

At one point we saw an original piece of route 66 that was just a grassy median and a ditch away from the alignment we were driving. Next thing you know we are all on that abandoned piece of closed roadway driving along like we owned it.

Lots of other motorcyclists taking advantage of Route 66 on a beautiful Sunday, tomorrow they will be back to work and it will still be Sunday for us.

What a great day, just exactly like I envisioned when we left Arizona. Great two lane roads in the heartland of the country down the main streets of USA.

Several times we paralleled the highway and you could see the people alone in their cars rushing to get somewhere. I actually felt sorry for them as they were missing the reason for the day. Shirt sleeves, great motorcycles, sights sounds and smells of small town America, that you don't get enclosed in steel with filtered air on the interstate at 80 mph.

SATURDAY DAY 6

Rode north under cloudy skies towards Chicago. Stopped west of town for the night so I could have lunch with a couple of old buddies that live in the area, Bernie and Steff for any of you that know my old days. Had a nice long lunch reminiscing and catching up on family.

Checked into a nice motel caught a movie, late snack at Friday's tomorrow we start the reason we came.

FRIDAY DAY 5

This will be short it's about 10:30 and we just finished dinner, I'm tired.

Left Gladstone at about 9 AM after the temperature had warmed to almost 40. First 150 miles cool and cloudy. After lunch stopped for gas and decided to put on rain gear, good idea. The next 8 hours was in the rain but at least the temperature had climbed into the higher 40s.

Except for the last ten miles or so the entire day was two lane roads crossing Missouri, along the Mississippi and part way across Illinois to Bloomington. The good roads and good friends were the only thing that saved the day. Plenty of breaks and the fact we had all of our rain gear on kept everyone mostly dry.

Tomorrow hopefully less rain and into Chicago early.

THURSDAY DAY 4

Rained all day, stayed at JB's and Susie's for a down day. Went to a great local spot for lunch and out for barbecue for dinner.

Very nice day spent reminiscing and telling tales with friends while watching the rain from a safe and dry location.

Bruce left to go to Cedar Rapids and will catch up with use on Saturday, called to say he got there ok had a little rain.

WEDNSDAY DAY 3

Headed out this morning and forty miles down the road had to stop in Dodge City, yeah we did the tour of boot hill and the Long Branch. The did have one of the best collections of late 1800 firearms that I've ever seen.

From mid day yesterday and most of today we followed the route of the Santa Fe trail. Famous for all the cattle drives and wagon trains. It's route 50 if you're looking at a map. We drove by some huge cattle feed yards where all that midwest beef comes from.

JB and Suzy drove down from Gladstone and met us in Empora KS about 120 miles southwest of their house. Once we headed out with all six bikes now together everything seemed as it should be.

Went out to a local place for fried chicken with all the fixings just like Mom used to make. We are spending the night with JB and Suzy and hanging around Kansas City tomorrow before finally heading toward Chicago to start our Route 66 ride.

TUESDAY DAY2

What a beautiful day, left Durango and started climbing into the snow covered mountains. Hit Wolf Creek Pass and the temperature dropped into the 30's. We couldn't stop for a photo because the signs and parking lot were deep in snow.

Started down the east side of the Rockies and headed across the high plains when the radio played a little Neil Young;

"We've been through some things together
With trunks of memories still to come
We found things to do in stormy weather
Long may you run.Long may you run.
.Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
Long may you run. "

It was the right moment.
Continued east across the plains with some severe winds that made riding a little scary, lost another hour and decided to call it a day after about 450 or so miles.

Currently holed up in a Motel in Garden City KS with hopes of making Kansas City tomorrow to pick up JB.

I will try to find time tomorrow to put a photo link on the web site to show you some of these incredible sights of the last two days.

MONDAY DAY 1

Left Phoenix this morning turned north on the freeway heading to pick up Jan. The weather was great, bike running good, turned on the radio just in time to hear the Doobie Brothers "Rockin Down The Highway".

Grabbed Jan in Cordes Junction left Flagstaff for the four corners and the day just kept getting better. Once I got a few hundred miles behind me with blue skies, good roads, tunes, wind in your face, big v-twin rumbling, everything is right with the world.

Made it to Durango before calling it a day, shirt sleeves with snow on the side of the road. A few minutes in the hot tub to unwind with four deer feeding not 20yards from use just finished the day off.

Tomorrow we continue east on 160 hopefully over Wolf Creek Pass and on to Dodge City.

MONDAY MORNING, 6AM

Check the weather report one last time, throw the last bag on the bike, kiss the wife, pet the dog it's finally time to go. With a little luck and some good weather should be in Durango tonight, if not who cares as long as we're riding. That's it for this morning time to open the garage and head down the road.

IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR ROUTE 66

John Steinbeck called it the "Mother Road" in his 1938 novel "The Grapes Of Wrath" for its part in taking the dustbowl survivors to the new promised land.

It was also called America's Main Street since it connected small towns from Chicago to Santa Monica.

We all grew up with it and well it is almost April and time for a ride.

We hope to retrace as much as possible of the old road, since it was decommissioned it no longer appears on most maps. Thanks to the interest in Route 66 there are plenty of resources to help us find the remains of the road