Getting nervous

18Days
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

I have completed all of my major yearly obligations for work and now I need to really start planning this trip. 18 days??? WOW. Not long now. I feel like I am already on the road. I still have inventory and some end of year award things, but mostly I am done.

I am getting nervous about going. Is this real? Will I do it? Will I really stay there? All these things are getting more and more real as time gets near. I am getting anxious. Nervous jitters. Dont pack too much, everyone says. I fear not bringing enough. I have been looking at others who went before me to see what they packed and what they had to send home. I guess whatever I dont use, I can send home. I am really trying to figure out what I need. I have some issues with how to upload to the daily journal. I guess I can type it up in a text to sheila and then send pictures to facebook. I dont know. This bothers me. So, anyway!


See you on the ROAD!!!!

First ride

28 Days
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

I took a ride on my newly loaded bike. I have read over and and over that a loaded down bike is hard to control. I really didn't have any trouble. I didn't even balance it out and it was still pretty easy to ride. I don't know how it will be after riding all day.

Just another positive step towards my trip!



See you on the road!!!!!!

First bike loading attempt

29 Days
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

As Sheila sings the "Sandford and Son" theme, I finally get the last of the preliminary packing list inside the panniers.

I weighed the stuff and it ended up 24 lbs. I will have to take a ride on the bike soon to see how it handles. I still have a few things to add to the list. I havent loaded any food or coffee and stuff but I think everything will fit pretty well.


See you on the road!!!!

Another trip to Academy

34 Days
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

Last night I went to Academy after a great dinner of Japanese Steakhouse. I love the volcano!

Anyway, I bought more fuel and my sleeping mat. I will have to try it out one day to see how comfortable it is.

See you on the road!

posting from phone

I wanted to see if I could post from my phone. I guess this technology will do pretty well. The trouble is posting pictures. I guess this will have to do until I figure it out.


See you on the road!

Got a new phone

35 Days
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

I got a new phone. This phone will allow me to post from the road. This will be very handy.

Mapping the Mother Road

53 Days
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66


Mapping The Mother Road


For the last week or so, I have been trying to map the mother road. This is sort of a difficult thing to do. So many of the original roads have been bypassed or "covered up" It is no longer possible to drive the historic route uninterrupted. And, as it has since 1926, Route 66 is still evolving and therefore subject to the same changes of any roadway. Changes are due to repairs, redirections, so adjustments have to be made on the fly. The only thing that is certain, is the cities in which the route passed through. I will try to follow the route as closed to the original route, but in some cases, trying to follow the route will take me farther off the route. On my trip, I will visit the towns and the known landmarks along the way. I will keep my eyes out for all the old relics of the past and ride on as much of the original Portland cement roadway I can find.

LIST OF TOWNS Along Route 66 I plan on going through.


Texas

Amarillo
Conway
Lark (not really a town)
Groom
Boydston (not really a town)
Jericho (ghost town)
Rockledge (not really a town)
Alanreed
McLean
Lela
Shamrock
Texola

Oklahoma

Erick
Hext
Sayre
Elk City
Canute
Foss
Clinton
Weatherford
Hydro
Bidgeport
Geary
Calumet
El Reno
Yukon
Bethany
Warr Acres
Oklahoma City
Arcadia
Luther
Wellston
Warwick
Chandler
Davenport
Stroud
Depew
Britow
Kellyville
Sapulpa
Tulsa
Catoosa
Verdigris
Claremore
Sequoyah
Foyil
Bushyhead
Chelsea
White Oak
Vinita
Afton
Narcissa
Miami
Commerce
Quapaw


Kansas

Baxter Spring
Riverton
Galena


Missouri

Joplin
Webb City
Carterville
Maxville
Carthage
Avilla
Plew
Rescue
Phelps
Albatross
Heatonville
Paris Springs
Halltown
Springfield
Marshfield
Conway
Phillipsburg
Lebanon
Hazelgreen
Laquey
Buckhorn
Waynesville
St. Roberts
Devels Elbow
Hooker
Clementine
Powellville
Arlington
Doolittle
Rolla
St. James
Fanning
Cuba
Bourbon
St. Cloud
St. Clair
Pacific
Allenton
Eureka
Times Beach
St. Louis

Illinois

E. St. Louis


The route I want to take will go through all these towns. It seems like a lot of towns when you type them out. I am sure they all are all cool in their own right. I read a cyclist's blog that took him from Dallas to a place near Dimmitt. I remember the pictures that he posted. I was excited when he posted pictures of Dimmitt. So, I intend to post pictures of every town I pass through.

I hope you follow me and post your comments.


See you on the road!!!