Cruised abandoned Route 66 in Arizona

[May70]

That is AWESOME!!

[bry593]

Man, I love exploring old trails, forgotten roads and bridges. Great pics, almost like I was there!

[89AKurt]

Thanks for continued comments! Unless your vehicle is slammed in the weeds, it's not difficult to get to the old pavement, and take some pictures.

[89AKurt]

Yes I'm dredging up this old topic. The car club did a cruise to Seligman. The Route 66 Run was cancelled again, but car clubs are going anyway.
This little bit of abandoned pavement is east of Seligman.




This is the Crookton Overpass, the bridge is blocked, but can park at each end. Check out the old guardrail.


A short segment is an insignificant looking dirt road, the current alignment goes to the left.


Not abandoned, but nostalgic. Who remembers Burma Shave signs?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Hardly a Driver
Is now alive
Who passed
On Hills
At 75
Burma Shave

[LT7A]

This is really cool. Stirs the imagination. The fact that you are in your truck gives it that much more impact. It's amazing if you consider the iron that passed over those stretches that are now seemingly out in the middle of nowhere. Or between the modern freeway and nowhere.

[KevinK7]

Kurt, I have to say Thanks (and THANKS again
I saw the subject title mentioning Route 66 (seeing the original post from 2020) and was like, "how did I miss this?" ...then find it is you (with even more fantastic pics) who brings this back on top.

A good friend and I drove Rt. 66 from Albuquerque to Needles and some of the best parts I thought were in Arizona. I've been out to my brother's (in Vegas, he's now in AZ) many times and I just never get tired of the scenery out there, simply amazing.
I do have a question, those closed sections of Rt66, are they "private property" or you/we allowed to 'explore'? The reason I ask is that when my buddy and I were out there (ironically) just outside Ash Fork we were about to go up a section, but decided not to since we didn't want a rancher chasing us off with a shotgun lol : )

Those photos of yours are incredible, the truck looks great and being on the old sections of 66 make it just that much cooler. Thank you again for sharing, I surely will never get tired of looking at pics like these, ...there is just something about the open-ness out there that intrigues me

[dave6672]

Originally Posted by KevinK7

......there is just something about the open-ness out there that intrigues me

Me too, I hope to be able to road trip in such a manner some day but until then, I appreciate seeing posts like this. Thanks!

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by dave6672

Me too, I hope to be able to road trip in such a manner some day but until then, I appreciate seeing posts like this. Thanks!

X2!

[70cst]

Agreed Great pics

[Rick Bollinger]

I'm jealous. That looks like a blast.

[best view]

I also enjoy the pictures keep them coming

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by 89AKurt

Welcome! I was using a map drawn by a well known Route 66 artist (he ran the Hackitt store), on my first trip to/from Chicago, but it wasn't useful. Stopped at a cool gas station in Missouri, found out later that guy is a legend, got the EZ66 Guide For Travelers by Jerry McClanahan. But it lacks information on the Crookton segment. My next goal is to drive over the Canyon Padre bridge near Twin Arrows. Been on all that you can to the Colorado River, and many parts towards New Mexico.

I'm sort of shocked how many left comments on this, really appreciate the enthusiasm! Thank you very much. Get the maps out, hit the Mother Road!

My Flickr Route 66 album

I love all the pics thanks! Renewing my desire to do this. Did you stop at Gary's Gay Parita in Ash Grove, MO outside of Springfield?

['68OrangeSunshine]

In Spring 1967, I came west on Route 66 -- from mid- Illinois to LA -- with my Mom and Dad in a '58 Jaguar MkVIII. It had a small trunk [boot] so we had a pile of stuff on a rack on the roof -- safari style. The Jag had weird brakes, my Dad had to use gear-braking a lot. I didn't have a license yet. Fun times.

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by LT7A

This is really cool. ...

Thanks for the comment.

(how do I tag more than one person?)

KevinK7: [...] I do have a question, those closed sections of Rt66, are they "private property" or you/we allowed to 'explore'? [...]
Which exit did you take? My original posts, you can see a gate across the road, I know the back door. Most of the abandoned parts are State or Federal land. There is some nice pavement east of Peach Springs that I want to drive on, someday will use the iPhone satellite map to find a hopefully unlocked gate. I've never been near NY, take AZ for granted. Thanks for the nice comment too.

Dave6672: Thank you. Don't shoulda coulda woulda.....

bestview: Since I'm a hobby photographer, of course!

LEEVON: First time I drove to/from Chicago (first time east of NM), on the way back I almost passed the exit that led to his place, and almost blew by but did a u-turn. Found out later what a legend Gary is.

Though the MINI was a fun car, just not the same, is it?


'68OrangeSunshine: I was 6 years old, living at the Grand Canyon - South Rim, when you came out. This picture is me in the red coat. My dad found the enamel sign for the National Old Trails Road, which pre-dated Route 66.


Thanks everyone for the comments.

