Route 66

I keep getting pop-ups about route 66 when I'm on the forum. Not complaining, just interested how the ol' venerable highway is doing these days. I travelled it in the 60s and 70s for long stretches before I-40 took it over; on bike, hitch-hiking, bus and cage. There used to be places where train tracks ran beside it and I rode freights, too, in my hobo days. When I got tired of riding the rods, I'd jump off the train when it slowed down, walk over to 66 and stick out my thumb. Those were the days, boys . . .

When Mac the Wife and I moved to North Carolina in '99 from California, we travelled sections of old 66, at least what was left of it then, and stayed in a motel in Texas. It looked like one of the original motels from the old days and the rates were $21.95.

We went through the panhandle of Texas on parts of 66 when we came out here from California. 66 used to go right through Amarillo, but I think we got on I-40 by then and went around. Mac wanted to make better time. It took us 3 1/2 days to travel 2700 miles - too fast by my standards.

If I ever get out that way again riding my shovelhead, I'll take my time . . .