ROUTE 66 CHRONICLES

IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION - PART VI

2012-01-28T06:10:00.001-07:00

In recent weeks the inbox has filled with questions pertaining to Route 66, travel, and my schedule. As many of these questions pertain to obscure places along the highway, its history, and yet unpublished updates to my schedule, I thought the sharing of answers might be of benefit to other fans of the double six.

WHERE IN ILLINOIS CAN I FIND A COMMUNITY ALONG ROUTE 66 THAT SEEMS TO BE UNDISCOVERED? Dwight, Illinois, in the district around the train depot. Dwight has a wide array of wonderful Route 66 attraction such as Ambler Texaco, and excellent places to eat such as the Old Route 66 Family Restaurant.

However, if you venture into town there is a sense that Dwight is little more than a time capsule preserved into the modern era, a place where the fame of Route 66 has passed it by. The train depot, a bank designed by Frank Loyd Wright, the former Keeler Institute with its Tiffany inspired stained glass windows, and the Country Manor Restaurant with it park like grounds dominated by the most fascinating windmill are but a few of its treasures.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR TRAVEL? Well, that would depend on what you are looking for on your trip. Most of your festivals and events that center on Route 66 take place from May through September. However, the months of June through August are brutal along the segment between Kingman and Victorville.

My preference is mid May to mid June, or late September into mid October. On occasion you will encounter cold weather or storms during this period but overall it is the only times of year where you will have near perfect weather along the whole route.

We enjoy seasoning our trips with long walks. Strolling across the Chain of Rocks Bridge when it is near one hundred degrees and the humidity is at almost the same level, or making the trek to the summit of Amboy Crater when the temperatures are exceeding 120 degrees and even the snakes are seeking shelter, just isn't very enjoyable.

Our last journey along the double six was made in October. To be honest, it was one of our more enjoyable trips. As a bonus, we had fall colors along most of the route.

QUITE OFTEN YOU MENTION ROUTE 66 DETOURS. IF THE TIME FOR OUR SCHEDULE IS LIMITED, AND WE CAN TAKE BUT ONE DETOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR SUGGESTION? My hands down favorite is Prescott, Arizona, about sixty miles south of Ash Fork, especially the downtown district around the courthouse square.

Prescott is unique in that the downtown area, the historic district did not go through the evolution of decline and rebirth. With the exception of the cars that line and clog the streets, it is still 1950 here.

There are three excellent historic hotels, countless restaurants, some family owned for more than fifty years, an authentic Old West saloon, excellent museums, and even night life. What people seek along Route 66 is found in Prescott in spades.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE RESTAURANT ON ROUTE 66? Yes, several. For authentic atmosphere, good food, and tradition it would be the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois.

I love pie and cobblers. Fortunately the places I know of for the best pie are spaced enough to keep me from having withdrawls but not so close together I tire of the treat.

The Palms Grill in Atlanta, the Midpoint in Adrian, Texas, and the Pine Country Restaurant in Williams, Arizona rate at the top of my list.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC MOTELS I SHOULD INCLUDE IN MY TRIP? Yes, by all means, yes. Few things enhance a Route 66 adventure like being able to keep the illusion of time travel alive when the sun goes down. There are a number of great old motels found along Route 66, Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide, published by the National Historic Route 66 Federation is an excellent reference source.

My favorites (I have not experienced them all as of yet) are the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, the Munger Moss in Lebanon, Missouri, Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Motel Safari, also in Tucumcari, and the Wigwam Motels, one in Holbrook, Arizona, and one in Rialto, California, the best of the pair.

HOW OFTEN IS YOUR SCHEDULE PAGE UPDATED? An effort is made to update it as soon as a new appearance is confirmed. For 2012, I will be a Bookworks in Albuquerque on the February, 26, at the Route 66 Fun Run in Kingman on the first weekend in May, the KABAM festival in Kingman the second weekend in May, the Wheels on Route 66 event in Tucucmcari on June 9, the International Route 66 Festival in Victorville, California in August, and the biggie, Cuba Fest in Cuba, Missouri in late October where the long awaited Route 66 encyclopedia will make its debut.

Pending are two events in California, one in Santa Monica and one in Burbank.

THE LONG ROAD TO CUBA

2012-01-27T06:06:00.002-07:00

I am not sure when the quest to use my writing and photography to promote Route 66, its unique culture, and the people who give it life and vitality began. However, I do know who set that quest in motion - Bob Waldmire.
We met shortly after he began moving into the old Hackberry General Store in Hackberry, Arizona. Even though I lean a bit toward the red neck side my view is that there is a danger of becoming so narrow minded you can look down a beer bottle with both eyes if you don't associate with, and cultivate friends from a wide spectrum of life. Bob was at the far end of my spectrum.
Over the years Bob and I became fairly good friends. And as that friendship developed I began to see Route 66, a highway that had been a part of my life since infancy, in a different light. The rest, as they say, is history.
Initially my writings were centered on the development of the American automotive industry, specifically between the years 1885 and 1940. The one deviation was a weekly travel column written for the Kingman Daily Miner.
Meanwhile, I promoted Route 66 in my corner of the world and became frustrated by the lack of progress in preserving its unique attributes in my adopted hometown. With the exception of one particular endeavor, my contributions were rather anemic.
I served as the chairman for the organizing committee of the Arizona Route 66 Association in charge of the Route 66 Fun Run.
We introduced a few changes. Some, like relocating the main event from Centennial Park to downtown Kingman became integral components for the event. Others, like hosting a display of Shelle Grahams work at the Hotel Beale, fell by the wayside.
The first real opportunity to promote the entire road through my work came with the contract to write Ghost Towns of Route 66. This book provided me with an unprecedented opportunity to add depth and context to the Route 66 experience as well as shine the light on towns where the resurgent interest came far to late.
With the Route 66 encyclopedia project, I was presented with an incredible opportunity for the promotion of the road. In October of 2011, as we traveled Route 66 to promote the ghost town book, and to gather photos for the encyclopedia, I began to expand on this line of thought and to develop the idea of using the books debut and initial promotion to bolster the promotional efforts of a community along the road.
The question of where followed us in our travels. Pontiac and Atlanta, Barstow and Santa Monica, Tucucmcari and Kingman all seemed like ideal places for what I envisioned. Then we arrived at the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri to sign books along with Riva Echols and Joe Sonderman.
Even though the reception was a bit anemic there was a magic in the air; Connie's determined enthusiasm, Jane Reed's friendly focus, and the sense that this was a town where my support in the form of drawing media attention could be utilized with effectiveness. And so we selected Cuba Fest in Cuba for the big kick off.
Then we will take the show on the road. May I be of service to you and your efforts to promote Route66 or your unique community? If so, please drop me a note and lets see what I can do to help.

MORE THAN JUST A NAME

2012-01-25T19:00:00.002-07:00

The names roll off our lips with little thought to the story behind them. Chevrolet is a car, not a Swiss immigrant who came to the United States in the employ of Fiat, became a racing legend in the promotion of Buick, and who joined forces with William Durant to launch an automotive empire that become an American icon.
Chrysler is also a car, not some fellow named Walter who was instrumental in keeping GM afloat during some very difficult times. Likewise with Dodge, Nash, Buick, Edsel, Ford, Cadillac, and Studebaker.
We drive along Route 66, see the signs that ring with familiarity - Winona, Kingman, Barstow - and never give thought to the stories, or people, behind the names. Mention Cuba and fans of the highway think Wagon Wheel Motel, not an island in the Caribbean. Mention Romeroville and few will think Don Trinidad Romero.
Those individuals who lent their names to products and towns have been awarded a very dubious form of immortality. Their names are remembered and spoken throughout the world decades after their demise, but few know who they were.
The Stanley brothers were the fellows who manufactured the steam car. They were also the fellows who invented the dry plate photographic process that became the cornerstone of Eastman Kodak and manufacturers of quality violins.
The Don Trinidad Romero or Romeroville was a man without a country after the United States gained control of the New Mexico territory. He was also a prosperous freighter on the old Santa Fe Trail, a prominent rancher, the territorial representative to Congress, and sheriff of San Miguel County.
His home in Romeroville was the showplace of northeastern New Mexico. It was there he hosted formal dinners and entertained a wide array of prominent gusts such as President and Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, and General William T. Sherman.
For fans of the double six, Afton is that faded old town in Oklahoma with a former DX station that has been transformed into a "must see stop." However, for Anton Aires it was a tribute to his daughter, Afton Aires, and a memorial to his former home in Scotland along the Afton River.
Kingman will be forever linked to America's most famous highway resultant of a song that proclaimed this as THE road for getting your kicks. Meanwhile, the industrious, adventuresome, and somewhat vain, Lewis Kingman, a railroad location engineer who named this stop for himself, has been relegated to obscurity.
And that little town in Illinois known worldwide for the hospitality and good food found at the Ariston Cafe is the legacy of Electus Bachus Litchfield.
So, the next time you decide to motor west, give some thought to the names you see along the way. There might not always be an interesting story behind them, but there is most likely a very interesting person.
As a bit of a shameless self promotion, if your curious about the names of the towns along Route 66, I am quite sure you will find my next book, a Route 66 Encyclopedia & Atlas, of interest as I provide a concise history for every town on every alignment of Route 66! The book is scheduled for an October of 2012 release with an official debut being scheduled at the Wagon Wheel Motel during Cuba Fest in Cuba, Missouri.

