Route 66: An All-American Road-- Part 1

From Jan. 18, 2009 Your Time "Route 66: Historic road west still drives interest" by Jim Winnerman in Christian Science Monitor.

Of course, this kind of an article will always attract my interest for some reason.

Mr. Winnerman started off talking about Soulsby's Shell station in Mt. Olive, Illinois and called it an unlikely attraction for international tourists. The place opened in 1926 and closed since 1991, but, it's being on the historic Route 66 draws the tourists in.

From 1927 to 1985, Route 66 stretched 2,448 miles (much more when you add in different alignments) from Chicago to Los Angeles when it was a major thoroughfare for travelers going west.

A John Steinbeck novel, hit song, TV show and several movies transformed the stretch of asphalt into an international symbol of American wonderlust.

Today's motorists do the road on motorcycles (the best way to do it, but I'm afraid of them), RVs, tour buses and cars, both current and vintage (of course, a Corvette is the best way by auto).

Michael French and wife Vanessa of southern England rented Harley's in 2008 and made the end-to-end trip with another British couple: "For the four of us it was the desire to see the 'real' America and experience for ourselves the amazing spirit Americans had and to try to appreciate the trials endured on their search for a better life out West."

More to Come. --RoadDog