Route 66 Rode Trip - Day 1

We are finally on the road! I thought it would be fun to give a travel blog (instead of travel log)
day by day of our adventures.
Day 1 - Rowland Heights, California to Kingman, Arizona.
Before we left we decided to start our trip on Foothill Blvd (route 66) in Fontana
California. We were already familiar with the rest of route 66 from Santa Monica through Los Angeles so decided to start farther out. Our first picture moment came in Fontana. This is one of the last classic Giant Orange Stands in California. We drove by too early in the morning to enjoy some orange juice, but just down the road from the stand we came upon the giant tee pees of the Wig Wam Motel.




















We drove through San Bernardino and started up the Cajon Pass towards Victorville.
When we passed the saloon topped with the giant chicken another picture was needed.
We had to stay on the interstate except for one charming section that is still intact down in the canyon below the freeway. There is a stretch of the old road that used to be four lanes but was cut down to two lanes as you can see by the photo. We followed it along winding throught the pass beside Cajon Creek.


















When we reached the top of Cajon Pass we stopped to eat breakfast at The Summit Inn.
It has been around since 1952 and the breakfast was good. Sitting on each table were old swami fortune telling machines that I remember as a child growing up in the 1950's. The cafe was decorated in vintage route 66 and filled with friendly people.
















We got back on the freeway and drove until we reached the next section of the old road that runs along the west side of interstate 15. It crosses the Mojave River and passes many old abandoned gas stations and stores as well as the "Bottle Tree Ranch" The old road always followed pretty close to the railroad tracks so we saw many a train as we traveled.















After we left Barstow we joined another section of the old road that travels far out into the desert and away from the freeway. This part so reminded me of the Disney/Pixar movie "Cars"
We passed Baghdad Cafe and Roy's Cafe with a vintage police car parked out front.















When this section of the road connected to the interstate it was lunch time and we were just at Needles, California. We followed the old route through town and stopped at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant to eat.





















After leaving Needles we left the freeway and headed up a long part of the old road that was so fun! We climbed up into the mountains on a super curvy, up and down stretch that reminded
me of a Disneyland ride. The scenery was spectacular! At the top of the mountain was the old town of Oatman.






















Oatmans claim to fame (besides being an old west town) is their burros.
The miners who lived in the area had the animals and let them go after they were done mining.
They are everywhere. We asked one store owner if they ever try to come in the stores. She told us they wouldn't dare : )
























The road down the other side of Oatman was even more of an adventure than the trip up.
















We arrived in Kingman, Arizona dead tired and ready to eat dinner and go to bed. We checked into our hotel and then went to Mr D's Diner in downtown Kingman. They brew their own special root beer with a carmel flavor that is delicious! Their sweet potato fries are some of the best I have ever eaten and the atmosphere was 50's fun.







Stay tuned for Day 2.