Back To Route 66

[VoyKimmer]

After the Route 66 Ride so well organized by Ken & Tina Knight I couldn’t get it out of my system. So I went for a ride with my cousin on Route 66 again thru Braidwood , Braceville , and Gardner Illinois on the old original Route 66. It goes right past my Grandparents old home which brought back nice memories. Ate at this neat restaurant.

[VoyKimmer]

Couple more pics

[Nails]

Out west, there's a lot of "Route 66" stuff at Gallup -- you probably checked that out. And west of Flag, there are long-cuts off the freeway, but honestly I didn't see much "R66 stuff" except near the freeway. Further afield, it seems like a marketing idea that didn't quite get off the ground.

In New Mexico, there were a few different R66's, depending on the date. My house is a nine-iron from a pre-1930(something) one of them. Lots of girder bridges from that era.

In the early 60's, my family drove from CA on R66, my kid sister and me in the back of that '59 Ford station wagon, playing with the dry ice. Up front, M&D had a swamp-cooler affair filled with ice water. (Dad got pulled over in Gallup for speeding.)

[VoyKimmer]

Yes we stayed at the famous El Rancho Hotel in Gallup with our group on the way to the Rally.
Neat hotel . I was in Errol Flynn‘s room. Great restaurant to. It
was a good ride and a good rally. To bad you couldn’t make it.

[Nails]

Yeah, I was just heading out to Missoula about then. (And I'm still allergic to group rides.)

Glad you made it to El Rancho. And a great way to meet the Navajo folks in the restaurant -- there's a special kind of beauty and grace.

In my opinion, the best thing about Gallup is the jewelry stores. I'm not at all into jewelry (even though my wife makes it), but the Zuni and Navajo wares appeal to me, especially the shadow bear claws and Zuni "needlework". And these shops deal directly with the artists, keeping prices reasonable. It's were I do most of my difficult Christmas shopping because I always find something.