by Rose-Mary Rumbley
You know you're old when you remember Route 66--the road, the song, and the TV show. In 1993 I read that Route 66 was 66 years old. At the time, I was giving a couple of presentations a day and was always looking for topics that would interest my audiences. I decided that the story behind Route 66 would be ideal.
I also decided that I would not only research the Route--I would drive it!
I called my travel agent and asked her to make reservations for me at ideal spots along the way. "I don't want to stay at the Holiday Inn. No!! I need to stay in 'tourist courts' that still are on the old route!" She was thrilled over the challenge. I was her favorite client. I always came up with new places and new ways to travel!
If you remember the lyrics of the song, you know that the route "begins in Chicago and goes to LA, over two thousand miles along the way."
In Grant Park, Chicago, there is a marker which states, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF ROUTE 66. I started there and soon found myself on the south side of Chicago, entering Cicero, Illinois, the area once ruled by Al Capone in the 30's. I drove south for some time until I got to the Chain of the Rocks Bridge. This is the original bridge that spanned the Mississippi River. It's closed, and today it is a giant fishing pier. I remember a man asked me, "Why do you want to see this old bridge?" I told him I was driving Route 66. He once again asked, "Why?" I told him I just wanted to do it. His reply, "Nothing to see!" I just smiled!
I crossed the Mississippi on the big, beautiful, new bridge, which put me in St. Louis, Missouri, where I spent the night. The next day, I was busy touring St. Louis.
Then I was off to Joplin, Missouri, a quaint town that is mentioned in the song! Thus, I had to visit the downtown area.
The route doesn't go through Branson, Missouri, the popular "show" town, but one can detour south and visit this now, very popular city. I could not resist--I saw a show in Branson.
The route cuts through a corner of Kansas. The traveler is warned, "Don't stomp you foot in Kansas, you might just fall into a pit!" Mining was a big business in that section of Kansas. There may not be ground under the surface due to all the digging. This makes for a good story about the scene in this part of the state.
When the traveler goes a little farther, he can sing, "Oklahoma city is mighty pretty." But before that, the route goes through Claremore, Oklahoma, home of Will Rogers. There is a museum dedicated to this cowboy who appeared in vaudeville during the 20's. This was before Will became a movie star. This was truly a "fun" stop.
I then arrived in Oklahoma City and enjoyed dinner at a great restaurant. I was wearing a Route 66 tee shirt and two gentlemen at the next table commented on it. I told them I was driving on the old route. "You should have called us," one said. "We work at the Chevrolet plant here. We would have gotten you a Corvette!" You remember the two guys in the TV show drove a Corvette!
It was then I stopped at El Reno, Oklahoma. My travel agent said, "If you're not happy with this motel, go on to the next city."
This motel was a truck stop. The truckers and I were pleased with the service there.
The next day, I drove through the Texas Pan Handle. The old route here is frontage road of I 40.
In this little city, there was a Route 66 museum. The gentleman had lot of Burma Shave signs. Remember those? "Through school zones, take it slow. Let those little shavers grow!" Or "He went next door to get a life. She said, Go home and scratch your wife." I think that one was taken off the highway--too suggestive!!!
I finally got to Amarillo and discovered the Route goes right through the city. They are proud of that.
The first stop in New Mexico is Tucumcari, and then it was on to Santa Fe. One can spend days and days in Santa Fe, but I had to go on to Arizona.
There were many delightful little towns in Arizona, but I spent the night in Oatman, a small town in the mountains of the western part of the state. Oatman, a town on Route 66 was a mining town. When the gold was all claimed, the miners left. They left their donkeys that carried the gold down the mountain. Yes, they left the donkeys to fend for themselves. The became residents of the town. They were tame--came up to your car to greet you.
I stayed at a hotel there. I was the only "guest" that night. I went to my room and then decided to go down to the bar. There was a woman at the bar. I spoke to her. She said to me, "I've got money and my children want it. But they are never going to find me here." I agreed with her. Her money was safe in Oatman!
I went on to Needles, California, and then on to Apple Valley, and then on to Santa Monica. There is a marker at Santa Monica which reads, "This is the end of Route 66."
I made it! "Over 2,000 miles along the way."
It was a great trip. I saw America, the greatest sight of all! The route is sometimes called, "Main Street America."
When I got to Santa Monica, I called Bobby Troup. He wrote the song, GET YOU KICKS ON ROUTE 66. I had a friend who went to college with Bobby and knew him well. She told him I was coming and he was waiting for my call!!!!
If you wish to read more about the route, check out John Steinbeck's, GRAPES OF WRATH.
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