The Main Street of America

Route 66.  The Main Street of America.  The Mother Road.  An archetype of American history. It has crossed east to west since 1926, becoming a mainstay in US culture. Even today, over 28 years since it was officially removed from the US highway system, thousands flock to its old route to “get their kicks on Route 66”.

We waited until we were near the end to post our Route 66 piece since we were on and off and on and back off of it again and again.  Or at least what it used to be since Route 66 has technically been decommissioned as a US highway; however, that doesn’t mean its been decommissioned as a draw for those wanting to retrace the route of countless American families heading west for countless reasons: adventure, entertainment, escape, or simply a new start “out west”.

We got on Route 66 about 60 miles east of Tulsa, OK and got off at Barstow, CA.  Some stretches of highway were very obvious old 66 trails and some were simply long stretches of I-40.  But whether you were looking at the Texas horizon stretching forever, or bumping through the Petrified Forest gawking at the prehistoric trees, or taking a detour in to the Grand Canyon, or simply driving mile after mile after mile, it wasn’t hard to imagine you were 60 years in the past.  Only in a much nicer vehicle.

Historic 66 Stop

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

 

Oklahoma

Texas

Arizona

Arizona

Route 66 Roadway