This is supposed to be a desert

You'd think the Mojave River, being in the middle of Southern California's harsh desert, would remain dry or see just a trickle of water, at most. But not today. Here's what the river looked like after the region was lashed with severe rainstorms. This is off Route 66 near Helendale: More storm and flood coverage … Continue reading This is supposed to be a desert

Give an inch, take a mile to save a bridge

Vicky Hartzler, the newly elected U.S. Representative in Missouri's 4th District, has e-mailed constituents and asked them to send photos of notable sights in her district so she can display them when she takes office next month. The Pulaski County Daily tells the rest of the story: At Thursday morning’s meeting of the Pulaski County … Continue reading Give an inch, take a mile to save a bridge

The roots of Taco Bell

I didn't know this, but the beginnings of the Glen Bell and his now-ubiquitous Taco Bell restaurant chain began at a corner eatery on Route 66 in San Bernardino, Calif. According to OC Weekly: ​This taco comes from the above restaurant, which is the exact location where Bell's Hamburgers and Hot Dogs opened in 1952: on … Continue reading The roots of Taco Bell

Holiday road

Here's a new slide-show video of Route 66 sights in Arizona and California. Appropriately enough with Christmas fast approaching, Lindsey Buckingham's 1981 hit song "Holiday Road" is part of the soundtrack. The song is best-known for being included in the movie, "National Lampoon's Vacation."

More from Rock the Route

Another video was posted today from the recently completed Red Bull Rock the Route tour for two unsigned rock bands. You'll see a number of Route 66 sights in this clip:

Joplin blessed with a generous Secret Santa

The Route 66 town of Joplin, Mo., boasts a Secret Santa who manages to place fat cashier's checks into Salvation Army kettles in town every year, according to Time magazine. Amidst the haul, a Salvation Army counting crew found five $1 bills, folded tightly into squares — each concealing a $20,000 cashier's check with "Santa … Continue reading Joplin blessed with a generous Secret Santa

Original Big Boy restaurant was on Route 66

This slipped through my radar, but the original Bob's Big Boy restaurant was established on Route 66 in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles. Dan Kimpel of the Eagle Rock Patch dug up details about the eatery, which now boasts more than 100 restaurants in America and is best-known by its portly, smiling mascot. … Continue reading Original Big Boy restaurant was on Route 66

Frankoma Pottery remains in limbo

A well-researched story this week in the Tulsa Business Journal tells about the sad state of affairs of the closed Frankoma Pottery business in nearby Sapulpa, Okla., off old Route 66. Closed March 19 last year, the plant’s telephone numbers are out of service, and the home page for its website, 
www.frankoma.com, simply reads, “This site … Continue reading Frankoma Pottery remains in limbo

Longtime manager buys, reopens Eisler Bros. Store

That was a short hiatus. Scott Nelson,  longtime manager of the historic Eisler Bros. Old Riverton Store in Riverton, Kan., has purchased and reopened the business after it was shut down indefinitely Dec. 5 during ownership wrangling. Eisler Bros. reopened Friday. Nelson, who's managed the Route 66 grocery and souvenir shop since 1980, said in … Continue reading Longtime manager buys, reopens Eisler Bros. Store

Name that baseball team

The new Frontier League baseball team in Joliet, Ill., soon will begin its inaugural season, and it is asking its potential fan base to come up with a name: We have held some brainstorming sessions and come up with a list of names. BUT… We know that someone out there may have a better idea! … Continue reading Name that baseball team