Our September 2024 Cross Country trip just returned with Gene Gray at the front and Glen Pearce at the wheel! Our Starr Driver and Tour Director (Glen and Gene, respectively) led 28 travelers across our great country over the course of 27 days. This was Gene’s 7th trip and the 1st for Glen! Seeing their smiling faces when the trip returned was proof enough that it was a success!
On each of our trips, the Starr Tour Director is responsible for providing a day-by-day recap of every aspect of the trip. Gene’s reports always offer a thorough and real retelling of their adventures. It’s clear that Gene goes above and beyond to make sure his tour guests are well informed and entertained but you can see for yourself.
For your reading pleasure, here are Days 1-18.
Stay tuned for the “return portion” of their amazing “Journey of a Lifetime”!
Overnight Tour Summary Report – Cross Country 2024
Date: September 1-27, 2024
Tour Director: Gene Gray
Driver: Glen Pearce
Starr Bus #: 209
WESTBOUND
The time had finally arrived. Glen and I pulled into the parking lot of the Best Western in Bensalem to much fanfare. Excited tour guests were waiting with suitcases in hand to board the bus to begin their trip along Route 66. Three shuttles arrived, carrying tour guests from other parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Alan and Rene Glickman, previous Starr owners and parents of Sandy, Starr’s current owner, were standing tall, proudly greeting all the tour guests and wishing everyone a wonderful trip. They both looked terrific and shared how much they were enjoying retirement.
Once all the tour guests were checked in and their luggage was stored under the bus, Alan and Renee stepped aboard and Alan delivered a beautiful message thanking all of us for taking this “Trip of a Lifetime”. He then wished us safe travels and a fun experience. As Alan concluded, I played “The Star-Spangled Banner” performed by Whitney Houston as everyone stood holding their provided American Flag. And the time had arrived to embark with 27 excited and enthusiastic tour guests.
After reviewing Starr’s Welcome Letter and showing the Starr Safety Video, I proceeded to discuss bits and pieces of the itinerary. I introduced the 29-page color booklet and the individual papers from the packet. I presented Art Humak and Barbara Humak with Starr’s token of appreciation for their work and support on the creation of this Route 66 Trip. They were very appreciative and the tour guests all applauded.
After a stop at Lawn Service Plaza along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, back on the bus we discussed the life of Woody Guthrie. Woody Guthrie was born in 1912 and lived through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl of 1935, World War II, and the McCarthy Era. Woody Guthrie’s music reflects the hardships while traveling along Route 66 and depicts the discrimination and lack of job opportunities once arriving in California during the Depression years. The discussion was a good introduction to the movie, “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck that I promised to show after lunch.
Lunch at Hoss’s Steakhouse in Bedford, Pennsylvania was perfect. The Soup, Salad & Dessert Bar is always well received. Some ordered off the menu. Everyone enjoyed their lunch and we were back on our way westward.
As promised, I played the 1940 movie, “The Grapes of Wrath” starring a young Henry Fonda. It’s in black and white and I put on the subtitles so everyone could better follow along with the important dialogue. This movie (and novel by John Steinbeck) centers around the Joad Family whose Oklahoma farm was destroyed by the Dust Bowl in 1935 forcing them to seek refuge in “the land of milk and honey”, also known as California. The Joads travel along Route 66 through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before finally crossing over the Colorado River into California. Once there, jobs were scarce, opportunities were few, and hunger was rampant. It’s this period of travel that elevated Route 66 to stardom, and “The Grapes of Wrath” depicted this early history of the Will Rogers Highway with vivid clarity. Most watched the movie with great interest, some applauded its conclusion, and some took advantage of the down time and caught up on some important ZZZZ’s.
We continued into Grove City, Ohio, a suburb of Ohio’s capital city, Columbus to the Drury Inn. Everyone was now on their own to enjoy Drury’s complimentary “Kickback” and relax. Today was a PERFECT start to an outstanding 27 days with 27 wonderful tour participants.
Day 2: Monday, September 2, 2024 – Labor Day
After a bountiful breakfast buffet, we were off to “The Windy City”.