YOU FIND THE STRANGEST THINGS IN THE ODDEST PLACES

2012-01-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

By nature, I am a rather inquisitive person. So, I suppose, that is one reason the research for the books and feature articles I write intrigues me so. And as I can't help but think there are others that share my proclivity to finding pleasure in obscure facts, a certain pleasure is derived in sharing what is learned.
As a result, being contracted to produce the Route 66 encyclopedia and atlas, and generous editorial parameters that allowed for up to 150,000 words of text, was akin to being a painter whose imagination was unleashed with a commission that allowed him to move from portrait painting to creating the artistry of the Sistine Chapel. However, the excitement derived in contemplating the massive blank canvas before me was tinged with a sense of apprehension as this work, a time capsule chronicling the 85 year history of Route 66, was seen as a sacred honor, a thought that magnified my obsession with accuracy.
Before the work of writing commenced, I created a basic framework for the project that included the need to have a concise history of every community on every alignment of Route 66. Then I buried myself in research, a project that manifested in an entire file drawer filled with notes.
Years ago I learned that in the quest for information you will find the strangest things in the oddest places. When offered the opportunity to write a book on the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company (subject of interview with Jay Leno, the clip is toward the bottom of this column), I jumped at the chance. Writing a book represented the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
This led to the learning of another lesson. Before accepting a project, always ask why no one had attempted it before.
As it turns out, little had been written about Checker because there was very little information available. It had been a family run operation from its inception, with the exception of a brief period in the 1930s when the founder, Morris Markin, lost control of the company and turned to E.L. Cord for assistance in regaining control of the helm.
Most decisions were made among a very small circle and there was very little promotional material produced as the company allowed the product to advertise itself. Further limitations on available material for research was derived from the fact that Markin owned another company, Checker Taxi, that he sold the cars to and through.
As a result, the period between 1922 and the end of World War II was an almost completely blank slate. Here was a company that had produced, in small numbers, a job specific designed vehicle that dominated much of he American taxi business and there was almost no documentation. Here was a company that produced an incredible number of specialty, niche market vehicles and there was only the faintest of paper trails, few photographs and fewer existent models.
In fact, when I wrote this book there were less than twenty existent Checker built vehicles to represent the period between 1922 and 1958! Needless to say, I was faced with a daunting task.
My first attempt at unraveling the Checker story was through the front door, a series of phone calls to the Checker company in Kalamazoo in the hopes of scoring an interview with David Markin, the founders son. When these efforts were rebuffed I turned to a friend who worked in the transportation wing of the Smithsonian Institute archives.
Imagine my surprise when I learned that their collection of pre war material consisted of five photos, two brochures, and a couple of trade journals from the 1920s! That was when I instituted my research in odd places starting with the Detroit phone book.
In the 1970s a writer by the name of Stanley Yost had gained access to the Checker files and written a book about some of the various Checker models. A the time he had lived in the Detroit area, and the photography shop that had copied the photos he used as illustrations was also in that city, or at least it had been thirty years before.
Well, to make a long story short, the photography shop was still in business, the gentleman who had owned the shop before selling it in the 1990s was still alive, and with just two phone calls, I had his phone number. As it turned out this was a dead end for he had lost contact with Mr. Yost when he moved to Florida. Even worse, the photos from the Checker archives, and his negatives had been donated to a now defunct museum.
Back to square one with but one lead, Mr. Yost, a WWII bomber pilot who kept in touch with the surviving members of his crew, enjoyed vintage cars and airplanes. After spending a bit of time browsing the member registry of the Society of Automotive Historians and the Antique Automobile Club of America, and looking for areas in Florida where car shows and plane shows were often held together, I had a list of towns where a Mr. Yost, if still alive, might reside.
I called information in the first town, was given a phone number, gave it a dial, and a very elderly Mr. Yost answered! We talked for quite awhile, he provided with me information as he remembered it, and informed me that he had obtained a number of factory photos and negatives (some on nitrate film and some on glass negatives) from Checker and dozens of other companies during he 1950s. He then had these made into slides but had given them away years ago.
When we hung up I wrote a note to myself pertaining to getting a picture of the Kingman Army Airfield from the Mohave Museum of History & Arts and sending it Mr. Yost. Then I turned to tracing other leads.
A week or so later, Mr. Yost called and said he had found two boxes of the automobile slides in the attic. He was unsure of the exact contents but if I was willing to pay shipping, they were mine.
Two weeks later I was the proud owner of more than twenty one of a kind Checker photos! As a bonus I also had pictures of Buffalo Bill Cody taking delivery of his 1903 Michigan, Ben Turpin with his new McFarland, and hundreds of other rare photos.
With that experience at the forefront of my thoughts, I set out to unravel the secrets of America's most famous highway with an excitement only equaled by the start of a Route 66 adventure.

THE CHUTE IS OPEN

2012-01-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, lets talk voyeurism in the guise of Route 66 travel blogs and sites. One of my favorites, listed below in the section for favorite blogs, is that of Laurel Kane who chronicles the adventures of a Route 66 business owner.

Afton Station, Afton, Oklahoma

Laurel is the owner and proprietor of Afton Station, in the faded old town of Afton, Oklahoma. This former DX station, with its cast of colorful characters that often frequent the place, exemplifies the modern era on Route 66 while preserving the spirit, the essence of what made this highway truly unique.
Vintage cars, with the emphasis on vehicles manufactured by Packard, are but one reason to make a pit stop here. The eclectic collection of Route 66 and Afton memorabilia is another.
But it is the people that make Route 66 a real treasure and at Afton Station that is exemplified in spades. With that thought in mind, to borrow something from Dave Knudsen of the National Historic Route 66 Federation, I have to rate Afton Stations as a "very special, must stop."
Route 66 is like a long string of mismatched diamonds, rubies, and precious stones. Some are polished, some are pretty rough around the edges, some are so dusty it is hard to see the sheen but each and every one of them is a gem. Afton Station is but one of them.
On our trip last October, I had the opportunity and pleasure of introducing my dearest friend to a few of them. It also provided the opportunity to discover a few others, something that shows just how amazing this old road is.
I have been following its twisted course from east to west and west to east for about a half century and yet there are still treasures awaiting discovery. Some were simply overlooked, others didn't exist on our last trip, and others have been carefully polished.

The trail to Amboy Crater

We kicked off a new year of adventures on Route 66 with a trip to Amboy, and the climbing of Amboy Crater, on the second of January. As the calendar fills, and we balance the call of the road, the obligations of the day job that supports the writing habit, and the urge to see old friends on the road, and make new ones, this trip seems more, and more symbolic for the year 2012.
A first glance it likes a long drive across a big empty followed by a long, dusty, tiring walk through an even bigger empty. But as the anticipation builds, and the trip begins, the grand adventure unfolds and soon the cares, worries, and stresses of the day are rolled back with the passing of each mile.
Standing here on the thresh hold of a new year, I am filled with that sense of anticipation and excitement tinged with a fear that has the stomach sucked up tight against the backbone that filled those last second before the chute opened for a very long eight second ride. Deadlines and tight schedules loom, but the reward is miles of smiles, and the need for a larger trunk to hold the memories made.

MILESTONES, UPDATES, AND NEWS FROM THE ROAD

2012-01-23T13:50:00.003-07:00

First on the agenda this afternoon is a milestone of note. Our 1,000th post is now less than ten entries away.

When this project began the primary catalyst was educational as I was at a cross roads. I could either become at least partially literate in regards to new technologies or I could just pull the plug and find some place where it was still possible to homestead, pan for gold, grow your own food, and keep the cabin warm with wood.

I like keeping things simple. I am also entranced with technologies of the past. Still, years ago I tried setting the way back machine to 1890 and found it to be a fascinating way of life. In fact, it was a good life, especially if I did not planning on living long and but now I am looking sixty right square in the eye.

My voyage into the modern technological era began with email, moved to digital photography, then the blog, and eventually, a website. Last year I actually sent a text message.

Now my goals are quite simple. Find a balance between the world of 1890 and the frustrating, cold, impersonal age of electronic technology. Somehow there must be a way to blend the two together.

Now, a couple of quick updates. John and Judy Springs, 66 The Mother Road, are cooking up a Route 66 contest that will be the contest others aspire to in future years. Details will be published soon.

The February issue of Smithsonian Magazine has a great feature article on Route 66. You can find more information, a link, and preview at Route 66 News. This is also a great source for current information, events, and the economic impact of Route 66.

Details are being finalized but it looks as though I will be signing books as a fund raiser for the Arizona Route 66 Association at the Powerhouse Visitor Center in Kingman during the annual Route 66 Fun Run scheduled for the first weekend in May. In addition, the push is on to have at least a portion of the Route 66 in Mohave County exhibit on the second floor mezzanine complete. My dearest friend and I were quite honored to be selected as the photographers for this state centennial project.

Next on my calendar will be the annual KABAM festival, also in Kingman, on the third weekend of the month of May. This celebration of books and literacy, another event I am quite proud to be associated with, features lectures at the library and at local schools, as well as a day in the park with authors, poets, and musicians.

I spoke with Sam, the owner of the historic El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, this past weekend, and am pleased to report he is holding fast to his plans for the renovation of this Route 66 landmark.

The neon sign in front is back on even though one letter needs repair. The neon trim on the office and first block of renovated rooms is again lighting the night. Now he is planning murals for the east walls and the relighting of the tower on the bluff at the back of the property.

We have added an option for the purchase of a print of the month in the right column along with options for ordering a signed copy of Ghost Towns of Route 66 and other travel guides written, Backroads of Arizona, Route 66 Backroads, and Ghost Towns of the Southwest. Next will be an option for selecting and ordering prints in various sizes that we hope to have operational in a week or so. I should also note that we are offering a discount for orders of ten or more, or for those looking to add our prints to the walls of their restaurant, motel, or office. Contact us for details.

Last, but not least, I am pleased (and just a bit concerned) to announce my schedule for 2012 is filling fast. The tab at the page contains details. If you would like to schedule an appearance for your fund raiser or event, please let me know soon.

WE ARE BACK!

2012-01-23T08:16:00.003-07:00

This past weekend gave me a litany of reasons to retreat to 1930, a time when the existent technologies did not dictate or dominate life, and they could be understood and repaired by most anyone with common sense and a box of basic tools.

On Saturday morning my attempt to provide a few exciting updates about Route 66 to the bog was met with a tab reading "Blogger Dashboard" and a blank page. Suffice to say, between my dearest friend and I we were able to figure it out.

Of course it required the loss of almost an entire day, a couple of beers, lots of prayer to avoid giving the computer a case of high velocity lead poisoning, and greatly elevated blood pressure. To say the very least, this past couple of days have solidified my belief that the modern electronic age and the society built upon it is a great deal like an inverted pyramid.

It was the type of weekend that has you looking forward to work for a bit of rest. In addition to the computer issues there was a bit of touch and go with my daughter in law (for a time it looked as though our granddaughter would be arriving a few weeks early) and as a result we had the grandchildren, an inquisitive 15 month old grandson and a delightful four year old granddaughter that likes to test the boundaries.

In between I worked on development of a business and marketing plan that will be utilized for the solicitation of corporate sponsorship for the envisioned Route 66 promotional tour that will include an educational program for schools, and the publicity for the new book, a Route 66 encyclopedia, as well as the previous book, Ghost Towns of Route 66. The idea is to use the promotion of these books as a venue for the promotion of the road, its unique culture, the people who give it life and vitality, and to educate a new generation about its importance to the evolution of American society. Lofty goals to say the very least.

