On many retirement bucket lists is a drive down Route 66, starting from Chicago to Los Angeles.  The 2,451 mile trek down the “Main Street of America” is surely every R,V. owner’s dream.  I do not own an R.V. and never will, so unless there’s a Marriott within easy access to the highway, it’s not likely that it will be on my must-do list.  I’ve seen its starting point in Chicago, Illinois near Grant Park, and its ending point in Santa Monica, California on US 101 Alt.  The original route was removed from the US Highway System in 1985, so only historic signage now marks the way.

I’ve already written about how Route 66 got its name (Post #220).  Also, in yesterday’s paragraphs of pontification,  I offered a little poem as a tribute to the adoption of the song as my official retirement theme this year, having reached the golden age of 66 (Post #234).  Although I will probably never make the complete start-to-finish drive, I have been exposed to several sections of Route 66 including the Illinois cities of Chicago, Bloomington, Normal, Lincoln, Springfield, and Edwardsville, linking Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River in East St. Louis.  In 2006, I had some birthday frozen custard at Ted Drewes in St. Louis, one of many classic drive-in restaurants along the “Mother Route.”  Yes, I also got my “licks” on Route 66.

Memories of Abraham Lincoln occupy several notable sites along the original Illinois route of Route 66.  We spent some time in Oklahoma City, another major city along the “Will Rogers Highway,” when my wife’s daughter moved there in 2006 to work for Dell.  We also accidentally went to Tulsa, after a flight cancellation on our way into St. Louis.  We spent a short night without luggage in May of 2013, and identified Route 66 historic signage on our way to and from the airport.  We did eventually make it into St. Louis, drove to Decatur to finally close on a property that we owned there, traveled into Indiana to visit family, and tried to catch a game at Busch Stadium on the way back.  Unfortunately, tornadoes  cancelled that Cards vs. Giants game, so we returned to our home in Austin, Texas. Even though we lived in Texas for five years, we never crossed Route 66 until my wife was transferred to Portland.  On the three-day drive north we passed through Amarillo and made the Texas Panhandle connection to Route 66.  My last sighting of a Route 66 historic sign was in Los Angeles a few months ago along Sunset Boulevard.

77 Sunset Strip and Route 66 were two of my favorite black-and-white television shows.  77 Sunset Strip was on ABC from 1958 to 1964, starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as private eye Stu Bailey.  The name of the show came from his office address on Sunset Strip.  Ed Byrnes was the popular hair-combing character, “Kookie.”  The unforgettable opening included two finger snaps after each actor was introduced, as part of the catchy theme song.  It’s network rival, Route 66, aired on CBS from 1960-1964, starring Martin Milner as Tod Stiles.  Nelson Riddle composed the instrumental theme song that was used to avoid paying royalties for Bobby Troup’s 1946 hit song,  Got my Kicks on Route 66, that was originally recorded by Nat King Cole. Other versions have been released by  Chuck Berry, John Mayer, and even The Rolling Stones.

 

If you ever plan to motor West,

Travel my way, take the highway that’s best

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six

.

It winds from Chicago to LA,

More than two thousand miles all the way.

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

.

Now you go through Saint Louis,

Joplin, Missouri,

and Oklahoma City is mighty pretty.

You’ll see Amarillo,

Gallup, New Mexico

Flagstaff, Arizona.

Don’ to forget Winona,

Kingsman, Barstow, San Bernandino.

.

Won’t you get hip to this timely tip:

When you make that California trip,

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

.

Won’t you get hip to this timely tip:

When you make that California trip,

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six

Get your kicks on Route sixty-six