4 Apr 2019 - Needles CA Route 66 Tour

4 Apr 2019
Today we continued the 'change of plans' with us departing California early.  Doreen also worked moving up the date on the appointment for me with her pain doctor.  I have an appointment for 6 May which we made back when this all started in Roswell NM.  Now that we will be home sooner, we want to get in to see him sooner.  Lets hope they have a cancellation.

This afternoon we headed out on a drive to see part of Route 66 and to fuel the truck before we head east in the morning towards Flagstaff AZ.  We also found out about an old restaurant on the Colorado River and planned to eat a later lunch.

Route 66 was our nation's first 'all weather' highway that extended from the Chicago area to Los Angeles.  This was before our Interstate highways, so Route 66 became very popular, basically between 1926 and 1985.  Route 66 is part of our transportation history as it linked the Midwest with the West Coast.  Motels, restaurants and other traveler amenities popped up on Route 66.  We even had a TV show called Route 66.  In 1985 the road was decommissioned, but since then there has been a law passed called Public Law 106-45 and creation of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Project.

Needles California was an important stop on Route 66 as it was a primary stop in the desert between Flagstaff AZ and Barstow CA.  Needles is littered with old motels and businesses, some abandoned and some still in use, pointing back to the Route 66 hay days.

A Route 66 cafe

An old Route 66 motel

It was awesome driving old Route 66, but since it has been decommissioned, some of it has really deteriorated.

After cruising town, we drove to the old River Front Cafe.  It sits right on the Colorado River so we had a great view out the window.  I hobbled into the restaurant and found the food just as good as the view.  I had a Route 66 burger and Doreen had fish and chips.

Inside the River Front Cafe

They hold boat races on the river here.

The water was really clear and not green like the picture shows.  Would be fun to scuba dive here.

Boat dock for weekend customers.  The cafe is only open Thurs-Sun

Some nice homes across the river from the cafe

After lunch we drove across the river to the Arizona side.  Here was the diesel fuel price in Needles CA:

Here is the diesel fuel price on the Arizona side:

$1.80 per gallon cheaper!!!  I am sure glad the KOA camp host at the RV Park told Doreen to drive the extra mile across the river.  That is a huge savings!

Tomorrow we pull chocks and head east to Flagstaff AZ, our next stop.  One stop closer to home and one stop closer to finding out why my back is giving me fits.  In the mean time, this is what is for breakfast!!

Next report, Flagstaff AZ!