There are a great number of developments on Route 66 that I look forward to sharing with you. So, this evening I will get these posted.

In the mean time there are a few meetings to attend, a dentist appointment, and other pressing details.

DARE TO IMAGINE

2012-01-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

Recent conversations with Dan Rice, owner of 66 to Cali on Santa Monica Pier, Jane Reed, a driving force behind the transformation of Cuba, Missouri utilizing the resurgent interest in Route 66, and Josh Noble, the tourism director in Kingman, have left few doubts that former U.S. 66, now known lovingly throughout the world as Route 66, is alive, well, and thriving. Evidence of this is found all along the highway.

Just look at the exponential increase of popularity being awarded 66 the Mother Road, or check out the reviews on Tripadvisor for properties such as the Wagon Wheel Motel, the Munger Moss Motel, the Blue Swallow Motel, the Motel Safari, the Galaxy Diner or the Ariston Cafe. Surf the net in search of Route 66 related sites and forums.
Still, as exciting as this is, I can't help but feel we are missing something of great importance in the single minded focus on iconic Route 66. The resurgent interest in this highway is more than the fostering of a bastion of mom and pop enterprise, it is the template for a new era of small business and a catalyst for the development of heritage travel that could fuel the renovation of historic businesses on other bypassed highways.

Route 66 is in a league of its own. No other highway in America can hope to ever equal it in popularity but is it possible for other communities connected by other forgotten highways to ride on its coat tails and emulate what is taking place on Route 66 with a degree of success? Can colorful communities that are rich with history such as Coldwater, Michigan on historic and scenic U.S. 12, or Towanda, Pennsylvania on U.S. 6, or Craig, Colorado on U.S. 40 move into the shadow of Route 66 from the darkness of obscurity?
The development of heritage travel tourism is about more than economic development, it is also the rediscovery of what has made this one of the most amazing countries in history and the rebuilding of a solid foundation for the future. This pride, this building of links with the past for a strong future, this passion for a return to a pregeneric world, is a tangible force all along Route 66. What if this spirit, this passion was unleashed in the communities along U.S. 6, U.S. 50, U.S 30?

I have been giving thought to this a great deal in recent months. It was in conversation with Dan Rice about the rise of heritage travel that the ideas came rushing to the forefront of my thoughts.
But why stop there. If we dare to imagine, let us dream big.
Could heritage travel be a cornerstone for an American renaissance? Imagine small town America where small grocers thrive by selling locally grown produce, and, as in Cuba, shoe stores serve generations of customers and the owners know their customers and their families by name?
Imagine the possibilities of an America where the essence of Route 66 is coupled to the wonders of the modern era. Imagine the wonders possible with the unleashing of the entrepreneurial spirit manifesting all along Route 66. Dare to imagine a world where the journey is again just as important as the destination.
Travel Route 66 in 2012 and unleash your imagination. Get your kicks on America's most famous highway, catch a bit of the enthusiasm you will find there, take it home, and turn it loose in your community to see what will grow.

NOTES FROM ROUTE 66 AND THE ROADS LESS TRAVELED

2012-01-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

Modern technology never ceases to amaze me even though I prefer simple things like a Model A Ford, an open road, and pie and coffee at some place like the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas. More on this subject in just a moment.
On Monday, I had a most interesting conference call with Carolyn Hasenfratz and Mark Rice of Webinar Resources. The topic of discussion was promotion of the forthcoming Route 66 encyclopedia in the modern electronic age including the use of Q-codes.
Tied with this was the secondary topic of a promoting the proposed Route 66 tour from behind the wheel of a vintage automobile, ways to utilize this unique approach as an educational device for sparking an interest in history in general with students, and the acquisition of corporate sponsors for this endeavor. I lean toward a Hudson Hornet for the venture for a wide array of reasons including the association this vehicle has with the movie Cars.
Still, I have had an almost life long fascination for the Model A Ford and feel that a vehicle such as this could serve as a key foundational element for educating children about the Great Depression, the role Route 66 played in the transformation of the nation and its society, and vintage vehicles as tangible time capsules. Shortly after our conversation I had time to reflect on what had been learned, as well as ways to transform the idea into a reality, while waiting for the dentist to finish his work.
On Tuesday, I found that Fred Woods, a local auctioneer, had dropped off a flyer at the office for an upcoming auction. Right there at the top was the Model A truck envisioned, just rough enough to look as though it were a dust bowl refugee but not so rough that it looked as though it were ready for a WWII scrap drive.
Oddly enough, I have never owned, driven, or worked on a Model A even though my fascination for these vehicles dates back at least 45 years. I have played around with Model T Fords, Hudson's of various vintages, and a staggering array of trucks manufactured between 1942 and 1975 but never a Model A.
So, I now had another item to file away and to intrude on the more immediate plans such as income tax preparation, captions for the encyclopedia, trolling for the next contract and work, and the myriad details associated with a 2012 calendar that is quickly becoming a tiger by the tail.
On February 26, I will be at Bookworks in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On March 11, I have business in Santa Monica and possible Burbank.
On April 14, I have been invited to the Oklahoma Center for the Book, 23rd Annual Oklahoma Book Awards celebration in Oklahoma City. The evening of the 19th is being set aside to meet, in Kingman, with Lon Haldman's group who will be bicycling Route 66.
The Route 66 Fun Run in Kingman is scheduled for the first weekend in May. Then I will use my first week of vacation to attend the Wheels on 66 event in Tucucmcari, scheduled for June 7th through the 9th, a part of the New Mexico Route 66 Motor Tour.
On June 19th, we have the long anticipated visit with Dries Bessels, his wife Marion, and their tour group for Holland. Dinner at Redneck's Barbeque in Kingman and lively conversation are the hallmark of the visit.
In July, the Route 66 in Mohave County exhibit will be unveiled at the Powerhouse Visitor Center. I am quite honored to have been selected as the photographer for this project.
Next on the calendar of events is the International Route 66 Festival scheduled for August 9th through the 12th in Victorville, California. Then there is a lull and the big one, the one we are counting the days for, Cuba Fest in Cuba, Missouri.
The excuse for this adventure, one that will consume my second week of vacation is the launch of the Route 66 encyclopedia and atlas. But in all honesty, we really need very little reason to visit the wonderful people in Cuba, to relax at the Wagon Wheel Motel and visit with Connie, or catch up with old friends such as Joe Sonderman, Dean Kennedy, and Rich Dinklella.
It is a schedule that makes me grateful for a day job to support the writing habit! Will you be joining us for a little fun and adventure on Route 66 in 2012?

ROUTE 66 CRIME BEAT

2012-01-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

Route 66, like the yellow brick road that led to the Emerald City, followed a twisted course through some very dark places on the way to the golden city by the sea. There were never any flying monkeys or vengeful witches but there were bandits, desperado's, and some generally nasty people.
In writing the Route 66 encyclopedia, as well as Ghost Towns of Route 66, I made the decision to avoid a great deal of sugar coating in telling the tale of this highway. That has been done far to often and as a result the image we have of the highway is often one dimensional instead of multifaceted.
John and Judy Springs, publishers of the exciting new publication 66 The Mother Road asked if I would share a few of the stories from the dark side of the highway for a forthcoming issue. So, I dug through the files to find news stories that would provide a little depth and context, as well as a little dark levity, to the Route 66 story. Here are a couple of my favorites -

Syracuse Herald, January 29, 1928 – dateline Wildorado, TX – “Wildorado, Texas, the most plundered town in the United States has an itching trigger finger.

The Wildorado State Bank has been robbed eight times in the last three years and he general store next door has been visited by bandits so frequently that its proprietors have lost count of the number of times they have looked down revolver muzzles.

Mrs. W.E. O’Neal, wife of the Wildorado State Bank president, acts as cashier of the institution and has been on the ground during most of the holdups.

Mrs. O’Neal is the woman who crossed swords with Jose Alvardo, famous gunman and state officer of Oklahoma, whom Governor Johnson recently took under his wing but who was found guilty of robbery since then and sentenced to eight years in the penitentiary.

Mrs. O’Neal identified Alvardo as the bandit who called her “sister” when the Wildorado bank was robbed last spring and who again warned, “Be careful what you say, sister” when she appeared at Alvardo’s requisition hearing in Oklahoma City.

The last robbery of the bank occurred when two youths armed to the teeth entered the building. Sharp-shooting citizens of the town had gathered quickly and captured one of the bandits. They were forced to release him, however, when his partner threatened to kill O’Neal, the bank president.

The bandits got only $100 in cash, all the bank dares keep on hand at one time.

One of the men participating in the attempted capture of these bandits was the night watchman who killed one robber and wounded another in a recent gun battle during an attempt to rob the Wildorado Grain and Mercantile store.

“How does it feel to be stuck up?” Mrs. O’Neal was asked after the last bit of banditry.

“It has happened so many times we are getting used to it,” she replied.”

The Hutchinson News, March 13, 1923 – dateline Wichita – “Basil Quilliam, Wichita grocer, who is said by local police to be a member of the Edie Adams notorious bandit gang, pleaded guilty in federal court here today to charge of conspiracy to rob the Rose Hill State Bank, Butler County, Kansas, November 10, 1921. Quilliam was arrested several weeks ago here and detectives found $19,000 in liberty bonds in his possession, they stated, which Quilliam said today was part of Halltown, MO. Bank robbery.”

Santa Fe New Mexican – March 24, 1928 – “Paul B. Campbell of Fairfield, Me. had one ear almost torn off, and Everett Hunter of the same place, was stunned and bruised but not badly hurt when a Ford overturned at the top of Little La Bajada Hill.

…Campbell said he had fallen asleep while driving on the highway, they reported. The Ford was wrecked.”

Alton Evening Telegraph – August 20, 1943 – dateline Edwardsville, IL – “Stolen early Thursday morning by burglars who broke into a service station adjoining Rut’s Corner tavern at Litchfield, Montgomery County, a 300-pound steel safe was recovered later in the day on a farm east of here, off Route 43, where it had been blasted open and abandoned.

Approximately $700 worth of liquor, stored in the service station was hauled away by the thieves, whose only reward for transporting the safe thirty miles and blasting it open was a meager $45 in cash the strongbox contained.”

THE TIN LIZZIE AND THE ORIGINS OF ROUTE 66

2012-01-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

The origins of Route 66 and the U.S. Highway system are firmly rooted in the bicycle craze that swept the nation in the late 19th century, and the resultant rising cry for better roads upon which to enjoy them. However, this bicycle mania did more than spawn lobbying groups such as the League of American Wheelmen, and consequently an organized "Good Roads" movement, it also served as a foundational element in the development of the American automobile industry.

