Leg 3: Oatman to Ashfork, Arizona
The donkeys of Oatman, Arizona. John does the stare down!
Leg 3: GS Season II - Leg Three
Oatman to Ash Fork, Arizona
“191 Turns, 8 Miles, No Guardrails”
With the Grand Shamrock now positioned in Kingman, Arizona... after spending a few nights on the route but off the grid in Amboy, we are ready to pick up where we left off.
The old road disappears outside of Needles in order to traverse the Colorado on a modern four lane bridge, but immediately after entering the Grand Canyon State we dive right back in to Her. This stretch is famous for it’s dust and donkeys... mules actually, and quite a few as we were warned. It is the “Sidewinder” section of Route 66 that has our attention. “191 Turns, 8 Miles, and No Guardrails” from Oatman to Cold Springs. The ride was fantastic! In fact, it was so nice we did twice. Up, down, and back again. Heading back to Kingman, our basecamp this week, we are constantly reminded of the journey we are on. Every street corner is adorned with nostalgic tributes to the automobile. If The Mother Road still has a pulse, we have found Her heart here.
Oatman Donkeys get attention form John.
After a well deserved day around the “house” we geared up for the most remote and undisturbed section of the route. Northeast lies Hackberry, the resting place of Giganticus Headicus, the bright green monolith that watches over travelers ensuring both their safety... and their selfies, us included! Our smiles had yet to fade when we turn in to the Hackberry General Store and swap tales with a group of French motorcyclists here on holiday. Their English is good and our French is not, but the language of traveling on two wheels is universal.
In the 475 miles that we have traveled every town has claimed its influence on Pixar’s “Cars” however, there is actually only one. Seligman is both the inspiration for John Lassiter’s creation and the birthplace of 66’s revitalization. The neon lights here outnumber it’s citizens 2-1 and is home to the “Roadkill Cafe” and our meal for today. Caroline has been known to dispatch a squirrel or two with her motorcycle but not lately, so we opted for the Fungui Burger Special instead.
Last stop and our turn around for this leg was the historic town of Ash Fork. Arizona as we know it would not exist if not for Ash Fork, according to it’s residents. We ride the whole leg in reverse rather than save the 1/2 hour of time that forever isolated these towns from the rest of the world. We would not have traded a minute of it... 30 or otherwise! Our third leg proved so rewarding, and it all started with:
“191 Turns, 8 Miles, and No Guardrails.”
#191turns8milesnoguardrails
#oatmantoashfork
#oatmanburro
#coldspirngaz
#roadkillcafe
#seligmanaz
#route66fun
#BMWf700GS
#WomenRideTheirOwn
#BMWR1250GS
RV Location:
Kingman KOA
3820 N. Roosevelt Street
Kingman, AZ 86409
