Many photos used on this website are courtesy of Mr. James Kalemis

...Life is a journey, enjoy the ride...
Welcome to the ultimate road trip of your life! Guided or self-guided Route 66 Tours.

Now with visiting Milwaukee, Grand Kanyon and Las Vegas!

 

"The Route 66 self-guided road trip on a Harley Davidson was marvellous, it exceeded our expectations. The route and instructions on the GPS were clear and the Points of Interest were especially useful.

We enjoyed going to the diners and soaking up the atmosphere of the Mother Road era. Visiting museums along the way was a great way of learning more of the history.

We met many interesting people along the way; the locals were always so interested in people following the route especially when on a motor bike!

We were surprised that there are considerable lengths of the Route 66 roadway remaining and it was thrilling riding along these stretches.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience of a lifetime - highly recommended."

Helen & John, New Zealand

 

Riding Historic Route 66 - Motorcycle Tour including the Grand Canyon

"If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way. Take the highway that's the best. Get your kicks on Route 66!" - Bobby Troupe

Searching for the real America? You've just found it on "The Best of Route 66," a 14 day itinerary that takes you on a loop through America's roadside history.

From the big city excitement of Chicago to the historic charm of Springfield, Illinois and the mighty Mississippi River in St. Louis, this once-in-a-lifetime trip takes you back to the past and down America's Mother Road - Route 66.

Founded in 1926, this highway stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to the Pacific coast of California, opening the road west for countless 20th century pioneers.

Today, Route 66 is more than just a memory of fast cars, drive-in movies, diners and dreams. It is a living piece of American history. Modern interstate highways tried to kill Route 66. Instead, the road became a legend. And today you can drive the most exciting part of this legendary concrete trail on "The Best of Route 66."

 

 

Before our tour in September you have the chance to join our Milwaukee Harley-Davidson museum and factory tour. A must for motorcycle lovers!

 

Itinerary:

Day 0: Chicago

Arriving in Chicago, meet you at the hotel in a western suburb, close to the bike rental shop. Optional city tour at night, including Sears Tower Sky deck (it is now called Willis Tower).

Day 1: Chicago - Bloomington (Illinois, distance: 211 km / 131 miles)

First sight today is the mighty Gemini giant a large fiberglass "muffler man" of the 1960's era. It was during this time that these colossal men could be found all over America, holding all manner of "tools" in their hands from mufflers, to hot dogs, to axes, and more. In this case, the Gemini Giant sports a rocket ship, a remnant of our fascination with outer space. Most of these very tall men lost their lives as America began to move faster and faster. But here in Wilmington, the large green man hangs tight, along with several other historic icons of the past.

Continuing on IL 53 to Braidwood, our next photo op is the
Polka Dot Inn at 222 N. Front St with James Dean, Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. There is another set of figures on the other side.

The Polka Dot is close enough to the Launching Pad in travel time that you probably only want to get something to eat at one of them. If you stop to eat at every Route 66 Drive-In and Diner you will gain a lot of weight!

At 400 S. West St. in Odell, there is a restored Standard Sinclair Gas Station which is very cool. It features a glass visible register type pump, in which the amount of gas you wanted to purchase was pumped into the glass tank, and gravity fed it into your bike. This beautiful old gas station was built in 1932 and served travelers on Route 66 until the mid 1960s when it stopped selling gas. This station then was used as a body shop until it closed its doors in 1975. Years of neglect took their toll on this old Standard station. The station would have disappeared if it had not been for the preservation efforts of the Illinois Route 66 Association and their Preservation Committee.

A block down from the old Mobil station an old Catholic Church stands along Route 66. During the golden era of Route 66 there was a tunnel under Route 66 right here between the school and church. The tunnel was constructed because traffic was so heavy on the old road. It allowed children and adults alike safe passage to and from the church. It was filled in after Route 66 and Odell was bypassed by the Interstate.

Riding South we arrive in Pontiac and stop at Old Log Cabin Inn, at the intersection of Pontiac Rd. (2 lane 66) and the 4 lane 66 on the north edge of town at 18700 Old Rt. 66. Old Log Cabin Inn wasn't always facing this side, it originally faced the much older Route 66 alignment behind the building, but was lifted and turned 180 degrees when the alignment changed.

In Towanda route 1954 alignment we find an exhibit drawing that was created by volunteers, it is the little map of Route 66, we realize we have not started the journey yet...

