Rita Thurman Barnes, a columnist for the Bartlesville (Okla.) Examiner-Enterprise, wrote a good story about Bartlesville resident Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones, who sports dozens of tattoos of Route 66 landmarks on his body. Most people who meet Jones already know about his tattoos. And many see the 1956 Chevrolet car that he frequently drives. But … Continue reading Tattoo Man’s other story
Category: People
Profile of a roadie
The Wichita Falls (Texas) Times Record News has a story about Mark Potter of Vernon, Texas, who's been a longtime aficionado of Route 66. His credits include stories written for the Route 66 Pulse and the Route 66 Federation News and an appearance in the History Channel's "Modern Marvels." But what I've found most interesting … Continue reading Profile of a roadie
Notes from the road
A few things to clear off my plate: -- Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., told me today that her restaurant would be closed for the July 4 holiday. Roadies who wish to go to their favorite Route 66 hangout on that day are advised to call ahead to make sure … Continue reading Notes from the road
A last of the breed
In my first Route 66 trips, I noticed on dozens of businesses and billboards in eastern New Mexico the signs of a distinctive lettering by a sign painter. The signs were notable because of their lettering -- often a thick, squat, easily read style that I'd seen nowhere else. Some of the letters were shadowed … Continue reading A last of the breed
Tribute to a king
Emily read this Tulsa World article after Michael Jackson's death on Friday. The key passage: Hours after learning of Jackson's death, Paul Yeakey, a Tulsa artist, spray-painted a mural of Jackson on a wall outside a liquor store at 9347 E. 11th St. Eleventh Street in Tulsa is Route 66. She went to the Mad … Continue reading Tribute to a king
Notes from the road, San Fran edition
I'm writing this from a coffeehouse in San Francisco during my vacation, a few blocks from our overnight digs at the marvelous Ocean Park Motel (and the Pacific Coast Highway) and a few miles from the western terminus of the Lincoln Highway. We're heading back east tomorrow. Still doing the best I can with an … Continue reading Notes from the road, San Fran edition
Notes from the road
My computer is still not connecting to the Internet, but my iPod is working like a champ. So here are a few news items I've tracked down while on the Mother Road (without links, alas). Also, I'll be posting regularly at Twitter.com/route66news. -- The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program reports that the U.S. Senate is … Continue reading Notes from the road
Another long-distance walker
Periodically, there are those who walk the full length of Route 66 for a cause or to challenge themselves. The latest is Joe Zeno, who is walking from San Diego to New York City to raise money for the American Cancer Society. His mother has fought breast cancer for a decade. The Tulsa World caught … Continue reading Another long-distance walker
“California Stars”
Here's a marvelous but bittersweet performance by Wilco of a Woody Guthrie poem, from about 10 years ago. I say bittersweet because that's former band member Jay Bennett on lead guitar, who died in his sleep two weeks ago. And, yes, I've been around the block enough to remember Bennett during his Titanic Love Affair … Continue reading “California Stars”
One more traveler
The big news Thursday in Tulsa was that Mayor Kathy Taylor unexpectedly announced that she would not be seeking re-election this fall. A report by KRMG radio contains this little snippet: She's a bit coy about her plans for life after office but does say she'll take a vacation down Route 66 with her husband … Continue reading One more traveler