['68OrangeSunshine]

We side tripped to The Canyon, of course. At the South Rim vista, a Japanese tourist engaged me in converstion. He said he had been a Zero pilot. I was a little apprehensive, but I'd met Nisei Japanese/Americans who'd served valiantly with the 442 RCT. My Dad jumped in, and they discussed world peace and stuff. Nice guy, not the villian of the propaganda movies.
Never got back to The Canyon until 2016, when after my dog Lola died, my best buddy grabbed me and said ''We're goin' camping!'' He had recently lost his dog, Sheba, too. We took off for a couple days in Pinetop -- staying with his cool sister -- then Flag. Camped in the Coconino Forest. Then the Canyon and camped in the Kaibab Forest after cruising atound the South Rim. Saw a lot more Japanese tourists. The driver on the Rim bus was amazed that we were actually Arizonans. He said he never sees Arizonans, some Americans, but mostly foreigners.
The Canyon hadn't changed much in 49 years deep inside, but the upper area on the South Rim wasn't really recognizable.

[Wow. The VW Thing was quite the groovy ride in '67. ]
Are you guys holding a piece of the wreckage on the TWA Constellation/United DC7B mid-air in 1956?

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

We side tripped to The Canyon, of course. At the South Rim vista, a Japanese tourist engaged me in converstion. He said he had been a Zero pilot. I was a little apprehensive, but I'd met Nisei Japanese/Americans who'd served valiantly with the 442 RCT. My Dad jumped in, and they discussed world peace and stuff. Nice guy, not the villian of the propaganda movies.
Never got back to The Canyon until 2016, when after my dog Lola died, my best buddy grabbed me and said ''We're goin' camping!'' He had recently lost his dog, Sheba, too. We took off for a couple days in Pinetop -- staying with his cool sister -- then Flag. Camped in the Coconino Forest. Then the Canyon and camped in the Kaibab Forest after cruising atound the South Rim. Saw a lot more Japanese tourists. The driver on the Rim bus was amazed that we were actually Arizonans. He said he never sees Arizonans, some Americans, but mostly foreigners.
The Canyon hadn't changed much in 49 years deep inside, but the upper area on the South Rim wasn't really recognizable.

[Wow. The VW Thing was quite the groovy ride in '67. ]
Are you guys holding a piece of the wreckage on the TWA Constellation/United DC7B mid-air in 1956?

I've been back a few times. I am blown away by the changes, such as the new visitor center. Various foreign languages.
That is actually an Auto Union DKW "Munga", a 3 cylinder two stroke, independent suspension NATO vehicle. When we lived in Tucson, went four wheeling up Pantano Wash where Vail is, with a guy who had a Toyota Land Cruiser, with airplane tires. Must have been spring, water was running. He said if we got stuck, he could pull us out, we pulled him out, twice.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Audi Munga? Never even knew they existed. Cool.
The Desert is nice in the Spring. All afternoon of it.

[Carl Spangler]

Heading West on Route 66 in my 'new' 71.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Cool Stepside. Lee Marvin had a Mid-Fifties Ford F1 Stepside with those cattle rails. All white.

[Happy_dan]

Great!! Thanks so much for sharing that awesome ride!

[89AKurt]

*edit* Skip this, a better in-route is presented better. Some of below may not work (?)
Big day today. Drove 204 miles, according the the odometer that has at least 10% error. The Canyon Padre bridge was my primary goal, Two Guns was further out. Took a bunch of pictures with two cameras, burned out already editing, so this will be just the approach to the bridge. Got some awesome glamor shots.

Official start of the abandoned stretch, the Winona bridge Arizona got snow last night.




Won't bore everyone with details, but you could follow these pictures for directions. The location is on the map on Flickr.





Stopping here, will resume later. Wind was crazy, 50 MPH gusts. Fun keeping Blue Cloud in the lane.

[KevinK7]

If you think for a second we are 'bored with the details...", ...think again
These photos along with the location details are priceless. Added to the fact that you have a knack for great shots
You note the location is on the map in Flickr? I see the photos are from Flickr, but not sure how to get to the map.

Thanks again for posting


Kevin

[Husker]

Very cool, Great pics
Ron

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by KevinK7

If you think for a second we are 'bored with the details...", ...think again
These photos along with the location details are priceless. Added to the fact that you have a knack for great shots
You note the location is on the map in Flickr? I see the photos are from Flickr, but not sure how to get to the map.

Thanks again for posting


Kevin

Thank you very much! My dad was good at taking pictures. I usually chop off the "IMG" from both ends of a link. In this case my "Dad's slides 28" is added "below" the picture. I would think guests on Flickr can look.
[/url]Dads slides 28 by Kurt Womack, on Flickr

The first post from The Wind From Heck on Route 66 is messed up. My Nikon isn't properly reset for date/time. This series, hope it helps you through this section. I used the iPhone MAP app, shows the satellite image, the drawing does not show this segment, cleaved at both ends. I met 4 motorcycle riders at Top Gun. The lead rider didn't think it got windy here. It's Spring, when the Sun's angle goes up. At this moment tonight, it's 50º in Prescott.


This time, I will start at the very beginning, today it is Winona Bridge. Forgive my multiple posts.





Three of pictures are the only times forward is north, all following pictures are the same direction eastward.