Kingman, AZ - Day 7

Getting our kicks on Route 66 - or maybe getting kicked... Route 66 was one of the first trans-national highways. Completed in 1926 (but not paved totally until 1938) it ran from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA. An early attempt at publicity involved a footrace from CA to NYC along 66 and other roads! Also referred to as the 'Main Street of America' it carried thousands of families to CA from the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s and was a key driver of commerce and tourism along its route. The portion we're on is mainly preserved as a 'Scenic Byway'. Starting at Lake Havasu we climbed 6125 feet in total - the most we'll do in a day until the last week of the trip... Rolling hills gave way to steady uphill to Oatman - now a tourist 'town', once a thriving mining community. The miner's burros were let free and hang around the town for handouts. Out of Oatman a grinding climb up switchbacks to Sitgreaves Pass with amazing views on both sides. (This section of 66 was considered so dangerous that drivers would often hire guides to drive their cars up and down the Black Mountain passes). After a 7 mile downhill another (more gradual) uphill climb to the town of Kingman, AZ which is a highway and railway hub (named for Lewis Kingman who surveyed the initial railroad beds and supervised construction of a line to Winslow, AZ) and had a key role as a major training airbase during WWII.

Have to say that I was kind of dreading the 'epic' climb today but with all the other climbing it wasn't that awful. Still saddle sore but a little better now the past few days and feet and everything else are doing well, so I'm grateful. Showers have never felt so good - we're just covered in salt and dust by the day's end. BBQ tonight and I think a trip across the road to Sonic for a shake - that's the good thing about burning a ton of calories each day!