Travels with Surly: Pedalling The Mother Road

Solo, Unsupported Cycle of Route 66

Route 66 conjures up images of freedom, the open road and the opening up of the West. It served as the backdrop for John Steinbeck's major work, The Grapes of Wrath in which the Joad family, forced to leave their land in the Dust Bowl, made their way to California. This 2,400-mile route, almost killed off by the Interstates, continues to survive through the work of local historical groups, dedicated enthusiasts and through the support of those in search of adventure. This is the story of my unsupported cycle, over thirty-seven days in the summer of 2016, from Chicago to Santa Monica.