Route 66 still has Kicks!

Featured in the John Steinbeck classic "The Grapes of Wrath", the Dust Bowl era was a time of major migration to the west. Steinbeck dubbed Route 66 "The Mother Road" and the nickname stuck. It is a wonderful escape that takes the traveler to many times and places. For automobile buffs and history buffs, Route 66 is a must-travel, bucket list item. I bought the shirt pictured below during one of my relaxing drives across the country. The section of Route 66 between Kingman and Oatman, Arizona, known as the Arizona Sidewinder is exhilarating. Before I get farther ahead of myself along the route here, I'll backtrack to the beginning in my home state of Illinois.

Route 66 may long endure as the most iconic modern pathway assembled on the globe though the last section was officially bypassed in 1984. October 13 was the official retirement day in Williams, Arizona, and Bobby Troup was there to sing his famous song titled "Route 66" at the closing ceremony (song link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSe1VNNA2Cc).

Nat King Cole released the original version of Troup's song (song link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRX_NZ7kTt0).

Established 1926 November 11, Route 66 begins in Chicago, Illinois, and continues to Los Angeles, California, with a relatively new ceremonial end point on the famous pier in Santa Monica. Route 66 was the primary travel route from Chicago to Los Angeles during the core of the 1900s. Though the route changed many times as the decades passed, the mystique and sense of adventure associated with The Mother Road has not faded.

Many sections of Route 66 still exist (as much as 85% according to one source) and they are open for travelers to enjoy while taking a break from the speeds and traffic of the modern highways that superseded it. Many businesses from the heyday of the Mother Road's history have been preserved. Many are open and cater to modern-day tourists while others are marked as historic sites for visitors and photographers to enjoy. Nostalgia abounds along the route and it is a fantastic way to see well-known sections of the Midwest, Southwest, and southern California. Some ghost towns and the shells of once-thriving establishments are also found along the way.

I have had the privilege of driving on many sections of Route 66, The Mother Road. Being born and raised in Illinois, I had heard about Route 66 as a youngster and knew of the song. The nostalgia and coverage of it in history articles piqued my interest. I have been near the beginning in the downtown Chicago area several times. I have also been along parts of Route 66 as it winds from Chicago to Saint Louis, including Joliet (The Joliet Route 66 Diner), Wilmington, Bloomington-Normal, and Springfield, through St. Louis into Missouri. Unfortunately, I have not yet traveled that specific section of the route entirely in one trip and made a photograph album featuring the Illinois and northeastern Missouri portions.

From here forward is a photo essay describing my travels on Route 66 from Joplin, Missouri, to the pier in Santa Monica, California. I drove the reverse route, from central Arizona to central Illinois, in 2017. That trek allowed only enough time for a sampling of what Route 66 has in store for the intrepid traveler.

Oh, before I forget, no great road trip is complete without a soundtrack. I recommend starting with the song "Route 66" in Chicago. Along the way, look for songs that fit the area, the terrain, the attractions, and the history of each place. Be sure you have your soundtrack ready before you depart. Staples in my Route 66 soundtrack are the greatest hits of Eagles (be sure you "Take it Easy" while "...standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona...") , Kansas, and America. I added some George Strait (plan to be in "Amarillo by Morning") tunes as well as some Surf and Drag classics from the 50s and 60s. Be careful you don't find yourself off course and "...race all the way to dead man's curve..." when you are near the end of the route.

On with the photo essay. I drove west from central Illinois during late May and early June of 2021 to Kingman, Arizona, and then to Las Vegas, Nevada, to start a new job. Later, I made some weekend trips to finish travelling Route 66 from Kingman, AZ, to Santa Monica, California. My first specific Route 66 stop during the drive west was in Joplin, Missouri, to see the murals and sites there.

After Joplin, my next stop was in Galena, Kansas. Movie buffs will see some familiar 'faces' in Galena.

I captured a shot of a couple of old road warriors sharing tales of the track in Galena, Kansas.

My next stop was in Oklahoma at Pryor Creek Bridge.

No trek along Rout 66 is complete without stopping to see and step inside the Blue Whale of Catoosa, OK.

Next, I travelled through Amarillo, Texas, to Vega and Adrian, TX.

The MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, Texas.

Glenrio, TX, now known as a ghost town.

I enjoyed the sites in Tucumcari, New Mexico, as well as tasty food at Kix on 66 in the former Denny's restaurant building.

Santa Rosa was the next stop during my travels. The automobile buffs shouldn't skip this stop.

The desert terrain is the basis for some movie scenes, both recently-created animated movie scenes and classic oldies and westerns.

A short stop at Holbrook, Arizona.

Before I decided to take it easy for a while.

The next leg of my journey ran from Winslow, Arizona, to Williams, Arizona, to see the last section of Route 66 to be retired (1984 October 13). Along the way is Meteor Crater and some wild critters like this Pronghorn.

Be sure to stop along the way and enjoy a tasty Strawberry milkshake and a classic meal at places like Goldie's Route 66 Diner along the way.

There are many curiosities to see in Seligman, Arizona, too, but be sure to mind your manners when the police are watching.

Parts of the route less taken these days are well worth the time. Also, pay respects to those who share this land and the beauty of the vast west.

Kingman, Arizona, was my last stop before going north to Las Vegas. Later, I returned to Kingman to drive the Arizona Sidewinder road to Oatman as my journey along Route 66 continued.

The old path from Kingman to Oatman is exhilarating. Be sure you are ready for 191 curves in one stretch of 8 miles!

Also, don't pass a rest stop because they are few and far between!

Be very careful and watch for friendly critters along the way. Out there, they have the right of way.

The famous Oatman Hotel.

The main street through Oatman takes you back in time.

From Oatman to Topock, enjoy the desert scenery and the rare sighting of water for boating in the Topock area before venturing into California.

The last state to traverse going west is California. Enjoy the ride through many notable locations as you venture forth to the Pacific Ocean at the end of the trail. Feast your eyes on the desert scenery and indulge in iconic nostalgia along the way.

From Needles to Goffs to Amboy and more. The outdoor museum and schoolhouse in Goffs are well worth the time to visit.

Amboy, California, is another interesting stop along The Mother Road.

Enjoy a Route 66 soda for a treat along the way. The hospitality at Roy's was fantastic during my visit.

Amboy Crater, Ludlow, Newberry Springs, and Bagdad Cafe were my next stops along Route 66 as I travelled to Barstow.

An interesting structure in Dagget.

United States Marine Corps base along Route 66 near Barstow.

Barstow has many interesting places to see.

Oro Grande shops and pizza place were at the next stop along the route.

The road was also known as National Trials Highway. Here is the sign in Victorville, California.

A few more stops at iconic sites between Victorville and the coast.

Mitla Cafe.

End of the road...Ends of the road, that is, since the end of Route 66 changed locations a few times.

Enjoy a fantastic milk shake at Mel's!

The new symbolic end at the pier.

I hope you enjoyed the coverage of my trips and these photographs I made along Route 66! There are many more places to see along the way and I hope this piques the curiosity of many travelers enough to get them to go get their kicks along Route 66!