The Road Less Traveled

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Route 66, stretching from Los Angeles to Chicago has become a destination in itself.  After the war when gas was cheap and people had cars and money, they hit the road—looking for a new life, or just to get away from it all.

Interstate highways have replaced Route 66 as the way to get places.  But the old road, where it still exists, has gathered a certain fame and a personality—for its history, its former utility and fun.  The road is a trip where people still get their kicks on Route 66.  

East of Winslow, Arizona, old 66, the Mother Road, is gone, replaced with I-40.  I could have ridden the shoulder of that fast superhighway, but decided on a lonely route instead. 

About five miles south of I-40, and parallel to it, is a gravel road passing through the Hopi Reservation, called Territorial Road.  It’s twenty miles of slow going, not even a house within sight along it.  

After about ten miles, I came to a hilltop, and looking down, saw a bridge with people on it.  I coasted down to them and leaned the bike up against the bridge railing.  A deep gorge underneath me and these Hopi people was flowing water.

A little boy said, “Look, there’s a squirrel.”  And surely there was.

“ First life I’ve seen on this road besides bushes,” I said.   

His mother came over and asked where I’d come from and where I was going.  I gave her the two points, briefly as I always do.  And she said, as they always say, that it’s a long way, how do I do it?  I gave her my stock, understated answer, and she said, “Why?”

“Because I get antsy at home.”

“Do you ever get lonely?” she said. 

I couldn’t find an answer, so I just shrugged.  I thought about a real answer as the long road passed under me.  Yes I get lonely.  I’m a social being, as we all are.  But I’m less social than most.  I get along with a small part of humanity.  I feel guilty about it sometimes, but can’t seem to change it.

You can see my progress on an interactive map, prepared by Michael Angerman, at:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?spn=1.372738%2C2.458191&ll=34.19141194851035%2C-117.74940521972655&msa=0&z=9&mid=1Y_TZPvq1-LarAZNM9P1HzAy11K8 

Zoom and scroll to see where I’ve been.

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