Route 66 spots

Ed's Camp, Oatman Rd. (AZ)

2007-03-15T14:23:00.000+01:00

pic of the Ed's camp, an old gas station and business closed 'til 1992 and now private property, located on the road to the Sitgreaves Pass and the town of Oatman.

De Soto's beauty & Barber Shop, Ash Fork (AZ)

2007-03-14T10:04:00.000+01:00

pic of a business located on old Route 66 (Lewis Ave.) in downtown Ash Fork. The De Soto that stands on the roof of the shop is dated from the 60's.

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (IL-MO)

2007-03-13T12:37:00.000+01:00

Two Pics (view from the Illinois side) of the old Chain of Rocks Bridge (now only opened for cyclists and pedestrians) over the Mississippi River. This is the most famous bridge on Route 66. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

To learn more about this spot, click on this link :

http://www.rollanet.org/~conorw/cwome/article4.htm

"road ends" sign, Lincoln (IL)

2007-03-12T10:39:00.000+01:00

Here is a pic of a "road ends" sign, one can find on an old alignment of the Mother Road located in a cemetary at the south-end of Lincoln.

General Store, Hackberry (AZ)

2007-03-09T09:07:00.000+01:00

On the road to Kingman, one can find this well maintained General Store located on old Route 66 in the small town of Hackberry.

"Root Beer"

2007-02-28T11:30:00.000+01:00

aaahh...refreshing time! tasting the "root beer" was a real surprise...

this pic was shot at the Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook (IL).

Pine Breeze Inn, Bellemont (AZ)

2007-02-09T10:03:00.000+01:00

Here is a pic for the Easy Rider movie fans. This old service station (now closed) has been used to shoot a scene one can find at the beginning of the film.

Whiting Bros. Station, Milan (NM)

2007-02-08T14:29:00.000+01:00

Abandoned Whiting Bros. station located somewhere on the Mother Road near the town of Milan.

First/Last Motel in Texas, Glenrio (TX)

2007-02-07T11:08:00.000+01:00

Here is a pic of the abandoned "first/last" motel in texas, located near the New-Mexico border.

Historic Rock Creek Bridge on Ozark Trail (OK)

2007-01-30T09:32:00.000+01:00

Pic of the Historic Rock Creek Bridge (view looking east) at the entrance of the Ozark Trail, one of the most "out of time" alignment of the Mother Road located between Sapulpa and Kellyville.

Gateway Arch, Saint-Louis (MO)

2007-01-29T17:40:00.000+01:00

Here is a pic of the famous Gateway Arch. (view from downtown Saint-Louis)

Pig Hip Restaurant (Museum), Broadwell, IL

2007-01-26T08:15:00.000+01:00

Back for a bunch of updates by now and it begins with these pics of this old restaurant converted in a museum located in the small town of Broadwell. Ernie Edwards and his wife owned and operated the restaurant from 1937 to 1991. Now, it is turned in a museum since 2003.

Special Update

2006-12-27T09:24:00.000+01:00

Today I'm posting a special update. Here after you will find the complete itinerary for the trip I've done last July. The overnight stops and some dining places are evaluated with "stars".

07/13 : landed in Chicago. Motel : Econo Lodge Northlake (**)
07/14 : visit of downtown Chicago and first miles on Route 66. Motel : Red Roof Inn Willowbrook (***) on IL-83 located next to the Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket (****)
07/15 : Willowbrook to Lincoln (IL) Motel : Super 8 (***)
07/16 : Lincoln to Saint-Louis (MO) Motel : Econo Lodge Riverfront
in downtown Saint-Louis (**) caution : this motel is located on the border of unsafe block. The motel was ok but not the area.
07/17 : Saint-Louis to Lebanon (MO) Motel : Munger Moss (*****) a route 66 icon (subject of a previous post)
07/18 : Lebanon to Claremore (OK) Motel : Claremore Motor Inn (****) very friendly staff and great rooms!
07/19 : Claremore to Weatherford (OK) Motel : Best Western Mark Motor Hotel (***)
07/20 : Weatherford to Amarillo (TX) Motel : Big Texan (***) don't miss a great steak at the restaurant (*****)
07/21 : Amarillo to Tucumcari (NM) Motel : Blue Swallow (*****) for sure, my favourite motel on the Mother Road!
07/22 : Tucumcari to Santa Fe (NM) Motel : Travelodge on Cerrillos Blvd. (***)
07/23 : Santa Fe to Gallup (NM) Motel : Super 8 (***)
07/24 : Gallup to Holbrook (AZ) Motel : Wigwam motel (****) vintage motel. Don't miss this chance to sleep in a tee-pee ;) !
07/25 : Holbrook to Williams (AZ) Motel : Route 66 motel (***)
07/26 : Williams. Motel : Route 66 motel again (***) visit of the Grand Canyon NP.
07/27 : Williams to Needles (CA) Motel : motel 6 (***)
07/28 : Needles to Yucca Valley (CA) Motel : Super 8 (***) side-trip to the Joshua Tree NP.
07/29 : Yucca Valley to Barstow (CA) Motel : Econo Lodge (***)
07/30 : Barstow to Santa Monica (CA) Motel : Bayside Hotel (****) reasonable price motel located near the pier. A must for budget travelers.
07/31 : back to belgium