Day 2: Bloomington - St. Louis (Missouri, distance: 396 km / 184 miles)

About four miles beyond Shirley, Illinois, you will come to Funks Grove Road. We turn right here! This is a secret place that many people miss on their way. Most people pass the turn off to this little gem.

In Atlanta we see another fine fiberglass statue, this one is called the " Muffler Man" that has seen a few different locations and looks.

Tall Paul was located in Cicero, Illinois along Ogden Ave. for many years in front of Bunyon's. When Bunyon's closed the owners were offered as much as $10,000 but decided to "permanently loan" it to the City of Atlanta to display in their Rt.66 Heritage Exhibit. Tall Paul is accessible 24 hours a day.

In Carlinville, folks still talk about the legend of Angus Bailey. As the story goes, Angus was a loner, without friends, who rode into town on a cold, and windy night back in 1890. All he had on his mind was a big, juicy steak and the best whiskey money could buy. He quietly walked into a saloon at this very location and sat down to enjoy his meal when a fight broke out. Unfortunately, he was the cause of that fight. Seems that he had been wrongly accused of cattle rustling by Old Man Merriweather. Before he had a chance to defend himself; Angus was swinging from a rope right on the north side of the square. As the snow fell, the stranger was buried in a shallow grave at the edge of town. The rumor is: Angus walked back into the saloon the very next night to finish his meal. The saloon owner, scared as he was, prepared one of his finest cuts of beef and opened his best bottle of whiskey. When he finished, Angus was seen riding back out of town , just as he had come in. With the snow falling and the wind blowing, he never once looked back. Legend has it, Angus Bailey can still occasionally be seen on nights unfit for most, enjoying the best food and drink in the county, right on the north side of the square in Carlinville. No lunch served from 2 to 5 PM.

Next stop is Mt. Olive, Soulsby's was one of the longest operating service stations on the Mother Road, in operation from 1926 until the early 90's. Owner Russell Soulsby inherited the station from his father Henry, who constructed it in order to have a business to pass on to his son, and the landmark would pump gas until 1991, almost fifty years after the Route 66 designation had been removed from the pavement in front of it. Soulsby was trained in the Army as an electronics repairman and for years he used the north side of the station to run a second business of servicing the community's radios and televisions.

Along with the bright reds and yellows of the recent refurbishment, the most striking feature of the Soulsby's Station is on the south side of the property where the repair rack shares its space quite intimately with an oak tree. With no room inside for automobile service, repairs were done on the steel ramp outside, and over the years a tree began to grow up between the tire rails on the rack. To this day it still rises up out of the middle, forbidding any modern automobiles from venturing up onto it and giving this Mount Olive landmark yet another signature Route 66 quirk.

For the fan of Route 66 Staunton holds a special treat though. You can't go through Staunton without stopping by Henry's Rabbit Ranch. Henry's Rabbit Ranch is located on the old 1930 - 1940 alignment of Route 66 through the area. You can't miss it, just look for the bright "Hare It Is" sign. That sign is a play on the famous "Here It Is" sign from the Jackrabbit Trading Post on Old Route 66 in Arizona.

The Chain of Rocks Bridge is part of old Route 66, crossing the Mississippi from St. Louis MO to Alton, Il. Now it is a walking and biking bridge with connecting trails on both sides by Trailnet. The bridge is 1 mile long with special Route 66 memorabilia, picnic tables and benches. There are two incredible ornate castles south in the water that used to be water pump towers. For movie buffs, the Chain of Rocks Bridge was used to film the escape portion at the end of  "Escape from New York".

 

 

Day 3: St. Louis - Springfield (Missouri, distance: 397 km / 247 miles)

Today is the day to see the world's largest rocking chair and ride on route 66 at it's finest.

A famous Missouri Route 66 legend is Devil’s Elbow and the Big Cut area of the Mother Road. Once this stretch of the road was one of the most feared and dangerous sections of old Route 66. Today it is a pleasant stop in a beautiful park-like setting along Route 66. The picturesque Big Piney River is set amongst the beautiful Ozark Hills and it is easy to see why Devil's Elbow was once a favorite resort town in the 1930s and 40s.

Day 4: Springfield - Tulsa (Oklahoma, distance: 325 km / 202 miles)

After visiting the Spencer Bridge and the little gas station next to it we would arrive to Carthage.
The courthouse is a magnificent Romanesque Revival building was constructed with Carthage stone and has medieval castle features that include turrets, towers, and arches. An array of historical artifacts, local mining displays, and a wrought iron cage elevator with a full time operator are located inside of the building.

