Needles, CA to Oatman, AZ

Sunday 8 April 2018

Today's ride was from Needles,Ca to Oatman,Az

The day started out with a beautiful sunrise

I started the ride by going to the east end of Needles to take a few pictures

Then back into town and then headed north on route 95.  But on the way out of town a few more pictures

A very old section of Route 66

bridge across the Colorado

And on the other side Arizona

Then a ride up to Oatman

8 miles up the road 

and lots more to go

And approaching Oatman

The town is known for the burro's that roam the streets and have the right of way.

There is a restaurant in town that has dollar bills everywhere, 

The home of my host Jim Quinn, this evening 

 ,

and his companion CJ

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.

Ludlow to Fenner

5 April 2018
Today's route was suppose to stay on Route 66 but along the route there apparently a bridge out so the route got changed to ride Interstate 40 for 57 miles.  Ludlow to Fenner 

I had breakfast in the Ludlow Cafe which was next to the Ludlow motel, where I stayed last night.  Breakfast was much better than dinner in the same establishment.  In the cafe I met three other bicyclists heading east.

John, Mark, and Karl

John is from Torrance, Ca,   Mark is form Great Britain,  and Karl is from Austria.  They all met on the Adventure Cycling Association web page under Companions Wanted

As we head down Interstate 40

Below are some of the pictures taken while traveling down the road.

signs indicating bicyclists on the roadway

One of the things people ask is what do you think of while traveling so many miles alone.  Well I look at the different things that get thrown out of cars or blown out of the back of trucks.  Like what type of beer do the locals drink then throw out the can or bottles.  Around Tucson it is typically Bud Lite.  In Rialto heading up Cajon Road it was Modelo, leaving Victorville Miller lite.  Today while riding along the interstate there was a ceiling fan, screen door, miscellaneous car and truck parts, large and small nylon strapping and lots of black rubber tie-down straps

The thing that I've seen very little of are dead animals of any type.  Not sure why that is but just an interesting observation.

One I got off the freeway

Naja's Oasis in the desert

small general store, gas station, small grill for hot dogs and hamburgers

outside Naja's Oasis

John getting ready to hit the road again. 

Mark and Karl waited for John and I to get to Naja's Oasis.  John and I needed a break.  My plan was to camp at this location and John wasn't sure if he was going to continue on to Needles or camp.  After food and fluids John continued on to Needles and met up with Mark and Karl.