Day 26: Needles, California

For those of you with sensitive dispositions and particularly small children, please shield your eyes. Today we travelled via various godforsaken shitholes to where the fuck are we California.
I had to step in with doctorly authority as Dave, who is usually sensible (ish) unravels when the temperature gets above 35. So when we hit the Mojave desert and temperatures > 42 degrees Celsius or > 107 Fahrenheit he started saying clever things like if I was riding on my own I'd head across the desert and be in LA tonight. "Why?"was my question of course and after a quick mutiny on my part we agreed to stay in Needles at a 44 dollar motel with a swimming pool and all required amenities. Tomorrow we shall use the time change ( we just passed into Pacific time) to our advantage and do the 240km stretch to Barstow in the early morning coolness.
If you are wondering what these temperatures feel like put your hair dryer on high and point it at your face.
For a better sense climb inside your oven at the same time.
Anyway, enough of that.
This morning we had some fun with route 66. A nice gentleman at our motel, riding a Harley, hit the nail on the head for me (so to speak).
For most people Route 66 is a nostalgia trip. If you are younger than 60-70 and not exposed to American culture of bygone years you won't get it. I have seen Grease ( who could forget Olivia Neutron Bomb singing Sandra Dee - even now my eyes moisten), so of course I understand fully what it's all about.
Of course the other group, and forgive my rather cynical arrogance now, is the pudgy pseudo bikers decked out in the most ridiculous amount of Harley memorabilia out doing the dream US mother road trip. Easily recognised they travel in packs of 20 or more bikes followed by support vehicles. They are awkward as they are most likely inexperienced riders on rental bikes and it can be a little tricky overtaking such a long train. You certainly don't want to find yourself in the position of having to join the train during an overtaking manoeuvre in case it sets off panic and the whole lot fall over.
This was deemed a sufficient reason to see the mile ton on the speedo a few times in the name of safe overtaking manoeuvres.
Anyway, these bunches fill every town with lines of Harley's parked outside the curio stores. To be fair it led to some fun people watching and at least they are out there enjoying themselves.
This morning was enough of the route 66 experience for me though and despite Needles being a godforsaken place it is probably more genuine 66 than much of this mornings tourist trapping.
Tomorrow we head into Los Angeles. We have a bit of sorting of bikes ahead of us, mine needs to be prepped for the trip home and Dave's needs to be prepped for whatever his next trip will be. It will be a little sad to separate them but before that we will enjoy the last days proper ride tomorrow.