Beginning the Mother Road

Day 16 – June 25, 2009
Planned to meet at 9:30 AM to leave Vegas; Bernie checked his oil and found the shop had not filled the bike so he called Glenn to stop and get a quart since the shop was close to their hotel. We waited and waited and Glenn, Kathy, Roger and Ginny finally showed up about an hour or so later – they had gotten lost in the vast, fast moving city. It was hot – about 90 degrees already as we headed south for Hoover Dam. The traffic was pretty heavy and there is now a security check point before you cross the dam. Traffic was moving at 5 mph; bumper to bumper for about 15 miles. The new bypass to route 93 is almost complete and then you will not be able to travel across the dam. The next 70 miles were hot with more deserts. Honestly I’m getting pretty tired of the desert, the heat and the wind. I cannot imagine how the settlers must have felt crossing this waste land in covered wagons. I’m certainly ready for the green fields of Kentucky and Tennessee. We have arrived in Kingman and will begin traveling the Mother Road – Route 66 tomorrow as much as possible. We had lunch at Mr. D’Z on route 66 and it was a step back in time. We only traveled 114 miles today but everyone felt beat-up I think because of the heat and the very slow, tense pace at the Hoover Dam.