Route 66 08?

[Gadzooks Mike]

Ok, now that I'm pumped from the "big trip" and learned a lot along the way - is anyone interested in taking a ride to the Missouri/Oklahoma portion of what's left of route 66 next year? I'm located in east central Alabama, so I'm looking for anyone around that general area. BadBob is, I think, not too terribly far away in Florida.

Riding experience doesn't matter, at least to me, as I would plan it down two lane, not busy roads, but hopefully, you would be able to run 250 to 300 miles per day.

Is this worth planning? Is there anyone who might be interested?

[Badbob]

I'll bite.

I'm interested. Maybe the wifeling as well if I can get her up to traveling that much and I haven't wore out my GZ buy then. I've got other riders in the family that might be interested as well provided you don't intend this to be a GZ250 only ride.

How long to you think it will take? I have work and leave issues to work out that may be a factor. It's hard for me to plan that far away.

Why route 66? Other than there was TV show. I really don't know much about it.

[Gadzooks Mike]

Heck, anyone is welcome if we get it set up. I don't other bikes besides GZs, either, as long as the bigger bikes are willing to travel with the perhaps slower, smaller bikes. I haven't looked at the map too closely or anything, but I would guess it would be about 2000 miles round trip. 300 miles per day would take a week if we don't stop anywhere except at night. That could be stretched out or reduced as we plan.

Why route 66? I guess just the history of it. It's fading fast, and isn't even marked anymore, although there are still parts of it there. There was a lot of "stuff" to see - the blue whale, concrete teepee motel, diners.... Just something I've always wanted to do. Here's a link for you to take a look at, if you'd like: http://www.historic66.com/

The only thing I'd suggest for this trip, though, is that we do it in either late spring or early fall. Summer would be just too hot, I think.

Hey EasyRider - you could meet up with us part way there - you interested?

[Badbob]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks Mike

Heck, anyone is welcome if we get it set up. I don't other bikes besides GZs, either, as long as the bigger bikes are willing to travel with the perhaps slower, smaller bikes. I haven't looked at the map too closely or anything, but I would guess it would be about 2000 miles round trip. 300 miles per day would take a week if we don't stop anywhere except at night. That could be stretched out or reduced as we plan.

Why route 66? I guess just the history of it. It's fading fast, and isn't even marked anymore, although there are still parts of it there. There was a lot of "stuff" to see - the blue whale, concrete teepee motel, diners.... Just something I've always wanted to do. Here's a link for you to take a look at, if you'd like: http://www.historic66.com/

The only thing I'd suggest for this trip, though, is that we do it in either late spring or early fall. Summer would be just too hot, I think.

The other bikes are 400cc one Yamaha Seca and the other a Honda CB400T. I've ridden over 2000 miles with these guys in tow (me leading) they will not be a problem. We don't speed unless the flow of traffic demands it for safety reasons. We ride a loose formation staggered but using single file following distances so you get to use all of your lane if you need to or want too. The only time we bunch up closer is in heavy traffic.

See Route 66 before its gone. I take it that it s one of those interstate want-to-be roads now where they are turning it in to a four lane highway and cutting a 1/4 mile wild swath down both sides of the road like they are doing with lots of US highways today. Should be an interesting ride.

Thats funny. When I told my wife about it I mentioned that I hoped you would want to go in the spring or fall. Summer is way to hot most of the time and with the kids out of school people are taking there vacations. Spring will give us longer riding days. If we go in the fall I think September would be best. Much later in the year than September and we will get into short days ad increasing chance of cold weather. Meaning early snow or hard freeze. It might be nicer to look at in the fall.

Are we camping or staying in motels? I'll probably bring minimal camping gear. You never know. We might need to camp.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Badbob

See Route 66 before its gone. I take it that it s one of those interstate want-to-be roads

Well, that happened a LONG time ago!

Starting from Chicago, it's I-55, I-44 and then a LONG stretch of I-40.

However, in a lot of places they didn't use the Old 66 but built parallel to it so a lot of the old road is still there and probably would even have the 66 logo signs in some places......if they hadn't all been stolen after the road was officially de-comissioned.

In Illinois at least, the old route is marked by Historic 66 signs (most places).
Even that is not all good, 'cause "somebody" took great pains to go back as far as possible and some of the marked sections go back so far that they are un-paved or only 1 lane with grass in the cracks.

Even though I've been on a lot of the sections at various times, it's a trip I always wanted to take......by cage.
Have seen a few too many moons go by to do it on a bike now.
My planned trip to Atlanta next week will probably be pushing the limit a bit (650 miles).

[Badbob]

I stand corrected US66 already an Interstate. Boo hiss.

I know Interstate highways have their place. After driving many thousands of miles on them I got really tired of the stress of driving across the country on a big road with more aggressive drivers everyday and not seeing any of the country a passed through. Just miles and miles of pavement and signs advertising every thing from topless restaurants to clothing. Mile after mile after mile.

I don't travel Interstates unless I have to. In my case for most of the places I go the Interstate is the long way to get there anyway.

Mike I'm still good to go on this unless there is Interstate Highways involved. I don't even like crossing them but there isn't much I can do about that. I live about 200 yards from I10.

[Gadzooks Mike]

No, I won't do interstates either, Bob. I planned that trip north very carefully so that I didn't get on a road posted over 55mph and missed all major cities. Same with this trip, if we do it.

Route 66 connected already existing roads and cities together and that became the "Mother Road" from Chicago to LA. In the old movies, when anyone headed west, they were generally shown on route 66. Also, the animated movie "Cars" was built around it, too.

What I would like to do (and further planning will tell me if it's feasable) is to travel parts of the old route that is left, through the little towns and such, and bypass the interestates completely. I'm not sure I'd get on an interstate with a big bike, but I don't I'm NOT going to get on one with this little guy!

[Badbob]

So we are on the same track. Keep me posted.