LA to Laughlin   

You take the high road and I'll take the low road. You'll get to Laughlin before me ... but, I'll have a much nicer ride!  

For many folks, a rally is all about the event. They push to get there so they "don't miss a thing". To me it's all about the ride. It's about the getting there. I'll have plenty of time to participate in the revelry once I do.

Living in So Cal, I suppose we are lucky to have a major rally, The Laughlin River Run, within 250 miles of us. Most us can get plenty of Laughlin in a weekend and still be ready to confront the real world on Monday. It's not like Daytona or Sturgis, where one needs to plan for an extended vacation, several nights on the road and a healthy credit card to pay for it all.

Riders from the southern coast and the Inland Empire of Southern California have known of the "low road" for a long time. Many riders from LA ride the 10 to the 215/15, up through Barstow, to the 40 and then head east. And what do you see? Herds of trucks and Daytona style drafts of cars heading to Vegas. You don't have much time to see the scenery, as you are working hard just to get there alive.

I avoid freeways as much as possible. It's just not a fun ride. And once again, to me, it's all about the ride. We take the I-10 east towards Palm Springs. Then up Highway 62 through  Yucca Valley. As soon as you leave the Interstate, you're on the way to some of the best two lane desert roads available. Don't be in a huge hurry. There are several small towns along the way and be advised the speed limits drop from 65 - 55 - 45 - 35 as quick as you can down shift! I'm sure much of the local revenue is produced on the highways.

But remember, This is about the ride..... And it's about time to take a break! So take your time and stop in at Hutchin's Motorsports in Yucca Valley.  They have the Route 62 Diner and it is a great place to stop for breakfast or lunch. Hutchin's has a very nice collection of vintage Harley Davidsons including a 1930 VL Harley-Davidson® 74 cubic inch Flathead, that has been in the family since Hutch was 16. It is a very nice place to grab some grub, window shop and pick up the souvenir shirt. 

Up the road is 29 Palms. The city of Murals. They have an awesome collection of artwork adorning the walls of buildings throughout the city. Make sure you at least get fuel, get oriented as to where you are, and now you must decide. Are you going to stay on the 62 and head directly to the river? ... or are you getting anxious and want to make time? The ride up the river from Parker and Havasu, to Bullhead City is a nice route. There's good roads all the way there. However, lower speed limits and a stop at Fox's for a cold one, will set you back a couple of hours. But, it is sure to bring your blood pressure down and give you the river experience. Otherwise, head to Amboy and  catch part of old Rte 66. It goes thru the salt mines and it's an odd site to see evaporating ponds in various stages of chloride production in the middle of the desert.

Even if you head onto Laughlin at this point, make sure you don't miss one of the best things about Laughlin Nevada. And that's Bullhead City, Arizona. Right across the river and my preferred route in. A mandatory stop is Cathiez Leathers in Bullhead. These folks have designed and produced their own label of essential riding leathers. I was impressed with the styling and innovations I've never seen on other jackets and vests. Such as deep leather lined pockets. Really deep! How many jackets have you been thru? I've worn out a few and the first thing to go is the pockets. Not on these jackets. You can also visit their page in the shops area of this site.

So however you get there, make sure you have a safe ride. And check back in a few weeks for all of our recommendations to make your Colorado River ride and the 08 Laughlin River Run a memorable one.

See ya There'

Beej

Things to do once you're there

When you're in Laughlin, Check out Oatman!

Jeff, Trish and the AZ Crew offer their tips for nice rides and cool hidden hotspots in the Laughlin area.

 

 

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