A lot of striking images were seen during the solar eclipse a few days ago in the Southwest. However, this video for the Route 66 Powered Paragliding club in New Mexico beats 'em all. The video was produced by Barak Naggan.
Joplin — one year later
Today marks the first anniversary of the tornado that ravaged Joplin, Mo. The mile-wide twister killed 161 people, injured more than 1,000, and destroyed nearly 8,000 homes and businesses. It remains the worst tornado to hit the U.S. in 60 years, and is without a doubt the worst disaster to befall a Route 66 city. … Continue reading Joplin — one year later
Part of Route 66 in California designated a scenic route
Route 66 from Oro Grande, Calif., to the Arizona state line near Needles was designated a scenic route by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, according to a report today by The Sun Runner magazine. The county made the move at the urging of 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. According to the report: “Route 66 … Continue reading Part of Route 66 in California designated a scenic route
Cubs fans and their goat only days from Chicago
The group of five Cubs fans and their pet goat Wrigley are less than a week from strolling into Chicago after a 1,900-mile trek from Arizona, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. The newspaper's photographer caught up with them Monday south of Bloomington in McLean, Ill., along Route 66. The quintet wants to break the infamous … Continue reading Cubs fans and their goat only days from Chicago
Motel 6 wants “correspondents” for a Route 66 trip
This seems to be a glass half-full, glass half-empty situation. The Motel 6 chain is looking for "Open Road Correspondents" this summer to journey down several classic highways, including Route 66 from Amarillo, Texas, to Santa Monica, Calif. The catch is these road reporters will have to stay at Motel 6's throughout the trip. From … Continue reading Motel 6 wants “correspondents” for a Route 66 trip
Admiral Twin Drive-In vandalized
The Admiral Twin Drive-In, a landmark theater in Tulsa that's still being rebuilt after a devastating fire in September 2010, suffered vandalism to its ticket booth and new concession stand on Saturday, reported KOTV in Tulsa. Almost every ceiling light in the new concession stand was smashed. Shattered glass covers the floor with broken bulbs … Continue reading Admiral Twin Drive-In vandalized
DVD review: “Route 66: The Complete Series”
https://youtu.be/VaT4pQDSWZw No more piecemeal releases. No more half-baked formatting. Shout! Factory has released all four seasons of the acclaimed "Route 66" television drama of the early 1960s, and they all come in one well-conceived package, in stores tomorrow. The guts of "Route 66: The Complete Series": It's a box set of 24 DVDs, inside four … Continue reading DVD review: “Route 66: The Complete Series”
Volunteers repaint Paul Bunyan statue in Illinois
Volunteers from the Illinois Route 66 Association this weekend repainted the 19-foot-tall Paul Bunyan fiberglass statue on Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Ill., reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The newspaper reported that help came from Michigan and Iowa, as well as the Land of Lincoln. “I’m impressed by what people want to do to help,” said … Continue reading Volunteers repaint Paul Bunyan statue in Illinois
One from the BBC vault
This is a version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by an apparently long-gone band called Freak UK. The video was broadcast by the BBC in 1991. I suspect this was influenced by Depeche Mode's version from 1987. https://youtu.be/fLgS9_GTumg Freak UK's frontman was Mik Scarlet, who found later fame as a TV and radio broadcaster, journalist, and actor. … Continue reading One from the BBC vault
High rider
A woman from Los Angeles wants to ride her double-high bicycle (like the one seen above) down Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica later in the summer, with the help of a national magazine. Melissa Rougeaux yesterday applied for a $10,000 Adventure Grant from Outside magazine. The magazine explained: In celebration of our 35th … Continue reading High rider