Just When You Think You Get Caught Up with Route 66

I've come to the conclusion that you just CAN'T keep up with goings-on along the Mother Road. That is a real on-going thing, and it is my hope that you (yaw'l for my southern readers) get involved with it. Not much in life is finer than cruising down the Mother Road, or any of our old two-laners.

1. The Irish Independent reports that Irish motorcyclists raised over 400,000 pounds (that's be close to $800,000 US) for orphaned children in Mozambique. It said that 55 cyardai (?) and 15 friends made the 2,600 mile ride fro Chicago to LA. Talk about your having a good time while doing something good.

2. Steve Lackmeyer in the June 21st OKC's Oklahoman newspaper had an article about the Red Fork area of Tulsa, Ok. and current 66 activities, "Tulsa rediscovers its 66 routes."

It started off talking about the loss of the popular retro-styled Metro this past year and how Ollie's Restaurant in Red Fork is now a popular place to eat. This place features lots of train decor from signs, displays, and one going around a track suspended from the ceiling. We visited it on our way from the Tulsa Route 66 Festival several years ago. Great food and atmosphere. And the Metro wasn't even a "real" Rt 66 place.

Red Fork has had a hard go of it in recent years, and there are a lot of run-down and closed buildings. At one time, it vied with Tulsa and Sapulpa to be the big city in the Indian Territory. It got its name from the Cimarron River which is called the "Red Fork" of the Arkansas River. It was annexed by Tulsa in 1927 and did well until it started its slide in the 1970s.

At one time, the Crystal City amusement park (1926-1951) was located in Red Fork and was quite the place to go for fun. However, it was torn down in the 1950s and replaced by a shopping center which today is in sad shape.

A group called Tulsa's View in 2025, in a 121 page report, has a $15 million dollar proposed budget for signage, monuments, and attractions along the city's 26 mile stretch of 66. This will include a new interactive exhibit called "The Route 66 Experience".

They also call for the cosmetic restoration of the historic 11th Street Bridge which has been called the "Birthplace of Route 66" because "The Father of Route 66", Cyrus Avery, while attempting to get Route 66 and especially have it aligned through Tulsa, where he had business interests, was able to point out that this bridge was the only one crossing the Arkansas River. It has been closed for 25 years and is unsafe for even pedestrians to use it.

We've seen the bridge, but it is easy to miss with the new one beside it. Beautiful structure though.

3. Speaking of STEVE LACKMEYER- I have come across his name several times recently. He is a business writer for OKC's Oklahoman and had done a lot of articles on Route 66. He even has a Route 66 blog. Check him out.

Keep on Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog