Thursday 22nd May

Separated after breakfast, J and M going to Oatman via the I40 and us going up and over the moutains (!) via Sitgreaves Pass. Riding out over the desert felt like you were riding to the end of the world as the road seemed to go straight into the mountains. Lots of abandoned RV's and mobile homes (people buy them on retirement, then no one wants them and so they eventually are claimed by the desert). We stopped at Cool Springs - the retired sailor who runs it was interesting to talk to so we stayed ages. Fresh coffee too. The road from here on in got more and more twisty, uneven and higher - to take my mind off the drops I filmed the ride! It was a really fantastic road though, Mick loved it. The views from Sitgreaves Pass itself were fantastic, you could see for miles and miles. Carried on down into Oatman, where J and M were waiting. Their ride from Oatman was pleasant down the I40, the road to Oatman became a bit twisty, but there were no drop-offs so JC was ok! Had lunch in the Oatman Hotel where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard stayed on their wedding night. The room looks the same - very tiny and no bathroom. The walls of the restaurant and bar area are covered in dollar bills - proper currency all signed by their donators. Bought yet more 66 t-shirts! Stroked the burros, who are quite friendly but very stubborn - if they are in the doorway and they don't want to move - they don't! They have access to just about all of the town. Watched a gunfight - again and also said goodbye to the AMA group, who were heading direct to Barstow.
We took a really pretty rocky route towards Laughlin, breezy again but bearable. Checked into the Aquarius Hotel - our first sight of a full-on Casino. Rooms very good, nice views over the Colorado River. Wandered along by the river and tried a small gamble in the Edgewater Casino.
Lost -of course!