Hairy Bikers finally get kicks on Route 66

It  seems the most obvious idea for a Hairy Bikers series.

Si King and Dave Myers fulfilling their long-held ambition to take on the world’s most iconic road trip, America’s Route 66, which spans more than 2,000 miles of tarmac from Chicago to California.

Si and Dave explore modern America via the “Mother Road” and learn how it drives you into America’s past, meeting the communities, cultures and cuisine along the way.

As the Bikers ride from place to place, they share their passion for good food and have some incredible experiences which give them the real taste of America.

From joining modern-day cowboys on a cattle drive through the vast prairies of Oklahoma and experiencing the staggering scale of the Mojave Desert and Monument Valley, to cooking with the Amish community and sampling the very latest LA food trends, the Bikers have an unforgettable adventure.

So, Route 66, the ultimate road trip for motorcyclists, what took them so long to do this?!

“It’s one of those iconic motorcycle trips – we just got round to doing it as it’s such a great time to discover the United States because of the huge changes that have gone on,” says Si.

“Route 66 has got historical status now. It’s the most important road historically and it seemed an opportune moment to go and do it.”

Dave adds: “Over the years we’ve both visited America – on the east coast and the west coast.

“Obviously we know about Route 66 but there are thousands of miles of uncharted territory – there was a migratory route that really is the heart of America, real America, so it was something we wanted to do.

“It was quite difficult to film, as you need to look quite hard off Route 66 to find stuff – we didn’t want to go to just diners and drive-ins and eat burgers all the time.

“We wanted to get to the heart of America and the people.”

“Route 66 is so important in terms of social history, in terms of it being a migrant route, it being an immigration route heading west towards California for fame and fortune and more prosperity,” explains Si.

“And all of that social history is the stock and trade of Dave and I, quite apart from the food. We met real, honest Americans, carving out a living in modern America.”

Says Dave: “The best bits for me were being able to meet the communities of people that exist around Route 66.

“We started in Chicago filming the ‘Italian stance’. It’s this wet beef sandwich and you have to adopt a particular stance or else you get your shoes covered in gravy!

“But we learnt then about the Italian community in Chicago, then the Navajo community. We went to their houses and we got adopted by the Navajo nation.

“They killed a sheep and barbecued it for us. We got on really well with the family. I think the mum was amazed that we just tucked in and cooked with her.

“In the end she said, ‘This is your family. You are now part of the salt tribe of the Navajo nation and I am your new mother.’

“And she was called Dorothy so we’re brothers, we’re sons of Dorothy!

“The weather was a huge nightmare for us, mind. I think we both assumed the weather would be pretty moderate but we went from -9°C outside Chicago to 50°C in the Mojave Desert.”

Si adds: “We ended up in a diner. We were pre-hypothermic because we had 40-knot crosswinds across the interstate with freezing rain.

“It was dangerous. It wasn’t the place to be on a motorcycle.

“Dave had better gear than I did. I was soaked and I ended up wandering through a shop with the assistant trying to find T-shirts so I could get changed, it was hilarious.

“And this old guy came out to the car park and said, ‘Boys listen, just come home with me! I’ve just rang my wife and she’s more than happy for you to come and stay the night.’

“That was so, so lovely. That was the spirit of the route really.”

Dave agrees: “There were a lot of times on this trip when there was just the pair of us sitting in a really basic motel room with a six-pack of beer like we did 25 years ago.”

Hairy Bikers Route 66 starts on BBC2, Thursday September 12 at 8pm.