A Ride to Kingman via Route 66 through Golden Shores

So what’s been going on?  Well not a heck of a lot.  It’s been a hot 97F and hugely windy so we haven’t had the motorcycle out until today.  We are still in Davis Camp RV park.  We did go and check out Riverside RV park in Laughlin on Monday but it was still pretty busy so we just decided to stay put here for the week.  They do have decent showers as well as laundry and a place to fill our 5 gal water jug so things aren’t too bad.  It’s an easy place for me to walk and Eric to ride the bicycle so we aren’t real bored!  A little grocery shopping, an oil change for the truck and some shopping at the mall for me and the rest of the day takes care of it’s self.   

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Today our ride to Kingman was a circular route of 157 miles and a slightly different route than we usually take.  Instead of continuing on past #2 towards Oatman we went south towards #3  on Route 66 through Golden Shores where we joined up with I40 at Topock to head north to Kingman.  We’d never been on the stretch of interstate between the Lake Havasu exit and Kingman.

Heading up the hill out of Bullhead City and onto the Bullhead Parkway to head south.  This route bypasses all the lights and congestion of the main street.

Heading east towards Boundary Cone on Hwy 153 towards Oatman.

Boundary Cone.

Here we have turned right (south) and are rolling along old Route 66/ Oatman Topock Hwy.

Wide open barren desert. 

Twisty and turny here.

On the south facing slopes the Cholla cacti are standing at attention.

They have bright new growth and look like one of those under sea eel gardens.  They appeared for a few miles and then just disappeared. 

The Ocotillo (feathery looking spray on the left) are in bloom here as well.  Such an odd desert plant since it looks dead most of the year and then suddenly turns green and bursts into bloom. 

This must have been a tough haul with a horse and wagon and….no water anywhere. 

We’re heading south.

How do the Palo Verde manage to bloom when it’s so dry.

Topock. 

We’re now on  I40 and heading east to Kingman.

The Colorado River which turns into Lake Havasu over the mountains in the distance. 

50 miles on the freeway to Kingman. It was really windy when we left the park but it had died down and it wasn’t too hot at this point so…not a horrible ride.

Getting closer to Kingman and signs for Route 66 start to show up.  A huge tourist attraction.

When we come to Kingman from Oatman we go over those mountains.  Today we went around them.

We could go back that way after lunch but we probably won’t.

Still on the freeway and almost to Kingman.

 

Now that’s a beautiful rock formation.  Looks like the inside of a candy bar.

Coming down Andy Devine Drive towards the El Palacio Mexican restaurant where we had lunch.

The big steam locomotive.

This is a new piece of art at the edge of the road and it’s really stunning. 

Some sort of cast metal and tile inlay.  Boy would that look nice in my garden!  I don’t like silly things in my garden but metal birds and toads are welcome.  This guy isn’t indiginous to our area but I like him anyway.  By the way it is quite large probably about 4ft long and three feet high. 

After lunch we were off to the Mother Road Harley shop so Eric could get a couple of things for the bike.  He needed to replace a few  rusty chrome bolts and also needed an oil filter. I am past buying any clothing with Harley on it as it just makes you look like a walking billboard.  Eric needs new leather riding gloves but he was too cheap for the ones here.  He says he’ll go back to the feed/farm store on the way home and find them there. 

Heading down towards Bullhead City and Laughlin.

It’s a long, long 11 miles down and a long, long 11 miles back up.

We were back to the RV by about 3pm and we were ready for a shower and a cold beer.  A big lunch so…cheese and crackers for dinner.  It wasn’t the prettiest ride but it’s always nice to get out of the park and go somewhere….anywhere.