Get Your Kicks on Route 66 – A Trip Down Memory Lane Thanks To a 2,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

A throwback to a bygone era…

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – January 4, 2020

Route 66 "38.5 x 26.5 in" Jigsaw Puzzle


Marian and I took ~ 50-hours from laying the first corner to inserting the final piece earlier this afternoon.​

Route 66 -- Have you ever pulled into a drive-in restaurant or a small-town diner somewhere between home and your final destination for a quick bite? A fresh root beer float in a chilled glass or Hot Beef Sandwich piled high with mash potatoes and gravy are long time favorites of mine.

Have you ever attended a Drive-in Movie theater to catch the latest flicks on a monster big-screen with nothing but the stars overhead? Listening through the supplied tinny speaker hung on your window or nowadays through your cars AM/FM band radio is real entertainment like no other. Another personal favorite.

Have you ever stopped for the night at a retro Motel complete with a flashy neon sign flashing Vacancy? The kind of place where you are greeted by the OWNERS and guided to the best eats and entertainment venues in town. Yup, been there, done that numerous times!

Route 66 is all of that plus a whole lot more.

There are longer contiguous U.S. highways – Rt. 20, the Lincoln highway running from Boston, MA to Newport, OR, and much faster Interstate highways but nothing rivals a trip down memory lane like a two-lane cruise down most of old Route 66.

With its beginning in downtown Chicago, IL, the road runs approximately 2,400-miles southwest through the major cities of Springfield, IL, St Louis, MO, Oklahoma City, OK, Amarillo, TX, Albuquerque, NM, Kingman, AZ, San Bernardino, CA while ending at the Pier in Santa Monica, CA.

The Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s forced families out of the States of AK, MO, OK, and TX to look for work, any work, in California. Route 66 was truly their lifeline to a better life. This is the “Mother Road” after all.

A little-known tidbit is that the Santa Monica Pier on the Pacific is known today as the final destination but RT 66s terminus is actually about 6-blocks east. After a 2,400-mile drive, go the distance and grab an affordable Burger and fries at “Pier Burger” but leave room for old-fashioned ice cream, shake, or sundae at "Soda Jerks". I promise it will be worth it.

Having traveled its length and about 90 percent of the current roadway numerous times – some roadway sections have been incorporated into the Interstate Highway system while other sections have been abandoned to the annals of history which leaves them undriveable, there is nothing quite like taking your time, exploring out of the way roadside way stops, or simply enjoying short stops in small town America, all while behind the wheel of your favorite automobile.

2020 Hyundai Elantra Limited


In the drive and ready to roll.​

The latest review vehicle but I doubt Hyundai PR would allow me to drive it from Santa Monica to Chicago on a first ever winter time trip down memory lane.

So, what are your plans for 2020? Now is a great time to plan that trip down memory lane… On Route 66.

“Get your Kicks on Route 66”

If you ever plan to motor west,
Travel my way, take the highway, that's the best.
Get your kicks on Route 66.
It winds from Chicago to L.A.
More than 2000 miles along the way,

Get your kicks on Route 66.

Now you go through Saint Louie, Joplin, Missouri, And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty,
You'll see... Amarillo... Gallup, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona, Don't forget Winona, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino.

Won't you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip?

Get your kicks on Route 66.

Won't you get hip to this timely tip When you make that California trip?

Get your kicks on Route 66...
Get your kicks on Route 66...
Get your kicks on Route 66!

 

Hi All:

The 2k piece is mounted in a frame behind glass and hung in my office.

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Now I can call it a wrap.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

While crossing the country from Boston, MA to San Diego, CA after the 2020 Toyota Prius Prime purchase, Route 66 was going to be crossed numerous times as I made my way to Southern California.

2020 Toyota Prius Prime


The tallest building in the U.S. resides in Chicago.​

Route 66, begins in downtown at Jackson and Michigan, about 1.2 miles off the back bumper just across the Interstate.

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The Standard Oil Gasoline Station is a historic gas station in Odell, Illinois, that lies along historic U.S. Route 66. Before the days of the interstate highway system, this station served patrons along the highway's cross-country jaunt. Today it is a small-town tourist attraction.

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Gas was cheap way back too! In actuality, $0.277/gallon is equivalent to $4.35/gallon today after inflation. I paid $1.75/gallon for fuel in Kenosha, WI just the day before I snapped these pics.

2020 Toyota Prius Prime


A short rest and an opportunity charge in Liberal, KS.​

2020 Toyota Prius Prime


TX/NM border crossing at dusk.​

Just a few hours later, another refuel in NM at just $1.699/gallon!

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AZ has apparently changed out their State border crossing signs from the Sun and Rays to the Grand Canyon on a dark blue background.

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Another Route 66 detail from Winslow, AZ.

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Winslow is a BNSF Railroad hub with what looks like almost new facilities for the railroad crews and yard. The town however is heading to oblivion with hundreds of boarded up business and homes. I saw a lot of this in towns that used to be staples of the Route 66 route for travelers between the 1920s and 1950s before the Interstate Highway system put them out of business.

I made it back to California just in time for the state to shut down for COVID-19.

Wayne

 

Hi Litesong:

Worlds of difference. The Camry Hybrid is a larger and more comfortable car. Not nearly as efficient however as I am sitting at 81.4 after 150-miles of local driving this week. I have mapped out most of the local Level2 J1772's via Plugshare including a few that are not on the app. For future reference anyway.

Wayne