A 76-year-old resident of Port St Mary has traveled the iconic Route 66 in the United States for the fourth time.
Brian Johnson accomplished this journey alongside his friends Hartley Elder and Bob Jones, riding Harley Davidsons from Santa Monica starting June 12 and concluding in Chicago on June 26.
Brian initially completed the route in 2004 at age 56, returning in 2010, then again in 2018, and now in 2024.
This famous road traverses eight U.S. states and crosses three time zones, including Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, as well as the grassy plains of Oklahoma and Texas.
The route ascends through the Rocky Mountains in New Mexico and Arizona before descending through the Mojave Desert to reach the Pacific coast of California.
The Isle of Man is just a 5,186-mile journey away from California (N/A)
Reflecting on his experience, Brian stated: ‘Bob, Hartley, and I rented our Harleys and kicked off this June from the “Route 66 Ends Here” sign and the plaque for the “Will Rogers Highway,” named after the advocate for the road’s construction in 1952.
‘We headed east after picking up our bikes from Eaglerider in Santa Monica, quickly making our way through the sometimes glitzy, often gritty streets of Hollywood and on to Pasadena.
‘Sadly, the intricacies of Los Angeles’s modern freeway system initially erased any true feeling of being on Route 66.
‘The toughest segment was riding through “Death Valley,” recognized as the hottest location on the planet and the driest region in North America, with temperatures around 49°C on a sizzling motorbike!
‘We stayed at various locations along the way, and in Texas, we lodged at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, famous for its 72oz steak challenge, which is free for anyone who can finish the meal in under an hour. Unfortunately, we had to pay for ours!
Brian moved to the island two decades ago as a flight instructor on a two-year contract but chose to stay and has remained there ever since.
During his first journey in 2004, he was joined by ten friends, collectively renting seven Harley Davidsons.
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Bob Jones (left) and Brian Johnson (right) take a break in Santa Monica (N/A)
Brian continued: ‘All of us have backgrounds in aviation, and one of our friends, a helicopter captain from the North Sea, overheard our discussions and expressed interest in joining us.
‘I said, “Sure, but I had no idea you could ride motorbikes.” He replied, “I can’t, but if you can do it, it can’t be that hard.” He then learned to ride, passed his test, and joined us, proving his point quite well!
‘Since 2004, we’ve ridden motorcycles across the USA every year except during the Covid restrictions. After Covid, we even went twice in one year!
When asked about the estimated cost for someone considering taking on this adventure, Brian approximated that the total expenses—including bike rental, insurance, accommodations, and meals—would be around £5,000.
Brian concluded: ‘It was an incredible journey filled with wonderful people and stunning scenery. It’s an amazing adventure, so don’t hesitate to give it a shot and get your kicks on Route 66!’
