Riding for charity

Mark Schultz is a platinum-selling and Dove Award-winning Christian musician. Right now, he is undertaking a bicycle tour across America -- part of it on Route 66 -- to raise money for the James Fund to help orphans and widows. The Gallup (N.M.) Independent caught up with him over the weekend. Apparently the bicycle trip … Continue reading Riding for charity

Writing from the road

A couple of Reuters wire service correspondents are driving Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago in a vintage Porsche. Along the way, they are talking to people about issues that matter to them. This story angle may sound unique, but I've seen a number of these "getting the pulse of America along 66" stories … Continue reading Writing from the road

La Posada’s savior runs for Congress

Allan Affeldt has accomplished a lot. He saved the run-down La Posada in the Route 66 town Winslow, Ariz., and transformed it into one of the best lodging and dining destinations in the Southwest. He was elected mayor of Winslow two years ago. He's guiding the restoration of another Harvey House, El Garces, in Needles, … Continue reading La Posada’s savior runs for Congress

Mower Man near the end of his ride

Matt Land, who was driving on much of Route 66 with a propane-powered lawn mower built by his employer, Dixie Chopper, is supposed to finish his 2,000-mile trek from Indiana to California this morning, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal. He was hoping to meet with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but the guv has already made it know … Continue reading Mower Man near the end of his ride

Sad news

You may remember the story of Michelle Thompson, the woman who bicycled Route 66 to raise awareness of oral cancer and raise funds for her ill brother, John Thompson. She pedaled to her brother's house in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Christmas Day, shortly after finishing her trek on the Mother Road. Today, I received word … Continue reading Sad news

Mother Road inspiration

Not long ago, artist Gerald "Maestro" Gaxiola took a road trip down Route 66. You can read about his experiences here. Inspired by what he saw, he redecorated the outside of his bunkhouse studio in Albany, Calif., with a Route 66 ceramic mural. The photo above is just a taste; you can see the entire … Continue reading Mother Road inspiration

Seat belts … yum

This very strange story from the Associated Press tells how the Cadillac Ranch west of Amarillo, Texas, was supposed to be used for a photo shoot by the Texas Department of Transportation to promote the use of seat-belt use. But a llama on the premises chewed up part of the Styrofoam seat belt that was … Continue reading Seat belts … yum

Bowling for peace

Richard Branaman has a vision. He wants to build a 21-foot-tall pyramid made of 8,400 bowling balls, set atop a 77-foot-tall concrete quasi-tripod. It's called the World Peace Monument, and he wants it in the middle of a traffic circle at Mingo Road and Admiral Place (aka Route 66) in Tulsa, reports the Tulsa World. … Continue reading Bowling for peace

Mower Man makes it to Rolla

Matt Land, sales manager for Dixie Choppers lawn mowers in Indiana, stopped for a bite to eat during his quest to drive a propane-powered lawn mower across the country. Money quote from the Rolla Daily News: “I’ve been eating a lot of bugs and raindrops, and I know what it’s like to be a hood … Continue reading Mower Man makes it to Rolla

Longtime roadie Skip Curtis dies

C.H. "Skip" Curtis, a longtime historian and booster of Route 66 in Missouri, died Saturday night at his home in Springfield, Mo., reports Tommy Pike, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri. I don't have any funeral arrangements yet. I'll pass them along and other details as I get them. Curtis was a contributing … Continue reading Longtime roadie Skip Curtis dies