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It wasn’t planned like this. It just happened; one minute I was doing something or other and the next moment, I realised the absolute alignment of two entirely different facts.
Huh?
Here’s a clue:
Well if you ever plan to motor west
Just take my way that’s the highway that’s the best
Get your kicks on Route 66
Well it winds from Chicago to L.A.
More than 2000 miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66
Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri
Oklahoma city looks oh so pretty
You’ll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don’t forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino
Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66
Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri
Oklahoma city looks oh so pretty
You’ll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don’t forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino
Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66
That’s the first one. The second is easy if you’ve seen me any time in recent years. While those years have been unremittingly kind in terms of health, happiness and general comfort, I’ve definitely begun to look middle aged.
So there is was; a two part faux syzygy; 66 on 66.
Cheesy? Don’t care. It’s my party etc.
We leave for Chicago on Tuesday. That’s where it starts, not New York as so many people think.
Aided by the Interwebs, maps and the excellent EZ66 Guide for Travellers, we’ve plotted our course all the way to LA, with diversions to Page in Arizona, to see the Antelope Canyons (again) and the extraordinary landscapes of the great American South West. Then on to the Grand Canyon (missed it last time as we all felt a trip to Las Vegas was more culturally important), before heading back onto 66 for the final section into LA.
And no, we’re not doing this on a Harley, or in a Mustang. I don’t have much interest in bikes and prefer cars that don’t threaten the Earth’s climate and can go round corners when required. Instead, I’ve hired a small car – the picture suggested a Kia of some kind – just enough for the pair of us, two suitcases and our overnighters.
Along with the stops in Page and the Grand Canyon, we’ve planned multi-nights in Tulsa – I’m sure that there’s a song in there somewhere – Santa Fé and Flagstaff. Tulsa is just the extra night we build into every 7-10 days on most trips. A down day to catch our breath and park off for 24 hours.
Santa Fé is a must do – to gorge ourselves at Café Pasqual’s and the Coyote Café while enjoying the Georgia O’Keefe landscapes.
Why Flagstaff? It might just have something to do with the Downtown Diner’s Tex-Mex breakfasts.
After that, it’s a very quick overnight in Kingman and downhill into LA, which is a metropolis I’m not looking forward to very much. Still, a couple of nights in Marina del Rey will set us up for the next hop – more about that soon.
Meantimes, we’ve agreed that there’s to be no singing in the car as we near the major cities and not a single mention of per-taters or ter-may-ters, or worse “You’re doing fine Oklahoma, Oklahoma your OK”. Good plans generally only last until the first contact with the enemy however, so we’ll have to see about that one.
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Yay, you say road trip, I hear travelogue 🙂 Can’t wait to see the pics and hear the news. Safe travels (particularly at night, when wildlife is **really** a danger).
In Santa Fe try to make time ti visit the Rainbow Man Store just off the square. Great ‘Tourist’ stuff but also, in the back room, a great collection of Curtis prints. Last year, I weakened, after 9 years off visits and thinking about it for all that time, and bought one. Expensive but no regrets.
Enjoy your trip. So much to see and do and so little time!
It is one of my favorite parts of the American South West.
Brian
ps still loving the the Zeiss Distagon 35mm f1.4 ZM on my A7RII. (thanks for the GAS) So much so that I bought a Native Mount camera for it, the Lecia M7 (real raw as some call it). Got a great deal on a used one. It arrives today and I’m about to put a roll of Tri X 400 through it.
There’s some gap between Chicago and Santa Fe. Imo the more interesting part because the South West had been photographed to death already – but still always worth it.
From Page go to Joshua Tree NP and spend the night in Palm Springs before flying through LA. Really worth it! Maybe watch Edith Piaf for preparation.
Hello!
Super trip
I’ve done it in a mustang, when they were easy to steer; or maybe I was younger. At this time of the year you will not cook in the car.
By the way be careful don’t drive at high speeds: the troopers will love you.
Buon viaggio.
Gianfranco
If that’s meant to tell us that you’re now 66, Paul, and that you’ve only just begun to look “middle aged”, don’t expect any sympathy. When I left 66 behind, the rot set in.
Hope you have a great trip, regardless – “doing Route 66” is a real bucket-list idea. Wave to my buddies in Saint Louis, as you pass the Gateway Arch.
Exactly my thought when I read the article. At 61, I’m almost approaching the October of my life. At 66, Paul must be halfway, at least, through October and is, perhaps, even knocking on November’s door. I’ll leave it at that for the reader to define “middle aged”….!!!
Cheeky sod.
Safe journey “middle ager”.
I look forward to seeing the results of your trip.
The Stranglers wrote: “32 and 32, that’s 64; approaching middle age”. Or was that “16 and 16’s 32” ? Ouch ! Find out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG9zeoHzzK0 😉 😉