Day 6, Mile 506: Kingman, Arizona

Today: 85 miles, 5299 feet climbing (12% grade in places)

Cumulative: 506 miles, 22800 feet

Today was a miserable, incredibly difficult day. We left Lake Havasu, rode up to Interstate 40, rode 9 miles away from our destination along the interstate to pick up the old Route 66 to Oatman in the Black Mountains, over the incredibly high and steep Sitgreaves Pass

then down to the Golden Valley and into Kingman.

The morning was fine and even the climb up to Oatman was fun as I was going fast and feeling good. There were wild burros in Oatman (but I didn't have my camera--shit!). I saw my second coyote and some other guys even saw some bighorn sheep. The views from the pass were awesome, as well.

Dust-bowl refugees back in the 30's often had their Model A or Model T towed over Sitgreaves Pass in the cool evening before resuming their California-bound journey through the Mojave Desert. Then in 1953 Route 66 was re-routed over flatter terrain. By 1984 it was completely supplanted in Arizona by Interstate 40. It was cool to see this historic route. We follow it again tomorrow into Seligman.

But above Oatman up to the pass the road was just way too hard and steep and the descent wasn't even fun nor fast because it was too steep and winding and in bad condition. Then there was about 20 miles of the world's bumpiest road and I was already having problems with vibration sickness in my hands. It was incredibly hot, too. Then the day ended with even more climbing up into Kingman. Too much.

Two more hard days to the Grand Canyon where we will rest a day!

By the way, if you haven't watched Mike Hobin's video blog, make sure you do.