Planned Route 66 trip for 2014

[GrahamG]

Re: Planned Route 66 trip for 2014

Tell us how it goes, sounds fun! We are celebrating our 25 year wedding anniversary this year in style! Renewing our vows in Vegas! Will do a small stretch of Route 66, then will complete it in 2015.

[kanoer54]

Re: Planned Route 66 trip for 2014

Couldn't resist posting this pic of Neill as he was ready to depart our house, near St. Louis Mo, to continue his trip on Route 66. Neil, my wife and I had a wonderful time with Neil. Glad he strayed off the beaten path to stay for a couple days. Best of luck to him on his continued trip to LA.
jon

[nissanneill]

Re: Planned Route 66 trip for 2014

Hi Jon and Skip,
Let me pass on my eternal thanks for your generous hospitality and friendship experienced on my visit. I owe you guys if and when you come down under. It was great catching up with a fellow forum member and sorting out the problems that you have experienced with your oven build. Thankfully for my trusty gps, could not have got through the maze of roads going through St Louis, only sorry that I didn't have my helmet camera on as many who will see my hopefully completed DVD of the trip will have never seen let alone shared my experience as a first time biker attack such an experience. I will be a little more prepared when I hit Los Angeles. Got as far as Cubs today as the rain was in letting, got drowned and needed to dry out, do my washing and catch up with the diary, emails and Facebook. The natives back home are getting restless.
A gain Jon, I thank you sincerely!

Regards
Neill
And will keep in touch.

[nissanneill]

Re: Planned Route 66 trip for 2014

Home at last and what a lovely feeling! 30+ hours in and around airports including 20 hours sitting in a plane was more than the backside cold stand. Leaving the States in the mid 80˚F arriving in Adelaide at 9˚C was a bit of a shock but there is no place like home when you miss your wife and family.

Graham,
Route 66 was a bitter disappointment, but I am truly glad that I did it, only one town, Seligman Arizona has restored all of the buildings and businesses that I found back to the 50's and 60's and is benefitting from their efforts. I really didn't want to leave the place but as I did, I passed 2 large tourist busses with around 100 visitors buying food, snacks and souvenirs, a wonderful outcome for them. Most of my experiences saw the odd building that has been either restored or maintained, only a few occupying viable traditional businesses, but the majority had either been burnt, boarded up or just abandoned/forgotten, such a pity.
I frequented mainly the small motels that kept the character alive, ate at the small cafes or old road houses, the people within were fabulous and a wealth of information, my Aussy accent also attracted a lot of people and extended the conversations.
I really do pity you Americans with your health service and fees, as my 2 hour visit to an emergency department in a small town hospital, after riding 2 1/2 hours up mountain winding roads, cost me $1860 with the outcome after xrays that "we can't do anything or you, but her are excellent surgeons back in Australia". That visit here in Australia would be free in a public hospital. Overall, a 6,200 mile trip across and around the US with a lifetime of fond memories, done at a time when I felt that I could rather than wishing that I should have, I am now the envy of many of my friends who will share my experiences through my Facebook postings and the DVD that I now have to produce. With my shoulder injury, the cold wet winter weather, the beautiful warm computer area and getting over my jet lag, (also that the other half has just gone to Melbourne for 4 days) what better thing to do.
Neill

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Planned Route 66 trip for 2014

Sorry you had an injury on your trip then have to endure that plane ride back home. I fully understand how long it takes. You can chalk off Route 66 off your bucket list.