Long ride today racing against the storms and we did beat them. Started on winding roads progressing to freeways through forest giving way to rice paddies. Apparently Arkansas is the state that grows the most rice in the US.   Still off Route 66 with two more stops on this detour before we head back.

Currently in Memphis, Tennessee, literally across the road from the house of the king. We will be wandering across tomorrow to visit.

Sorry, no access to load photos at the moment, hopefully in the next couple of days.

In Hot Springs, Arkansas staying at the B Inn which is being refurbished into quirky themed little apartments with interesting furnishings. We are in the Literature room complete with comfy lounges in the lounge room, bookshelves with books in the dining room and reading material with extra seating in the bedroom. It is affiliated with a great little organic cafe next door where, as part of the accommodation deal, I got to have a gluten free bagel with cream cheese for breakfast - certainly gets two thumbs up from me!

Today was a couple of miles walk in the national park, a visit to the Gangster museum to learn the shadier history of the town, and then all afternoon at the Buckstaff bath house to experience an afternoon of bathing and massaging just like they have been doing for a hundred years. Well....it was storming outside so what else is a girl to do :-)

Back on the road tomorrow.

Oklahoma - rolling green fields of grass and wheat, oil derricks, cows grazing, open space, sprawling cities and houses, churches and ministries, friendly Oklahomans, museums, steakhouses, Sonic drive and park eateries, tornadoes and clouds, and the RedHawks.

We spent 4 days as guests of the lovely Mrs Donna Spencer, who  fed, watered, housed and entertained us. We shopped, visited museums, met the neighbours, crashed a bridal shower, checked out the local haunts and went to our first baseball game.

Somehow we have managed to miss all the storms having temporarily diverted from 66 to visit Hot Springs in Arkanas,  (on our way to Memphis), and are currently enjoying delightful weather after a long but near perfect ride along gently winding forest roads.

To Donna and all the wonderful people we meet in OKC, we hope you stay safe and well as the next storm approaches. Thank you all for your kind hospitality and generosity, we wish you all the best.

One of the Route 66 Diners that we have lunched at - Joesph's Bar and Grill, classic sign out the front...this is typical of some of the great places to visit along the road.

The front of the building has a relocated sign called the 'fat man' which came from another diner after it closed down. He now adorns Joseph's smiling away...

 Interior was all booths with original framed WWII memorabilia around ours including the local newspaper clipping announcing the surrender of Japan.

 

 And yes that juke box is original complete with single records within - so tempted to push buttons but I think it was meant only for display...wonder if I could fit one of these in at home...

And on a lighter note, what one Route 66 enthusiast has done...I introduce Russell's Truck Stop...

On the outside a very neat modern building

But on the inside...joy for the admirers of classic vehicles...

 

This guy has over 150 vehicles in pristine condition that he rotates from his warehouse to the display every 4 months...truly a gem of a place to visit.

Above the first Honda Goldwing...neat but I still think my little beast rules...oh yeah and there was some flame painted Harley or some thing that I couldn't quite get out of the shot of the Honda.

From all the eras...

Abandoned dreams the result of freeway bypasses...

These are the kind of scenes all along the old road, I wonder what would be left of the signs and buildings if we came back in a few years...hopefully some will be reopened by the Route 66 enthusiasts...

Hoorah, we have contact...and now for some photo catch up...

At Acoma Pueblo Indian Community (New Mexico) where our local guide Brandon gave us the history of his tribe who built their homes 1000s of years ago on top of a Mesa. Along came the Spanish - thought the 'city' might have been the city of gold and subsequently caused the locals a few headaches...but they did get a big catholic church out of it...which they had to build themselves while carting huge trees from 4 days walk away without letting them touch the ground as they were deemed 'sacred' once they had been cut down...of course they had the usual incentives that conquerors are want to offer...going back and starting again, beatings, slavery for their women and children, etc...but they got a really big church out of it...

