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Checking in with the Rock May 26, 2009

Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation, Restaurants.
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KOTV in Tulsa did a story about the Rock Cafe‘s imminent full-service reopening. The link to the video is here.

It looks like the Route 66 restaurant in Stroud, Okla., is shooting for a Friday as its first day of full service, but it’s not a certainty.

Would high-speed train benefit Route 66 town? May 25, 2009

Posted by Ron Warnick in Railroad, Towns.
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This is an interesting development for the Route 66 town of Victorville, Calf., if it happens …

VICTORVILLE – Construction crews could begin work on a proposed high-speed rail line to Las Vegas as early as next year, executives with the company behind the project said. [...]

The DesertXpress idea is based on the assumption that Vegas-bound Southern Californians would be willing to pay to park their cars Victorville and forego the time and potential frustrations of freeway travel. The company says it can build the route with private funding.

The proposed high speed rail route a separate from the proposal to establish a Maglev route from Las Vegas to Anaheim.

As planned, the DesertXpress line would allow Southern California passengers to board trains at a north Victorville train station and speed to Sin City as quickly as 150 mph. The line, which would generally follow the route of the 15 Freeway, would feature 183 to 200 miles of track, depending upon its ultimate alignment.

DesertXpress is still awaiting approval from the federal government. The firm has completed a draft environmental impact statement and Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Rob Kulat said the agency could make a decision in nine months. [...]

DesertXpress reports that construction and other start-up costs will total $3.5 to $4 billion. and that the line could be built in four years. The midpoint fare price is projected to be about $50.

Naturally, the nearby Mother Road town of Barstow is concerned it will be left out as a stop. Of course, another stop on the line would likely lower the train’s speed, so it’s understandable that DesertXpress is reluctant to add one.

But I concur with officials that high-speed rail between the two metro areas makes a ton of sense. I’ve made the trip from the Los Angeles area to Las Vegas via I-15 several times. Unless you have a gas-sipping vehicle, you almost always have to stop for fuel in the hot and desolate town of Baker, Calif. To this day, road signs urge motorists to shut off their air conditioning during the steep ascent into the mountains to keep their vehicles from overheating.

Simply put, driving to Vegas isn’t all that pleasant. I think a lot of people would jump at the chance of taking a fast train to Vegas in less than two hours in no-worries comfort. And you know that businesses and residences would pop up around the station in Victorville.

Memorial Day tribute 2009 May 25, 2009

Posted by Ron Warnick in People.
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Here is a list of soldiers from Route 66 towns who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ILLINOIS
Chicago

Countryside

Cicero

Romeoville

Dwight

Lincoln

Normal

Bloomington

Springfield

Virden

Carlinville

Edwardsville

Granite City

MISSOURI
Florissant

St. Louis

Wildwood

Pacific

Bourbon

Lebanon

Marshfield

Springfield

Carthage

Joplin

KANSAS
Riverton

OKLAHOMA
Miami

Vinita

Claremore

Tulsa

Luther

Edmond

Oklahoma City

TEXAS
Amarillo

NEW MEXICO
Las Vegas

Santa Fe

Albuquerque

Los Lunas

ARIZONA
Holbrook

Winslow

Flagstaff

Kingman

CALIFORNIA
Barstow

Victorville

Hesperia

San Bernardino

Rialto

Azusa

Arcadia

Fontana

Glendora

Monrovia

Rancho Cucamonga

Pomona

Pasadena

Hollywood

Los Angeles

(Sources: CNN.com, icasualties.org, WashingonPost.com)

Chicago roadie wins writing awards May 24, 2009

Posted by Ron Warnick in Books, History, People.
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David G. Clark, aka the Windy City Road Warrior, earned two awards from the Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest during the Illinois Women’s Press Association’s annual Spring Awards Luncheon.

According to Clark’s blog:

In the Special Series category, Clark won the first place award for three of his articles that appeared in the Federation News, the quarterly publication of the National Historic Route 66 Federation. The series, titled “Architects of Chicago’s Route 66,” discussed the careers and buildings of architects Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. The contest judges commented that the series exhibited “reporting that bridges the gap between history and the current community” and contained “meticulous research.” The articles were published in the Spring, Summer, and Autumn 2008 editions of the Federation News.

In the Special History Articles category, Clark won first place for “Filling the Skies with Commerce” parts 1 and 2, published in the Spring and Summer 2008 editions of Route 66 Magazine. These articles recounted some events of aviation history that occurred along the Route 66 corridor in the Chicago area. The contest judges wrote in comment, “Documenting the early aviators of Chicago and the city’s fascinating history with flying was a great subject. Clark’s river (ocean?) of facts is almost overwhelming. Reading Clark is like taking a drink from a fire hose.”

Clark definitely has done good writing in the past, including the “Exploring Route 66 in Chicagoland” guidebook, which is highly recommended here.

Taking a T-Bird west May 24, 2009

Posted by Ron Warnick in Road trips, Vehicles.
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The Panama City (Fla.) News Herald posted an interesting story about Johnny and Judy Bunch driving their restored 1956 Ford Thunderbird on Route 66.

The story is good, but the video is better — mainly because you can see that beautiful car.

The other interesting part is this excerpt:

Although tourism is the main draw in Vegas, parts of Route 66 still hold its own, according to Jan Davis, the Director of Operations for the Association of Arizona. The little towns, cafes and diners along Route 66 in Arizona welcome 100,000 people a year, Davis said.

That’s one of the few times I’ve seen actual tourist numbers assigned to Route 66. Fairly impressive, if the 100,000 figure is true.

Hand pedal power May 23, 2009

Posted by Ron Warnick in bicycling, People, Road trips, Television.
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Norberto de Angelis, the Italian man who sought to travel Route 66 on a specially equipped hand bicycle, apparently is on the Mother Road now.

KOTV in Tulsa caught up with him. The former football player was partly paralyzed in a car accident, and is using the hand bicycle as a form of physical therapy. He’s averaging 40 to 50 miles a day.

He wants to inspire people on his epic journey, inspire them to get outside and enjoy life.

“If someone, someone, someone disabled people see me maybe they improve his life because I need a sport, I want a sport, I want to do sport and I like if other people take this example to stay out of their home, no more and…” he paused, looking for the term in English.

“Just go outside and do it,” we offered.

“Exactly!” Norberto said, beaming.

Also, here’s a video of de Angelis cruising on Route 66. You’ll see him pass by the Oasis Motel in Tulsa at one point.

Old Route 66 near Lake Springfield named to National Register May 23, 2009

Posted by Ron Warnick in Highways, Preservation.
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A 1.3-mile stretch of old Route 66 south of Lake Springfield in Springfield, Ill., was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective May 12, reported the National Park Service in a weekly newsletter.

The designation was expected after the state submitted its application to NPS.

A story a few weeks ago from the Springfield Journal-Register had some details about the road:

Preservationists believe the road is the longest drivable section of the original Route 66 remaining in Illinois. [...]

The road, 16 feet wide compared to 24 feet for modern two-lane roads, is often used by farm equipment and as a commuter route for people who live southeast of Springfield.