Re: BigKev's 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe Sedan

Posted by BigKev On 2009/1/19 22:31:58

I grew up in the High Desert of Calif, and the remains of Route 66 ran though my town. So I know the remains of it are pretty fragmented. 66 went from little town to little town following the topography of the local area. When they built the interstate system of I-15 in Calif and I-40 across the country, this pretty much drew a straight line bypassing a lot of these little towns (aka the plot of the Disney Movie "Cars"). So coming down the I-15 from Nevada to Calif across the Mojave desert, you will see that the 66 cross the interstate then meanders into the mountains, then eventually back across the 15, and sometime they are the same road. There are also orphan sections of road that really go nowhere anymore. So I will plan it out and work in as many appropriate side trips as I can. There are some great little towns out there that the traveling masses just pass on my at 80mph. One of my favorite little towns is Oatman, AZ (near Bullhead City/Laughlin, NV). Basically an old mining town in the foothills, and now tourist ghost town. Route 66 literally runs right down the middle of this little one street town. There are wild mules/donkeys that roam around. A great piece of Americana that is missed by the folks traveling I-40 10 miles away.

It would probably take the trip in the spring while the temps are still comfortable in the desert sections. But that is still at least 2 years away.