Whakaputaina: 05.07.2018
Today is July 4th, Independence Day in the USA. Accordingly, our hotel was very crowded.
Directly behind the hotel, we crossed the Colorado River and also switched from Nevada to Arizona. There are no more casinos and gambling here, if you want to play, you have to go over to Nevada.
After a short distance, we reached the old town of Oatman, known for its donkeys. The gray animals walk freely on the street, like to be fed, and if you don't do that, you might get a poke on the nose or a little bite. It's a bit like India with its cows, only donkeys in the Wild West.
Oatman is also the starting point of the Historic Route 66. We meandered towards Kingman over a small pass, where unfortunately the visitor center was closed today due to the holiday. At least the fast food restaurants were open and we could refresh ourselves.
Continuing on Route 66, we rode to Seligman via Hackberry. Along the way, we repeatedly stopped at these typical old gas stations, which today are actually just souvenir shops, but admittedly very nice and authentic.
Of course, we couldn't miss the stop at Angel's in Seligman shortly before the end of the day. This 90-year-old man is one of the initiators of the preservation of the historic Route 66 and still runs his barber shop, his store, and plays live on the saxophone with his same-aged buddies.
It should also be mentioned that Route 66, contrary to popular belief, is a very beautiful road that brings driving pleasure and is not completely destroyed and filled with potholes. There are curves and also the typical endlessly long straights. This reminds us of how big and infinite this vast country is.
It was very pleasant that the landscape slowly changed after Oatman, from the barren desert of stones to a - albeit dried up - steppe, and then gradually became greener. First small green bushes, then small trees, and at the end of the day it was almost like a forest. Our eyes thanked us. The heat from yesterday also gradually subsided, and we arrived in Williams with a sky full of fluffy clouds and only 30 degrees.
Tonight we will go to the city of Williams, which is located on the edge of the Grand Canyon. We will try to see one of the typical holiday parades there and we still have a brewery tour ahead of us... well then cheers.
Conclusion: Another check mark on the bucket list of life: Harley on Route 66.