Out of Town

When you drive from San Bernadino to Victorville, you probably take I-15.  You whizz past slow trucks, and on the railroad beside I-15, you pass even slower trains.  All of the above passed me as I climbed Cajon Pass yesterday.

For the first part of the climb, I was on old Route66, now closed to cars.  It runs beside the new and improved Route66, which is to the left in the picture, and to the right, out of the photo, is I-15, the third stage in this major route from Santa Monica to Chicago. After many miles of city biking, I was finally out of town today. 

The part of the climb on old66 was free from traffic and quite pleasant.  But about half way up the grade, both of the Route66’s end.  Bicyclists and nostalgic motorists are forced onto I-15.  The shoulder is wide and fairly safe, as slow trucks went whizzing past me.  I had to stop often to rest and to point my camera toward snowy mountains to maintain sanity.

Then just after Cajon Pass, I was allowed to exit the freeway and take a minor road into Victorville.  The next morning I took this picture of the way these town people want to preserve the memory of Route66 as it used to be before I-15 bypassed their city. 

Partway from Victorville to Barstow and miles from any other business establishment stands Molly Brown’s Country Café, a most excellent stop.

“Do you get many long-distance bicyclists,” I asked, since I haven’t seen any.

“Oh yes, lots of them,” she said, “And they start coming about now.  All from the west of course.  Nobody leaves Chicago on a bicycle in the winter.”

“How many have enjoyed your good food so far this year?”

“About six,” which gave me some hope of meeting a few before I reach Texas.  From there on, I should meet them as they ride west.