USA Road Trip R66 etc

[DodgyGeezer]

Depending on timing there's also old London Bridge to visit which may, or may not, be worth a view...

[Whistle]

Also Santa Fe is well worth a visit and not that much out of your way heading to Albuquerque.
I really liked it and would definitely go again if I was in the area.

[mattyn1]

Some great ideas so thank you. Santa Fe is on the to do list after Albuquerque ….. but via Madrid as we want a drink in the Red Pony …… then on to Las Vegas NM to see the rest of the Longmire filming locations.

[mattyn1]

Looking tonight for the helicopter tour….. the plane option looks good and might be more memorable for the right reasons for the two ladies considering their fear!

For the same price (and they are expensive) a 45
Min helicopter ride from Tusayan or a 45 min plane ride with a 2hr sunset open hummer trip.

Plane likely to be calmer so have pre booked on a “pay later cancel anytime” basis! Will have to discuss this decision tomorrow with them both!

[theboss]

mattyn1 said:

I told her last night her fear was irrational and there was more chance of her being hurt by a spider,………. Yep she is utterly terrified of them too!

You’ll be doing that trip alone at this rate… tell her the spiders are nothing to worry about but that you’ll want to give shoes and bed linen a good shake down for scorpions when in the desert states

I returned from AZ yesterday and I’ve really got my missus paranoid now that my luggage contains a few stowaways.

[bad company]

Mrs BC & I drove 66 a few years ago. This book was invaluable to us:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Route-66-EZ66-GUIDE-Trave...

[mattyn1]

djc206 said:

mattyn1 said:

I think quite a bit is ambitious and I am a trifle nervous…… but in for a penny etc!

Planning on staying at the North Rim Lodge, get up, do sunrise, breakfast and head off, wanting to arrive in Vegas after dusk!

Personally I’d can Bryce then. Doing rim to Bryce to Springdale, parking up and taking the bus up and down Zion and then back in the car to Vegas is a looong day and you’re not going to really get to enjoy either of the parks. Zion is impressive from the valley floor but to really appreciate it you’ve either got to walk the narrows or better still hike Angels Landing. Bryce is easier to hop in and out of the car and go “oooh” take a picture and keep moving but it’s a bit out of the way.

North Rim to Bryce is 3hrs+

Just to drive from the Bryce visitor centre out to Bristlecone and back without stopping is an hour, even a whistlestop tour will take 1.5 and that’s really rushing it and assuming no queues anywhere. I just checked my photos and even without doing any hikes in Bryce we were there for about 3 hours last time. That was in winter with no traffic.

Bryce to Springdale (for Zion) is 2 hours

Zion in summer is busy so parking, tickets, bus transfer, ride up and down the valley. That’s bare minimum an hour and a half and like I said that’s viewing the whole place from a bus window.

Springdale to Vegas is 3hrs.

I love a good whistlestop myself and I’ve been to Bryce and Zion in the same day before but not before a night in Vegas!

All just my opinion of course but I can only imagine how my wife would react to such an itinerary once we got going…

Seriously, thank you. I have sort of come to the same conclusion re Bryce - so am pleased you have suggested the same. Especially as we want the morning at GC Lodge to be not too rushed.Up for sunrise, breakfast, and head off.

From what I can gather:

North Rim to Jacob Lake is about an hour, then 2-3 hr scenic drive to Springdale, stop for a bit, lunch and a walkabout (the extent of this will need some forethought!!), aiming to head off and get into Vegas after sundown.

[mattyn1]

jurbie said:

I can recommend horse riding in Monument Valley which will give you a slightly different perspective on the place. We did sunrise at Forest Gump point followed by a two hour ride around and it was a real highlight of our visit,

We had planned to also hike the Wild Cat trail but figured we'd covered most of it on horseback. The scenic drive is definitely worth it but don't just drive to John Ford Point and come back which a lot of others seemed to be doing. After enjoying some Navaho fry bread we turned right whilst everyone else was turning left back to the visitor centre.

The following day on route to the Grand Canyon, it's worth a stop at Meteor Crater, it's only about 5 miles off I40 and doesn't take too much time.

As this is a Route 66 tour then you really need to drop into Williams as well, which was the last town bypassed by the interstate back in the 1980's so it still retains a bit of an old Americana vibe. The main street is mostly full of shops selling tourist tat but there is a genuine 1960's diner called Goldies which is worth a stop. There are also a few classic cars lined up outside the gas station museam which are usually worth a look.

In Page, Horseshoe bend and Antelope canyon won't take all day so I would recommend visiting the gun range at Gun Fighter Canyon, they also have ranges in Williams and Flagstaff and all offer the chance to get hands on with some serious hardware if that's your thing. I was most impressed with what a natural Mrs Jurbie was with an automatic rifle.

Really helpful stuff thank you. Horseride there is not something I have considered yet - so appreciate the nod. I think that might be a bit of a win, considering the emotional turmoil I am putting the girls through!! We plan on doing sunset at Forest Gump but depends on timings - we are doing the Moki Dugway en route dos sort of makes sense.

