The Jefferson Highway was one of America's earliest highway systems. It connected New Orleans Louisiana to Winnipeg, Canada about a decade before the federal numbered highway system was created. Over time, it was supplanted by other highways (much like Route 66) but it still enjoys enthusiasm from dedicated fans and communities that take pride in … Continue reading Okay No Longer
On Friday, I got shot. har har har My second COVID-19 Vaccine shot, that is! I spent most of Saturday feeling like I'd just barely avoided hangover and didn't quite make it. That's good - and today I woke up feeling completely normal. Normal enough for a little bit of driving - so I set … Continue reading Renewal in Osage County
At the beginning of 2020, the first half of my year had several excursions on the books. I was going to Springfield, Missouri for a Route 66 conference in March, we were taking Mom to Disney World in April (her first time back since 1998), and I planned to finally see Wyoming as part of … Continue reading A Worthwhile Journey
(Part 3 is available here.) Driving from Bluff, Utah to Raton, New Mexico makes for a long day. When Mom and I woke up on October 2nd, we had to decide whether we were going to drive back into New Mexico, through Taos, or take the road through southern Colorado. Mom left the decision up … Continue reading Going West with Mom (Part 4)
When I was elected as the new President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, I also became a board member of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership. This nationwide group just entered their third year of operation and their annual board meeting took place last weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After taking the Mustang in … Continue reading Rendezvous in ABQ
In the summer of 2018, I was put in touch with a man named Robert Brooks. Robert is a successful spinal surgeon in the Tulsa area...but I didn't need surgery. I did have a great desire to speak with him about history. Robert had a connection to an eastern landmark on Tulsa Route 66 that … Continue reading The Brookshire Motel
On the last weekend of April, I headed west to attend a few events as the Tulsa County Representative for the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. I had to be in Clinton on Saturday and Weatherford on Sunday, so I figured I'd stay overnight and do a little exploring. As luck would have it, my friend … Continue reading A Western Oklahoma Ramble
Nothing lasts forever. That fact is why I quickly planned a weekend road trip to the Land of Enchantment. There is an abandoned motel in Española, NM that has a great old sign I've wanted to photograph for a long time. When I received word that demolition was close at hand, I knew if I … Continue reading Capturing Time (part one)
When I have a road trip planned, it's easier to wake up early. Granted, I don't usually leave at 5:00 AM, but on Sunday that is what I did. I was attending a quarterly Oklahoma Route 66 Association meeting in Weatherford that afternoon and wanted to spend the morning exploring southwestern Oklahoma. Since that was … Continue reading Comanche Territory & Frontier Towns
My mother-in-law is in town this weekend. I am thankful that these visits do not come with the stereotypical hand-wringing and stress; I'm always happy when Cindy comes to town from New York. She's a great lady. Additionally, Samantha is on Cloud Nine the entire time; they usually spend most of the time junk-store shopping anyway. … Continue reading Backroad Bridgehunting
Rhys' Pieces 