Many of the pioneering automobile companies initiated production as bicycle manufacturers including Pope, Pierce-Arrow, and Haynes. An argument could also be made that it was the bicycle that spawned the American aviation industry as the Wright brothers initiated their endeavors with a bicycle repair facility in Ohio.

The speed with which the automobile, its manufacture, and the development of supportive infrastructure transformed society was without equal in history and only the development of the Internet and electronic communication can compare.

In the 1880s, Ransom Olds began endeavors to move his company from the production of stationary engines to self propelled vehicles with the development of experimental steam powered carriages. In 1896, a Duryea motor wagon received top billing at the Barnum & Bailey circus over the albino and fat lady.

By 1904, an automobile had been driven from coast to coast and there were literally dozens of companies manufacturing automobiles. In 1906, a Stanley built "steamer" established a new speed record that was just shy of 150 miles per hour. In the next three years, a race from New York to Paris, across the United States, China, and Russia, dominated international headlines and in 1909, the Wayne County Road Commission, on Woodward Avenue between Six and Seven Mile Roads, introduced a revolutionary new concrete roadway.

With the luxury of hindsight, we now see that 1909 was also the year for an event that truly transformed the world. This was the year Henry Ford introduced the Model T, a car that would become affectionately known as the Tin Lizzie.

One of the most innovative aspects of the new Ford was its price, less than$1,000. The overwhelming percentage of automobiles being produced sold for twice as much or more, and this at a time when a nice home could be purchased for $2,000.

Surprisingly, the new Ford offered state of the art automotive technology for this price. In fact it also featured a wide array of highly advanced features including extensive use of vanadium steel, a new process that allowed for lighter, stronger metals.

From his earliest endeavors in automobile production, Henry Ford had envisioned the automobile as a contrivance for the common man, a vehicle that would free farmers from rural isolation, and provide urban residents with access to the recuperative bucolic landscapes of the farmlands. The Model T was a manifestation of this vision.

Most manufacturers pushed the envelope of automotive technology and embraced the resultant advancements. Henry Ford chose to instead focus on means of streamlined and faster production to lower costs, and ways to keep the costs of production to an absolute minimum.
As a result, the cost for a new Ford continued to plummeted while other companies were forced to raise their prices. At the time of its introduction in 1909, the Model T sold for less than $900.00. By 1913 the base price had dropped to near $500.00.
Numerous companies tried to compete as Ford was soon dominating the market. Chevrolet introduced its model 490 (a nomenclature indicating the price) in its second year of operation but still was unable to compete as Ford merely lowered his prices.
By the late teens Ford had, with the exception of rubber, full control of every aspect of his automobile production. He owned vast tracks of hardwood forests in northern Michigan near Iron Mountain, a material utilized in the internal body ribbing of his cars as well as the wood spoke wheels. He also owned coal mines, iron mines, and railroad and ship companies for the transport of raw materials to the factory, and the transport of finished products to dealers throughout the world.
In the late teens he stood the social order of the day on its ear by instituting a $5.00 work day. Leading economists and bankers decried this as the unleashing of anarchy but Ford saw this as an opportunity for making his cars affordable to a larger customer base.
Then, in the 1920s, he built the legendary River Rouge plant. With docks and rail yards, this massive plant could literally take in raw materials at one end, and roll a completed vehicle from the other.
By 1920, Ford dominated the world automobile markets. A study from this period found that one in three automobiles in the world was a Ford. And this did not take into account the trucks or tractors also produced by the company.
The Model T represented an engineered simplicity that proved to be a perfect fit for the market of the times. With even limited mechanical skills repairs were possible with the most rudimentary of tools. It was rugged enough to meet the grueling road conditions of the time and was even designed to offer more frame and body flex to endure the rigors of rutted roads.
However, by the early 1920s the dominance of the Ford was facing serious challenges from numerous competitors. Roads were improving if ever so slightly. Technological advances allowed for manufactures to offer basic amenities even in low priced vehicles while Ford was still offering what was essentially a 1909 model automobile.
Ford had abandoned the water pump after 1910 to cut costs. By 1920, the Ford was still utilizing thermosiphon cooling.
The first successful electric starter made its debut on the 1912 Cadillac. This was not offered as an option on Ford produced automobiles until late 1923.
To put this in perspective, imagine having an electronics store today, and your inventory consisted of Commodore computers and Atari game consoles. This was exactly the position Ford dealers were in by 1925.
Henry Ford had consistently lowered the price, $390.00 in 1924, but the public was clamoring for a more modern vehicle and other manufacturers were more than happy to meet the demand. Chevrolet was nipping at the heels of Ford by 1924, and other companies such as Star and Willys Overland, were also garnering a share of what was once a Ford dominated market.
In 1927, Ford succumbed to the mounting pressures, including vocal complaints from his son, Edsel, and simply closed down operations while design work for a new and improved Ford commenced. The result would be the now famous Model A introduced for the 1928 model year.
Today, more than a century after its introduction, the lowly Model T remains a treasured memento. A recent study pertaining to classic car ownership indicated there were more than 300,000 of these cars registered world wide.
They remain, as intended, an every mans car. Restored examples sell for $10,000 or less making them ideal as an entry level vehicle for classic car enthusiasts. The parts supply is both plentiful and reasonable. Their simplistic mechanical design makes it easy for the novice to repair and maintain.
Henry Ford's Tin Lizzy forever changed the world. He put the world behind the wheel and, as a result, finshed what the League of American Wheelmen had begun, created a demand for good roads that could not be ignored.

DETOUR AHEAD

2012-01-13T14:56:00.000-07:00

With the exception of the Alcan Highway, there are few paved roads as exciting as legendary Route 66. However, as exciting as it is, with the addition of a detour or so a journey along the iconic old road can be greatly enhanced, and a near endless array of opportunities present themselves for future excursions.
These detours were the primary focus of a book I wrote, Route 66 Backroads. The primary shortcoming of this book was the fact that time and budget constraints often force the planning of a myopic journey along this highway and several of the detours outlined added one hundred miles or more to each deviation from Route 66.
With that thought in mind I have been giving thought to another book, one that is both a guide to Route 66, to the attractions found with the slightest of detours, twenty-five miles or less, and to seasonal wonders found with these detours as well as great places for stretching the legs after a long day on the road. The one exception would be Catalina Island, a never never land accessed via a drive from Santa Monica to Long Beach followed by a pleasant ferry ride across the Gulf of Santa Catalina.
In giving thought to this project the first detour to come to mind was the home of Abraham Lincoln, the recreated Mr. Lincoln's neighborhood, and a museum dedicated the 16th president and his world located just blocks from Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois. With a twenty mile drive on state road 97, you can round out the Abraham Lincoln experience with a visit to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, an historic village transformed into a time capsule from Lincoln's early adult years.
After exploring St. Louis, a brief detour from Route 66 in Hazelwood and Bridgeton that would be worthwhile is a visit to St. Charles just across the Missouri River a drive of less than twenty miles. Specifically, I would suggest the unique historic district with vestiges representing two centuries of history.
Missouri, as with Illinois, presents the opportunity for a wide array of diverse detours. A few that come to mind would be the Cave Restaurant in Richland just north of Laquey, Onodaga Cave State Park near Leesburg, and Harry Truman's birthplace about twenty-five miles north of Carthage.
Kansas would be a challenge. Not because there aren't things to see with a short detour but because of my unfamiliarity with the immediate area off of Route 66.
Detours in Oklahoma could be a book in itself. Guthrie, just north of Oklahoma City, with one of the largest, continuous historic districts on the National Register, would have to be included. Likewise with the Black Kettle National Grasslands, Red Rock Canyon State Park, and Lake O' Cherokees.
In Texas the list would have to begin with Palo Duro Canyon State Park even though it would push our detour mileage limit by just a bit. This wonderland of rocky spires, hiking trails, and awe inspiring vistas could easily be a vacation destination in itself.
My primary issue with New Mexico would be in showing restraint as most every road connected to Route 66, paved or unpaved, leads to a marvelous destination in less than twenty-five miles. The fact that the pre 1937 alignment loops through some of the most historic and scenic landscapes in the state, merely magnifies this dilemma.
There is Las Vegas with its magnificant Plaza Hotel, Madrid, Cerillos, the sky city of Acoma, and Pecos National Historic Park to name but a few. With the slightest of fudging in the mileage allowed for the detour we could add El Morro National Monument, Window Rock (actually in Arizona), and the Zuni Pueblo.

Hualapai Mountain Park near Kingman.

Arizona, like New Mexico, has near endless possibilities for little detours with very big rewards. There is the drive through the Petrified National Park and near Flagstaff, a great opportunity for a small hike through stunning landscapes at Walnut Canyon National Monument. Of course there is always Meteor Crater, the Johnson Canyon Railroad tunnel, White Horse Lake south of Williams, and the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge on the Colorado River.
I would be quite remiss if Haualapai Mountain Lodge and Hualapai Mountain Park were not included. Located less than twenty miles south of Kingman this pine forested island in a sea of desert has it all, especially for the summer traveler looking for a break from the heat. Fine dining, a small motel, rustic cabins, and miles of hiking trails are just a few of the areas many charms.
The desert from Needles to Barstow in California presents a wide array of opportunities but with the exception of Mitchell Caverns, none would be suitable for the months of summer when most folks take to Route 66. For those who prefer the months of fall or winter, I would have to include the beautiful hike to Amboy Crater.

Wrightwood, California

Another great summer detour is accessed from Cajon Junction. The charming village of Wrightwood nestled among the towering pines is a welcome respite, especially after a desert crossing.
The metropolis of Los Angeles, and its surrounding communities, offers more than enough detours for at least a vacation or two. Farmers Market is just south of Route 66 on Fairfax Avenue and just a few blocks to the south of this is the amazing Peterson Automotive Museum.

Topanga Beach is just north of Santa Monica. The world famous Venice Boardwalk is just to the south.

Hmm. I may have talked myself into another project.
Do you have a favorite detour along Route 66?

2012 - END OF THE WORLD OR DAWN OF A NEW ERA?

