Road Trip 2021-#8

Road Trip 2021- #8

Historic Route 66

October 2021

I traveled, by car, through most of October.

Because I am now 66, I was drawn to traveling Route 66.

I converted my car in to a car camper.  And I backed that vehicle with equipment to see me through any situation.  I packed a lot of shit in to that car.

On the first day, I drove 9 1/2 hours and reached Indiana only to remember that I was now so close to Notre Dame and there was a home football game so finding a hotel was a challenge.

It's a quirky trip. It is sort of like an adult game of Pokeman.

While this route has died, every effort is being made to keep up the spirit of the road.  And there is big money in the tourism of the route.

The route starts in downtown Chicago and ends at Santa Monica Pier. I reached Chocago on October 2 and I drove in to Santa Monica on October 15. I returned home on October 24.

I drove over 6600+ miles.

I also used this trip to knock off some on the breweries I needed to visit to complete my goal of a brewery in every state.

•   Indiana- Evil Czech Brewery in South Bend
•    Illinois-  Anvil & Forge Brewery in Springfield
•    Missouri- Springfield Brewing Company in Springfield
•    Kansas- Blind Tiger Brewery
•    Oklahoma- Frenzy Brewery in Edmonton.  This was my favorite brewey in the trip.
•    Texas - Texas Steakhouse Brewery
•    Utah- I couldnt find a brewery.  So I will have to go back to UT again.
•    Nevada- Nevada Brewing Company in Las Vegas
•    Nebraska- Peg Leg Brewery in North Platte

Galena, KS is just about a ghost town. It  used to be a steel town but now it is just crumpling and rotting away.

On Sunday afternoon, I stood in the middle of a street in downtown Springfield, IL and took a picture and there wasn't a car on the road.  The town was completely deserted.

The first night I slept in the car was very uncomfortable.  I had planned on sleeping in the car before I left on this trip so I could work out all of the quirks of car camping.  I never  got around to this task for one reason or another and I really paid the price on this first might.  There was a huge learning curve to figure out how to stay confutable, safe and warm.

I fell. A kid accidentally tripped me. I hit my forehead and got a huge goose egg bump.  I injured my left knee and left palm because I tried, unsuccessfullly, to break my fall.  And two days later, black and blue eyes emerged.  And finally, I found myself in the ER three days later because I was in so much pain.

Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona was much more sentimental than I thought it would be.

Mules tried to stick their faces in my car.  They were hoping to be fed.

I had a big ass prime rib steak dinner at the Texas Steakhouse.  It was delicious.

I visited the Brown vs The Board of Education Museum in Topekia, KS.  It was sobering to be at this hostroical monument.

I visited Lincoln's Library and Museum in Springfield IL.  I've wanted to visit this spot for years and it was underwhelming.

Cadilac Ranch is nothing but a silly torist stop.

When I discoverd that Joshua Tree National Park was so close to my trail, i pulled over and drove the two hours to this gorgeous spot.

One night I stayed in one of the wigwag motels. 

Gas in CA was over $5/gallon.  Ouch!!

LA traffic is insane and I drove in to this area on a sunny, Friday afternoon. After being so isolated, on the open road, I found it difficult to be around so many people and cars and traffic and noise.