James H. Roche has just published a Route 66 children's book, "Route 66 Road Trip Family Fun." It contains pictures for the kids to color, facts about Route 66 and a list of attractions and Web sites. It goes for $10.95, and it can be ordered through the Web site. UPDATE: Before buying Roche's book, … Continue reading Route 66 children’s book published
Pain Walker update
Dennis Kinch, who's walking Route 66 for the National Pain Foundation, updated his site and told of his latest adventures on the Mother Road. He received the red-carpet treatment from Becky Ransom at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, marked his birthday in Glenrio and stayed at the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. … Continue reading Pain Walker update
Fire destroys Bellemont, Ariz., tavern
Junior Whipp's Inn on Route 66 in Bellemont, Ariz. (about 12 miles west of Flagstaff), was destroyed by fire on Tuesday. Whipp, reports the Arizona Daily Sun, wasn't injured. The tavern had been open nearly 50 years. It was a favorite for motorcycle riders, locals and Camp Navajo workers. Bellemont was featured in a scene … Continue reading Fire destroys Bellemont, Ariz., tavern
Flagstaff no longer seeing red over colors
Remember the dispute between the City of Flagstaff and an Asian businesswoman over the red color of her building? Well, there's been a compromise reached, according to the Arizona Daily Sun.
Have you slept in the Wigwam lately?
Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog pays his first visit to the restored Wigwam Motel on Route 66 in Rialto, Calif. As usual, he took a lot of photographs. Ace was impressed with the work the Patels did on the once-seedy property.
Blue Swallow Motel’s new owners revealed
The new proprieters of the famed Blue Swallow Motel on Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., will be Bill Kinder and Terri Johnson. They are a retired couple from Florida. The ownership change occur in early March, according to the Quay County Sun. “We’ve been thinking about buying a motel for about 10 years,
Confession time for Fat Man
Steve Vaught of thefatmanwalking.com, who is off the road for a few weeks to be under the wing of a personal trainer, talks about the depression from which he suffers and the medication he quit taking in Texas and Oklahoma. He's trying to get to the root of the problem of his obesity. Scroll down … Continue reading Confession time for Fat Man
New “Cars” trailer
Edmunds' Inside Line says it has an exclusive look at a new trailer for "Cars," the Route 66-themed movie coming in June from Pixar Animation Studios.
Frederick’s Music Lounge closes
I heard some news tonight that saddened me. Frederick's Music Lounge, a great old dive bar at 4454 Chippewa (Route 66) in St. Louis, closed last Saturday. Frederick's was a family-owned bar for many years. One report in December from the Riverfront Times said the place had been put up for sale. Fred Boettcher Jr., … Continue reading Frederick’s Music Lounge closes
More Rick and Jane adventures
Rick and Jane McKinney have posted their latest journal entry on their Walk to Reclaim America site. They have an interesting encounter with a security guard on old Route 66 in eastern Arizona -- yet another example that the true purpose of their walk is to touch people. (Note: The journal entry says Feb. 12, … Continue reading More Rick and Jane adventures