2012-01-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

Doom, gloom, disaster, and end times all make for good press. Do I need to remind you of Y2K or the current crop of predictions about 2012 that is making headlines and inspiring a cacophony of discussion?
Even though it appears we are going to relive a slow motion replay of the Great Depression, and be forced to endure a year of debates, meaningless rhetoric, and talking points carefully crafted to create division and the perception that there is a distinct difference between the preselected representative of party "R" and party "D", the year 2012 has more than a few bright spots to provide a ray of hope in the darkness. As it so happens, many of these are to be found along Route 66.
Perhaps the first place to begin our search for good news is in this economic impact study by Rutgers University. A couple of things that should be noted in regards to this report is the under reporting of foreign tourism, and the lack of a more in depth focus as evidenced by the few references to Kingman.
Next, we widen our search for good news to Australia. This link is for Route 66 Tours, a company owned and operated by Dale and Kristi Anne Butel.
Please note the booking status of tours on Route 66 through 2013. I should also note this is but one of dozens of international companies and associations planning tours along this highway in 2012.
Now, lets examine the success of an on line publication, 66 The Mother Road, launched in 2011. I suggest first reading the current issue and then reviewing earlier issues through the archives.
Not seen in this study is the fact that readership has increased dramatically in the past several months. Also not evident in this search is the fact it is now being read in dozens of countries, or that the publishers are planning an amazing contest that is sure to greatly expand readership as well as publicity for Route 66.
However, research of this type will only present a one dimensional picture. To truly grasp the impact, the enthusiasm, and the template for development that is found along the multifaceted Route 66, it will need to be experienced.

Dan Rice, left, and Chris Durkin, right, on Santa
Monica Pier.

Only in listening to a new breed of entrepreneur such as Dan Rice, owner of 66 to Cali and the current president of the Route 66 Association of California, Connie Echols, owner of the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, or Kevin and Nancy Mueller of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico will you begin to understand that Route 66 is more than a mere historic highway. It is a time capsule and a phenomena, it is the last bastion of mom and pop enterprise, and it is fertile ground for the ambitious, free thinking entrepreneur of a new era.
For years I have been expecting the international fascination with this highway to wane or level off. However, my recent travels along this highway in late 2011 confirm the Rutgers University report, the economic potential encapsulated in the resurgent interest in Route 66 has yet to be fully realized.

The Wigwam Motel in Rialto, California.

Only on Route 66 is there potential profit in the renovation of a circa 1949 motel with units built in the shape of teepee's located in a less than desirable neighborhood. This can be verified in discussions with the current owner of the Wigwam Motel in Rialto, California, Kumar Patel.
Only on Route 66 will you find a half empty franchise restaurant and a very full ten stool diner. Only on Route 66 will you find people traveling from the four corners of the earth to stand in an empty street and photograph ruins as evidenced most every day in the ghost town of Glenrio, Texas.
As people travel the road, see its potential, become enamored of its charms, and meet the people who seek its simple pleasures, another unique attribute of Route 66 is revealed. That is its ability to bridge cultures, barriers of language, and even racial divides.

Route 66 Fun Run in Kingman, Arizona

This is made manifest in a number of ways. These would include the international tour companies that cater to the foreign enthusiast, the number of international Route 66 associations, and most recently, the investment in, and renovation of, properties by either first generation immigrants or foreign born transplants such as the Israeli born owners of the 1939 El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, Arizona.
With the economic potential growing in direct correlation to the expanding fascination with the highway, and with more and more people seeking a simpler, more fruitful way of life, and with so many historic properties awaiting refurbishment, can there be any doubt that 2012 might mark the end of the world everywhere else, but on Route 66 it is the dawn of a new era.

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

2012-01-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

In the mid 1890s, Montgomery Ward said that the automobile was a fad the children should see before it passed. In 1906, a Stanley "steamer" was driven to a new speed record that was just shy of 150 miles per hour, there were almost three times as many horse drawn vehicles manufactured in the United States as automobiles, and Studebaker, a company that introduced its first automobile in 1899, an electric designed by Thomas Edison, and that was the largest manufacture of wheeled vehicles in the world in 1870, was quickly moving toward the abandonment of the manufacture of horse drawn equipment.

A tired old Ford out to pasture in Hackberry, Arizona.

Twenty years later, Route 66 and the U.S. highway system made its debut and the manufacture of automobiles by hundreds of companies, and its ancillary components as well as the development of supportive infrastructure, dominated the American industrial landscape. Surprisingly, a number of companies were still producing horse drawn vehicles but in numbers eclipsed by all but the smallest of automobile manufacturers.

Three decades later the dawning of the interstate highway system began sounding the death knell for Route 66, tail fins and the Edsel were about to transform the American automotive landscape, and fledgling motel chains were poised to end the dominance of mom and pop enterprise in that industry.

Americans have lived in the fast lane for more than a century now but the ever escalating speed of transition has left people hungering for solid ground, something tangible that is timeless, an escape from the dizzying changes that engulf them. Ironically, they have found it in Route 66, a highway that has been evolving since before its inception.

Santa Monica Pier from Pallisades Park

As a result, this iconic old road that sweeps across the heartland of America in gentle curves is fast becoming a blood stirring symphony where the past, present, and future blend together harmoniously. It is a 2,200 mile monument to what we were and to what we can be, it is a magic carpet of asphalt where dreams come true and memories are renewed.

I have traveled this old road for more than a half century and yet with each trip along its storied course find new reasons to hope for the future and opportunity to mourn what has passed. On our last trip along this legendary highway, we bid farewell to Zeno's with new found friends and discovered Angela's Cafe, renewed old acquaintances and joined in sorrow shared for those we have lost.

I am not myopic in my passion for the old roads, and the places that give them color or vibrancy. However, only Route 66 is woven into the threads of my heart.

And so it is with eager anticipation that I look forward into 2012. What discoveries will be made as I travel to Albuquerque on February 26 for a book signing at Book Works, and who will I be able to share them with?

What memories and friendships will be made at the Wheels on 66 event in Tucumcari, New Mexico in June? What will I preserve and who will I inspire with the Route 66 in Mohave County exhibit at the Powerhouse Visitor Center in Kingman?

Route 66 in 2012, another year of opportunities and memories along a highway signed with two sixes. Cuba Fest in October, the Fun Run in May, visits with friends from Holland in June, and friends from Australia throughout the year, are but a hint of what awaits us on this old road in the new year.

I may not be able to stop the world, nor would I want to. However, I can find temporary refuge and renewal in a magic carpet of asphalt that stretches across this great land. Will you be joining me in 2012?

A NEW YEAR, OLD IDEAS

2012-01-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

A new year is upon us and I am dusting off a couple of old ideas. The print of the month feature introduced in 2011 proved to be quite popular and I have decided to bring it back for the new year.

The first print to be offered will be the illustration that heads this blog. A different print will be offered every month. Details including cost and ordering information will be provided by the end of the week.

Special orders for prints of photos that have appeared on this blog, or orders for custom sized prints, can also be filled. Please contact me in regard to specific needs.

Signed copies of Ghost Towns of Route 66, and other titles I have written are still available. If there is lag time between your order and the receipt of my order from the publisher, you will be notified. However, at this time I foresee no delays.

One last note. Before we get to far into the new year, I would like to say thank you for the input, the ideas, and suggestions in 2011.

THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT

2012-01-10T16:17:00.001-07:00

It is a stilted, grainy old movie from 1940. Still, They Drive By Night, starring Humphrey Bogart and George Raft, remains one of my favorite "road" movies.

I am unsure when I last watched this film, or even when I last gave thought to it, but this weekends adventure brought it to mind. See, in recent years almost every one of my road trip adventures have taken place between the hour before the rising of the sun and within an hour of its setting in the west.

As a result, this film, and the allure of running the highways in the dark of the night that is enhanced by the fascinating and unique culture found in the scattered oasis of light along the way had almost slipped my mind. This weekends refresher course commenced with my agreement to help a friend recover a Toyota 4 Runner that he was thinking of purchasing in Salinas, California - a drive of almost 600 miles.

The primary obstacle to overcome was time constraints, his as well as mine. Our narrow window of time for this journey was between Sunday afternoon and Monday night. As it turned out, his work schedule, and issues with a hitch for the trailer, narrowed that window by preventing departure until four in the afternoon.

We rolled west toward the setting sun and by the time we made Barstow, darkness had settled across the desert transforming the isolated homes, dusty communities, and service stations into islands of light in a sea of black. As the interstate highway, and the glow of Barstow, were enveloped by the darkness we continued the westward trek on state highway 58.

Against a starlit desert sky the stark, dark outlines of mountains and empty homes presented a distorted illusion of depth, our lights cast aside the curtain of darkness ever so briefly, and the lights of oncoming vehicles first appeared on the horizon as tunnels between the day world and that of the night. In Mojave, in our search for supper we joined the denizens of the night.

The nighttime world of the highway, like its daytime counterpart, has been transformed into a long string of mediocrity. The harsh white light of fast food franchises and soulless cookie cutter signage of chain motels have left the individuality of the mom and pop motel, the local diner, and independent truck stop in dark shadows.

Succumbing to hunger, and the need to make time, I parked my disdain for the fast food franchise at the door, and joined the people of the shadows who had stepped into the light. In the corner, the chatter of a happy Hispanic family broken by the laughter of the children seemed oddly out of place against the solemnity of weary road warriors, equally weary youngsters made old before their time with years spent in the fast lane, and a couple of grey haired old men who warily viewed their fellow diners as though they were looking for an easy victim or from fear of being the easy victim.

Outside, like a wisp of fog moving through the shadows, a raggedy man moved amongst the trash cans in search of dinner. And on the highway that beckoned, an endless stream of bright lights became dimly glowing embers of red as they passed into the night.

And so the hours passed as we rolled into the night. In the distance, like a lighthouse casting its feeble glow across black waters, a station, a house, or a business shuttered for the night served as the only beacons to mark our progress.

We arrived in Salinas in the very early hours of the morning, found a motel, and awaited the mornings light in a land of dreams. All to soon it was time for a shower, shave, breakfast, and a return to the road. With business completed by 1:00, we began the long journey home.

The signs designate the road between Salinas and Paso Robles as U.S. Highway 101 but long before the advent of the U.S. highway system, or the automobile, or the state of California, this was the El Camino Real. The sense of history hangs as thick as the dust and pollutants that tinge the air brown all along this highway that rolls through a timeless land of pastoral beauty with orchards, vineyards, and farms framed by majestic hills crowned with gnarled oaks.

However, like an overlay of Picasso on a Rembrandt, the world of modern American suburbia, and vasts forests of oil well pumps, intrudes on the serenity of the landscapes that embrace the highway here. Auto malls press in on vast fields with fresh furrows, and farm houses from another era stand silent and empty as parking lots and restaurants ebb ever closer like a rising tide that will soon wash over them leaving less than a memory.