But the locals did know how to pick a location just check out their views...

A local street of course the locals were smart enough to be inside out of the sun...silly tourists...

 Brandon, the local guide, pointing out the path back....hmmm glad I didn't have to carry the water up each day that there was no rain...bonus is that they live in a matriarchal society where the women own everything. The men do get to govern, although that is another bright idea introduced by the Spanish settlers. All up a very interesting place to visit.

In Oklahoma city, sitting in a shopping mall, there is no internet access at home most likely due to the storms - which we missed. Hope to post more soon. All safe and well at Donna's, we will be heading off to hot springs on wed.

Cadillac Ranch, Texas...

Our contribution including free hand Aussie flag ... We didn't have the heart
to paint over the Canadian effort considering they went to all the effort of having a template.

Blue Swallow Motel

Inside our room. Complete with the old style chenille bed covers and very comfortable.

All lit up!

Experienced some technical difficulties last night so now have a lot of catching up to do.

Day 6 on the road saw us starting the morning at the Blue Swallow Motel where we met a couple of Aussies from Tassie, one of whom I knew from my high school days - random - travelling the route in the opposite direction. Gave us an excellent tip to go to Russell's Truck Stop where there was a fantastic car museum, the display rotates every 4 months from a collection of 150 cars.

Crossed the border into Texas and visited the Cadillac ranch where we left our mark for prosperity, or at least the 23 seconds before someone sprays over it.

Travelled through the rolling green hills of Texas (quite a few of them as we missed our exit at Amarillo and ended about 40kms north of where we should have been). Paddocks of grass and dotted oil derricks.

Stated the night at a little town called Shamrock.

Fifth day on the road and we are now in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Much less wind today so the ride was easier, giving us a better chance to just take time to look around. 

Plenty of classic 66 signs and buildings, including a great looking diner in Santa Rosa complete with classic jukebox. On a sadder note saw a lot of closed businesses which gave pause to what dreams may have been left behind.

Staying at a Route 66 roadside hotel called The Blue Swallow, a must do for the Route 66 experience, completely retro. Friendly helpful owners who are the very best kind of people, for not only do they have two gorgeous dogs, but they ride Honda motorbikes as well. Nothing more needs to be said.

Hope to load photos tomorrow.

And to top off today's photo marathon...and just because I haven't posted a photo of myself yet...here I am getting my kicks on Route 66...

The Painted Desert...I have nothing to add...but another photo...

It was just breathtaking and we both stood in silence to observe as colours waxed and waned with the passing clouds.

Scenes from the Petrified Forest National Park. Above is one of the petrified trees, they are embedded in the hills around the park and as the hills erode from all the wind in the area the trees are exposed and they literally fall to the ground at the base of the hills.

What remains of Route 66 through the park. the telegraph posts show where the road used to be.

Classic desolate scene from the park. The 'rocks' rocks in the mid ground are parts of petrified trees.

The quaint little establishment that we stayed in Winslow, Arizona, (La Posada - one of Route 66's finest) full of art and history and a prickly pear margarita...

Oh yeah the food was magnificent as well.

 Our room full of local Indian art and wares. The beds were made specifically for the hotel, and oh so comfy. Below is the courtyard view from our window, of course we will be staying in accommodation like this everywhere...

They are very pet friendly over here, allowing you to have your dog stay in the hotel and to take your dog into the National Parks. They even have lovely walking areas like the one above... I just wasn't sure what the second sign was suggesting in relation to your beloved companion.

Desert community post boxes with classic scenery from the Californian desert complete with dry plains and barren mountains in the background. There were a couple of prime properties for sale, however I prefer to be a little closer to the beach (at least one with water at the edge).

Unfortunately we had already eaten otherwise this would have been a prime dining establishment. According to the advertising they had the best steak in the area...possibly the only steak in the area but the best none the less.

Some riding buddies, unfortunately we had to part ways as they just couldn't match the little beast. I think they had just been enjoying the comforts of the building on the right.

