Route 66 is without a doubt the most famous road in America.
Also known as "The Mother Road" a name given to her by John
Steinbeck when he wrote in his novel "The Grapes of Wrath":
66 IS THE MOTHER ROAD. It was indeed the link between East
and West. Commissioned in 1926 and roughly 2,450 miles long
it connects the cities of Chicago and Los Angeles.
Even if it was not the brainchild of Cyrus Steven Avery (Cy),
there is no question that Rt.66 would have never been born
if it had not been for Cy's perseverance.
Over the years the Interstate Hi-ways and Freeways have made
roads like Route 66 obsolete. Keep in mind that the traffic
during the heyday of the Rt.66 was much slower and there were
not as many cars on the road as we have now. But old timers
will tell you that The Mother Road was very dangerous. Lots
of accidents which resulted in many deaths. Imagine if we
had to depend solely on roads like Route 66 in this day and
age. It is sad to see how the many buildings that once
housed businesses that catered to the travelers are now
literally falling by the wayside, (no pun intended!) like
this old gas station in Oro Grande, CA.
Because so much has already been written about Route 66,
I've decided only to write about rural towns along this road.
I have placed these towns on our Side bar under a Rt.66 shield
and have tried to look at The Mother Road mainly through
the eyes of a boondocker but never overlooking the beauty of
the surrounding landscape. Sites where one can park for the
night without being bothered are plentyful and almost all of
the people that I have talked to and who live along this road
are most friendly and often love to tell you their stories.
You will find many scenes like this rusty old car along the
way, so it is very important that you pack your camera and
plenty of film. We hope that you will have a safe trip.
Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy THE MOTHER ROAD!
ROUTE 66