Hints of what once still abound. Here is a winery and there a fruit stand, there is the Jack Ranch Cafe and the modern incarnation of the historic Blackwell Corners store with its wide array of locally produced jams, jellies, sauces, and bags of nuts.

Mercifully, the cloak of darkness had begun its descent as we made our way into Tehachapi in search of fuel and food, and when we again took to the road, the night had erased the sense of time or place. Shortly after the glow of the tail lights left the wide spot in the road that is Boron in the dark once again, a battle for dominance of the desert night commenced.

There in front of us the harsh lights of Barstow held the night at bay, and on the eastern horizon, there was the bright glow that hinted soon the desert would be awash in the yellow light of a full moon. Of the two, it was the glow of the moon that quickened the spirit for there are few things in this world more beautiful than the vast, harsh landscapes of the desert softened and transformed by this gentle light.

In Ludlow, even the tattered and tarnished remnants of better times seemed less forlorn in the glow of the full moon. This, coupled with the faint pulse of life made manifest in the lights of the Ludlow Motel, and the service station, presented an illusion this was a sleeping town, not a dying one.

Even though the hour was late, and the weariness of the long trip was settling into our bones, we made the decision that a road trip, even a frenzied one, could not be considered complete without the briefest of forays into the lost world of pregeneric America that lives on along Route 66. So, with that thought in mind, we left the interstate highway in Needles, California, and made a pit stop at Panda Garden.

With my nostalgia for the night reawakened, I suppose it is again time to watch They Drive By Night.

A LAND OF CONTRASTS

2012-01-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

Today marked another opportunity to prove my adage that the worst day on Route 66 is better than the best day anywhere else. It also reinforced my firm belief that adaptation to failed plans, while wearing a smile, is key to survival.

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge on the
Colorado River

As winter is the only sane time for exploration of the Colorado River Valley, and as the weather has been delightfully warm this past week, we made plans to explore the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and gather more images for the forthcoming Route 66 in Mohave County exhibit at the Powerhouse Visitor Center in Kingman. The game plan called for leaving after I closed the office at noon, and following the pre 1952 alignment of Route 66 through Oatman to the river, a pleasant drive through a land of startling contrasts.
The first little incident occurred as we were leaving Kingman on Route 66. An elderly couple that appeared to be somewhere between seventy and two hundred years of age dominated the road in front of us with the cruise control set at 35 miles per hour as they motored west in a massive late 1970s Lincoln Town Car.
Now, I am quite passionate about vintage vehicles and am so happy to see them in their native habitat that it is quite easy to tolerate their speed limitations. Of course, many vintage car owners stay close to the shoulder and will even pull off to let you pass on occasion.
The folks in the Lincoln were wholly oblivious to the traffic backing up behind them. They were as equally oblivious to the yellow line, the shoulder, and on coming traffic. The resultant tension was not so much a result of being stuck behind them as it was the sense that I was watching a vintage Lincoln being readied for its final stop at Dan's Auto Salvage, which was just a mile or two ahead.
We left the weaving travelers at Crazy Fred's Truck Stop and the drive across the wide Sacramento Valley and into the Black Mountains was, as always, a delight. Then we made it to Oatman - just in time for the shoot out which blocks the road and backs up traffic from one end of town to the other.
Call me a stick in the mud but in all honesty I preferred Oatman in the 1960s when it consisted of two rows of empty stores, a few empty houses, a bar, and a cafe. Tourism has been a boon in the sense it has kept the town from following Gold Road into obscurity but at what cost? Original structures were replaced by cheap caricatures and authenticity was traded for a veneer of Disneyland.

If your new to the southwest and are happy with Disneyland styled fun then Oatman can be a real hoot. If, however, you are looking for historical authenticity, or a bit more than several blocks of false fronted gift shops, just plan on driving through.
We ran the gauntlet in Oatman, made a pit stop in Golden Shores, and continued our journey into the desert oasis of the Colorado River Valley. Initial plans called for exploring the more scenic California side of the refuge but after spending some time along the dike in Arizona, the winds began to pick up, a tell tale sign they soon would be howling across the desert.
As solace for cutting the trip short, there was the promise of dinner with my dearest friend, and some left over, home made lasagna, at the end of the trail. So, with this as our reward, we began retracing our steps over the pre 1952 alignment of Route 66 through the Black Mountains.

Even though the winds were beginning to rock the Jeep, we couldn't resist a slight detour to explore some ruins below Route 66 that have intrigued us for quite some time. I know nothing of the history behind this forlorn homestead but the date in the concrete of the cistern is 1947 and there is ample evidence that someone was quite ambitious as well as gifted in regard to working with stone.
The remainder of the trip was pleasant and uneventful. As there was little to no traffic through the mountains and across the Sacramento Valley, I decided to emulate the elderly drivers of the Lincoln, with the exception of ignoring the shoulder or the yellow line, and savor the pleasure of a quite drive along the most famous highway in America.

And so ends another grand adventure on legendary Route 66.

DISTRACTIONS AND ATTRACTIONS

2012-01-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Technically the most famous highway in America does not exist as U.S. 66 vanished from maps almost a quarter of a century ago. Today, as in the era between the end of the first world war and the dawning of the U.S. highway system, legendary Route 66 is a series of state and county roads, unsigned dirt tracks with conflicting names, and city streets.

If this were any other highway a fair bet could be made that few, if any, would try to unravel its twisted course. But this is Route 66, a highway unlike any other and as a result, seeking the various alignments, deciphering its evolutionary course, and unlocking its secrets is part of its allure and charm.

If this were any road but Route 66, the intertwining attractions and distractions that line its disjointed course across the heartland of America would discourage all but the most hearty and adventuresome traveler. However, as this is the legendary Route 66, these too become a part of the charm that entices travelers from throughout the world to make the pilgrimage at least once.

Oddly enough, there was a time not so long ago when U.S. 66, in spite of the promotion and hype, was often the inspiration for a litany of curses. In the not so distant past Route 66 was legendary but not for what makes it legendary today.

From this perspective it seems quite fitting that Route 66 and the '57 Chevy share center stage in the pantheon of modern American icons. In 1957, dealers lamented the warmed over 1955 models masquerading as new cars and buyers avoided Chevy showrooms in droves. In 1957 the cacophony of voices screaming for modernization, for the replacement of Route 66, were reaching a crescendo.

How the highway signed with two sixes, or the '57 Chevy, was transformed into a beloved American icon may never be explained or understood. Likewise with the passionate reverence both now receive.

Still, there is no denying that both long ago transcended their orignal purpose. Nor is there any denying that in them the line between myth and reality is blurred.

To analyze the reasons for the popularity of the highway, or the car, is akin to reducing the Mona Lisa to a study of brush strokes. Route 66 is now a national treasure, a delightful treat to be savored and longed for.

The vintage motels with garish neon and empty gas stations, gift shops and museums, ancient bridges and broken asphalt stretching to a distant horizon across a desert plain, ghost towns and diners, original and recreated, are woven into a colorful tapestry that awakens the senses. The people who preserve the roads history, refurbish its time capsules, and that serve the pie and coffee are the symphony that stirs the soul.

Just as it is impossible to capture the awe inspiring majesty of the Grand Canyon with the lens of a camera or with a painters eye, Route 66 must be experienced to be understood. And as with the Grand Canyon, one visit or one hundred is never enough as the beauty, the sense of renewal draws you back time and again.

FROM RADIATOR SPRINGS TO A SCHOOL NEAR YOU

2012-01-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

No where in my epitaph will you see me referred to as a man without imagination. If small dreams were a penny a pound, I would be quite wealthy and if big dreams were two cents a pound there would be enough in the bank account to pay off the national debt and still have enough left to let the president and congress continue their unrestrained spending spree for a year or two.

But as most dreamers know, dreams have less value than a promise from a politician. The reward is in the transformation of those dreams into a tangible reality but those rewards are not always monetary in nature.

As noted in a couple of previous posts, my latest attempt at alchemy began as the dream for a novel foundation upon which the promotion of my next book, a Route 66 encyclopedia and atlas due for release in October of 2012 could be built. At some point that dream morphed into a unique opportunity for the promotion of Route 66, its colorful culture, and the people who keep it alive.

Then, as dreams so often do, it began to grow. Now my overactive and fertile imagination saw an even more exciting facet to this endeavor. Here was an incredible opportunity for introducing Route 66 to a new generation, for transforming the dull and dusty subject of history into something exciting, something to be passionate about, something with relevance to the present as well as the future.

The secret to these dreams manifesting into reality were contained in a single automobile, a once legendary automobile that had dominated the NASCAR tracks in the early 1950s - the fabulous Hudson Hornet. If it were not for the recent animated film, Cars, the legend of the Hornet would have faded into obscurity with only die hard NASCAR and automotive history fans remembering its prowess just as the mighty Stutz Bearcat had faded a generation before.

What if I were to bring Doc Hudson from Radiator Springs to a school near you? What if kids could touch a tangible link between the animated world and reality, a link between the muscle car and automotive antiquity, a link to an era when the Main Street of America was signed with two sixes?

Imagine the opportunities for promoting the virtues of iconic Route 66 that would unfold as Marshall Teague's racing Hornet was transported from the 1951 NASCAR track to the 21st century. Imagine that growling Hudson as the pied piper for a band of vintage automobile enthusiasts motoring west on America's most famous highway.

Will the dream become a reality or, just as a clanging alarm clock banishes the most vivid dream to the misty recesses of memory, will the reality keep it imprisoned with the unfulfilled dreams of childhood?

Well, the lofty goal of transforming this dream into a reality is my quest for 2012. Rest assured, details will be provided as they become available. What good is a dream unless it can be shared with others?

Now, a quick Route 66 related news item. I drove by the El Trovatore Motel last evening and most of the front neon sign was lit, as was the facia trim in front of the restored block of rooms! Bright red letters spelling motel flashed in the night and cast their glow over Route 66 for the first time in more than a decade.

In the past couple of weeks a great deal of construction related activity has been observed in an around the historic motel. Checking with Sam to see how progress is going is high on my "to do" list.
If things go according to plan, we will be photographing the Topock Gorge and Havasu National Wildlife Refuge this weekend for the forthcoming Route 66 in Mohave County Exhibit at the Powerhouse Visitor Center in Kingman. I often list this area as an overlooked Route 66 associated attraction. In next weeks report I will provide some details about this very rare desert oasis.

