In June of 2014, I discovered a hidden treasure alongside Route 66. I was driving home after a two-day trip; it was the first time I'd traveled Route 66 west of Oklahoma City. I only went as far as the Texas border, but it was enough to know I wanted to explore the rest of … Continue reading New Life for the Lincoln County Express
It's odd how the days in 2020 seem to stretch on forever, yet at the same time they become a compressed, jumbled mess in my memory. A lot of that is COVID, sure, but part of that is grief and other stresses. The last few months I've done some scattered traveling but all of my … Continue reading Pieces of the Road
The vast majority of travelers that spend time on Historic Route 66 are familiar with the 2006 Disney/Pixar film Cars. The animated movie tells the story of Lightning McQueen, a race car that finds himself stuck in the small western Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. The town is the home of many colorful characters … Continue reading The Cars Story and Route 66
The eastern portions of 11th Street in Tulsa (also known as Route 66) resemble more of a rural highway than a city road. Homes and empty fields make up most of the landscape with an occasional church or small business hanging on to life. Near 133rd East Avenue, a sign on the south side of … Continue reading The Story of Thrifty
Originally posted to the Oklahoma Route 66 Association blog on 11/7/19 When it was announced this summer that the contents of Afton Station were going to be auctioned off, I was tremendously sad. Afton Station had been a great asset to Route 66, not just in northeast Oklahoma but throughout all 2400+ miles. It wasn't … Continue reading The Waldmire U-Haul
If you missed my previous post that covered the journey from Paris Springs to Joplin, Missouri -- check that out here. As I ate my breakfast and visited with my New Zealand traveling companions in Joplin, I noticed they were all wearing small red pins. At first I thought they were little guitars, but I … Continue reading Gilligan’s Spring Tour (II)
For the last several years, I've met up with the Gilligan's Route 66 Tour group as they've come through Tulsa. Gilligan's is operated by Sam Murray, a gent from New Zealand that also owns and operates a 1916 boutique hotel on the south island. As such, Sam's bi-annual tours typically cater to Kiwi travelers. They … Continue reading Gilligan’s Spring Tour (I)
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
On the way home from Missouri this weekend, I stopped for lunch in Vinita, OK. Normally, I'd stop in at Clanton's...but today I opted for the Hi-Way Cafe just west of town. I'd heard good things and the timing was right. I'm very glad I did. I pulled in to the gravel lot to find … Continue reading The Hi-Way Cafe
Last weekend, I took a trip west to the Texas Panhandle. It was finally time for Texas Welcomes the World, the 2018 International Route 66 Festival! It had been a long time since I'd seen many of my roadie friends and I was excited to attend my first "official" International Route 66 Festival. I arrived in … Continue reading Texas Welcomes the World
Rhys' Pieces 