Steve's station wagon had an odometer "event"... He took a picture of it on the side of the freeway!! I think that this was in New Mexico....
A few days later, after we left the Pacific Ocean and headed north to San Francisco, my corvette turned 66,666 miles, but I didn't see it until we were 12 miles past that. I actually thought about backing up to see it, but then decided that it wasn't practical... Dang it.
When we were at the Calico City Ghost Town, there was another family just walking along the main street of town.. and they had their a pet with them. This was too cute to pass up.
If you have a problem on the road, THIS IS THE PLACE that you want to have work on your car!!! (See info about Bob's shop in Flagstaff in a previous posting.)
Four of our cars getting ready for a peaceful night at the BLUE SWALLOW.
I swear that this is the BEST CREAM SODA that I've ever tasted!!
Even photos don't begin to capture the entire experience of traveling Route 66. People from around the world come there to drive it. As mentioned previously, we met approximately 25 motorcyclists from Germany, a funny couple from New Zealand and a nice couple from Australia. I's sure that we would have met more, if we hadn't been so busy TAKING PHOTOS!! :-)
If you are driving WEST on I-40 from Texas, there is a FREE car musuem that you should stop at. Just after you cross the border into New Mexico (at Ende) is Russell's Truck stop. Not only can you get gas, and eat here, but they have a heck of a good car museum. It is Excellent. And there's a huge GIFT shop as well as tons of ice cream and other treats to help you cope with the heat.
Russell's Endee Truck and Travel Center I -40 exit 369. Gas, classic cars, museum, Subway, grocery store.
Thanks to Jim & Sabrin Karras for checking out some motels for us 6 months in advance. We stayed at two motels directly based upon their recommendations.
Thanks to Leon Esparza and Joe Smith (and the rest of the gang from the Heart of Route 66 VCCA Region. They met us an hour up the highway and then guided us to our first Route 66 stop at the Round Barn. They even had lunch waiting for us!!! And then they led us to our motel where we parked our cars and they chauffeured us the rest of the day and evening. This was a HUGE relief to us after we drove almost 500 miles four days in a row to get there.
Thanks to Fred Johnson and his wife for driving for 3 or 4? hours just to have dinner with us at Lake Havasu.
Thanks to Robert Pennicker for taking in a wayward "vintage" vehicle with almost no brakes and getting me back on the road the same day.
Thanks to JC Stone and his family for joining the VCCA when we stayed at his motel at Lake Havasu. We will see you again at Lake Tahoe in August 2016.
Thanks to Kumar Patel for giving us an unexpected tour of San Bernardino the morning that we departed the Wigwam Motel. You are a huge asset to the memory and preservation of the Mother Road.
Thanks to Dean Meltz for letting us tour his place and giving me a ride in his 1928 Canopy Express.
Thanks to Larry Pearson - San Fernando Valley Region for leading us through the maze that is known as "downtown Los Angeles"... We would never have been able to navigate our way unassisted.
And a special thanks to all of the great people that we met along the way. -Two waitresses (in Kansas and Arizona) get our special thanks for feeding all of us (with guests) and keeping our table laughing the entire evening. - The owners of the motels that we stayed at. We found that their cordiality and hospitality were genuine and honest.
STATISTICS
Miles Everyone drove at least 5,310 miles on the entire trip. Some drove more due to visiting friends that were located off the main road.
We drove 64% of Route 66 (Modern length 2142 mi).
Total miles driven in the Land Yacht (Chevelle Station-wagon): 5,622 miles Total gallons of gas used: 327 Low MPG: $ 13.06 High MPG: $ 22.02 Avg. MPG: 17.3 Highest price paid for gas: Salinas, CA $4.429/gal Lower price paid for gas: Oklahoma City, OK $3.229/gal
1966 Corvette (used Premium for 2/3 of the trip) Cost of gas for the trip ~ $ 1,212 Highest price paid $ 4.50 Lowest price paid $ 3.44 Avg. MPG: 15.9
Future Plans? We could easily do this trip again and never stop at any of the same places. As I review my notes and list of potential stops, I'm amazed at how many additional places there are to visit. In fact a person could run the entire route and ONLY look for abandoned gas stations!!?!?! or abandoned motels!! It truly is a lesson in history that exceed's viewing any video or reading any book. There is no better way to see history than by living it.
Best of luck and good traveling if you decide to do it.
This is one item on my Bucket List that I'd be willing to re-live, because the Mother Road did NOT END. It is alive and well