USA Route 66 Motorcycle Tour – Los Angeles to Chicago – HVT

HADRIAN V TWIN FULLY GUIDED & SUPPORTED TOUR

 17 Days/16 Nights

2013

24th July – 9th August (Supported by Nige & Jan Collis)

2014

22 June – 8 July and 5 – 21 July

 

Ride the world famous road also known as the ‘Mainstreet of America’ or “Mother Road”. Route 66 is 2400 miles long from Chicago to Los Angeles, crosses three time zones and 8 States: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Route 66 has been the path of migrants, dreamers, desperados and an entire generation of vacationers discovering the way west. The 1950′s were the Route 66 glory days, when thousands of cars rode bumper to bumper behind each other to experience the Western frontier. Hotels, motels, gas stations, classic restaurants, and the new USA sprang up everywhere. Much of Route 66′s classic roads, restaurants, gas stations, and nostalgic landmarks are preserved just as they were in the 1950’s. The famous and nostalgic Route 66 is the road created in heaven for Harley-Davidson touring. Simply stated, this is the guided tour of America! Don’t run with the pack, ride Route 66 in reverse on this “Trip of a lifetime”.

Day 1: Los Angeles, CA

Arrival –  Today you will arrive in one of the most famous cities in the world, where if you look closely you just might see a Hollywood star as you think about the start of your Reverse Route 66 Tour to Chicago. Glitz, glamour, palm trees and fresh ocean air abound in this iconic city and you will have the rest of the day free to explore at your leisure.

Day 2: Los Angeles, CA – Today you will have time to acclimatize to your new time zone and settle in to Route 66 Cruisin’ mode. In the afternoon we will go and collect our motorcycles for the forthcoming trip and take time to visit the plaque on Santa Monica Pier that marks the western end of Route 66. Rest of the day free to visit as many of the famous landmarks of Los Angeles as you can.

Day 3: Los Angeles to Big Bear Lake , CA 104 miles – This morning we embark on the first leg of our journey along the historic Route 66 and into the heartlands of the USA. Although today is only a short riding day we will have climbed from Sea level to over 7,000 feet by the time we reach Big Bear Lake, which is situated in the heart of The San Bernadino National Forest.

 

Day 4 : Big Bear Lake, CA to Las Vegas, NV 207 miles – The Mojave Desert offers stillness and interesting colours that only a few riders ever get to see. Today we work our way back to Route 66 at Barstow before heading east  toward  the Mojave National Preserve. This is Californian Desert riding and we will pass many old railroad sites and see the unusual Joshua Trees that the area is known for. At the end of our day we arrive at the Desert Mecca that is Las Vegas.

Day 5: Las Vegas, NV – Free day to explore all that this amazing city has to offer. Las Vegas isn’t part of Route 66, but as we’re so close it seems madness not to visit this ‘Disneyland’ for adults! See a show, have a flutter, or just enjoy the atmosphere of this crazy town where each hotel on the famous Strip vies for your attention by being more outrageous than the last. Outside of The Strip, Las Vegas has great attractions in Hoover Dam, desert plains driving, and beautiful night rides, or why not really treat yourself and take a Helicopter flight down the nighttime Las Vegas Strip or go the whole “Hog” and take a day flight  into the Grand Canyon .  

Day 6: Las Vegas, NV to Kingman, AZ 175 miles – Today we take in the Hoover Dam and then make our way back towards Route 66. We go through Boulder City before following the Eldorado Valley down to Bullhead City/Laughlin. Now heading along old Route 66 we head to the quaint town of Oatman where mules are left free to roam the streets. Here you can really get a sense of what the mining days of the Wild West were like. Oatman is a jump into the past with its various shops and saloons that have long welcomed a tired and thirsty miner or road weary traveller.  Our final stop for the day is in the famous Route 66 town of Kingman.