The Galena depot contains mining and other historical items related to Galena Outside the museum engines and railroad carts as well as a working Model T can be seen.

A few miles west of Riverton on the way to Baxter Springs, Kansas we will find the classy historic Marsh Arch " Rainbow Bridge" on the old alignment of Route 66. This is one beautiful old bridge, though much smaller than the old Spring River Bridge, that did survive the "new is better" philosophy so evident in our society during the 1970s and 1980s.

In Miami we can't miss the giant Cuckoo Clock! And you can't have a giant cuckoo clock without a giant cuckoo bird. Hopefully next time, we'll be hungry when we go by. Soon we pass a few

old cars sitting by the road.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and claiming the title of the World’s Largest
 Concrete Totem Pole, the park features a 90 foot totem pole that towers over the park in a vivid array of folk art colors.

Ed Galloway built the totem pole over an 11 year period from 1937 to 1948, utilizing some 28 tons of cement, six tons of steel, and 100 tons of sand and rock. His tribute to the American Indian features 200 carved pictures, with four nine-foot Indians near the top each representing a different tribe.

The Blue Whale has become one of the most recognizable attractions on old Route 66 in Oklahoma. Hugh Davis built it in the early 1970s as an anniversary gift to his wife Zelta. The Blue Whale and its pond became a favorite stop and swimming hole for both locals and travelers alike.

In the evening we visit a bikers' pub for a beer or two.

Day 5: Tulsa - Clinton (Oklahoma, distance: 350 km / 217 miles)

The Ozark Trail section crosses a 1925
iron bridge (with brick deck) over Rock Creek, passes a defunct drive-in, and curves thru a narrow RR subway.

Travelers often stop at Arcadia to marvel at the Round Barn and to pause where Washington Irving explored during his travels.  Now, there is another reason to stop in Arcadia:
  POP'S, a new destination on Route 66 that will join the many great landmarks on “America’s Main Street”!

 

 

After having lunch at a diner we would ask the owner (Elvis impersonator) not to sing. Continue our trip to West. This is the South Canadian River and a 38-arch bridge spans it. Arches are also known as " ponies " and this bridge is made up of 38 low-rise truss arches, 19 on each side. They're painted yellow and can be seen from quite a distance. Have a look at this little video of corssing the bridge. This bridge is also a gateway to one of the most pleasant drives in all of Route 66. It is here where you ride along a two-lane cement road that follows the contours of the earth. It rises and falls gently with the hills. The seams in the cement sound a gentle rhythm as your wheels run across one after another after another. The sides of the road have a curb lip to guide water to periodic runoffs. Going down this road you really get a feel for what it must have been like to travel Route 66 back in the 1930s ... except for the fact that you're probably traveling at twice the speed they did back then!

We are in the home to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. We see many of Jim Ross and Shellee Graham's excellent Route 66 photographs.

Day 6: Clinton - Amarillo (Texas, distance: 311 km / 193 miles)

The National Route 66 Museum celebrates Route 66, not only in Oklahoma, but all eight Route 66 states. The museum focuses on the people who lived, worked and traveled the Mother Road and offers the road wanderer a walk through all eight states. The realistic murals and exhibits feature vintage automobiles and antiques from the hey-day of Route 66.

Everything west of the Eric was officially thought to be the “Great American Desert”—and also explain that Erick used to be on the Texas border, until the border was realigned.

Just one block south of Roger Miller Boulevard in Erick’s oldest building, the old City Meat Market, can be found the one and only Sand Hill Curiosity Shop run by Harley and Annabelle - the Mediocre Musicians.

Shamrock was a thriving oil town in the 1930s; Perhaps one of the most famous businesses, a holdout of old Route 66 in Shamrock, is the Tower Service Station and U-Drop Inn Conoco. This has been a Texas Route 66 landmark since 1936. A local newspaper described it as "the swankiest of the swank eating places and the most up-to-date edifice of its kind on U.S. Highway 66 between Oklahoma City and Amarillo."

McLean is one of the few real time capsules of the Mother Road, where you will be transported back in time for a true Route 66 experience. You will not be disappointed.

Devil's Rope Museum. Devil's rope means barbed wire. The Devil's Rope Museum features the history of barbed wire, its artifacts, the significance of the invention, and the impact on the development of the Old West.