Scenes from the road...

Above is a roadside hotel at a place called Amboy, somewhere in the middle of the desert  in California. Amboy was a boom town in the 1930s but all that remains now is this hotel and the post office. The sign at the bottom of the hotel sign reads 'today only emergency fuel available'.

Leanne checking directions as we tried to get lost in the pine forests of Arizona...Route 66 actually turns into a dirt track at this point and we thought that may be a little beyond the little beast's capabilities (not to mention the rider)

Because every roadside hotel should have a huge green Easter Island replica statue to entice people to stay in the middle of nowhere.

Fourth day on the road and we have visited an Indian community, crossed the Rio Grande and are currently in Albuqueque, New Mexico. Finally have access to load photos so be prepared to be inundated! Starting with my little beast packed and in fine form outside the Route 66 General Store - somewhere in Arizona.

Third day on the road and still no computer access to load photos, so will be short and sweet. Went off 66 to ride through the Petrified Forest National Park' scenes of petrified logs, crystallised rocks, desert lizards, and amazing views of the  Painted Desert. Very windy riding but  the little beast held up well. Crossed the border into New Mexico and another time zone.  Holed up in a trading post town called Gallup for the night.

More relaxing day today riding through Arizona from desert to pine forest and onto grass plains. Plenty of 66 scenes on the way, even a roadside eatery called the Road Kill Cafe. Rode through several Indian reservation areas... just more of the same scenery.

Roads were good although a lot of 66 went along the interstate, so a lot more traffic in parts, took it easy and enjoyed ride. Weather is great sunny with a cool breeze. A bit gusty in parts which had my poor little beast moving on the road a bit, but all up she is performing very well.

Staying at a fantastic hotel called La Posada in Winslow, restored from ruin and full of art and Indian handmade articles. Partook of a prickly pear margarita, magnificent, will need  further research.

No chance to load photos today, but have plenty of great scenes to load tomorrow. Off to New Mexico

First day on the bikes and we had a day to make up due to the delay with customs so we decided to do two days riding in one epic day. Route 66 full on. A day of amazing scenery and contrasts.

Made our way to Santa Monica to start, beaches, palm trees, traffic luxury housing. Headed out to West Hollywood and sunset boulevard through modern city scape to run down buildings with glimpses of route 66 retro charm and yet more traffic. Navigating more traffic we made it to Pasadena, beautiful parks, large houses landscaped gardens, elegant architecture, green, more traffic. Onto outer suburb style scenes with new housing estates and shopping centres, business parks and grouped takeaway 'restaurants', pieces of retro scattered throughout. More traffic. Then Devore.

A couple of turns and the road opened out, traffic gone, desert plains with sparse brush, distant desolate hills and mountains, in parts waves of black rock looking  like remnants of volcanic flows, abandoned houses and service stations, old retro signs, cobbled together housing in the middle of nowhere with signs of life, sudden refurbished landmarks with an air of pride. Patches of road newly sealed intermittent with crumbling potholed stretches of challenging riding. Nothing in front but the road. Wow.

Raced the sun at the end of the day with the sunset throwing my shadow, ever longer, onto the side of the road surrounded by changing colours of rock and sand. True joy.

But the sun won as it always does and we finally made it to Kingsman, dark, late, tired and awed.

Tomorrow will be leisurely and with luck there will be photos loaded rather then tired ramblings. Joy to all.

The coast where we are staying in LA. One long line of beach with beach volley ball nets and cycling/walking track. Of course we joined in with the locals for a game...we are the sexy ones in bikinis in the distance about 20 nets away  :)

We have the bikes! Took an extra day as the bikes liked US customs so much that they took up their offer of a free medical including xray, and they passed with flying colours. We will be leaving the city  early tomorrow. Route 66 here we come!

Waiting at the airport, flight running late but the bikes have arrived in LA waiting for us to join them. :-)