SUMMARY: Ride along America's Main Street - Route 66 - starting in Chicago along Lake Michigan's Lakeshore Drive to the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Although Historic Route 66 is a discontinuous byway, there is enough remaining which allows riders to fully live the experience of how many Americans found their way west. The trip is 26 days long with 22 riding days. Starting in Chicago - we pass the tallest building on Rt 66 (the Sears' Tower) on our first day. We travel through the Land of Lincoln to the capitol of Illinois: Springfield. Stop at the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Lincoln's Tomb or the state capitol. We continue diagonally through Illinois to St. Louis (our first rest day) - and will stay next door to the “Gateway to the West” the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (aka: “The Arch”). We'll bicycle the path the Joad Family (“Grapes of Wrath”) took through the heartland: Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma - passing many Rt 66 symbols, commemorations, and tributes (just too many to list in a short ride description). We have a rest day in Claremore, OK - home of the Will Rogers Memorial & Museum. We end, after 2 riding days in Texas, at Amarillo (Amarillo International Airport: code: AMA). We have an enormous amount of Rt 66 info - again too much for a short ride description - those interested will get a lot of information (no Grapes of Wrath - but certainly several chapters!). The route is designed to pass by dozens (can we say hundreds?) of archetypical Rt 66 roadside scenes, neon signs, picnic grounds, murals, and kitschy Americana. It is not designed to get you to the next hotel in a hurry (if you want that, you can volunteer to drive the luggage vehicle that day). RIDE RATING: This ride is rated at 1C with an average of 58 miles per day and an average of 988 feet of climbing per day. There are 4 days (of the 22) where the elevation gain is over 1500 (highest single day is 2100) (3 of the 4 are in Missouri - some tough climbs). There are four days where the daily mileage exceeds the “C” rating (longest day 72 miles - during the last week of riding). All of the days where the mileage exceeds the “C” rating the terrain is rated “1” (i.e., under 1500 of elevation gain). In cities there WILL BE traffic - and in some rural areas the shoulders are minimal (as is the traffic) and the roads aren't newly paved (chip seal). Therefore, whereas a Level 1 may appear to be easy, a participant on this tour should have the experience and confidence needed to ride in city(can be heavy) traffic, ride on rural winding roads with minimal or no shoulders as well as ride for a cumulative 3 weeks. COSTS: Estimated costs are $2,920, includes lodging for 26 nights (including last night in Amarillo) (based on double occupancy), luggage van, van driver, daily social hours, maps & cue sheets, 2 group dinners and several hotel provided breakfasts. Singles are encouraged to find compatible roommates and/or riding partners. RD will introduce interested Singles who must make their own rooming decisions. However, if one cannot be found, you may be given the option of paying the single supplement ($600) or canceling. Once the minimum of riders has been reached Solos will be accepted. CANCELLATION POLICY: Once your deposit has been received, any refund will depend on our finding a replacement from the wait list. If filled, you can get a full refund, minus $75 ($50 BAC Registration fee and $25 for administrative costs) after the tour is completed and the final accounting takes place. If we are not able to fill your place, any refund will be based on the principle that costs not be increased for those completing the tour. Thus, a single person sharing a room who cancels would be liable for their room charges if a replacement cannot be found. TO REGISTER: Use sign-up links below. Following that you will be contacted by the RD. If accepted, a deposit of $800 made out to the RD, Rich Gallo (not BAC) and the BAC Application and Waiver forms will be requested. When deposit / waiver are received, your name will be added to the Participant List. Remainder of fee due in late Spring 2012. The RD welcomes questions from BAC members. Mail $800 deposit (payable to Rich Gallo) for each participant to: Richard Gallo, P.O. Box 09-0550, Brooklyn, NY 11209