"You go through St. Looie..."

Speaking of oldies but goodies, you would be amazed at how much of old Route #66, decommissioned way back in 1977, is still visible, viable and vivacious. Finding things to do and see, along the old highway is a snap!

You can still "Get your Kicks" as in the classic Bobby Troup song, "on Route #66". As you travel, you pass the cities, named in the lyrics. Going "along the way", just happens to rhyme with the last city, on the route, "LA".

Beginning in Oklahoma City (which BTW, still "looked mighty pretty"), we avoided the lyrically famous, Joplin, "Missour-ee". Most of the pieces of old #66, parallel current Interstate 40. However, by starting, in OK City, we were unable to view the giant, highly advertised, concrete Whale, apparently floating(?), in a murky pond, in nearby Catoosa, Oklahoma. Next time.

As we continued, we were able to ogle a giant, hand decorated, wind turbine blade (cemented to the earth) in a small town park. Then, we drove, rapidly by, a few dozen Indian jewelry and pottery stores. We stayed overnight in an authentically tacky Route #66 Motel. The innards of the motel had been refurbished, but the outside was so true to Black and White, TV history, that only thing missing was the 1961 Corvette, driven by Buz Murdock and Tod Styles.

The town of Shamrock, Texas, besides being overly done-up, in "Top of the Mornin' to you, Irish", has a completely refurbished 1930's style Gas Station. It's now a gift shop/lunch room/ ice cream parlor, and Tesla Charging Station! In "Amarillo Texas", we drove, right on by, the giant neon cowboy sign, that beckoned us to stop in and try to eat a equally giant steak!

It's still possible to ride down the main drag of "Gallup, New Mexico", and still stay in a hotel, visited by Ronald Regan, in the nineteen thirties. To the West is beautiful "Flagstaff, Arizona". You can see dozens of 1880's era stores, along this downtown stretch of the "Mother Road". Walking in, you might purchase two Authentic Route #66 Tee Shirts, for just $10.00! The old train station, in this mountain town, remains a classic. 

"Flagstaff, Arizona", of course, rhymes with "Winona", which is the next stop. Then, "Kingman, Barstow, and San Bernardino, California". Nothing rhymes with California, so both the song AND the highway end.

Dear Lord. You are always with us, as we travel along the roadways of life. You have blessed us with experiences. May we continue to enjoy life and it's beautifully enriching sites.