I opened the day with two Chicago songs; “My Kind of Town” and “Bad Bad Leroy Brown”. Then I discussed the four main events that shaped Chicago; First settlement at Fort Dearborn, the Chicago Fire, the World Expo in 1893, and the World’s Fair in 1933. I played the 50-minute documentary from the History Channel titled “Sears Tower” since we’ll be going to the 103rd floor of it later today. The DVD explains the purpose for this skyscraper and shows actual footage from its construction.
After a 20-minute break in Specialness, Indiana, we continued into Chicago. I began discussing the history of Route 66 and played Bobby Troup’s 1947 song “Route 66” performed by The Rolling Stones. I followed this by showing the History Channel’s Documentary titled “Route 66”. Most watched with interest as it explains the reasons for building the roadway and tells its history from 1926 until Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985.
I played a few Michael Jackson songs since Gary, Indiana was his hometown. I also played the song from “The Music Man” as we passed Gary. Our electronic devices and clocks suddenly turned back one hour as we rode deeper into Indiana towards Illinois. We were now in the Central Time Zone.
As we entered Chicago, I played a set of songs related to Chicago including songs by “Chicago”. As we first spotted the magnificent Chicago skyline from I-90, I played Frank Sinatra. We were now officially in downtown Chicago as we meandered through the streets to the Chicago Navy Pier.
We all had a wonderful experience at Navy Pier. With many dining choices and fine souvenir shops, the Navy Pier had something for everyone. Many tried the Chicago Hot Dog “Dragged through the Garden”. Some ate at Harry Carey’s Restaurant. Some shopped while others walked to the end of the Navy Pier to get pictures of Bob Newhart sitting on his sofa. After two hours here, we traveled to the Willis Tower for our tour to the 103rd Floor and The Ledge.
We walked into Willis Tower, took the escalators down two levels, and received our tickets to the Skydeck. After passing through security, we walked through the fabulous “all Chicago” museum that leads to the high-speed elevators. Many took pictures inside the museum; with a slice of Deep Dish Pizza, with Michael Jordon, in front of Wrigley Field, with Oprah, and with Michelle and Barack Obama before arriving at the elevators. It took one minute to reach the Skydeck by elevator. The view was second to none. The visibility was over 50 miles in each direction. The skies were a deep blue with no clouds. The view from high above Chicago was breathtaking and the experience on The Ledge was once-in-a-lifetime.
After checking into our downtown hotel, we all walked as a group to Gino’s East for dinner. Dinner was mostly family-style. Appetizers included salads, fried spinach sticks, chicken wings, and macaroni. The food was plentiful and absolutely delicious. By the time the pizza arrived, everyone was mostly full. We had our choice of Chicago Deep Dish Pizza (plain, pepperoni, and mushroom) and Thin-Crust Pizza (plain and pepperoni). Again, the food was plentiful and delicious. Dinner was finished off with chocolate brownies and cookies. We all waddled back to our hotel!
Tomorrow, WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY ON ROUTE 66!
Day 3: Tuesday, September 3, 2024
We were able to “sleep-in” since we didn’t need to depart today until 9:15 AM. At the beginning of Route 66 sign in Chicago on Adam’s Street and Michigan Avenue, we disembarked and took a group photo at the sign. It was a very exciting moment.
It was now time for the Wendella Boat Cruise. I encouraged the tour guests to sit on the top deck on this beautiful day for the best views of the architecture of Chicago. Kenny, a young man with a great personality and brilliant knowledge of Chicago, its history, and architecture was our tour director. Kenny spoke eloquently about each building and told us from memory the year each building was built, the style of architecture, and the artist who designed each. He then explained how each building was used in the past and who occupied each building in 2024. Kenny, with enthusiasm, told us about 90 buildings in all along the Chicago River in a magnificent tour thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. We disembarked and met the bus on Michigan Avenue and traveled to lunch at Manny’s Delicatessen, a Jewish Deli established in 1942 and still going strong.
Upon arrival, a wonderful young lady took us under her wing and explained to each of us to take a tray with utensils and tell one of the six sandwich artists behind the long deli counter the type of meat and bread you desired. We were each entitled to either a hot or cold sandwich or a salad. Each sandwich came with a potato pancake, two pickles, soda, and a dessert, like a large piece of cake. It took less than a minute for the sandwich artists to create a sandwich generously heaping with the meat of your choice such that you couldn’t open your mouth wide enough to take a bite. This was truly a special lunch that isn’t created in too many places anymore today. Glen and I each had a corned beef and pastrami combo sandwich on rye bread. The meat was totally lean, and as described above, I have not seen such generous portions of meat since eating at Jewish Delicatessens fifty years ago. And the potato pancakes were large, crispy, and delicious. Everyone complimented the greatness of Manny’s Delicatessen and told me this was a WINNER. I agreed. The service was fast and the food outstanding.
