A trip through Cajon Pass

This speeded-up video by FreewayTitan shows Interstate 15 as it goes through Cajon Pass from San Bernardino to Hesperia in southern California. https://youtu.be/PC9gocVXMm8 The clip delves into a lot of the history of Cajon Pass, including Route 66.  

“Ten Second News”

This song from Son Volt, circa 1995, was inspired by the now-abandoned Route 66 town of Times Beach, Mo., and the flood and resulting dioxin contamination that killed it. https://youtu.be/gqdMTkrFN7s The entire album, "Trace," was inspired by a lot of road trips in the St. Louis region, and remains the best the band's ever done. … Continue reading “Ten Second News”

Impressive authors and artists list at Tucumcari festival

A few days ago, Kevin and Nancy Mueller at the Blue Swallow Motel asked me to check out the list of authors and artists slated to appear at the inaugural Wheels on 66 festival on June 7-9 in Tucumcari, N.M. I have to admit, for a first-year event, the list is pretty darned impressive: Christopher Robleski, … Continue reading Impressive authors and artists list at Tucumcari festival

Land of the Havasupai

This gorgeous video by Dan Carter shows the Havasupai reservation in the bottom of Arizona's Grand Canyon. https://vimeo.com/42061125 More about the Havasupai: Havasupai means "people of the blue green water". Havasupais have dwelt in the Grand Canyon and the rest of north-central Arizona for over 1,000 years, practicing summertime irrigated farming in the canyons and … Continue reading Land of the Havasupai

“The Back of Your Hand”

Check out the very beginning of the background of this Dwight Yoakam video from about 10 years ago. Anyone know where this is? https://youtu.be/N41CTsj2iN0 This is a very underrated song by Dwight, by the way.

Arizona’s Route 66 gets $700,000 grant to find problem gas stations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $700,000 grant to identify problematic abandoned gas stations along Route 66 in northern Arizona, reported KNAU, a public radio station. The grant will be used in Flagstaff, Winslow and Holbrook, as well as sites in Coconino and Navajo counties. Many of these long-closed gas stations' underground tanks … Continue reading Arizona’s Route 66 gets $700,000 grant to find problem gas stations

“Route 66 for Kids” guidebook released on Kindle

"Route 66 for Kids," a guidebook to the Mother Road for parents and their children, has been released in a Kindle e-book format through Amazon.com, in time for the start of tourism season. This edition was updated by author Emily Priddy this week. Previous editions, with the first dating to 2003, came in print and, … Continue reading “Route 66 for Kids” guidebook released on Kindle

Bridge detour in Carthage concerns Boots Motel owners

Next Wednesday, repair work begins on a bridge on the northeast side of Carthage, Mo. It will take virtually all summer on this project. The owners of the recently reopened Boots Motel and other businesses along the Route 66 corridor in town are worried the marked detour will potentially keep travelers away. According to a … Continue reading Bridge detour in Carthage concerns Boots Motel owners

Dancing with the sun

A lot of striking images were seen during the solar eclipse a few days ago in the Southwest. However, this video for the Route 66 Powered Paragliding club in New Mexico beats 'em all. The video was produced by Barak Naggan.

Joplin — one year later

Today marks the first anniversary of the tornado that ravaged Joplin, Mo. The mile-wide twister killed 161 people, injured more than 1,000, and destroyed nearly 8,000 homes and businesses. It remains the worst tornado to hit the U.S. in 60 years, and is without a doubt the worst disaster to befall a Route 66 city. … Continue reading Joplin — one year later