In early September, Samantha and I trekked westward to Oakland, California for the wedding of one of Sam's best friends. Not only were we attending, but Sam was in charge of the reception...which meant hauling a rented SUV full of décor to the Pacific coast. It was a long journey, but very worthwhile. We were … Continue reading West Coast Wander – Part One
The second (and last) day of the Arizona Route 66 Fun Run took me through one of my favorite segments of the entire road: the Oatman Highway. The original alignment of Route 66 between Kingman, AZ and the California border takes drivers through the Black Mountains for 48 miles, reaching a height of 3,586 feet … Continue reading Galloping West for the Fun Run – Part 3
After driving over 1,000 miles in two days, it was time to drive some MORE - but my time on the road Saturday, April 30th was not spent trying to GET somewhere. It was time just GOING somewhere. After all, Route 66 is about the journey...not the destination. And the Fun Run is a multiple-day … Continue reading Galloping West for the Fun Run – Part 2
In 2015, I rented a car in Los Angeles and drove Route 66 from the Pacific Ocean to New Mexico and back. It was the first time I'd driven that westernmost section of the Mother Road; I hadn't been that far west since. "Hey, you should come out to the Kingman Fun Run!" suggested the … Continue reading Galloping West for the Fun Run – Part 1
(Part one is available here.) On the morning of Monday, September 30th my mother and I woke and had breakfast at the Globetrotter Lodge in Holbrook, Arizona. Peter Hoeller, the owner, is an excellent host. The small dining room attached to the lobby was full of travelers; each group had a place setting ready for … Continue reading Going West with Mom (Part 2)
The day after our visit to the Grand Canyon, we headed east. Our drive took us through a scenic stretch of Old Route 66 through the Kaibab National Forest. The scent of pine was heavy in the air and we had the lanes to ourselves. It was a very peaceful drive. There's a small section … Continue reading Monumental Vista
Finally, the day had arrived. The centerpiece destination of our week-long anniversary road trip was at hand! Furthermore, it would be a day completely without time in the car. Instead, we took some older transportation from the town of Williams: a train! The Grand Canyon Railway was originally part of the ATSF rail line. When the first … Continue reading A Grand Adventure
In my previous post, I mentioned that our travels that day included one more stop but didn't mention where we stopped or why. I felt it would be appropriate to give this stop a post of its own so that I could adequately explain why this stop was so important to me. I struggled with … Continue reading The Guardian of Route 66
When we left Tucumcari New Mexico on October 9th, Samantha was stoked. After a restful night at the Blue Swallow, we would be spending the day crossing New Mexico and venturing into Arizona. One of her most anticipated sights on our journey was the Painted Desert, which was on the day's itinerary. After a lovely … Continue reading Ditat Deus
I started a new role at my workplace last week. It was the first time in a long time that I'd moved to a different office and worked with a completely new group of people; as such, they didn't know anything about me. I talked to my new coworkers about my professional history and personal life, … Continue reading My Route 66 Awakening
Rhys' Pieces 