Day 11

19th May 2006

Williams AZ – Laughlin NV

29021 – 29218 (197 miles)

Out on the road before 8am the day is going to get hot in to triple figures (degrees Fahrenheit), first stop is for gas. The road is changing we are starting to come down from the high desert towards the Mohave Desert; we stop at Seligman for breakfast at the Snow Cup diner. Another photo opportunity the diner is from the 50’s with stools at the counter, I opt for a short order of pancakes what a mistake to make. They are as large as diner plates and about half an inch thick. I fail to make an indentation into them and soon so full, I have to leave the majority of them. A walk to the souvenir shop which is full of memorabilia and good priced leather goods.

Back on the road again and the countryside is looking desolate and is getting hot. We pass a sign at 11.15am, which gives the temperature at 89f. Arrive at Hackberry general store in the middle of nowhere but still trading in souvenirs and the restroom is a visit in its self, the men room walls are covered in female pinups, whilst the females are just starting to fill with male pinups.

Refreshed and the bandanna dipped in ice cold water and put around the neck to ward off dehydration which is now very much a real problem, plenty of water drunk together with re hydration powder added every other water stop. The temperatures are still rising and we are still descending. We are crossing over part of the Mohave Desert approaching a range of mountains, the road is undulating across country and we can see the road winding its way up the hillside. There are small communities littered along the route, we pass and estate agent situated on its own.

We start climbing, the road drops off to the side we are going up the mountains, and the road is twisting and turning as we climb. How a car from the early days made up here beats me, there are switchbacks, tight curves, and always climbing. Suddenly we hit the crest and what a sight greets us, a splendid view of the valley below; then it is descending more curves, switchbacks and tight curves what a wonderful ride and then we enter the town of Oatman and we are back in the old west. Once a mining town but no longer workable the miners up and left but left their burro’s behind. They are now the tourist attraction as they roam the town where they like and take priority over motorised vehicles, you can buy carrots to feed them if you like but with the temperatures, they are more interested in finding shade than carrots. There are hitching posts throughout the small town and you walk on boards outside the shops, they sell some good quality leather goods, oh if only I had more room in my suitcase.

A break from riding before off across the desert again, the wind is blowing but it is blowing hot air and the bandanna that had been wetted again dried out in no time at all. The air temperature on the motorcycle was off the scale and it goes to 120 degrees, we cross into Nevada and make our way towards Laughlin, tuning the radio into a local radio station hear that the temperature is 105f and that’s in the shade, boy is it hot. We park up in a garage attached to the hotel and enter the air-conditioned luxury of the hotel. The lobby was crazy with people booking in, standing in line worse than an airport check in, over dinner find out people had been waiting three hours to check in, fortunately we got booked in at the tour check in which was easy. My room is on the 17th floor of the Flamingo and a view of the mountains and a mini Las Vegas , after a nice shower I feel much better, typical casino hotel no clocks or no coffee in the rooms they want you spending your money. The meal was a buffet style, so the meals were a better proportion and was able to have a desert for the first time during this trip.