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The emperor has no clothes
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« on: September 21, 2017, 08:24:34 PM » |
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I had a meeting in Flagstaff today. 7 hours of driving to listen to a supervisor talk for 2 hours. But, that's another story.  Usually when I travel there or to Phoenix I try to make time and haul ass. But occasionally I will detour off for some rose sniffing. (Which is hard to do in the desert) Coming back today I turned off I-40 at Ashfork and took Route 66 to Kingman. It really is like getting thrown back in time a few decades. I was teleported back to a time my Dad drove me and my 2 younger brothers in a '50 Chevy from California to the Rio Grande Valley. We all had a great trip, even though our Mom wasn't with us do to some family drama. Today I felt 8 years old again for a little while. I had planned to take the Valkyrie today, but decided on my wife's Miata at the last minute. Which turned out fortuitous because they handed out a 2'x4' box of POS material. And had I been on the bike I likely wouldn't have thought about our trip in '66. Another thing I noticed today going thru some of the kitchy tourist areas, was the cross section of us Americans that still take road trips. All kinds of different folks, all having a good time seeing our country.  I'm going to try make myself available for teleportation more often. Life is too short to be spending it on the Interstates at 85 mph. Anyway, it was a good day. Also, the family drama finally resolved itself and my Mom returned to her family after a couple months.  |
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ridingron
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« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2017, 08:58:44 PM » |
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Sounds like a fun time trip! I rode from Kansas City to Los Alamos a few years ago. I took the slab out of KC and hit the little lines roads. Ran 50-60 mph. Took a little longer but really enjoyed the ride.
Good to hear the mother drama was worked out.
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old2soon
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« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2017, 09:36:36 PM » |
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The Interstate Highway System is VERY impersonal. Made my living out there fer a lot of years. I believe it was in 1966 the airlines went on strike and I bought a 64 Corvair in San Diego and drove it to Illinois and back to San Diego. Most of that trip on U S 66! Saw parts of I-40 and I-44 being built. Unless I'm needin to make time I stay off the slab as much as possible these days. Glad your Mama came back. RIDE SAFE.
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check. 1964 1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240 2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
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Prescott John
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« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2017, 07:38:59 AM » |
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I've run that stretch of 66 several times and always enjoy it. It's a step back in time, with a more relaxed riding pace.
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2017, 08:10:09 AM » |
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I've run that stretch of 66 several times and always enjoy it. It's a step back in time, with a more relaxed riding pace.
Hey, John. Yes it is. I think Brenda and I will take that route up to your place next month. Usually we cross the desert and up the mountain thru Yarnell. |
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Gryphon Rider
Member
Posts: 5232
2000 Tourer
Calgary, Alberta
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« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2017, 08:30:25 AM » |
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Your mention of Kingman reminded me of a trip.
No teleportation for me, but in January 2006 my wife, kids, and I flew to Laughlin for a weekend trip for two I won as the grand door prize at a motorcycle toy run the previous fall. Our son turned 1 that weekend and flew for free, and we bought our four-year-old daughter a ticket so we could make it a family trip. Although we stayed in a casino hotel, we aren't ones for gambling, so we did some sight-seeing instead.
We rented a car to go see the Grand Canyon, and left early Sunday morning. We passed through Kingman, which I thought would be nice to properly see on another trip, and took Hwy 66 east. We stopped at a tourist trap called Grand Canyon Caverns, that actually turned out to be the most memorable part of our trip. They have an elevator that goes down to a dry cave where we saw various formations and a desiccated bobcat that had fallen down there decades or maybe a hundred years earlier. After they turned off the lights to show us what total darkness is (doesn't every cave tour everywhere do this?), Emily insisted on being carried the rest of the tour. A four-year-old is light, but even small-for-her-age Emily gets heavy after 45 minutes or more! After that stop we got to the Grand Canyon in time to see it during the low sun glow, one or two hours before sunset, and after a couple more tourist stops and supper, took the quickest route back to Laughlin in the dark.
Levi, of course, has no memory of the trip, but Emily has faint memories of the cave, although back then she talked about it often.
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Gary
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« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2017, 08:44:05 AM » |
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But occasionally I will detour off for some rose sniffing. (Which is hard to do in the desert) I believe they're called cactus buttons out there, however, you may have to do some special handling for the whole sniffing part...  Speaking of going back in time; looking forward to your RR and feedback on the Mesa Verde/4 Corners area run. |
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DirtyDan
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« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2017, 08:54:40 AM » |
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Kingman Arizona "the historic heart of rt 66" ...... town motto
Kingman Arizona "inflatable banjo player sold separately"....... Dans joke
It's nice n quiet n dry, little to eat or do
Keep riding buddy
Dan
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Do it while you can. I did.... it my way
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2017, 09:19:55 AM » |
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But occasionally I will detour off for some rose sniffing. (Which is hard to do in the desert) I believe they're called cactus buttons out there, however, you may have to do some special handling for the whole sniffing part... Speaking of going back in time; looking forward to your RR and feedback on the Mesa Verde/4 Corners area run. It didn't turn out like planned. The couple that were going to ride with us had to back out to watch their granddaughter. So, we ended up driving Brenda's Miata. Which ended up being a good thing. Thunderstorms the last 300 miles. Hail, rain so hard I had to slow down to 45 for the last 100 miles. We never even made it to Mesa Verde. Silverton, Pagosa Springs was about it.  |
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Hook#3287
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« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2017, 02:32:25 PM » |
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Rob, cool story, well except the work part. |
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art
Member
Posts: 2737
Grants Pass,Or
Grants Pass,Or
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« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2017, 07:26:04 PM » |
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Brings back lots of memories.At 13 years old my family drove out to Ca. in 58 in a 53 olds an took RT 66 from Chicago to La . It was a trip to remember. For a kid born it the city and seeing the mountains and desert an feel the heat it was great. When I finally moved out of my Mom an Dads house I drove a new 64 1/2 mustang from Ma. to Ca. in January the same route. What a great ride. Living in Prescott,Az. for nine years my Wife and I have been to Kingman,Siligman,Williams and taken the steam train to Grand Canyon many times. I used to ride to Flagstaff up I 17 and over to Ashfork an down to Prescott just for the fun of it on my Valk. Another nice trip is Valk ride to the Meteor Crater. Not in summer but fall. Too much wind in the spring.
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2017, 07:35:10 PM » |
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Rob, cool story, well except the work part. Man, doesn't it always seem that part sucks ? I find I'm getting more and more like Walter Matthau in Grumpy Old Men . After 46 years I've learned a couple things in the bizz. I have little tolerance for foolish ideas anymore. But, alas they keep coming. How's the riding up there this year ? Brenda and I would love to get your direction for another fall ride some day. |
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