Chris McGreal of The Guardian newspaper in London is retracing the Route 66 path of the Joad family from John Steinbeck's seminal novel, "The Grapes of Wrath." Day Two of his journey includes a lot of material from Adrian, Texas, and the ghost town of Glenrio on the Texas-New Mexico border. Be sure to check … Continue reading In the footsteps of the Joads
Category: Books
Motorcycle trip raising money for fallen firefighters
A group of firefighters is riding motorcycles on Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., to raise money for a foundation that benefits the families of firefighters who died in the line of duty, reports KSDK-TV in St. Louis. The trip concludes Aug. 5. The group was in St. Louis on Tuesday. From the … Continue reading Motorcycle trip raising money for fallen firefighters
Notes from the road
--- The bad news in Oklahoma is that the state's turnpike authority will raise toll-road prices an average of 16 percent. The good news is that this probably means more traffic on old Route 66 in the Sooner State. --- On Monday we briefly visited with Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, … Continue reading Notes from the road
Route 66 guidebook in the works
Tucked into this story from the Carthage (Mo.) Press about a Jasper County board meeting was this: In other business, Gerry “Ringo” Meyer, Shawnee, Kan., spoke with the commissioners about the county buying advertising space and getting involved in a travelogue his company was putting together about Route 66. He described “Keeping You on the … Continue reading Route 66 guidebook in the works
Portrait of a Route 66 advocate
The Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner has a good story about Route 66 aficionado Jim Hinckley and his efforts to kick-start more Route 66 tourism in Kingman -- efforts which seem to be finally bearing fruit. The Kingman Route 66 Association recently reformed, and Kingman's historic downtown is being revitalized. He's been doing his part by … Continue reading Portrait of a Route 66 advocate
Chicken-fried bacon
In this warm review by Columbus Alive of Roadhouse 66 Bar & Grille in Worthington, Ohio, this excerpt caught my eye: If you're snacking with your nightcap, an appetizer menu is served until 11:30 p.m. This means you can get a pint of beer with Betty Boop's Tickle Pickles - battered and fried dill wedges … Continue reading Chicken-fried bacon
Ken Burns plans TV series on Dust Bowl
Ken Burns, the acclaimed producer of documentaries who is most famous for his "The Civil War" series, is planning a new film about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, according to a news release by OETA. Here's Burns' message to OETA and all readers: I'm asking Oklahomans to help me with a new public television … Continue reading Ken Burns plans TV series on Dust Bowl
Return to the road
Ten years ago, Tim Steil and Jim Luning traveled and shot photos for their "Route 66" book. This month, they decided to return to Route 66 to see how the road has changed and meet with aficionados of the old highway. The Luning-Steil blog is here. Today, Luning started posting his Route 66 videos of … Continue reading Return to the road
Notes from the road
My computer is still not connecting to the Internet, but my iPod is working like a champ. So here are a few news items I've tracked down while on the Mother Road (without links, alas). Also, I'll be posting regularly at Twitter.com/route66news. -- The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program reports that the U.S. Senate is … Continue reading Notes from the road
Book review: “Driving Like Crazy”
P.J. O'Rourke seems to be in a somewhat dour mood these days. The famed gonzo journalist is feeling the creeping effects of age, blames auto executives, unions and politicians alike for the current free-fall of American cars, and saves his biggest ire to the "Fun Suckers" that are ruining everything he loves. Yet O'Rourke's 14th … Continue reading Book review: “Driving Like Crazy”