We are now booked into The View Hotel (we were considering Gouldings but The View won that battle) - we have a cabin facing the Valley so should hopefully be able to watch the sunrise in our pyjamas!!

Then intend to do the scenic loop, possibly the horse ride, but we then head off to Holbrook where I have booked the wigwams! Intend to get back onto R66 at Gallup (so going back a touch but minimises the stretch of R66 we miss out).

Then on our way to the Grand Canyon we can do Meteor Crater.Williams definitely a stop for us, then head up to Tusayan, check in to the hotel and nip back to the airport for the helicopter or plane ride, which will give us all a spectacular first sight of the canyon.

In my head it should be amazing.........!!!!

[mattyn1]

DodgyGeezer said:

Depending on timing there's also old London Bridge to visit which may, or may not, be worth a view...

Great idea as bridges are definitely my thing - but I am not sure - as we are doing GC South Rim - North Rim - Vegas - Hoover Dam - Death Valley this might be a stop too far. But not really examined so will do so this afternoon!

[mattyn1]

theboss said:

You’ll be doing that trip alone at this rate… tell her the spiders are nothing to worry about but that you’ll want to give shoes and bed linen a good shake down for scorpions when in the desert states

I returned from AZ yesterday and I’ve really got my missus paranoid now that my luggage contains a few stowaways.

I have not mentioned scorpions to her!


Yet!!!!!!

[mattyn1]

bad company said:

Mrs BC & I drove 66 a few years ago. This book was invaluable to us:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Route-66-EZ66-GUIDE-Trave...

We bought this last year in preparation but I am struggling to get to grips with it if I am honest. We also have the Roadtrippers book which is really clear and am seriously thinking of subscribing to their app.



I think the EZ66 book needs a bit more work as a lot of people say they have sworn by it. Probably just me!!

[bad company]

mattyn1 said:

We bought this last year in preparation but I am struggling to get to grips with it if I am honest. We also have the Roadtrippers book which is really clear and am seriously thinking of subscribing to their app.



I think the EZ66 book needs a bit more work as a lot of people say they have sworn by it. Probably just me!!

E-Z66 has turn by turn directions & lists the attractions. It’s updated regularly. I’d recommend it.

[jurbie]

If you are planning on going up the Moki Dugway and I'd also recommend a drive through Valley of the Gods. It's a 17mile dirt road which is similar to what you'll find at Monument Valley but fewer people so there is a real sense of being alone. Access it from US163 and it spits you out at the foot of Moki Dugway.

At the top of Moki Dugway turn left and head over to Muley Point East for some pretty spectacular views to Monument Valley and beyond. Heading back to US163 you'll see a sign for Goosenecks State Park which is also worth a few minutes, although to be fair you would have seen most of it from Muley Point but you'll be about 1000 feet closer to it. Including the 3 hour drive from Durango I think that should drop you onto Forest Gump point right around sunset.

The cabins at the The View are a good shout, I've not stayed there but I know where they are as they are right next to the horse riding place and the view from them will be spectacular.

Also be aware that Monument Valley and that whole Navaho nation area is in a different timezone through the summer so you'll find at some point you'll lose an hour which can be an issue for the unwary. The usual timezone for Arizona and Utah is Mountain Standard time but the Navaho nation follows Mountain Daylight time.

Tell your wife and daughter not to worry about spiders and scorpions out in the desert areas, the Rattlesnakes tend to keep them away.

[Truckosaurus]

It is also possible to be aware of the timezone differences between Arizona and Nevada, but get confused about which way it goes and turn up in Vegas two hours early.

(I am a div.)

[Rollin]

mattyn1 said:

theboss said:

You’ll be doing that trip alone at this rate… tell her the spiders are nothing to worry about but that you’ll want to give shoes and bed linen a good shake down for scorpions when in the desert states

I returned from AZ yesterday and I’ve really got my missus paranoid now that my luggage contains a few stowaways.

I have not mentioned scorpions to her!


Yet!!!!!!

I've seen tarantulas in Zion

[theboss]

Rollin said:

mattyn1 said:

theboss said:

You’ll be doing that trip alone at this rate… tell her the spiders are nothing to worry about but that you’ll want to give shoes and bed linen a good shake down for scorpions when in the desert states

I returned from AZ yesterday and I’ve really got my missus paranoid now that my luggage contains a few stowaways.

I have not mentioned scorpions to her!


Yet!!!!!!

I've seen tarantulas in Zion

The only tarantula I've seen was a paralysed one being carried by a tarantula hawk moth in Utah. It was novel seeing a huge spider being carried along by a wasp.

I did have a little wander around the Sonoran desert last week in the Superstition Mountains area outside Phoenix hoping I might see something interesting but the snakes are apparently semi-dormant in dens at this time of year.

I didn't realise the scorpions were such a big thing in the Phoenix area i.e. everywhere and ultimately infesting your house if you don't keep on top of pest control.

