KRATZMC

California here I come!  I left Tempe Arizona to meet my friend Troy Strothers in Mesa, for what Troy describes as the best Indian Food in Arizona.  This got me off to a late start but I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to see Troy.  Since Troy owed me a dinner, he thought he would treat me to the buffet at Guru Palace.  I met up with Troy at the restaurant, after getting a replacement wall charger for my cell phone.  There happened to be a wireless store conveniently located next door, so it saved me a lot of time.  I was running out of phone juice as my USB phone charger took a dump and I had to McGyver it yesterday to my Cousins car battery to charge it.  With that out of the way, it was time to eat.

The Guru Palace

Lunch Buffet Menu Board

Troy, fellow member of Sharkhunters International stuffed full of curry

You can see by the menu pic, there is a wide selection of Indian foods to choose from.  If you are unifamiliar with Indian Cuisine, it is a great way to go to find out what you like.  I concentrated on the Tandoori Chicken, Curry Chicken and pureed eggplant, accompanied by some rice and Nann, a variation of flat bread.  I must say, Troy was right on, the food there was fantastic!  I highly recommend a visit if you are in the Phoeniz area, you won’t be dissapointed.

After lunching with Troy I began making my way to I-10.  As I reached the junction of Hwy 60 and I-75, I decided to go north.  It would be longer in distance to California but more scene, taking me through more hilly terrain past Prescott and into Flagstaff.  From there I would work my way to Seligman and then onto Kingman Az for the night.  It was 57 degrees when I left Phoeniz and it quickly cooled as I passed Prescott.  This portion of I-75 is also known as the Arizona Veterans Highway, which I thought befitting since tomorrow would be Veterans Day.  As I reached 7,000 feet in elevation, the presence of snow littered the hills and edges of the road.  I looke at my thermometer and it show 39 degrees and dropping.

Mini Zeke enjoys the view while I put on my cold weather gear

As I reached Flagstaff, there was heavy dark overcast, threatening rain or snow.  The temperature now read 34 degrees and Ice warnings were posted on overpasses and bridges.  I stopped briefly to put on my winter gloves, balacava and jacket liner and water the trees.  There is something about cold air that makes me have to empty my tanks in regular fashion.  I had my electric vest but of course I left the connector back at the ranch.  Although I could use the electric, it had pretty good insulating qualities and it did a good job keeping me warm.  I figured with the wind chill, it was equivelant to 25 degrees.  In Flagstaff, there was even more snow on the ground and I made my transition to I-40, which would take me to Seligman.

Seligman is an old town, having its heyday during the Route 66 years, prior to the building of the interstate.  Like many other towns and stops along Route 66, they withered on the vine as travelers no longer stopped for business.  Over the last five year, Seligman has taken advatange of the nostalgia boom and has revitatlized the town, making it a must see and roadside novelty.  There are good places to eat and the A&W there serves their root beer the old fashion way and has a distinct carmel flavor.

Looking south into town and getting dark

The A&W is located at the Chevron Station

Mustang Fuel stop and good burgers too!

As I got 10 miles from Seligman, it started to rain but I was dropping in elevation so the temperature warmed into the high 40’s.  A heavy downpour ensued and it was working its way east.  As I reached Seligman, the front passed over the town and the skies cleared up.  I grabbed a quick bite and root beer at the A&W, took a few pictures and hit the old portion of Route 66, which leads to Kingman.  It is about 55 miles to Kingman on Route 66 and since it is still a two laned highway, the speed limit is 65.  As you leave Seligman westbound, you see the first of several “Burma Shave” signs.

If you are not familiar with the Burma Shave sign phenomenon, Wikipedia it.

Leaving Seligman Az on Route 66

Mini Zeke relaxes after a hard day

As the sun set, the skies grew dark quickly the temperatures dropped back down to the high 30’s.  The ride was literally traffic free and the hills and sweeping curves made it a much more enjoyable ride that sticking with the interstate.  I arrived in Kingman around 1930 hrs local time and checked into the Best Western Kings Inn and Suites after a 331 mile day.  With my AAA discount, I got a King bed with mini-suite for $74 dollars.  Mini Zeke thought the bed looked comfortable and immediately homesteaded a spot for himself and thought he would rest after four straight days of riding.

The days route 331 Miles

Well, tomorrow I enter my old home state to see friends and goof around.  My goal is to hit Tracy, Calif around 1700 hrs, for a stay at my friends, Tony “Zega” Delgado.  I have about 600 miles to cover on my selected route, so it will be a full day of riding of ten hours in the saddle.  It will be Veterans day and my birthday and I can’t think of a better present to myself than a good long ride to see friends.

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