Restored

Phillips 66 Gas Station – The first Phillips 66 Service Station in Texas, built in 1927. The gas pumps show the price of gas at 19¢ a gallon!

Groom, Texas is another railroad town that dates back to 1902. Today the town boasts of the famous and neck-turning " Leaning Tower of Texas. This is a water tank that leans precariously to one side. One leg of the Britten USA water reservoir is actually shorter than the others. This was done to catch the tourist's eye and get them to stop in Groom. Another attraction for the Interstate traveler is the Groom Cross, visible for miles as you approach this panhandle town. Though it doesn't date back to the days of Route 66 it is an attraction that is definitely in the spirit of the old Mother Road. Built on private property at a height of 190 feet, the Groom Cross is reported as being the biggest cross in the northern hemisphere.

The Cadillac Ranch, located along the tatters of historic Route 66, was built in 1974.  Marsh and The Ant Farm, a San Francisco art collective, assembled used Cadillac representing the "Golden Age" of American Automobiles (1949 through 1963). The ten graffiti-covered cars are half-buried, nose-down, facing west "at the same angle as the Cheops' pyramids."

In 1997, development creep forced Marsh to move the entire assemblage about two miles further west. The line of cars is far enough out in a field to allow for suitably bleak photography. The distance from any authority also encourages ever-mutating layers of painted graffiti, which Marsh doesn't seem to mind.

When one thinks of Amarillo and the 66, one of the 1st places that comes to mind is the
Big Texan Steak Ranch . The Big Texan opened its doors alongside Route 66 back in 1960. The Big Texan is also famous for its 72oz steak eating challenge. Eat a baked potato with fixin's, a shrimp cocktail, salad, some other stuff and a 72oz steak within an hour and the meal is free! However, fail the challenge and foot a $70 plus bill. According to the Big Texan website, about 1 in 6 hungry and daring eaters are successful.

Day 7: Amarillo - Santa Fe (New Mexico, distance: 485 km / 301 miles)

Adrian, Texas is famous for being the Route 66 town that is the midpoint of the 2,278 miles between Santa Monica, CA and Chicago, IL. Adrian is also home to the Bent Door Cafe

The Blue Swallow has been a fixture on Route 66 since 1939. The old Blue Swallow neon is one of the prettiest we encounter on the Mother Road and it still lights up its welcome to the road weary traveler at night in Tucumcari. For lunch we settle at a Mexican restaurant.

There's much to see of old Route 66 in Santa Rosa today. Bono's Route 66 Auto Museum, Comet Drive-In, Joseph's Bar and Grill, and the many old historic buildings in the Santa Rosa downtown. Today as in yesteryear much of Santa Rosa's economy remains dependent on the tourist industry.

Day 8: Santa Fe - Grants (New Mexico/Arizona, distance: 238 km / 176 miles)

When Wild Hogs Came to Madrid...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in the middle of a major movie production? Well this site is for you. It documents the production of the recently released Disney movie Wild Hogs in Madrid, New Mexico. For those that are looking for a different kind of experience, Madrid and the entire surrounding area is said to be haunted. Numerous ghost sightings have been reported in homes, in the old church, in the cemetery, and the Mine Shaft Tavern. Staff as well as guests have often seen glasses fall from their perches and crashing to the floor in bits and pieces. Doors are often seen opening with unseen hands and swinging back and forth. From the six inch thick adobe walls, mysterious sounds are often heard and after closing hours, numerous objects and furnishings are moved about. However, the most unsettling reports are the stories told by staff of looking in the mirror and instead of seeing their own reflections, they see a ghost.

The 66 Diner looks like a Mother Road classic, and in some ways it is. You can come here and eat a hamburger or a sloppy Joe with French fries and an expertly made milk shake. Or have a pounded-tender chicken-fried steak smothered in cream gravy with mashed potatoes on the side – both examples of immemorial roadside fare. There is a different blue-plate special every day, including chicken pot pie on Tuesday and hot turkey sandwiches on Saturday. The black and white tile floor has a built-in hopscotch game, and bright red ceiling lamps hang over aqua-blue counter stools. The staff of uniformed waitresses breezes through the dining area to the beat of rock-and-roll hits from the Elvis era blasting on the juke box.

Riding west and soon arrive to Grants for tonight.