[mattyn1]

Continuing full steam ahead but seem to have been a bit hasty with something.

I have the EZ66 Guide for Travellers book, the Road trippers R66 book, and also a Lonely Planet Route66 guide book. The first does offer directions which I hope whoever is Navs can cope with. What I am looking for is an App that taps into CarPlay we can use as a back up or even primary Navs should the designated Navigator fail!!

So I have seen two that seemed quite good.

The Roadtrippers App https://roadtrippers.com does have a lot of info and is useful for developing the route, but as far as I can see does not offer car integration and turn by turn detail. Once subscribed one is pretty much unlimited in the number of stops etc but seems to be a planning tool rather than a using tool, if you know what I mean. This cost £35 to subscribe for a year, and while it was not what I intended, I think this has some use.

So I looked further and found the Route 66 Navigation App https://www.route66navigation.com which advertises itself as turn by turn and off line mapping - this on the face of it sounds ideal if it does what it says on the tin. But I immediately found a fatal flaw - it seems the database of all the PoI and Hotels are blank and the app hangs - trying to circumvent by adding long winded addresses (I started with a simple Hire Car Pick Up in Chicago to Springfield IL hotel route) and it just fails. Again cost £35 to subscribe for a year and I was a bit frustrated last night with it failing.

Now it could be me - in fact it is likely to be me, but like all apps, we need them to work simply and flawlessly. Tried to email them from the web site, and that failed. Have managed to message them through Instagram and via a hello email address I found on the site - so will see what happens.

Incidentally, I did notice a bug with the Roadtrippers app and emailed them (it seems when planning a US trip in the UK, the date will go back one day - due to time zones apparently and how my computer is set to UK time and I am planning a Chicago route). They responded really quickly with that info, so was suitably impressed, especially when they admitted it was a bug that was known and being worked through. But it is a bug I can get round easily.

Normal sat nav at home I use Apple Maps or Google Maps via Car Play, and feel this is the way ahead for this trip. What I don't know is with either can I plan a particular route, save it safe in the knowledge that when I flash it up on CarPlay it will route me the way I want it to go, on the roads I have planned. Anyone know this?

Also, does anyone have a solution for the original intent? Notwithstanding I have not heard back from Route 66 Navigation.com as yet, and they might well show me I am being a fkwit and doing it wrong. If that can work, coupled with the EZ66 book and my own planning should suffice I think - and I am concerned here about the R66 bits - when we veer off and start the detours/loops then traditional nav app (apple/google) will do the job.

So longwinded and wordy post! But TL:DR - anyone have decent suggestions for a Turn-by-Turn Route 66 Nav app that is CarPlay compatible? Or just how clever can Apple Maps/google maps be with pre-planned routes?

[Slow.Patrol]

mattyn1 said:

I think the EZ66 book needs a bit more work as a lot of people say they have sworn by it. Probably just me!!

I struggled to read the EZ66, but it was invaluable once we were on the road. Suddenly made more sense.

ETA. Get a tourist SIM for your phone. Think I paid about $20 for two weeks, then use Google maps to follow the road.

Edited by Slow.Patrol on Thursday 25th January 09:17

[mattyn1]

Slow.Patrol said:

I struggled to read the EZ66, but it was invaluable once we were on the road. Suddenly made more sense.

ETA. Get a tourist SIM for your phone. Think I paid about $20 for two weeks, then use Google maps to follow the road.

Edited by Slow.Patrol on Thursday 25th January 09:17

I was the same when we first got the book but having read and re-read the instructions and would agree, once we get going this type of nav will work. Trouble is my wife has a dodgy eye and struggles to read quickly (she can't do subtitles in a movie for instance) - hence we want something to support that.

Re Google Maps (and Apple Maps for that matter) - yeah agree a SIM card is essential (my daughter is 17 so of course they are essential and seen moth long ones for about £30-£40) but can I plot a route beforehand (for instance from Chicago R66 Start Point to Springfield IL) and have that exact route appear on the CarPlay screen? All I have used so far is letting Maps manage the route - not tried forcing a pre planned and determined route into the system. Unsure if this is possible? Basically I can plot the route on the MacBook, sticking to the historic R66 road - am hoping those turn-by-turn instructions can then be the route google or Apple Maps takes me on.

Of course, I can plot the route in Apple/Google Maps (or actually Bing Maps as I can use more stops in that) and print off the route, which does have really clear concise turn by turn instructions (much like the AA Route Planner we used to use before Sat Nav!!).

I might of course be (no, I know I am) over thinking this, but I don't want the Mrs to be stressing because she struggles with reading - and of course she wants to be taking in the journey rather than stressing where exit 245 is.

[DodgyGeezer]

Slow.Patrol said:

ETA. Get a tourist SIM for your phone. Think I paid about $20 for two weeks, then use Google maps to follow the road.

if you're with EE it's £25 for a month to use your phone like you would in the UK. Data/calls/texts etc plus people can get hold of you if there's an emergency (which could be a good/bad thing)