Get Your Biking on RT. 66

(seasonal)

Ride today into yesterday with our historic Rt. 66 bike and sightseeing combo tour. This, the "Mother Road" as Rt. 66 is often called by aficionados, was once the heartbeat of America. From its start in Chicago to its terminus in Los Angeles, Rt. 66 is a nostalgic ribbon of road that winds its way through a huge slice of America. The bonus in our tour is that here in western Arizona you will discover some of the best landscape along its route.

On this fun week's adventure and outing we figure on 20 to 30 miles for most days we'll be riding our trusty two-wheel steeds. There will also be one longer segment, which is about 50 miles later in the week. The elevation along the way runs between 700 to 7,000 feet, with the mean average below one mile. As far as terrain goes, the stretch of road we have staked out for you takes in some fairly rugged stretches of tall mesas, mountains, and spacious wide valleys found throughout this part of the country. The exhilaration goes along with the solitude and the historical information along the way will fill your mind as the tableau of scenery will appease your other gates of perception.

Here's what we have planned for you on this biking odyssey ...

Day 1:
We will meet the group in Phoenix, and if your airplane doesn't arrive too late in the evening, we will drive north about a few hours to the mountain like village of Williams. Located some thirty miles west of Flagstaff, Williams is the gateway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Williams is also on the route of Historic Rt. 66. Over dinner we will go over the tour with the group and make sure all the bikes are in good order and the riders are in good spirits for what promises to be a great ride through this time machine country we will be in for awhile.

Incidentally, to help you get prepared for this adventure we believe it helps to watch old movies like John Steinbeck's, THE GRAPES OF WRATH. That way you get so see some of what Rt. 66 looked like many years ago. Then it was called, The National Trails Highway and later the old Mother Road went the way of the Edsel when it was replaced by more modern super highways, like I-40. Or else you can jump ahead in time to the groovy 60s and watch the equally famous TV show by the same name, "Rt. 66." In that long-running program, the two main characters of the series took off in their Corvette and covered every mile of the Rt. 66 line, and of course there was adventure and suspense in every town they visited. Even the forty years since the program's heyday you can hardly believe the changes the Rt. 66 country has seen. The suspense of the TV series was all Hollywierd's, but the adventure is still there. That's something you just have to create it as you go along.
While you take a stroll back in time with such visual memories of the Rt. 66 scene and setting, pick up a recording of one of the most popular crooners of all time, Nat King Cole, who first sang a song about this famous route. Get your kicks on Rt. 66, indeed!

Day 2:
Today begins the ride where the group will visit a place called, Deer Farm, which caters to a lot of critters, especially ... you guessed it: deer. You can even pet some of them if you like. On this day, as well as the rest of days of the tour, we will enjoy sack lunches so that we can stay outdoors as much as possible. After lunch we will ride Crookton Road to the next town up the line, Seligman. Crookton Road, a somewhat up and down 'hilly' thoroughfare, is possibly the only remaining part of Rt. 66 that isn't developed as are other parts. It's just big, wide open mesa and dormant volcano country without all the commercial fanfare. Also, one spread after the other, since this is also ranching country. Then again, Rt. 66 in this part of the country jogs through eye opening spaces like this and you have to wonder how some of those folks early on in history ever made it across the country given the vehicles, wagons, or horses they rode. Some even walked! Once we get to Seligman, we will check into our lodgings for the night. After resting and freshening up the group will be treated to another sumptuous meal. After dinner the guides will regale you with more historical information of the importance of this road that made its own history, and carved a future for itself in so doing. Then it's time to rest up for tomorrow's continuing big ride still headed west.

Day 3:
Today you will ride from Seligman to the Grand Canyon Caverns, which is about 25 miles. No hills in this stretch of the road, folks. Just lots of big sky overhead and the magnificence of the high plateaus running down the north, or right side of the highway, and the pine-treed mountains to the south. We will enjoy a good lunch while at the Caverns, then tour the regionally famous limestone caverns far below the restaurant. After lunch the ride continues into Peach Springs, but this time we will board the van(s) and save your calf and leg muscles for tomorrow's ride. Peach Springs is the seat of the Hualapai Indian Tribe. Their now relatively famous modern lodge is considered the finest lodging (i.e., AAA rated) anywhere around. After dinner at the lodge we will enjoy hearing some stories as shared by the Hualapai Indians, and if they're available, possibly a visit by two of Western Arizona's most famous cowboys, Mike and Karen Landis (see our City Slicker Tour for more background on the Landis'). But just in case they are busy we are sure to turn up some cowboy who might not be out tending the horses or the cows, in which case you will get to hear something about the cowboy's part in the changes that were brought to this part of the country.

