Our first stop of the day, leaving the hotel at about 8.45 was at the Route 66 Harley-Davidson dealership in Tulsa. Tim's dresser had developed a problem with its fly-by-wire throttle so we needed them to take a look at it, and while we were they I bought a pair of passenger footboards to replace the stock round footpegs as Mrs. K was finding it increasingly un-confortable. We quickly found the right part (50500109) and the service department kindly fitted them for me while I waited. Very good service. When we return the bike in L.A. I'll swap the standard pegs back on and I've already got a buyer to take the passenger footboards off me at the end of the tour. Mrs. K find the new footboards a vast improvement. Happy Wife = Happy Life.
Also while at the bike shop I did notice how cheap, relative to prices in the UK, the new Harleys were. That got me thinking, you know, what if .....
After leaving Tulsa we rode on down the old 66 through Oklahoma, through Kellyville, Bristow, Depew and Stroud to Chandler where we stopped at the Route 66 Interprative Center, which has AV exhibits telling different stories about route 66.Left: Interprative Centre exhibits
Right: Jerry McLanahan
While there we met with a guy called Jerry McClanahan who wrote the EZ Route 66 travel guide. Jerry talked to us about his interest in Route 66 history, and answered questions from our group. This special audience was arranged by Gary our tour guide.
Just up the road bit we made our next stop at SeaBa Station which is now a small motorcycle museum. It's here that they have a late 70's Triumph Bonneville, the unusual thing being that's it's still in it's packing crate as delivered from the Meriden factory in Coventry, never having been unpacked. Weird.
Below: Selected photos from the Museum - click on to enlarge
Moving on now, we passed by but didn't stop at the famous Round Barn at Arcadia (time was against us as ever) , getting onto the Interstate to by-pass Oklahoma City - there's not much of Route 66 to be seen as it's pretty much been obliterated by building over it.
For lunch Gary takes us to a lunch stop he knows, off Route 66, I can't remeber the places name soo I'll just call it the "Chicken Fried Chicken" place. I learn that the "Chicken Fried" refers to the style of cooking - you'd probably know it more like 'breaded cutlets'. As such you can order 'Checken Fried Chicken' but also 'Checken Fried Steak' (which aint got no actual chicken in it at all!)
After lunch. still in the dining hall, Gary introduces us to his mate Ken Turmell, who has produced some unique Route 66 artwork. (click on the Map for more info.) Ken has only three of these limited edition signed prints with him and sells all three at $150 a pop. Oh, hang on, Ken's just remembered that he's got some more in the car, anybody else? (Somebody did mention Dell Boy at this point).
Outside the diner, I noticed this strange motorised rig, and thought it worthy of a snap...
Left: What is it? (click on to enlarge)
Back on R66, and coming up to our next fuel stop we experienced some very extreme cross winds, accompanied by a cloud of red dust blown up from the roadside fields. Visibility was quite bad for a little while, but we slowed and got through it. We stopped at El Reno for Gas (most days we're doing two gas fills and have to fill completely to the brim so its just running over. We really have to max out the gas fills. Fortunately most (but not all) filling stations are 'UK Credit Card friendly'. They don't use the CC chip over here, everything's done just using the card's magnetic strip, and that's it - no PIN to enter, just fill da tank.
I always use the highest grade octane available, generally 91grade.
Now, this had to be a quick stop because Gary was anxious for us to press on quickly in order to avoid the impending storm. As it happened it was a good job he did because only 10 minutes after we left that Filling station was hit by a massive thunderstorm. Well done Gary.
After the gas fill, we rode on over the 'mile long' Pony Bridge that dates from 1933 and spans the Canadian River.
Then comes, what Gary termed 'Chiropractor Road' , the reason for that name becomes apparent when we strat to ride it. The roads around Hampshire pail into igsignificance when compared to the poor state of this road, where the pillion is launced periodcially heavenward as a result of us connecting with anoth pot whole or ridge. Gary reckons that the faster you take them the less you feel it - I beg to differ, and so take it easy, for Mrs. K's sake.
We stooped for a rest break at Cherokee Trading Post, Calumet OK........
Left: Note the moody cyclonic sky over the Cherokee Trading Post.
........ and then rode on to our hotel for the night was the Best Western Motor Mark Hotel in Weatherord Oklahoma, which is motel I like this type of hotel because we get to park Demo right outside the door to our room. Easy.
jump to: Day 7 Day 5
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