RATING THE TOP ATTRACTIONS, MOTELS, AND RESTAURANTS ON ROUTE 66

2012-01-04T14:20:00.001-07:00

For the past several years we have launched into the dawning of a new era with our ratings of sites and attractions along Route 66. So, without further introduction ...
BEST ORIGINAL RESTAURANT
On our road trip in October we tried out quite a number of restaurants, cafes, and diners along Route 66. Most were very good, some were absolutely excellent, but there was only one Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois, a living time capsule in most every sense of the term.
The food was excellent, the prices were acceptable, and the service was very professional. But it was the authenticity and the very subdued Route 66 hype that rounded out the perfect package.
BEST ORIGINAL MOTEL
We have not tried every motel along Route 66 but among those we have tried there is only one that stands out for its originality. As a bonus, the owners are quite amicable, the rooms are exceptionally clean with but the thinnest veneer of modern amenities to provide comfort without distracting from the sense of stepping back in time, and the rates are more than reasonable.
So, if you are looking for a real time capsule for lodging, our vote is for the Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri.
THE PHOENIX
The mythical Phoenix rose from the ashes, a symbol of renewal. On Route 66 in 2011 there are two properties that exemplify the very meaning of renewal.
Both of these properties reflect the passionate hard work of the owners in their effort to provide a sense of time travel without the sacrifice of any modern amenities. Both of these properties have risen from the ashes of obscurity and decay to become destinations.
These properties, the Wigwam Motel in Rialto, California, and the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, make it quite clear that mom and pop enterprises are alive and well on Route 66.
A hearty thank you to Kumar Patel and Connie Echols for your hard work, your dedication, and inspiration.
MOST ENTHUSIASTIC NEWCOMERS
Without the people that make it something truly special, Route 66 would merely be another dusty road with an important and colorful history. Without the people it would never have been transformed from highway into icon, and without the people it would never have survived into the modern era with such a promising future.
Ensuring this promising future are the newcomers, those people who have recently discovered the highways charms, that have been entranced by it, that have been transformed by it, and that are passionate spokesmen for it. For 2011, I would have to recognize the Mueller's, the new owners of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, as the highway's most enthusiastic newcomers.
MOST ENTHUSIASTIC COMMUNITIES
On rare occasions entire communities can be swept up by the history, the color, and the magic of Route 66. Those that due are often transformed from drab, dusty, colorless modern communities with historic districts into thriving, colorful, vibrant towns that exude excitement and promise.
For 2011, this category is shared by two communities, Pontiac, Illinois, and Cuba, Missouri. I also have two to nominate that are nipping at their heels - Tucumcari, New Mexico, and Atlanta, Illinois.
BEST MUSEUM
This was really a difficult choice to make as there are so many excellent ones including the Devil's Rope Museum, McLean, Texas, the National Route 66 Museum, Elk City, Oklahoma, Route 66 Mother Road Museum, Barstow, California, Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum, Pontiac, Illinois, the Route 66 Museum in the Powerhouse Visitor Center, Kingman, Arizona, and the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma. However, it was the Route 66 Museum in the Lebanon-Laclede County Library in Lebanon, Missouri that really grabbed my attention on this last years travels.
I really can't explain what made this museum such a standout. I am unsure if it was the friendly staff, the fascinating exhibits, or the incredible Route 66 dioramas gifted by the Bor family of Holland that reflect the international passion for this amazing highway.
MOST HOSPITABLE
This was another tough call and I hope no one is offended by my selection as we found hospitality most everywhere on Route 66. Still, for us there were two exceptional standouts in 2011, Cuba, Missouri, and Amarillo, Texas.
At the Route 66 Festival in Amarillo, we, and everyone else who participated received the red carpet treatment. In Cuba, at an event with Joe Sonderman at the Wagon Wheel Motel, we were treated as family in town for a visit.
MOST OVERLOOKED ATTRACTIONS
With our trip to Amboy Crater this past weekend, the list of most overlooked attractions just got a bit longer. In addition to the crater, I would add Memory Lane in Lexington, Illinois, Walnut Canyon National Monument just to the east of Flagstaff, Arizona, Hualapai Mountain Park, 12 miles south of Kingman, Arizona, the schoolhouse museum in Goffs, California, Palo Duron Canyon south of Amarillo, Abraham Lincoln's home and neighborhood in Springfield, Illinois, and the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge on both sides of the Colorado River near Needles, California.
BEST KID FRIENDLY STOP
If I were limited to just one stop on Route 66 for the kids it would be Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Stuanton, Illinois. Simple, old fashioned fun just as it was when Route 66 was the Main Street of America is at the very heart of what makes this my favorite kid friendly stop.
BEST GUIDE BOOK
Published the National Historic Route 66 Federation, the EZ 66 Guide by acclaimed author Jerry McClanhan has yet to be beat. It and the Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide, also published by the federation, are the two guides we travel with.
BEST ROUTE 66 BOOK FOR 2011
My favorite acquisition in 2011 was the latest title by Joe Sonderman and Jim Ross, Route 66 in Oklahoma. This is the first joint effort between Sonderman and Ross, but I have been adding the latest Sonderman release as soon as they become available.
A very close runner up would be Route 66 Sightings by Jim Ross, Shellee Graham, and Jerry McClanahan.
It is never easy to compile our annual "Best of List." There is always the concern we will present the wrong impression about attractions or businesses (such as 4 Women on the Route, Afton Station, or Angela's Cafe) because they were not included.
Simply put, there just isn't enough time to list all of the amazing places awaiting discovery along Route 66. And if there were, by the time I finished the list it would be old news as some of our favorites, such as Zeno's, are gone, and we have discovered new ones, such as the Palms in Atlanta, Illinois.
Would you care to share your list of favorite places on Route 66?

STARTING THE NEW YEAR WITH A ROAD TRIP TO AMBOY

2012-01-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

For at least a dozen years or so my dearest friend and I have kicked off the new year with a day trip into the desert where we can meditate on the year and years that have passed, the year ahead, savor some of God's finest handiwork, and simply enjoy each others company over a picnic lunch. More often than not, time and budget constraints have resulted in short excursions out to Red Lake, a beautiful dry lake north of Kingman, long walks along the extensive trail system in the Cerbat foothills, or a trek to one of the ghost towns in the nearby mountains.

For two years we discussed something a little more grandiose and adventuresome, climbing Amboy Crater near Amboy, California along Route 66. As a cold that seemed impossible to beat hung on through the last week of December, it looked as though we were going to have to postpone that quest once again.
Surprisingly, we awoke Monday feeling like a couple of kids who had won a trip to Disneyland. So, while my dearest friend gathered the gear, I topped off the tank on the Jeep, and stopped at Safeway for a few last minute items.
By 8:00, we were off on a 276 mile adventure that included Route 66, and some truly spectacular desert landscapes filled with empty. Exactly what we needed to end one year, and launch another.
As we saddled up there was just enough of a chill to require a sweater. By the time we made Needles, we had shed the sweater, and by the time the dusty Jeep pulled into the parking lot at the crater, I had rolled up my sleeves and was contemplating the abandonment of the long john shirt.
I won't provide the tragic details but long ago a valuable lesson was learned the hard way. If you are planning a one day adventure into the desert, even on a paved road, plan for two. If you don't need the water, or extra food, you just might find someone who does.

So, for this little jaunt I had a case of water in the Jeep, and in the pack, ten bottles as well as a can of kippers, a thermos filled with two cups of lintel soup, crackers, nuts, and some dried fruit.
The hike to the crater is a relatively easy one, with the exception of the last couple of hundred yards into the crater, and then the final climb to the rim that looms 250 feet above the vast lava and cinder field that surrounds it. The distance is just over one mile to the crater, roughly one mile around the rim, and a return on the same trail for a total of about 3.5 miles.
The well marked trail courses through fine sand, volcanic cinder, and slabs of rippled lava as it gently climbs toward the cone that dominates the horizon. Along the way are a few pleasant shaded benches.
Still, this is not a hike to made in the months of summer. I am quite sure the temperature exceeded eighty degrees during our adventure, about thirty or forty degrees cooler than what can be expected during the months of summer.
This is desert pure and simple. At the nearby town of Bagdad, the railroad documented an "unofficial" record of 747 days without measurable precipitation in the years bracketing 1912.
Even on a short hike such as this, be prepared. The desert can be very unforgiving of mistakes or stupidity.

Now, with that said, I would rate this as a "must stop" on a Route 66 tour, even if you just pull into the paved parking lot and view the crater from the shaded observation deck or to savor the solitude while sipping a cold drink at one of the shaded tables. In fact, if I were to compose a list of great places for stretching the legs along Route 66, this little jaunt would rate up there with the Chain of Rocks Bridge and Memory Lane near Lexington, Illinois.
As we were in no hurry, and as we love to bask in the desert solitude, we spent a leisurely hour hiking into the crater, and another twenty minutes or so climbing to the rim. For our efforts we were rewarded with million dollar views of vast desert plains and snow covered peaks on the horizon to serve as a backdrop for our lunch.

The return trek was rather anticlimactic, with the exception of the steep descent from the bowl to the valley floor down a slope composed largely of loose cinders. It wasn't a death defying stunt but it did provide an opportunity for a definite quickening of the pulse.
To celebrate the conquering of Amboy Crater, we stopped in Amboy for a bottle of ice cold Coca Cola. I was a bit saddened by the apparent lack of progress in adding some polish to this tarnished gem but this was tempered just a bit with the time capsule feel of that ice cold bottle in my hand, and using the bottle opener on a chain at the counter.
A Route 66 road trip. An invigorating hike. Awe inspiring landscapes. And sharing all of this with a very dear friend. Now this is the way to jump start a new year!

ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE

2012-01-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

On a more personal note, I would like to say thank you to each and everyone who provided the bright spots that made the trying and tumultuous 2011 a year like not other. The list of to whom we owe a special thanks is a lengthy one that includes Wolfgang Werz, Dries and Marion Bessels, Dale and Kristi Anne Butel, Joe Sonderman, Rich Dinkella, the Mueller's, "Croc" Lile, Jerry McClanahan, Jane Reed, Connie Echols, Josh Noble, and Ramona and Bob Lehman.