Day 9: Grants - Holbrook (Arizona, distance: 340 km / 211 miles)

For a real experience in contrast, visit the

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, "The Land of Fire and Ice." Situated on the Continental Divide you walk through the twisted, old-growth Juniper, Fir and Ponderosa Pine trees, over the ancient lava trail to the Ice Cave. Here the natural layers of ice glisten blue-green in the reflected rays of sunlight. Another trail winds around the side of the Bandera Volcano to view one of the best examples of a volcanic eruption in the country. Located in the heart of El Malpais, the historic Ice Cave Trading Post displays ancient artifacts as well as contemporary Indian artwork.

Gallup's historic El Rancho Hotel built in 1937 on historic Route 66, the hotel-now protected by preservationists- rented rooms to more than 3,000 movie stars in the 1930s and 1940s while they were in town making movies.
Today, Navajo art, celebrity photos, a grand staircase and mammoth stone fireplace fill the rustic hotel's two- story lobby. Guests dine in the hotel's classic "Old West" 49er Lounge and enjoy local and regional dishes and Mexican cuisine in the hotel's on-site restaurant.

One of the most interesting and colorful Indian trading companies in the world can be found in downtown Gallup on historic Route 66 -

Richardson's Trading Company. Indian pottery, baskets, beaded items, artifacts - hundreds of unique one-of-a-kind Indian art pieces are displayed prominently throughout the store.

Petrified Forest National Park has one of the best geologic and fossil records of the Late Triassic in the world. Learn about fossils from petrified wood  to dinosaurs, review a list of published scientific papers, see what current research in the park has revealed, and more! Riding thru the park takes 45 minutes.

Trading Posts, old cafes and colorful motels still line Route 66 in Holbrook. The area around Holbrook is a rock hound's paradise. The Painted Desert is one of the rich fossil ground in the United States for dinosaur remains and new discoveries are being made all the time. Tonight we sleep in a
wigwam !

Day 10: Holbrook - Flagstaff (Arizona, distance: 171 km / 106 miles)

Some things are simply curious and worth seeing. On the surface, why should anyone go out of their way to visit a ten foot tall jackrabbit with a saddle on its back? Well, to
take a picture of themselves of course! There's nothing else to do here on the side of I-40 in the middle of the desert, other than visit the trading post.

What I also find interesting is how the Jack Rabbit Trading Post managed to get its own on and off ramps for I-40. Remember, this is the middle of nowhere and there's nothing else around. Well, it seems that Glenn Blansett bought the Trading Post in 1967 just as he was retiring from the Senate where he had been influential at having the I-40 ramps put in place. Since Senator Blansett purchased it, the Jack Rabbit Trading Post has remained in the family and is now operated by his grand daughter Cindy.

The last bit of trivia worth recounting is how in the highly competitive industry of Route 66 roadside trading posts, the original owner promoted his business. In conjunction with another Route 66 business in Winslow, they traveled 1,000 miles to Springfield, MO and on their return trip cluttered the roadside with billboards for their businesses. The net effect was that by the time you arrived at Joseph City traveling west your curiosity was so piqued that you couldn't help but stop. Good for them! They brought traffic and sales to their stores ... in the middle of nowhere.

Until the 1960s, Winslow was the largest town in northern Arizona. But life began to slow down in Winslow and when the town was bypassed by I-40 in the 1970s, tourism died and businesses began to close their doors.
At the time the Eagles came out with their first hit single “Take it Easy” in 1972, the verse “standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona,” put the town on the national map of consciousness.

Three miles east of Two Guns, and six miles south of I-40 exit 233, sits Meteor Crater, Arizona’s second-most distinctive hole in the ground. Formed by a meteorite some 50,000 years ago, and measuring 550 feet deep and nearly a mile across, the crater is a privately owned tourist attraction, offering an “Astronauts Hall of Fame,” which plays up the crater’s resemblance to the surface of the moon (Apollo moon-walkers practiced here).

In densely-wooded country southeast of Flagstaff, the small seasonal stream Walnut Creek has carved a 600 foot deep canyon into the local Kaibab limestone as it flows east, eventually joining the Little Colorado River en route to the Grand Canyon. The exposed rocks in the canyon walls occur in various layers, of slightly differing hardness, some of which have eroded more rapidly forming shallow caves; during the 12th to 13th centuries they were used by the local Sinagua Indians who constructed many cave-dwellings along the steep well-protected ledges, high above the canyon floor.

