August 31st - Leaving for a Route 66 run to Amarillo, Texas

breyton

breyton

Well-known member
I'm more into mountains and canyons and wide open spaces than cities and towns, but from the parts of Rte 66 I did ride coming back from Arizona last year, the most interesting parts were in New Mexico and Arizona, and I had pretty well bailed on it by the time I hit Texas though I did stop in Amarillo. If you have the time, you might consider adding an extra day and going as far as Seligman, AZ which I've heard has preserved more of the authentic "Route 66 50's vibe". I say heard because I actually didn't make it that far west, too much to see where I was, and sometimes hard choices must be made. But next year SW Part III will include this stop for me.
 
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After reading about R66 and talking to people who live along it I decided to pass on doing it as a bucket list item. A lot of it is just secondary sideroads. I did 30 - 40 miles of it through Missouri a month ago and got the baseball hat. Then I switched back to interstates.

I don't mind taking the slow road but it needs more scenery than R66 has to offer in the Chicago end.
 
nobbie48 said:
After reading about R66 and talking to people who live along it I decided to pass on doing it as a bucket list item. A lot of it is just secondary sideroads. I did 30 - 40 miles of it through Missouri a month ago and got the baseball hat. Then I switched back to interstates.

I don't mind taking the slow road but it needs more scenery than R66 has to offer in the Chicago end.
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I would have to agree. I love secondary roads that wind through small towns that have that classic small town feel to them. However I took RT66 on and off from Shamrock, TX up through Illinois, and absolutely hated it. That 50's nostalgia that they advertise just isn't there. The restored gas stations get old very very quick, and outside of that there's only way overpriced "50's" diners and shops peddling souvenirs, and not much else.

You might want to consider something like my route when I went that way. Bomb down the I90 through the midwest, then turn down through South Dakota, Colorado (mountains are oh so nice on a bike), New Mexico. Then east through Texas where you can hit RT66 and head back home

https://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msid=206201417535132431022.000490579b3e869bcb870&msa=0
 
Thanks guys. Had a feeling it may be a bit boring but have never been to St.Louis, Springfield, Oklahoma City, the Big Texan, Dallas, Memphis, Nashville. Will deviate here and there. This one is more of a touring trip. Did PA before, VA, WV, NC last year.Cabot trail twice. Always rode from Toronto to my destinations. Would like to do the Banff to Van pass or the Cali coast but don't have the time this year.
 
breyton said:
Thanks guys. Had a feeling it may be a bit boring but have never been to St.Louis, Springfield, Oklahoma City, the Big Texan, Dallas, Memphis, Nashville. Will deviate here and there. This one is more of a touring trip. Did PA before, VA, WV, NC last year.Cabot trail twice. Always rode from Toronto to my destinations. Would like to do the Banff to Van pass or the Cali coast but don't have the time this year.
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I've done the same roads, and been to most of the same cities. I can't recommend Colorado enough, it really is worth the trip there. For reference, I did the route I linked to above in eight days, with a day of rest in Denver. A bit rushed, but worth it.

Stopped off in St Louis on my way back, seemed like a cool city, would like to go back and spend some time there. Oklahoma City seemed like a wasteland, but I won't judge it too much as I didn't spend much time there, the memorial is very nice though. I've spent a couple days in Nashville, total waste of time, not much to see or do. Like RT66, just tacky places marketing the city's country music roots. There is an awesome pancake place in the burbs that I can't remember the name of though. Probably, the only good memory I have of Nashville. From people that I've spoken with, Memphis is a much more interesting city than Nashville, haven't been though.
 
breyton said:
Thanks guys. Had a feeling it may be a bit boring but have never been to St.Louis, Springfield, Oklahoma City, the Big Texan, Dallas, Memphis, Nashville. Will deviate here and there. This one is more of a touring trip. Did PA before, VA, WV, NC last year.Cabot trail twice. Always rode from Toronto to my destinations. Would like to do the Banff to Van pass or the Cali coast but don't have the time this year.
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Well Chicagowhere you are going Saturda is an awesome city but not sure I'd want to ride my bike there. The traffic scares me more than those no guardrail switchbacks in the Rockies. But the beach strip, the architecture, the clubs and not to mention the skyline at night is worth the trip alone into the city.
 
BeastieGirl said:
Well Chicagowhere you are going Saturda is an awesome city but not sure I'd want to ride my bike there. The traffic scares me more than those no guardrail switchbacks in the Rockies. But the beach strip, the architecture, the clubs and not to mention the skyline at night is worth the trip alone into the city.
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Chicago is one of my favourite cities in North America. Awesome city as long as you don't find yourself in the shadier areas.

You forgot to mention the parks, awesome deepdish pizza, and the shiny jellybean (trust me, a lot cooler than it sounds).
 
regder said:
Chicago is one of my favourite cities in North America. Awesome city as long as you don't find yourself in the shadier areas.

You forgot to mention the parks, awesome deepdish pizza, and the shiny jellybean (trust me, a lot cooler than it sounds).
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When I think of Chicago I get ****** screaming mad at Toronto. We went into Chicago via some expressway not unlike the QEW Gardiner and had a fantastic view of the Michigan shoreline as it sweeps north. It looked so welcoming just like the QEW / Gardiner looked years ago before the developers walled off the lake. Toronto sucks. OMB sucks.
 
nobbie48 said:
When I think of Chicago I get ****** screaming mad at Toronto. We went into Chicago via some expressway not unlike the QEW Gardiner and had a fantastic view of the Michigan shoreline as it sweeps north. It looked so welcoming just like the QEW / Gardiner looked years ago before the developers walled off the lake. Toronto sucks. OMB sucks.
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I actually wrote it in my post, but deleted it. Chicago is what Toronto could be if our city planners actually gave a damn. Tossing a condo on every street corner does not a city make
 
I agree about Toronto but not a big fan of Chicago either. Use to date a girl who lived there, just north of the mile. Wasn't blown away by the city. I have seen the jelly bean.
 
breyton said:
Thanks guys. Had a feeling it may be a bit boring but have never been to St.Louis, Springfield, Oklahoma City, the Big Texan, Dallas, Memphis, Nashville.
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I was just in St. Louis:

Pappy's Smokehouse - Can't recommend it enough! Best smoked ribs I've ever tasted! There's always a lineup for good reason!
http://pappyssmokehouse.com/

Fast Eddie's - Well known biker bar about 30 - 40 mins north of St. Louis in Alton, IL. They have a special parking area for motorcycles only, monitored by video cameras. Food is cheap!
http://www.fasteddiesbonair.com/fr_home.cfm
 
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