Plan your bicycle route on Google Maps March 10, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in bicycling, Maps, Road trips.add a comment
Today, Google announced it added bicycle routes to its Google Maps site in addition to walking, public transit, and driving routes.
Bicycle routes by Google Maps is still being beta-tested, and users can make suggestions for changes if they find an error or overlooked bike trail.
Here’s a demonstration of the technology:
According to Wired:
To create the mapping tool, Google developed an algorithm that uses several inputs — including designated bike lanes or trails, topography and traffic signals — to determine the best route for riding. The map sends you around, not over, hills. But if you really want to tackle that Category 1 climb, you can click and drag the suggested route anywhere you like, just like you can with pedestrian or driving routes. Users can suggest changes or make corrections to routes using the ever-present “report a problem” feature on Google Maps.
That “go around, not over” part explains why Google Maps produced some seemingly bizarre routes for bicyclists on Route 66.
Here’s a typical route for cars on Route 66 from Needles, Calif., to Ludlow, Calif., through the Mojave Desert:
Here’s the one of the three bicycle-route options. This one includes Route 66 and Turtle Mountain Road:
As you can see, the bicycle route tries to avoid the mountain ranges, including the Cadiz Summit on Route 66. But I have a hard time believing the primitive road that leads to Ludlow from the south would be suitable for a bicycle.
It’s not perfect, but this is a good start by Google Maps. The improvements to the basic mapping program — especially Street View — has improved dramatically in recent years. And I wouldn’t be surprised if cyclists and roadies eventually figure out a quasi-Route 66 path for two-wheelers.
Route 66 viaduct in Galena soon will be rehabbed March 10, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Bridges, Preservation.add a comment
Cherokee County, Kan., soon will apply for federal money to stabilize the Front Street Bridge in Galena, which carries old Route 66 over the railroad tracks north of town, according to the Joplin Globe.
The National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program awarded the grant in 2008. It includes $30,000 from the National Park Service and a $50,000 local match.
The 216-foot-long structure was built in 1922 and 1923 to serve the mining industry, and it was incorporated into Route 66 in 1926. The viaduct was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Because of a crack in the bridge’s weight-bearing columns, the weight limit of the bridge has been dropped to where tourist buses could no longer use it. Considering that 4 Women on the Route is on the other side of the bridge, there’s a lot of incentive to repair the viaduct.
(Photo courtesy of Ace Jackalope of TheLope.com.)
“Mustang Sally” March 10, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music.1 comment so far
One of the greatest cruising songs ever, courtesy of Wilson Pickett.
Songs about Tucumcari March 9, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music, Towns.1 comment so far
The Tucumcari-Quay County Chamber of Commerce is about to release a 14-song CD filled with songs that refer to the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., according to the Quay County Sun.
The Chamber of Commerce will sell the CDs to tourists and the locals as a Chamber fundraiser. In the beginning of the research, Beaulieu says he located half of the songs with a simple amazon.com music search while the remainder required a little more time and effort.
Two of the songs have a similar title, “Tucumcari Tonite” and “Tucumcari Tonight,” which also happen to be the community’s motto. Dorothy Shay performs “Two Gun Harry from Tucumcari”, Andy Mason sings “There’s Nothin’ to Eat in Tucumcari”, Michael Hearne’s “Two Miles Out of Tucumcari” is also included on the album along with pop singer Jimmy Rodgers, folk singer Jimmie Driftwood, and a group called the Colin Sphinctor Band, another called Proverbial Coolaid as well as a number of others.
The project involved securing recordings to transfer to the “Songs of Tucumcari” CD, contacting artists for permission to use their music for the fund raiser, and making certain licensing requirements were met. Many of the songs are old enough to be in the public domain.
About 1,000 CDs will be available, and will go on sale March 18 at the chamber’s monthly business-after-hours event at the Main Street Project office at 207 S. Second St.
Bob Beaulieu, executive director of the chamber, says he hopes to soon have the chamber’s Web site set up so it can accept PayPal payments and post song samples.
One of the songs will be Rodgers’ version of “Tucumcari.” Here’s Rodgers hamming it up with Jimmy Durante before performing the tune:
The Book of Obadiah March 8, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Religion.add a comment
The latest entry from “Route 66: A Road Trip through the Bible.”
Blink, and you’ll miss it.
Enchanted welcome March 8, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Signs.add a comment
A few weeks ago, the state of New Mexico erected this “Welcome to New Mexico — Land of Enchantment” structure over westbound Interstate 40 near the Glenrio Welcome Center, close to the Texas border.
Many Route 66ers don’t continue into New Mexico on I-40, opting for the gravel road that was old Route 66 leading into San Jon. However, if time or weather doesn’t permit, this is what would greet roadies.
The welcome sign is reminiscent of a “Welcome to New Mexico” sign that once arched over Route 66 at the Arizona border until 1959.
Those leaving New Mexico the eastbound route also get a nice structure, but not the semi-archway:
(Photos courtesy of the state of New Mexico)