The annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference, scheduled for Oct. 9-11 in Joliet, Illinois, recently announced that Rhys Martin, author, photographer and president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, will be the event’s keynote speaker.
The conference’s main activities will be at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.
The conference stated in a news release about Martin:
His love of travel was awakened in 2009 when he sold all of his possessions and left the country. For 10 months, he lived out of a backpack and explored southeast Asia and Europe. When he returned home, it was with fresh eyes for his home state. As he drove the back roads of Oklahoma, Rhys discovered the significance of historic Route 66 to the greater American story. He has traveled all 2,448 miles of the Mother Road and continues to seek out the quiet Main Streets of the Midwest.
Rhys Martin’s travel writing and photography has been featured in numerous publications, including Tulsa People Magazine, This Land Press, Route 66 Magazine, Nimrod Journal, The Oklahoman and Tulsa World. He also wrote the book Lost Restaurants of Tulsa, which features the stories of nearly 50 iconic eating establishments from the city’s past. Rhys is the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and serves on multiple boards and commissions related to the Mother Road and its upcoming Centennial in 2026. He loves to connect with people and share his experiences.
Martin’s photography can be viewed at his Cloudless Lens website. He frequently documents his travels on his blog.
The rest of the schedule of speakers, evening activities and host hotel information will be announced later.
Registration for the conference sessions is open at this website.
(Image of Rhys Martin courtesy of the Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference)
Rhys is an Oklahoma gem. We can be so proud of his enthusiasm, dedication, and passion for RT66, especially in Oklahoma.