Day 7: Kingman, AZ to Grand Canyon, AZ 243 miles - Your passion for motorcycle riding will be repaid today as we open the throttle and let the wind fly by.  Heading east along old Route 66 we get a real feel for waht the mid west emigrants had to endure on their long trek west.  Later in the day we ride through the town of Seligman, AZ where the Spirit of Route 66 still lives on and we will stop for a classic BBQ style lunch.  What’s next? Yep – The Grand Canyon.  It’s hard to explain just how stunning the Grand Canyon is. No picture truly captures the grandeur and enormous size of this natural wonder. You can take a half-hour helicopter ride over the canyon, or just find a quiet spot to watch the colourful sunset and marvel at perhaps the greatest of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Day 8: Grand Canyon, AZ to Gallup, NM 284 miles – Some great riding roads will take us to Flagstaff and from there across the Painted Desert to Winslow, Arizona. Did you ever imagine that you’d actually be ‘Standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona’ as made famous by The Eagles in their song ‘Take it Easy’? You will today!

 Day 9: Gallup, NM to Santa Fe, NM   197 miles – Today we get a chance to see the lands that entranced and sustained the Native Americans for centuries. The red dirt plateaus and cactus blooms are an artist’s dream as is the beautiful and simplistic adobe architecture you’ll see along our route. We’ll visit the Petrified Forest National Park where we’ll stop and watch a short video explaining the unique beauty of the area, with miles of petrified logs, rocks, and artifacts. New Mexico is the home to one of the oldest constantly inhabited cites in the USA – Sky City is a Native American city on top of massive rock outcrops. We’ll take a detour to see this once in a lifetime view. We’ll also ride through Madrid today, where much of that great biking film ‘Wild Hogs’ was set. Be sure to call in at ‘Maggies’ for your souvenir T Shirt. Our home for the next two nights is a small boutique hotel in the heart of Old Santa Fe. You can’t spend more than just a few minutes walking the narrow streets of Santa Fe before you fall in love with this city and her people.

Day 10: Santa Fe – Today is a free day in Santa Fe. Relax in the hotel spa, enjoy the many fine art galleries, or just explore the heart of Santa Fe. The local native Indians will be offering their superior craftsmanship products throughout the market square. Their handmade jewellery is particularly good. Don’t forget to try the Green Chilli Stew that has become a favourite of locals and visitors alike.  If you have been waiting for a fine culinary break Santa Fe offers it. If you feel like a ride today we can organize a day trip into the fresh mountain air of northern Arizona and southern Colorado. The trip north to Taos is stunning. The scenery changes as one heads north, and it’s hard to miss the great northern Arizona grandeur. You could easily spend a week here exploring this stunning area.

Day 11: Santa Fe, NM to Amarillo, TX 291 miles – Today we begin making our way out of the Sangre de Cristo, or Blood of Christ, mountain range, which are thought to have been names for the deep red hues of the mountains during some sunrises and sunsets. Next we’ll show you the way to Amarillo! Get ready for a steak “Texas Style”, like a 4 1/2 pounder! A visit to the Big Texan steakhouse will surely stretch your digestive system to its limits!

 

Day 12: Amarillo, TX to Oklahoma City, OK 260 miles – Today we head out of Texas , through the “panhandle” and into a land of Prickly Pear. On the journey we’ll visit the oil town of Shamrock and we’ll gas up at one of the original gas stations of the old Route 66.

Day 13: Oklahoma City, OK to Joplin, MO 227 miles – Oklahoma is where it all started. The folks that took the undertaking of creating ‘The Mother Road’ were from Oklahoma. All across this state and scattered along your ride today you’ll see a plethora of ‘Googie’, or 50’s futuristic architecture that was predominant for so many years. The buildings are immediately identifiable. Think of the old cartoon ‘The Jetsons’ & you’ll get the idea. Your head will be on a swivel looking at all of these small, unique landmarks that pepper the country side. We finish the day by visiting the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma. From Clinton we will then make our way to the town of Joplin.

