More signs, please

Rod Harsh of Visit66.com in Carterville, Mo., told the city council of nearby Carthage that the city and southwest Missouri in general needs more signs to help guide travelers on Route 66, reported the Carthage Press. Rod Harsh, who has a Route 66 Welcome Center in Carterville, said that people from as far away as … Continue reading More signs, please

Over easy

In this entertaining report from the Mohave Daily News, we learned that an apparent ringer entered the annual Sidewalk Egg Fry in Oatman, Ariz., on the Fourth of July. Bob Blumer, host of an upcoming Food Network show "Glutton for Punishment," won first place in both cooking device and showmanship. He used a frying pan … Continue reading Over easy

Searching Oklahoma City for Vietnamese food

Matt Gross, aka The Frugal Traveler, of the New York Times' travel section ventured to Oklahoma City to dine on ... Vietnamese food. That sounds like an odd combination, but Gross points out that 20,000 Vietnamese live in OKC. His excursion found a few Route 66 spots, including the Hospitality Inn (listed in the Route … Continue reading Searching Oklahoma City for Vietnamese food

Flooding may cut off Miami, Okla.

Those who are traveling Route 66 through northeastern Oklahoma may need to make alternative plans over the next few days because of flooding. According to the Tulsa World: By the evening of July 4 the Neosho River is expected to crest 1.25 feet higher than it was during historic floods in 1986, Spurgeon said in … Continue reading Flooding may cut off Miami, Okla.

Gunfight at Oatman

OK, not really. But every day at 1:30 p.m., Old West gunfighters do a show on Route 66 in Oatman, Ariz. As this video shows, it's all pretty tongue-in-cheek and done for entertainment instead of historical re-enactment. The sound quality of the video is erratic, but it's almost as good as being there if you … Continue reading Gunfight at Oatman

Keep that bridge open

The historic bridge that takes an older alignment of Route 66 into Devil's Elbow, Mo., needs repairs. Without it, many residents of the town would have to drive miles out of their way. This sounds like a slamdunk for state road assistance. But the Waynesville (Mo.) Daily Guide says the county isn't taking chances: Pulaski … Continue reading Keep that bridge open

Clinton, ya done good

I'm not going to say that the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla., was the best ever. I've been interested in the Mother Road only since about 2000, and a number of national Route 66 festivals were held before that. But I've attended each national roadie gathering since 2002, and I enjoyed this past … Continue reading Clinton, ya done good

Clinton proves its worth as a festival host

This article by Steve Lackmeyer of The Daily Oklahoman has a lot to recommend it, including interviews with a bunch of Route 66's colorful characters (including a man with 53 Route 66-related tattoos) during the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla. But this excerpt justifies the faith I've had in Clinton (population 8,300) in … Continue reading Clinton proves its worth as a festival host

Over easy, please

You often hear the summer adage that "it's so hot, you can fry an egg on the sidewalk." Every Fourth of July for the past 17 years, the Route 66 town of Oatman, Ariz., proves that old adage true. The old mining town nestled in the parched Black Mountains will hold its Oatman Sidewalk Egg … Continue reading Over easy, please