Notes from the road

Emily and I recently updated a couple of sections of for an upcoming revised edition of the Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide, which published by National Historic Route 66 Federation. One thing that I noticed is that wireless Internet is fast becoming the norm even with the most basic mom-and-pop motels. As little as … Continue reading Notes from the road

Music artist will bicycle part of Route 66

D:Fuse, an electronica artist who hails from Texas, was interviewed by the Vail (Colo.) Daily before a show in Vail. Here's the interesting excerpt: VD: What has been your major impact on electronic music and how do you plan on impacting the future of electronic music? DJD: I hope my biggest impact will be turning … Continue reading Music artist will bicycle part of Route 66

A weekend ‘adventure’ for 4 Women on the Route

The Joplin (Mo.) Globe has a good story about the eventful weekend recently for 4 Women on the Route of Galena, Kan. The business had a devil of a time hauling around Tow Tater, the tow truck that become the inspiration to Tow Mater in the movie "Cars," to and from the Route 66 Festival … Continue reading A weekend ‘adventure’ for 4 Women on the Route

Threatening weather dampens bridge birthday party

Attendance at Trailnet's annual birthday party for St. Louis' Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (it turned 79) a week ago Sunday was down from the usual because of the threat of stormy weather, reported the Granite City (Ill.) Press-Record. It also rained during part of the events that morning, and flooding from a swollen Mississippi … Continue reading Threatening weather dampens bridge birthday party

Notes from the road

There seems to be some activity at the long-abandoned old Route 66 town of Spencer, Mo. We heard from Gary Turner up the road at Gay Parita that someone has bought the town's handful of buildings and plans to revive it with a gift shop and maybe other things. When we drove by on Sunday … Continue reading Notes from the road

After the party …

Emily and I have been home for a couple of days since the Route 66 Festival ended in Litchfield, Ill. So I've had some time to reflect on our unexpected twin killings. Even when you don't count our honors, we agreed it was the best awards banquet we'd attended since we started going to these … Continue reading After the party …

Scenes from the Route 66 Festival

Here are a few shots I gathered at the Route 66 Festival on Saturday in Litchfield, Ill. More photographs by other bloggers at the festival can be seen here and here. If you know of more, send me an e-mail and let me know. UPDATE: Here's more from Denny Gibson. Here's the car show, set … Continue reading Scenes from the Route 66 Festival

4 Women on the Route gets a surprise

It was quite a weekend for the 4 Women on the Route of Galena, Kan. First, their restaurant and gift shop, in renovated gas station, was named New Business of the Year during the Will Rogers Awards Event on Saturday in Litchfield, Ill., at the Route 66 Festival. Next, during the annual Route 66 yahoogroup … Continue reading 4 Women on the Route gets a surprise

Swa Frantzen wins top Route 66 award

Swa Frantzen (shown above), an Internet pioneer in publicizing Route 66 with his Historic66.com site, won the top honor during the Will Rogers Awards Event on Saturday night during the Route 66 Festival in Litchfield, Ill. The New Business of the Year was 4 Women on the Route in Galena, Kan. Chicago Route 66 researcher … Continue reading Swa Frantzen wins top Route 66 award

Checking in

This post comes from a clean, comfortable and inexpensive room at the Gardens Motel in Litchfield, Ill. We got into Litchfield not long after the sun began to dip low on the ripened wheat and sprouting horseradish fields. On the way, we found the concretes at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis are as … Continue reading Checking in