A Route 66 time capsule in Kingman, Arizona

With the exception of final edit, photo selection, and the writing of captions, the Route 66 encyclopedia and atlas is finished. As the primary goal for this project was to craft a time capsule representing the 85 year history of Route 66, the people behind its crafting and transformation into an icon, and that highways origins, I made the very difficult decison to break with tradition and as a result, this book will not feature the work of Kerrick James.
The photographic artistry of Kerrick served as a key element in the success and superb reviews received for previous titles such as Ghost Towns of the Southwest, Backroads of Arizona, and Route 66 Backroads. In Ghost Towns of Route 66, my wife and I supplied a few of the illustrations but it was Kerrick that ensured the vitality of the book.
It should noted that Kerrick and I do have a few joint projects simmering on the front burner. One of these is a feature, or series of features profiling Route 66 for Arizona Highways.
A primary reason for this departure was the very generous contributions made by collectors Joe Sonderman, who is also an accomplished author, Mark Ward, and Steve Rider. These historic images will account for about 90% of the illustrations with the remaining 10% being supplied by my wife and I.

An example of the historic images to be used as
illustrations in the Route 66 encyclopedia. This
photo is from the Joe Sonderman collection.

As I envision my work to be a foundational element for the promotion of the highway, the people who keep its unique culture alive, and their businesses, we are planning to coincide the premier for this book with Cuba Fest in Cuba, Missouri on October 20th. Ambitious plans are in the works to follow this with a year long promotional tour that includes appearances at several major Route 66 events, a serious of articles for various publications detailing this tour that I hope will be made in a 1951 or 1952 Hudson Hornet, and a wide array of appearances at schools with the goal of sparking an interest in history.
Tied to this are plans to introduce the wonders of Route 66 to a wider audience, and to, hopefully, spark an American enthusiasm for the highway, its history, and its importance that will equal that expressed by European, Australian, and Japanese visitors. With that as the goal, I am crafting a few features that will present the old highway as the ideal venue for vintage automobiles.
I finished the first of these features for Old Cars Weekly a few weeks ago. The scheduled date for publication is unknown at this time.
This takes me back to a reoccurring theme. Another project I am quite excited about, and that I am very honoroed to be associated with is the development of a photographic exhibit entitled Route 66 in Mohave County for the Powerhouse Visitor Center in Kingman.
At this time plans call for it to be complete by July of this year. However, it will be displayed in segments until that date with the first segment scheduled for completion in February.
As the title states, this posting is a bit of a personal note. With that said, I have one more observation to share.
After traveling the highway in October, and making every effort to see it as though it was our first trip, I am quite convinced that the best is yet to come on Route 66, and that 2012 could be an amazing year. The interest and fascination with the iconic old highway seems to be increasing instead of leveling or waning.
More communities are awakening to the economic potential in developing attributes of their association with the highway. Resultant of this, Route 66 is being transformed into more than America's longest attraction, it is also becoming its longest time capsule and a template for the resurgence of mom and pop enterprise.

2012, DAWN OF A NEW ERA ON ROUTE 66

2012-01-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

It is the dawn of a new year and, possibly, a new era on Route 66. Please, let me explain what I envision and then, perhaps, together we can unleash the Phoenix from the glowing embers that is the resurgent interest in America's most famous highway.
With the exception of Mr. Knudesn's National Historic Route 66 Federation, the various organizations and publications created in the past two decades to promote and preserve Route 66 have met with limited degrees of success. The reasons for this are as varied as the landscapes through which this highway passes.
Some were initiated with good intentions but lacked the resources to make the vision a reality. Others were blatant, self serving attempts to profit from the resurgent interest in the highway and as a result stifled honest efforts to create a unified, linear Route 66 community that mirrored the one created by the U.S. Highway 66 Association launched in February of 1927.
Now, more than ever, the Route 66 community needs that unified voice, an organization that stitches together the wide array of individual and state association efforts into a cohesive element. So, here is a summary of what I propose. Please, feel free to provide your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.
1) This organization would not supplant or intrude into the affairs of existent state associations, city promotional efforts, or organizations such as the National Historic Route 66 Federation. Instead, it would serve to coordinate efforts between these various entities.
2) This organization would consist of an eight member board, one representative from each state, and a director. Preferably the state representative would be appointed by the Route 66 association in each state.
3) As examples of how this organization would benefit the Route 66 community, and serve as unifying element -
a) maintain a list of speakers, authors, and artists to expedite the organizational efforts of city or state associations to create events -
b) in a manner similar to that of Tripadvisor, allow travelers to provide reviews of dining and lodging establishments, as well as museums, attractions, and events. Complaints would be forwarded directly to the owners or managers of properties and their response would also be published -
c) the organization could serve as the information clearing house for film crews, tour companies etc. seeking information about the highway, planing a trip on the highway, looking for site specific information, contact information, etc. -
d) assist organizations in the promotion of events through press releases, the publication of articles written about the event for appropriate publications, etc. -
4) The organization could create a much needed electronic archive of historic photographs, post cards, maps, etc.
5) The organization could assist in the design of programs for dissemination through schools and universities. In addition, it could provide contact information for speakers to present these programs.
6) The organization could provide key distributors of information, such as Route 66 News, with press releases for events, updates on artists and authors, reports with accompanying photographs and other pertinent information.
7) Funding for the organization, including a salary or travel reimbursement for board members and the director, would be derived through membership dues, and state tourism monies.
8) As incentive for businesses to join, the association would publish a yearly directory of member businesses with an overall rating derived from traveler reviews. These businesses would be asked to provide organization members a 10% discount on services which would serve as individual incentive for membership.
Okay, thoughts, ideas, suggestions?

MORE GOOD NEWS FROM ROUTE 66

2011-12-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

The post today will be a bit shorter than usual as I am still fighting a miserable cold and there are a multitude of loose ends to tie up before our annual New Years road trip. But to make up for this I promise lots of exciting news. So, lets get started.
The latest issue of 66 The Mother Road, a free, full color electronic magazine is now available. If the latest issue is a hint of what we can expect from the publishers, John and Judy Springs, in 2012, it will be a very exciting year indeed.
The next item of note pertains to the latest book from Joe Sonderman, Route 66 in Oklahoma. All of Joe's books are welcome additions to the library and this one continues that tradition.
Joe partnered with Jim Ross, one third of the Three Musketeers of Route 66 in Oklahoma, for this work. So, you not only have treasures from Joe's vast collection of vintage postcards and photographs, as well as his extensive knowledge of the subject, you have some of Jim's as well.
If you have an hour or two to spare you can stroll down memory lane from Chicago to Santa Monica on Joe's website. You may also order signed copies of his books through this site as well.
On June 7th, Tucumcari will be the place to be. Wheels on 66, a part of the New Mexico Route 66 Motor Tour celebration kicks off its first year in grand style.
The last item of the day is does not fit our time of good news. In fact, it is the flip side of the coin.
Roy Dunton, a prominent businessmen in Kingman whose association with Route 66 includes working at his uncles shop in Goldroad during the 1930s, transforming the Kimo Cafe into Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner, and operating the Chevrolet, Ford, and Edsel franchises in Kingman along Route 66, had his home burglarized over the holidays. Missing is a very rare commemorative Body by Fischer coach and figurines, one of 6,000 produced.
The family is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the item. I will post pictures as soon as possible but if you have any information the family may be contacted at 928-279-4629 and the police department number is 928-753-2191.

AND THEN I SAW THE PACER

2011-12-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

On more than one occasion it has been noted that in my head I am still 20 but the reality often intrudes on the illusion. I am quite sure there are other individuals that suffer a similar disconnect between the perception of age and the reality.
It is not always a physical shortcoming that kicks the illusion of youth to the curb. A few years ago I was writing a feature on the unique Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo, California for Cars & Parts when a pristine AMC Pacer brought me up short.
Standing before me was a bulbous blue and chrome manifestation of my true age. I had worked on these cars when they were late model trade ins, and now they were museum exhibits!

San Fidel, New Mexico - Geezerville

In recent years this line of thinking has become more prevalent, another sign that Gezzerville is my next stop. I am quite sure this is caused by something more than advancing age, creaking joints, and ear hair.
To a large degree I believe it is the speed with which the world is changing that may play a large role in this. After all, if I take but a moment to stop, to think, and to look around me, there is very little evidence of the world I once knew.
Perhaps this is also a reason I have such a fascination with Route 66 and the empty places. It might also explain my quest to travel that road in a vehicle older than I am.
Simply consider the technology behind this blog post compared to what it was when I sold my first feature article in 1990. That article was written on a 1948 Underwood manual typewriter using paper, and carbon paper. The photographs were taken with a 25 year old, 35 mm camera.
The article, with photos, was sent first class mail and it took four weeks to receive a response, via first class mail, and an additional two weeks for receipt of my check. Phone calls weren't really an option, as I was not home during the day and did not having an answering machine. However, I did have a rotary dial phone.
You may ask, just how old are you? Well, I remember with clarity my dad paying .19 per gallon for gasoline on a trip through Mississippi and the first time gasoline was paid for with money from my pocket, it was .29 per gallon.
In late 1964 my dad purchased a year end close out Ford Fairlane. He asked about the availability of air conditioning as his plans were to move from Michigan to Arizona in the next 18 months. After numerous phone calls, the dealer informed dad that he could not find a vehicle so equipped but he could order one and have it in about four weeks.
On one of our trips across Kansas in about 1966, we stopped for gas and ended up being investigated by the local police. The suspicious activity was in dad trying to pay for the fuel with a one hundred dollar bill, something not often seen when a tank of gasoline cost less than six dollars.
After driving a wide array of battered old trucks and cars, I made the decision that with the money being earned at the mine a new truck was in order. So, in late 1980, flush with cash, I stepped into the showroom at Busby Chevrolet in Silver City, New Mexico, and purchased a three year old 3/4 ton Chevrolet truck, fully loaded, with camper, for $2,995.00.
This was quite a step up from the first car purchased with my hard earned money - a 1964 Rambler American station wagon for $225.00. And the price paid for that Chevy stands in stark contrast to the $3,000 paid for a ten year old Jeep Cherokee in 2008.
Even the lexicon has changed. As an example, when I was a young man "gay" meant happy, not ...
I refuse to resort to "back when I was a kid" or "those were the good old days" even though the current era often has me looking back at the truly cockeyed 1960s and 1970s with wistful romanticism. I still adhere to the adage that when ever you are alive, it is the best of times, it is the worst of times.
If it were just the popping joints, the thicker glasses, the receding hairline, and the price comparison on getting a set of partials, I might be able to keep the illusion of youth going just a bit longer. However, when combined with the dramatic and sweeping changes of the modern era maintaining that illusion becomes a chore unto itself.