My Route 66 adventure: | Page 4 | FerrariChat

My Route 66 adventure:

Discussion in 'Travel' started by Gatorrari, Sep 24, 2019.

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  1. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2004
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    Jim Pernikoff
    You should consider getting the February/March issue of Route magazine, now on sale at Barnes & Noble. This is an excellent issue, with an article on the history of Route 66, one on the Motel Safari in Tucumcari (where I stayed in 2019) and a bunch of short one-page articles on various iconic sights along the route. The many ads for communities and attractions along the route may prove worthwhile as well.

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  2. Steelton Keith

    Steelton Keith F1 Veteran
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    Thank you Jim I will pick it up. And thanks very much indeed to F-Chatter ArizonaItalian for the PM and the fabulous suggestions. Mille Grazi!
     
  3. TheMayor

    TheMayor Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    I have a personal connection with Route 66. As a kid, my family took our only vacation from Chicago to LA using Route 66. We packed up the Oldsmobile and headed West. My dad had won a long shot on a Trotter harness race at Sportsman's park in Cicero and decided we all needed to see Disneyland. We saw it, but we didn't go on any rides because we didn't have money to pay for tickets. But I did walk through the Monsanto "House of the Future" which was free. We also saw Marineland in Palos Verdes, little knowing I would eventually move within an hour bike ride to it 15 years later. Southern California seemed like a dreamland.

    I was pretty young -- maybe 6 or 7. But I do remember sleeping in a tee pee motel which was pretty cool. And I remember that Oklahoma had the reddest earth I had ever seen. Arizona was just like a John Wayne movie and that's why my dad decided to move there a few years later. So Route 66 is more than just romantic to me. Its the method that eventually got my family to move West and never look back.
     
  4. Steelton Keith

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    Good story Bob and good memories.
     
  5. Steelton Keith

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    Jim. The two closest B+Ns do not carry ROUTE. I just subscribed. Thanks
     
  6. Gatorrari

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    Strange. All the ones in Atlanta carry it, though I notice that it tends to sell out pretty quickly.
     
  7. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    To show you what a bypassing Interstate can do to a town, compare these two images of Tucumcari, New Mexico, taken from the same spot (though the wider angle lens used for the second image makes it look different).

    The first image is from a postcard, circa 1960, and shows a busy street lined with retail stores, gas stations, restaurants and motels, with big overhead signs that light up at night. The second image is from 2018 and shows generally the same buildings, now occupied with insurance agents, health clinics, nail salons and childcare offices, along with defunct gas stations, closed motels and few overhead signs. What a difference!

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  8. Gatorrari

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    Another postcard image, taken at night from slightly up the block from the first one, and with a longer lens. I think it might have been taken on the same day, since the same Buick seems to be parked at curbside on the far right. What a vibrant scene! I can assure you that it would look quite depressing today.

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  9. Steelton Keith

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    Jim P. First issue of ROUTE magazine delivered. Enjoyed it. Thanks for recommendation. Planning our trip this week for mid Pay. Drive schedule breakdown may have us overnighting in Kanab UT.
     
  10. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    If you don't have a copy of the EZ66 Guide, get one. It shows the exact route if you want to stay on 66, but there is plenty of info if you plan to spend some of your time on the Interstates. On my trip to Vegas in August, I will probably spend most of my time on I-40, but will head over to the old road for attractions, meals and lodging.
     
  11. Steelton Keith

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    Thanks Jim; I have it. 2 nights Scottsdale, 2 nights Sedona, 1 night Kanab UT, one night GC at El T, then a night somewhere on 66 toward Vegas, then Bellagio. Plan May 12 departure and praying for below 100 on the desert floor
     
  12. Steelton Keith

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    I am working through our itinerary for mid May. There are a lot of hotels SOLD OUT in AZ, even for week day nights. Even the highest end suites are not available.
     
  13. Gatorrari

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    I made the reservations for my August trip last month and did not have any trouble finding rooms. Obviously, a month later, people have gotten more confidence to travel. A lot of the more iconic motels on Route 66 are quite small (the Blue Swallow in Tucumcari has but 12 rooms) so they get snapped up in a hurry.
     
  14. Steelton Keith

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    Plus on the desert floor it will be two thousand degrees in August. We are just about done with booking; had to omit Sedona. First 2 nights Sanctuary in Scottsdale. Then night Monument Valley in the rustic cabin. Page AZ and Kanab UT for Vermillion Cliffs and Bryce loop. Then 2 nights Williams. Decided to do the train up to GC as hotels were jammed and will get us away from the car for a day. Then Route 66 for all the stops, going all the way through Oatman after night in Kingman, Then 5 nights Bellagio. Journey begins May 12.
     
