Scoot 66

Arizona: Story and Photos

    Unfortunately most of old Route 66 is gone, or unrideable in Arizona. The interstate
becomes your only choice for most of the state. The payoff comes around Seligman
where over 150 miles of uninterrupted old 66 takes you to the California border.
     Just after entering the state we stopped for gas at one of the many indian trading
posts in Arizona. Out of nowhere, two British guys traveling with two American girls
stopped to talk to us about our scooters. The Brits were taking photos for a book called
"Route 66 '99." We let them take our photos for the book, and talked scooters with one of
the guys who used to own a Lambretta and a Rally 200.
     As the sun began to set, we rolled into Holbrook where we checked into the
Wigwam Motel. The hotel features rooms shaped like teepees. We ran into the group
writing the book again, and planned to party with them in their wigwam. By the time we
got back from dinner at a great local Mexican restaurant, we decided to get some sleep
instead.
     While getting gas in Winslow the next day, Joe heard the familiar sound of
someone starting a Vespa coming from across the street. He looked up to see an old man
on a mint bright red P200. We tried to flag him down as he rode off down the street.
     A few miles after Flagstaff the road drops quickly to a more manageable altitude.
We enjoyed the long downhill run, stopping halfway to change back to the larger jet.
     Seligman is very proud of it's Route 66 past. It is home to the Snow Cap Drive In
and Historic Route 66 Hotel. There is also an interesting trading post with license plates
of the world covering the walls from visitors traveling old 66. We ran into a group of
German tourists riding 66 on rented Harleys with a large RV following (must be nice).
     The old road west of Seligman goes through indian lands and provides a glimpse
of the Grand Canyon. For over 80 miles 66 breaks far away from the interstate. There
were few cars and no big rigs to bother us on our way to Kingman.
     Mother nature decided to dump heavy rains on us outside of Kingman. We
stopped at the first gas station we had seen in a while to wait out the storm. Realizing that
the storm was not about to let up, we pressed on in the rain to Kingman where we
checked into another vintage neon motel, the Hill Top.