“Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 5

Here’s the fifth installment of Japanese television’s “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” which chronicles a singer and actor’s trip down the Mother Road last fall. He goes from Oklahoma City to Amarillo, Texas. I'm glad he got to see wild turkeys in western Oklahoma. And he didn't attempt the Big Texan 72-ounce steak challenge, but close. https://vimeo.com/35942955 Looking … Continue reading “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 5

Driving the Mother Road the hard way

In 2004, Brian McKay decided to re-create the Okies' exodus from the Dust Bowl by driving his 1930 Nash automobile on Route 66. The key difference was that McKay didn't start in Oklahoma -- he started at Route 66's eastern starting point in Chicago. He was determined to accomplish the 2,400-mile journey without any modern … Continue reading Driving the Mother Road the hard way

Off to the bed races

The Mojave Daily News posted a humorous account of the annual Oatman Great Bed Races in Oatman, Ariz., on Saturday. It's not so much a competition as a fun-filled farce. To wit:  In accordance to contest rules, teams must first push one teammate in a bed the length of the course, park the team’s bed … Continue reading Off to the bed races

“Route 66: Return to the Road”

Here's something I haven't seen in a few years ... the first few minutes of "Route 66: Return to the Road with Martin Milner." Someone posted this segment on Vimeo in recent days; you'll have to click on the screen shot to see the clip: The 1998 film, which was more than 2 1/2 hours … Continue reading “Route 66: Return to the Road”

The Sooner State’s best BBQ

I'm sticking my neck out, but I'm going to say it anyway -- Burn Co. BBQ in Tulsa serves the best barbecue I've had in Oklahoma. I've visited great places in the Sooner State, including Van's Pig Stand in Shawnee and The Boundary on 66 near Luther. But I've eaten three times at Burn Co. … Continue reading The Sooner State’s best BBQ

Another ride on Oatman Road

Here's the best-quality video I've seen yet of two motorcycling buddies driving on Oatman Road, aka Route 66, in western Arizona's Black Mountains. These guys were going at speeds that would make me uncomfortable; don't try it yourself. https://youtu.be/rTllX-iCj1I The clip shows the capabilities of the GoPro Hero 2, a high-definition video camera that's finding … Continue reading Another ride on Oatman Road

A good example to those along the Mother Road

Paul Chassey, a volunteer for the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, Calif., wrote an interesting piece in the Victorville Daily Press about a fellow volunteer's experience with a Chinese couple. Go here to read it first. Read it? If so, here are my observations about the article: Although the volunteer's behavior was exemplary, such … Continue reading A good example to those along the Mother Road

Wienermobile stops at Emma Jean’s Holland Burger

A new Oscar Mayer Wienermobile made a Route 66 stop on Thursday at the legendary Emma Jean Holland Burger Cafe in Victorville, Calif., on the way to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, according to the Victorville Daily Press. According to the newspaper: On Thursday, patrons at Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe in Victorville were able to … Continue reading Wienermobile stops at Emma Jean’s Holland Burger

“Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 4

Here's the fourth installment of Japanese television’s “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” which chronicles a singer and actor’s trip down the Mother Road during the fall of 2011. He goes from Joplin, Mo., to Oklahoma City. Afton Station in Afton, Okla., and Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones play a big role in this episode. https://vimeo.com/35645926  

Group sets cleanup, festival in west Tulsa

Tulsa's Young Professionals, aka TYPros, announced Wednesday it would stage its annual Street CReD event along the Route 66 corridor of west Tulsa's Red Fork neighborhood on April 13-14. The news release states: The goal of this year’s Street CReD, titled Red Fork Revival, will be to bring back some of this history and show the community the potential … Continue reading Group sets cleanup, festival in west Tulsa