Artist David Alan Badger of Havana, Ill., plans to publish seven books of his drawings, history and recipes from scenic byways in Illinois, including Route 66, reported the Peoria Journal Star. Badger, who has been drawing for more than 20 years, said the books will help bring attention and tourism to the towns along the … Continue reading Artist to publish drawings, recipes from Route 66
Category: Books
A response by “Road Trip USA” author
Jamie Jensen, author of the "Road Trip USA" and "Road Trip USA Route 66," sent an e-mail with his response of my review of his "Road Trip USA Route 66" book that was recently published: Here it is: I was looking forward to talking to you about my Road Trip USA books, and was sorry … Continue reading A response by “Road Trip USA” author
Book review: “Road Trip USA Route 66”
I should preface this by saying I have been a longtime fan of Jamie Jensen's travel guides. I still possess a 1999 edition of his "Road Trip USA" (subtitled "Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways"). Jensen, by all accounts, has driven hundreds of thousands of miles to scout out the best road trips in America. … Continue reading Book review: “Road Trip USA Route 66”
GPS 66 site launched
Drew Knowles, author of the "Route 66 Adventure Handbook" and the "Route 66 Quick Reference Encyclopedia" and proprietor of the Route 66 University site, has launched the interactive and open-source GPS 66 site. He described it "as the closest thing yet to an online tour of Route 66, including precise GPS-based mapping, eyewitness commentary, and … Continue reading GPS 66 site launched
A visit to the Joads’ hometown
Rafael Rachael Alvarez, a contributor to the Christian Science Monitor, pays a visit to Sallisaw, Okla., the home base for the fictional Joad family in the John Steinbeck novel that takes place on Route 66, "The Grapes of Wrath." The first striking observation that Alvarez makes is the recession hasn't hit Oklahoma as hard as … Continue reading A visit to the Joads’ hometown
A life less ordinary
I've read quite a few book reviews of Michael Zadoorian's Route 66 road-trip novel, "The Leisure Seeker." This one from Dan DeWitt of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times is the best yet. DeWitt's observations about "ordinary, decent" Midwest couples in particular rang true -- especially to a native Midwesterner such as me. For my take … Continue reading A life less ordinary
Riding with Tricky Dick
Ed Nixon, the youngest brother of the late President Richard Nixon, has just published a book, "The Nixons: A Family Portrait." Ed Nixon is plugging the book, and a report in the Everett (Wash.) Herald has an interesting aside during an interview with him: Of all his memories, none were told with more delight than … Continue reading Riding with Tricky Dick
Sign of the times
From an op-ed piece by Rachel Dry in the Washington Post: Seventy years after John Steinbeck published his best-selling tale of the Joad family's journey from Oklahoma to California along Route 66, "The Grapes of Wrath," required reading that never really went out of style, is suddenly in high demand. At the National Endowment for … Continue reading Sign of the times
Notes from the road
We went on a brief trip from Tulsa to Tucumcari, N.M., over the weekend. Here are a few notes from that trip: The Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, has printed a new edition of "Ugly Crust Pies," a collection of favorite recipes from the restaurant. It's a color, spiral-bound cookbook that goes for $13.99 in … Continue reading Notes from the road
Book review: “Roadside USA: Route 66 and Beyond”
"Roadside USA: Route 66 and Beyond" by Shellee Graham and Jim Ross (64 pages, Ghost Town Press, $10.95) isn't strictly a book as much as a bound collection of their vibrant travel photographs in postcard form. The 30 postcards are detachable from the binding so you can mail them to friends and family. However, "Roadside … Continue reading Book review: “Roadside USA: Route 66 and Beyond”