Day 11: Flagstaff - Grand Canyon - Williams (Arizona, distance: 259 km / 161 miles)

The Grand Canyon is more than a great chasm carved over millennia through the rocks of the Colorado Plateau. It is more than an awe-inspiring view. It is more than a pleasuring ground for those that explore the roads, hike the trails, or float the currents of the turbulent Colorado River.

This canyon is a gift that transcends what we experience. Its beauty and size humbles us. Its timelessness provokes a comparison to our short existence. In its vast spaces we may find solace from our hectic lives.

It is possible to do a helicopter flight here, after the day we could visit the IMAX movie "Grand Canyon" at the park entrance.

Today, all of downtown Williams is on the National Register of Historic Places, and its largely-unchanged main street evokes images of the legendary route. Williams the town is also like a slice of small-town America, a place where they still hold a local beauty queen contest, and the clerk at the local mini-mart gives out tips about where to eat.

Day 12: Williams - Las Vegas (Nevada, distance: 376 km / 235 miles)

With the resurgence of interest in Route 66 Ash Fork's place in history is assured. Ash Fork also has the distinction of being the starting point for one of the longest stretches of unbroken Route 66 highway in existence today, Crookton Road.

Seligman is a great town, where the people are friendly and the town is clean. Like other towns along Route 66 Seligman is a place you do not want to rush through.

While most of it is a

gift shop focused on Route 66 and American memorabilia, one third is dedicated to biking accessories like leather jackets and boots. Outside are classic old cars, outrageously dressed mannequins, and weird little signs galore. We spend a wonderful breakfast here at Frank's place. It's quite a site!

Since the 1930s Grand Canyon Caverns has been a classic Route 66 tourist stop. These caverns were formed over the course of 35 million years, creating a labyrinth of limestone caves 21 stories beneath the Earth's surface that ultimately vent all the way to the Grand Canyon. The portions of the caverns that the tour goes through could fit 3 football fields.

Hackberry old gas station turns out to be one of the most interesting sights we visit. The General store doesn't sell gas, but does sell just about everything to do with Old Route 66. The store is run by John and Kerry Pritchard. If you go, take a walk behind the store. It has so much unusual stuff.

Cars, sheds, garages, cactus, signs and too many things to list. Take a carrot or two and feed the mules that are just beyond the water garden.

Kingman, the greatest root beer in the world is made and served on Route 66 at Mr. D’z Kingman restaurant.

A beautiful desert stretch of Historic Route 66, Oatman Road begins at the town of Kingman, a winding two-lane road that passes through 42 miles of Arizona's gorgeous desert terrain. This remarkable setting, combined with the byway's exciting Western history, creates an feeling of the Old West that cannot be ignored.

In the ghost town of Oatman, expect to encounter free-roaming burros, staged gunfights, and a collection of scenic storefronts that complete the town's Western atmosphere.

Day 13: Las Vegas - Victorville (California, distance: 468 km / 292 miles)

Today the joy ride goes through desert towns: Bagdad, Siberia...

Roy's is located on Historic Route 66 in Amboy, California. The town of Amboy itself is in the
  Mojave desert. The site of Roy's has become an icon for a lonely desert gas stop due to the multiple appearances of Roy's in movies. Amboy has it all: airport, garage, cafee, school, church, graveyard, even a volcanic crater. Yet all but the post office is not operating anymore.

 

 

 

Day 14: Victorville - Los Angeles (California, distance: 183 km / 114 miles)

Someone has filled his yard with sculptures that resemble trees covered with bottles. They're actually pieces of pipe welded together, with hundreds of bottles loosely slipped over the ends so that they tinkle in the wind. There are lots of other odds and ends mixed in, including old signs, wheels, mechanical junk.

Old Route 66 had its western terminus at the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, on a palm-lined bluff a few blocks north of the city’s landmark pier. The pier holds a small amusement park and a lovely old carousel.

A beachfront walkway heads south of the pier to Venice Beach, heart of bohemian L.A., but near where Santa Monica Boulevard dead-ends at Ocean Boulevard, a brass plaque marks the official end of Route 66, the “Main Street of America”. Sadly, our tour ends here and we take the evening flight home unless you'd like to visit Las Vegas or spend a few more days in Los Angeles watching what stars do in Hollywood or relaxing on the beaches of the Pacific Ocean.

Trailer for the kickstarter.com photography project "Is Route 66 Dead?" by Christian Gideon. To become part of the movement-- www.kickstarter.com

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