8th Annual Route 66 Birthplace Festival

I spent last weekend in Springfield, Missouri in the company of friends.  It was the 8th annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival and I had a vendor booth in the Old Glass Place, a historic venue near the iconic Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque. When I attended my first Birthplace festival in 2015, I told … Continue reading 8th Annual Route 66 Birthplace Festival

On the Road with Michael – Home Again

This is the final entry in my series about my time with Michael Wallis on the Midwest leg of his book tour for, "The Best Land Under Heaven: The Donner Party in the Age of Manifest Destiny".  If you've missed any previous installment, here they are: Springfield MO & KC Kansas City KC to Columbia … Continue reading On the Road with Michael – Home Again

On the Road with Michael – St Louis III

Our last day in St Louis served as a bridge between the Route 66 world that Michael Wallis is so associated with and the western history that serves as the backbone of his literary output.  It included a literal bridge, too, as it happens. During the downtime I had on Sunday, I'd made a startling … Continue reading On the Road with Michael – St Louis III

On the Road with Michael – St Louis II

(other installments of this series here) Sunday was another gloriously slow morning.  I drank coffee & ate the last two donuts from the Donut Drive-In while I looked out my window at the flower bed.  I checked the news, did a little writing, and generally lazed about until about 10:00.  I was pleased to see … Continue reading On the Road with Michael – St Louis II

On the Road with Michael – St Louis

(previous installments of this series here) Saturday got off to a joyously slow start.  I'd slept better than expected, considering the fact I could hear conversation in the next room clear as day.  We didn't meet up for breakfast until about 10:00 AM.  On the way down, I noticed the station Midway had a bunch … Continue reading On the Road with Michael – St Louis

On the Road with Michael – Columbia to St Louis

(previous installments of this series here) Friday morning, we slept in.  Of course, sleeping in for me (and Michael as well) meant waking up around 8:00 instead of 7:00.  I took my time getting ready, puttering around my hotel room with mediocre coffee and a few of our remaining thumbprint cookies.  Looking out the window … Continue reading On the Road with Michael – Columbia to St Louis