Fenner to Needles, Ca

Friday 6 April 2018

Today's ride was from Fenner to Needles, Ca

Today's ride was fairly easy.  It started out as a slight up hill for the first 10 miles but there was a slight tailwind so problem.  Then the next 27 mils was down hill with either a tailwind or a crossing wind. With the weight of the bike doing down hill and the slight wind I averaged over 20 miles per hour for over 25 miles.   AKA Rocketman  :-).

early morning start

the trains seam like they are over a mile long

Each day along Route 66 I pass one or more abandoned places of business.  Each one in different stages of disrepair.  In a couple of places all that remains are the advertising signs that a business was once there.

As many people know, I'm a pack rat.  Almost any tools I find on the road I stop and pickup.  Well, I saw this Allen Key set on the side of the road, and I and actually left it there.  I have more than enough tools on the bike.

About 6 miles west of Needles Route 66 joined Interstate 40 again.  The road was mostly downhill so it was a quick ride to the Needles exit.  Then I was back on "The Mother Road"

A short distance down the road I came across these memorials.

These memorials are on both sides of the road.  There are also three with names

While I was taking these pictures.  A woman walked by and I asked her if she knew anything about these memorials.  She stated that a person by the name of the Jim build all of the memorials.  He would wander in the desert collecting the stones using two 5 gallon plastic buckets. His wife's name is Starr and a friend of his is Ron.  I tried doing an internet search but I couldn't find any other information.