A new program, “Breaking Dad,” on the British television channel ITV features at least one Route 66 stop and another that’s a common side trip for Mother Road travelers.
The program stars actor Bradley Walsh (a companion on the current “Doctor Who” series) and his 20-year-old son, Barney, who travel about 2,000 miles from Los Angeles to New Orleans in a huge RV. Barney wants to bring some new adventures to his father, including sky-diving, enrolling in Cowboy College, and riding on a Harley-Davidson. “Breaking Dad” is a four-part series of 30 minutes each.
According to ITV’s summary of Episode 2, which airs Wednesday, the Walshes decided to check out Route 66:
On the way, they call at Roy’s Café to have their picture taken with the café’s sign – which is one of the most photographed signs in the world. The café is famous for offering a welcome break from the sun for bikers travelling down Route 66.
Bradley and Barney chat to the bikers and Bradley asks if he and Barney can have a ride down Route 66 on the back of their Harley Davidsons.
Afterwards Bradley says: “The heat, the open road, that was extraordinary.”
Next stop is Lake Havasu City, a town created by chainsaw tycoon Robert MuCulloch who, in 1967, spent 10 million dollars buying London Bridge to put his town on the map. MuCulloch had the bridge shipped over from England and it now provides passage across the lake and is festooned with Union Jacks.
Bradley and Barney stop to have their picture taken by the bridge and have a cup of tea, but whilst Bradley relaxes, Barney plans a spot of water-skiing on the lake. Bradley is adamant he is not taking part, but, after being impressed by Barney, he decides to have a go. However, he discovers it’s not as easy as it looks….
London Bridge in Lake Havasu City isn’t on Route 66, but it’s only about 30 miles south of the Mother Road from Topock, Arizona. It’s a common side trip, especially for Britons on the Mother Road.
Episode 3 takes place in Texas, but the Walshes apparently took a more southerly route to check out the space program in Houston.
Bradley Walsh isn’t the first “Doctor Who” actor to do Route 66. Catherine Tate and her boyfriend traveled the Mother Road in 2011.
ITV also first aired “Billy Connolly’s Route 66” miniseries in 2011, spurring a new wave of Britons traveling on the Mother Road.
The Walshes a few days ago appeared on a British morning show to plug the “Breaking Dad” program.
ITV’s “Breaking Dad” can be watched online here.
(Image of Bradley and Barney Walsh of “Breaking Dad” at Roy’s in Amboy, California, via ITV)