  15. Gatorrari

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    I plan on doing this in June; basically 2 full days on the Illinois portion of 66 running from south to north. If you're anywhere near Illinois and want an enjoyable and educational weekend, you might want to consider doing the same.

    I was going to be visiting friends in PA the preceding weekend anyway, so I'll just take I-70 west to Illinois and join the fun. At the end I'll be spending one night at Harrah's Joliet Casino, which will sort of be a prelude to my Las Vegas trip in August.

    https://www.il66assoc.org/2021/04/our-2021-motor-tour-is-a-go/
     
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  16. Steelton Keith

    Steelton Keith F1 Veteran
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    Jim. I'll post some notes on our trip.
     
  17. Steelton Keith

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    Hello everyone. Back after 10 days on the road AZ and UT, then a week in LAS. This part of the world is beautiful. Stunning vistas, breath taking roads. We had a LOT of windshield time. Took a private guide through Superstition Mtns. and Apache trail. Guide was phenomenal: history, geology, flora, fauna, native peoples. PM me if you want 100% recommendation. After Sanctuary in Scottsdale ( great service, crummy food), we went north to Sedona, then used Page as a base for Vermillion Cliffs, Monument Valley, out to Bryce through Kanab, etc. 89 and 89A most of the way. Jaw droppers at every turn. Then down to Williams and took the train to GC. The hotel with the train is just for convenience, nothing special. The GC was 90% shut. No shuttles running, many exhibits closed. On a Monday, Park was jammed because everyone was essentially limited to a mile or so either side of the Tovar unless you wanted to walk a lot of miles. 20 deep lines for an ice cream, and hour wait to get into the only bar. Williams was the usual four block wonder. 66 out to Kingman and discovered hotel I booked was out by I-40. Cancelled room and drove to LAS. I have flown over the GC who knows how many times but never on the ground over AZ. Just spectacular although I found the GC kind of spooky. Saw numerous examples of insane people, including not watching their little kids on the precipice and edge of death. Chilling.
     
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  18. Gatorrari

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    If you're ever back in Kingman, try the El Trovatore Motel. It's right on 66, a nice place with some great neon signs. And to eat, try Mr. D'z Diner up the street. It's across the street from the Powerhouse Visitor Center & Museum.
     
  19. Steelton Keith

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    i screwed up, Jim
     
  20. slm

    slm F1 Rookie
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    Interesting experience, Keith. I just did the Ramshorn Rally.vintage air cooled Porsche rally. Got home this last Thursday. Had an am axing time. Great cars. Cool roads. Truly amazing scenery. We did the extra leg to the northern rim of the Grand Canyon. This was our routes for the 5 days. Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  21. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Way back in 1968, we took part of that route, from Springdale to Hanksville, as part of a cross-country trip, since the parallel portion of I-70 didn't exist yet! We spent a night in Panguitch, which is actually closer to your route than the map shows.
     
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  22. Steelton Keith

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    Steve M. thanks for posting. Your vintage Porsche much more fun than the bloated Lincoln SUV I rented from Avis. Right side rocker panel fell off somewhere north of Flagstaff. one quick note: our admiration an respect for the Native Peoples who somehow scratched a life out of this forbidding landscape was our biggest take-away
     
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  23. Nospinzone

    Nospinzone F1 Veteran

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    Wow Jim, I totally missed this thread until today. Fantastic trip!

    I did a little of Route 66. Photo taken after we were leaving the FCA Annual Experience in Scottsdale.

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  24. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    While you were in Winslow, did you park the car and "stand on the corner"? :)
     
  25. Gatorrari

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    I enjoyed my two days on the Illinois Route 66 Association Motor Tour last weekend, which covered their stretch of the Route from Edwardsville (near St. Louis) to Joliet (near Chicago). Met some great people, saw some neat cars (no Ferraris), and enjoyed some great attractions, some of which I had seen in 2019 but many that I hadn't. They've been doing this annual Motor Tour for 30 years, and it's never the same each year. There were at least 100 cars this year, but for the most part we went at our own pace and not in a "caravan". I doubt if I'll do it every year, but I do hope to do it again some time in the future. I'll post some photos in future days.
     

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