US Route 66 Remembered

NO...That isn't us in the picture....:-)

Memories Memories Memories
I remember in November 1956, Madeline and I along with our 5 month old first born daughter took our first trip on Route 66 to California. We had driven the northern route over the mountains from California after my discharge from the Army a year before. We decided to take the southern route this time since cold weather was approaching

We loaded everything we had into our 1951 ford, said our goodbyes, and hit the road.
We traveled through Mississippi, Louisiana. and the everlasting state of Texas until we met up with Route 66 in Amarillo.

All roads were two lane at that time and trucks in front of you were always slow, especially uphill. Passing was like Russian roulette at times.

We were so young at that time, that we didn't see the real beauty of what nature had to offer.
Our main objective was to get to her parents home in Northern California.

Instead of enjoying the small towns, we thought they were just slowing us down.
We saw the desert sights as waste lands without seeing their real beauty.

Some of the signs and billboards were entertaining and actually got our mouths to watering for that special treat only 192 miles ahead. Every few miles another sign, only 145 more miles etc.
We were usually disappointed when we arrived because nothing could be as great as the advertising that tempted us.

We lived in California a few years before moving back to Alabama.
We made that trip a few times, but with each trip more of Route 66 was displaced with the Interstate Highway.
The small towns were by-passed on the most part, and some died.

A few sections of the old route are still there and a few years back we traveled those we found.
Some groups have been preserving what they can of this unique roadway.

We are at an age now that we can truly love and respect the beauty of Mother Nature's work.

I would love to make one more trip and spend more time enjoying every mile and every sight.
If you haven't seen the southwest, especially New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, you haven't enjoyed America to the fullest.



ROUTE 66 Lyrics

Well if you ever plan to motor west

Just take my way that's the highway that's the best

Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it winds from Chicago to L.A.

More than 2000 miles all the way

Get your kicks on Route 66

Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri

Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty

You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico Flagstaff, Arizona

don't forget Winona Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino

Would you get hip to this kindly tip

And go take that California trip

Get your kicks on Route 66

Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri

Oklahoma city looks oh so pretty

You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico Flagstaff, Arizona

don't forget Winona Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino

Would you get hip to this kindly tip

And go take that California trip

Get your kicks on Route 66