Mojave desert (CA)

2006-12-26T13:57:00.000+01:00

Looking west on Route 66 as it goes through the Mojave desert in California.

Sitgreaves Pass (AZ)

2006-12-11T10:03:00.000+01:00

Here are two pics of the Sitgreaves pass where Route 66 offers one of its most beautiful sight.
As you can see on the second pic, the elevation is 3550 Ft. at the top of the pass. The first one shows the beginning of the descent that leads to the town of Oatman.

Old Route 66 between Correo and Mesita (NM)

2006-12-08T08:36:00.000+01:00

This is one of my favorite pics looking west on this 11 miles stretch of the road between 2 little towns in New-Mexico.

Jericho Cemetery (TX)

2006-12-07T10:24:00.000+01:00

This Cemetary is part of the Jericho Gap. You can access this place by taking the Exit 124 of I-40. Caution : some parts of the gap are now private property.

If you want to learn why the Jericho gap was Infamous in the early days of Route 66, click on this link :
http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPanhandleTowns/Jericho-Texas.htm

Route 66 in Miami (OK)

2006-12-06T09:53:00.000+01:00

Old graveled segment of the Mother Road.

Route 66 marker, Galena (KS)

2006-12-01T17:07:00.000+01:00

Route 66 marker on the Mother road.

Meramec Caverns, Stanton (MO)

2006-11-30T14:23:00.000+01:00

Time for a short sidetrip today with this look at the entrance of the Meramec Caverns known as the Jesse James hideout.
This attraction is not located right on Route 66. You have to go for about 4 miles to the south on Highway W when you're in Stanton to see them.

Here is the link for the official site of the caverns :
www.americascave.com

Polk-a-Dot Drive-In, Braidwood (IL)

2006-11-29T12:47:00.000+01:00

Two pics today to introduce the Polk-a-Dot, another landmark of the Mother Road in Illinois. This Drive-in is located on old Route 66 (Front St.) as you enter the small town of Braidwood.

Here is the official Link of the Polk-a-Dot :
http://www.polk-a-dot.com/

Bagdad (CA)

2006-11-28T10:45:00.000+01:00

This is such a strange pic. Apart of the railroad tracks, a lone tree is all that remains of the town of Bagdad that used to be located right in the middle of the Mojave desert before being totally abandoned and demolished. On this stretch of the road, you can still feel the sensation of being the last man on earth...

Route 66 is definitely full of surprise...

Twin Arrows Trading Post (AZ)

2006-11-27T13:04:00.001+01:00

Long closed Trading post located next to the I-40 (exit 219) on an old alignment of the Mother Road.
The arrows are in bad state of repair, and could soon disappear...

Route 66 Mural, Tucumcari (NM)

2006-11-24T10:23:00.000+01:00

This is the first pic of a Route 66 mural posted on this blog. This one is located in downtown Tucumcari. Numerous murals like this one can be found along the Mother Road. I'll post other ones in some next updates.

Phillips Route 66 Station, McLean (TX)

2006-11-23T09:11:00.000+01:00

I'm back with some updates by now and it begins with this pic of the first Phillips Route 66 Station located in the town of McLean. Constructed in 1928.

To learn more about this vintage spot of the Mother Road, click on this link :
http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasGasStations/Route66-Phillips66-Service-Station-McLean-Texas.htm