Previous: Day 1 Bay Area, CA - Mojave, CA
From Mojave, CA to Kingman, AZ
The first day was tiring. I wondered I how will I ever complete the journey. Woke up late enough to miss the breakfast :(
Quickly I loaded up my bike, and in the bright sunlight looked at the surroundings.
Right next door to the motel, is Mojave Air and Space Port. The lady at the counter told me its sort of a grave yard for some older planes, and its not open to public other than a couple of display planes in front.
These planes will never fly ever again, and those already know how to fly are the residents :)
A quick run out of Mojave got me to Victorville where I got the first sight of Route 66. Yippiiieeee... This probably is the best moment I had - gave me the feeling that I was really doing what I wanted to do :)
Some scenes from there...
Happily, I rode all the way to Barstow, CA where I stopped to get some ice tea and fill up gas, and hit it again on the mother road racing towards Kingman, AZ. As is seen on most of the stretches of R66 in the southern part of the road parallel to I-40, there are many a ruins when the freeway next to it sucked the life out of R66.
Somehow there is still beauty and serenity along the way, the silent memories the road holds and longs to share are there for those who want to listen. As I continued to ride, I somehow did not see the ruins, but imagined how the place would have been in the hay days, and the people who traveled this road, their excitements, anxieties, the life then and so on.
More of the loneliness along Route 66 for several more miles. The sun was setting in a hurry, and Kingman, AZ was still some miles away. So, at the tail end, I left the Route 66, jumped on the HWY 40 which is always so close to the mother road and hit it all the way to Kingman.
Around 8:30 PM I rolled into Kingman, and stopped at the first diner I saw, Mr. D'z, as I feared I may go hungry in this sleepy town if I delayed too much. To celebrate my first day, I ordered ribs and mashed potatoes, and treat myself to a banana milk shake.
The food was rather good. After the meal I walk around.. Looks like that era was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Pressley. There were so many of such vintage pictures and art works in restaurants such as these which is amusing.
After the meal I caught up with the waitress, who was very kindly, on the outside having a smoke. I joined her, and heard her story. She came to Kingman several years ago after getting married. Lo, the relationship did not last, and she divorced, but was left with a son who was born in Kingman. She stayed back and lives there with her son. When I asked her how she likes living in such a small town, her voice was fairly enthusiastic - she said she loves going to the mountains in the nights and see the stars that shine so bright on the dark sky. Some romantic...
Then I check into El Travatore Motel, and I get Paul Newmans room, who knew??!! I wittingly asked the lady behind the counter "May I have John Wayne's room instead please?". She says, "Oh, we are so busy today, and that room is already taken..". Did not realize there was one on his name too :)
Pictures have to wait for the next morning. I quickly unload my luggage from the bike, and call it a day!
Next: Day 3 - Kingman, AZ - Holbrook, AZ
Brilliantness!!!
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