Day 14: Joplin, MO to St. Louis, MO    287 miles – Today you’ll be amazed with the fabric of the countryside and the scenery the Midwest has to offer. The roads into Rolla are a riders dream. We take our time through the ‘Devil’s Elbow’ to view what once was the deepest road cut in Missouri. When Route 66 was in its heyday folks knew there was an opportunity to make a living selling all sorts of sundries, offering hospitality and lodging to weary travelers and re-filling their thirsty gas tanks every few hours. One of the few characters left on the Old Route 66 still exists in Paris Springs Junction, MO. The Gay Parita Sinclair has the charm with a bit of panache that shows us how they drew customers in by the hundreds. The Gateway Arch lies along the banks of the Mississippi, and is an absolute engineering wonder. Take an elevator ride to the very top, where you’ll have a fabulous view of the city below. Be sure to try some Frozen Ice Custard from Ted Drewes world famous stand,  just like the pilgrims of yesteryear did as they drove west on the Mother Road.

Day 15: St. Louis, MO to Springfield, IL 112 miles – An easy ride today out of Missouri and into the State of Illinois and into the metropolitan city of Springfield.

Day 16: Springfield, IL to Chicago, IL 200 miles – Our final day on the sacred pavement of Historic Route 66. We will have ridden 2400 miles of what is undoubtedly the most famous road in the USA. During the day we’ll visit the well known Route 66 Museum in Joliet, Illinois, a must for anyone travelling this great road. We’ll see the Gemini Giant standing guard at the entrance to Wilmington and Route 66 West. Tonight Chicago is yours to explore. Indulge in its art & culture, fabulous shopping, or spend the evening exploring the sights and sounds of this bustling city. Don’t forget to check out the very beginning of Route 66 on Jackson Boulevard.

Day 17: Chicago departure.

				2013 price £ per person	2014 price £ per person
2 people, 1 bike, 1 room				£2,353	£2869
2 people, 2 bikes, 1 room				£3,088	£3845
1 person, 1 bike, 1 room				£3,945	£4675

2014 prices include a mesh riding jacket, mesh riding gloves, EVIP ZERO theft & damage waivers and fuel

Optional Milwaukee and Harley Davidson Museum Trip: 2 days/1 night: £350.00 per person – single supplement £150.00

Day 17: Chicago, IL– Milwaukee, WI

Our adventure continues as we head over to Union Station to catch a train ride along the shores of Lake Michigan and into Wisconsin to Milwaukee. We’ll be back at The Best Western Hillside tomorrow night, so feel free to leave your large bags with the bell desk, & just take an overnight bag to Milwaukee, where we’ll check into the famous Iron Horse Hotel. Entrance to the HD Museum is included, giving you as much time as you like to visit the hallowed ground of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle museum, and gain a fascinating insight into this iconic institution.

Day 18: Milwaukee, WI – Chicago, IL

You’ll have free time this morning to look around Milwaukee, before heading back to Chicago on the train around noon. Upon arrival, you’ll have time to relax or enjoy a walk along the river or Navy Pier, before meeting up for the last time with tour members before returning home tomorrow.

Day 19: Chicago, IL – homeward bound

While you are in Las Vegas why not consider treating yourself to one of our exciting Helicopter Tours!

Motorcycle included: Harley Davidson (Road King, Heritage, Fat Boy, Street Glide etc.) or Triumph Thunderbird.  Honda Gold Wing, Victory or BMW daily supplements apply at $25.00 per day.

What’s Included: Harley-Davidson rental including sales & environmental taxes & minimum insurance, support vehicle, all hotels with some breakfasts, National Park entry, tour guides.

N.B. Damage Waivers recommended, & are payable locally at either $18-$24-$29 per day. Consideration should also be given to Supplementary Liability Insurance at $24.99 per day. This itinerary may change slightly subject to availability or road conditions. All mileages are approximate. In the case of major Exchange Rate fluctuations, we reserve the right to alter prices & issue a currency surcharge/refund if necessary. Flights not included.

www.hadrianvtwin.co.uk Tel: 01830 540176 Mob: 07836 658071 Email: nige.collis@hadrianvtwin.co.uk

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