I’ve decided to learn a lot more about the road termed “The Mother Road”…Route 66.
Along the way, I’ll post interesting sights from my findings, and I’ll also parallel this excursion to the one we take in our heart, toward God.
You see, no one needs to take Route 66. Faster, smoother, and bigger interstate highways make this route outmoded. No, folks get their kicks on Route 66 for the journey itself…to experience the epic route that is America’s most famous and alluring roadway westward.
The picturesque course was established in 1926, and originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, before ending at Los Angeles. It covered a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km).
During the Dust Bowl days, in the early 1930s, people packed up and took this road to make a better life for themselves. In the 1950s, a trip on route 66 was a common family vacation, filled with plenty of sights, shops, roadside attractions, eating establishments, camping grounds, gas stations, and lodging choices. A virtual monument to Americana and campy kitsch. Now the trail ends in Santa Monica, CA, and parts of the old route have been long abandon or fallen into disrepair.
Still the mystique and history of the open road west continues to excite travelers to venture on various portions of the legendary Route 66.
Starting April 3, 2011, I will be teaching a class fashioned after this type of adventure, at Bethesda EC Church, called: Route 66: Adventures in Spiritual Formation. Part I will include getting familiar with the route and its ways: the epic trail God has in store for each of us. Part II will involve the experience of traveling it for ourselves. Two 6-week bursts. I hope you can come.
Various postings here will serve as a companion to the weekly excursions we will take…like postcards and journal entries from highlights and stops on the road.
So, Hop in. During April, May, and June, get hip to this timely tip, and we’ll find some kicks on route 6-6.
Now a question for you: What’s the best road trip you’ve ever taken?
- Route 66, gas station, 1929
well easy question for me. Right after college i packed up my van, quit my job and went on a 5 month road trip from Pennsylvania on westward. I hit 20something states, put on 18000 miles (!) and had a grand ole time. I had two friends from home fly out to travel for a bit, and obviously made plenty of friends. I planned on returning home but fell in love with Oregon, where I now have 2 jobs, a wife, child and own my home. I even traveled on route 66 for a small bit, but in Illinois where it’s pretty boring.
“66” was my high school and college football jersey number. I am sure this information would have come up in your research eventually, but I thought I’d save you the time and trouble. As to your question and the survey above, I have always held with the great G. K. Chesterton who wrote that “There are two ways of getting home, and one of them is to stay there.” I do SO wish I could be a student in your class, though – might even be worth a road trip to the Yankee lands. Is there a Rosetta Stone program for learning the language?