Day 4:
Get set for one of the most awesome rides in the most awesome places.
After breakfast we will mount our steeds and peddle the only road that goes all the way to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Just wait until you see how the canyon grows up around you the farther down the road you travel. Our goal is all the way to Diamond Creek and right to the banks of the Colorado River itself. There will be time, after lunch, for some day hiking and exploring this part of the deep, inner canyon, and we are fairly sure you will agree our idea to take the van(s) back to the top is a good idea. After dinner there will some free time to explore Peach Springs, or just laze about and rest from the long, but thoroughly arresting, day given the great scenery now behind you. Incidentally, the stars are usually out by the millions in this part of the country and chances are you will hear, and possibly see, the ubiquitous night prowlers of the region: the coyotes. Other creatures, like foxes, elk, nighthawks and owls are also bound to be around. You just have to slip away and be quiet enough to hear and see them. But wear a jacket, since this high chaparral cools down at night, in spite of how warm the days can get.

Day 5:
Today you will ride to Oatman, partly in the van and partly on the bike. The biking portion will be in two segments today. First, we will ride to Antares Road, which is west out of Peach Springs. It's big, wide country on this stretch of the road and the view of faraway lofty elevations, like Music Mountain to the north, is commanding. Hopefully, and depending on the group's energy, we plan to see other sights along the way, such as Hackberry, Valentine, and Crozier Canyon. Bear in mind this region is rich in history as it is rugged topography to behold, at least in certain sections. The really neat thing we think is learning about what took place here, which is why history can be so much fun to experience in a bike trip such as we planned for your enjoyment.

Lunch will be in Kingman and after lunch you will board the van and ride toward Oatman. Wait until you see the beauty and desolation of this awesome view, folks, as in tall, craggy mountains that are as bare of trees as they once held the promise of precious metals to hopeful miners. On the other side of Kingman we will once again mount our saddles and ride the winding, scenic road to Oatman, which is one historic mining town you don't want to miss, and with us you won't. During the day the wild burros come into town and just hang out like idle teenagers. Docile and tame, they mostly pose and do their own thing for free. But they don't mind free handouts, in this case, carrots. There will be plenty of that orange candy to pass out so you can get acquainted with them, too. Just don't try to entice one to come home with you; Oatman is rather protective of these gentle creatures that traded in the former hard work for a life of leisure.

This rustic town of Oatman, by the way, was where Clark Gable and Carol Lombard were married. The little town is situated in some of the most rugged mountain scenery. Lots of gold and other treasures came from them thar hills, folks, and lots of fortunes were won and lost in all sorts of ways, some of them by nefarious means. For the evening you will ride back to Kingman, but this time in the comfort of the van(s). After freshening up, we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a nearby historic hotel we plan to stay. Kingman, by the way, is the adopted town of the late actor, Andy Devine. He was the jolly, but concerned stage driver in another Western classic, STAGE COACH, which also starred John Wayne. While we don't know what the Duke felt about Kingman, Andy sure loved it here and we think you will, too. One other piece of trivia is America's most famous aviator once used Kingman as one of his refueling stops on the way to California. Can you name him? Well, that was before his famous crossing of that big drink of water, the Atlantic, and so now you know who we are talking about. Crossing the country in the kind of contraptions this aspiring aviator flew wasn't no picnic. Still, a challenge is a challenge and just think of all the gorgeous country Charles Lindbergh got to see. It's a safe bet it was a lot better than the sheer monotony of just watching water beneath his wings.

Day 6:
After breakfast we will drive the group back to Phoenix and bid you a fond farewell. It is a four hour or so ride to Phoenix, from where we will spend the night, and the return route will take you through still more rugged, although beautiful, country that is unparalleled in setting and scope.

Bon voyage and happy trails. But come tour with us first!

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