Comments on: Biking Day 17: Western End of Route 66

By: Gaz

Gaz — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:59:25 +0000

We made a very brief visit to Sedona last year, and we definitely wanted to spend some more time there this year, but were worried that snow and ice might stop us getting through Flagstaff. You're right that the ride through Oak Creek Canyon is jaw dropping, as I was reminded when we rode down it this afternoon :-D

Last year we went through Phoenix from Sedona, and then crossed the mountains into Sandiego from Yuma on I-8, which was a pretty terrifying experience. Since we haven't yet entered California on I-10, it would be fun to ride that route back, but I also want to visit Hoover Dam, and Las Vegas... so we're probably stuck with retracing our steps along I-15 this time.

It'd be great to chat over a beer before we leave! As long as we are in plenty of time to drop our bikes off for shipping from LA when we get back, I'll let you know when we're in back in town.

By: Scott Piotrowski

Scott Piotrowski — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:19:49 +0000

So glad you are enjoying your trip. If you can, head to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. It will be worth it. Then, keep heading south to come back toward Los Angeles via I-10. You can take US-60 west toward Quartzite (worth a stop for its funky feel) before picking up 10. From there, journey the long way around through 29 Palms (check out the 29 Palms Inn ... it's amazingly cool!) or just continue on the slab. If you stay on the freeway, just after Desert Center, you'll pass the old filling station that is my company logo, the photo on the main page of my website.

Of course, continuing west, you'll go through Palm Springs before heading back toward Los Angeles via Palm Springs. Once in that area, you'll pick up old US-99.

If you have time and you are heading back to Los Angeles, drop me a line and we can try to hook up for beers.

By: Gaz

Gaz — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:25:17 +0000

Hi Scott! Wow, I wish we'd found your book before tackling the LA traffic unprepared :-) Thanks for the insight. We plan to round up some friends and ride along 66 again in a few years time: I'm certainly more prepared for what this end of the road is like now, but it sure was a surprise after the relative quiet of the other 2500 miles of the route!

And thanks, yes, we are still having an absolute blast on this road trip, and the 12 weeks we've spent on it so far is still nowhere near enough time to see all the roadside attractions we've passed. We're doing things a little unconventionally though, we travelled from Chicago to Williams between October and December last year, and starting in LA last week, we're now headed back as far towards Williams as weather permits.

By: Scott Piotrowski

Scott Piotrowski — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:07:51 +0000

There were actually three western termini of 66 in California. From 1926-1936, the original western terminus was at the intersection of 7th and Broadway in the heart of the Theater District in Downtown Los Angeles. From 1936 to 1964, the highway was extended to the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards in Santa Monica (currently the intersection of Lincoln and I-10. Finally, in 1964, California truncated the highway to Pasadena, thus creating a western terminus at the intersections of Arroyo Parkway and Colorado Boulevard.

Regarding LA traffic, there is no “light” time to be in LA. But I highly recommend that any 66′ers interested in seeing all that the last 40 miles of road has to offer – including over 30 National Register of Historic Places landmarks, the only vehicular tunnels ever to be a part of the road, the first freeway portion of 66, and the oldest remaining Route 66 bridge – try their darndest to come through on a Sunday when the Dodgers don’t have a home game. That’s about as light as it gets.

Hope you enjoyed your trip.

Scott Piotrowski, Director 66 Productions http://www.66productions.com