We departed Chicago to Frank Sinatra singing “Chicago, Chicago, That Toddlin’ Town” and soon began following I-55 South which runs parallel and took the place of sections of Route 66. To begin our journey on Route 66, I let Nat King Cole sing his iconic song, “Route 66”. It wasn’t long before we entered Wilmington, Illinois on Route 66 and found the future sight of the 30 foot statue of the Gemini Giant. The sign read, “Future Home of the Gemini Giant” and we saw the foundation being established by bulldozers and workers. A board member on the Gemini Giant Committee graciously came over to explain that the Gemini Giant is behind schedule and is current in Atlanta, Illinois being strengthened and refurbished for its new life and should be put here, its permanent home, in about five weeks. It was still exciting to see and take these unique pictures.
We continued traveling along Route 66 to Dwight, Illinois and stopped at the 1932 refurbished Ambler-Becker Texaco Gas Station. It had two old-fashioned gas pumps in front of a vibrantly painted garage where mechanics would work on cars. The Ambler-Becker Texaco Gas Station also had Route 66 murals and unique photo opportunities for Route 66 enthusiasts.
Another short ride on Route 66 took us to the town of Odell, Illinois. Odell has the famous Standard Oil Gas Station from 1933. It pumped gas into the 1960’s and did car maintenance until 1999, so it was operational for 66 years. This was another great photo opportunity and even included a trailer from 1953 on the property. A sign read “Downtown Odell Merchants on Historic Route 66: Chicago 87 miles, L.A. 2,361 miles”.
We completed our day by checking into the Hampton Inn in Pontiac, Illinois. The Hotel was beautiful and the rooms were very modern with sliding glass walk-in showers for everyone. A few of us chose to travel into town for dinner. Pontiac, Illinois is an extremely quaint little town with a few good restaurants and tap rooms. We enjoyed our dinner and returned for a good night’s sleep. Today was a fabulous day filled with many different and unique experiences.
Day 4: Wednesday, September 4, 2024
After breakfast, Glen drove the short distance to the Route 66 Association Museum and its giant Route 66 sign mural. Bob Waldmire, a free-spirit who lived his life traveling Route 66 in a converted yellow school bus, donated his awesome bus to the Museum. Bob’s VW Van that he hooked up to the yellow school bus and took with him everywhere is on display inside the Museum. Upon arrival, we were each welcomed, given a Route 66 pin, and heard an overview of the museum. The two floors of the museum were stuffed with old relics, newspaper clippings, and old photographs.
Next, just 2 blocks away was the Pontiac-Oakland Auto Museum. Automobiles from the 1940’s to 1960’s lined the Museum all around. Each was perfectly painted and waxed and completely intact. They were beautiful to look at and many told stories of owning one of these cars in years passed. As we were getting ready to depart Pontiac, Liz, the lead curator of the Route 66 Association, treated us by opening Bob’s converted yellow school bus so we could walk through. The inside of the bus was fully decorated with Route 66 signs and articles, photographs of Bob’s family, and other relics. The bus had a toilet, shower, refrigerator, stove, and kitchen sink. He slept upstairs in a make-shift bedroom. It was really special to have had this opportunity to see inside the bus. I must add that so far, we have been treated like royalty everywhere we’ve traveled, and its only Day 4.
We continued riding on Route 66. Route 66 is sandwiched in this section of Illinois by I-55 on the right and railroad tracks on the left. Farmlands are seen on both sides of the road. This is truly the “breadbasket” of America. We soon arrived in Shirley, Illinois and pulled into the property that is Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup.
Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup is a family-owned business since Isaac Funk first settled here in 1824. Here, our guide Debbie spoke about the labor-intensive process to make the Sirup and how climate change is shortening the the tree-tapping season. Debbie then provided us with samples of her delicious Maple Sirup and opened up her small store where we could purchase the product. Everyone found this stop extremely fascinating.
We traveled to McLean, Illinois for lunch at the McLean Dixie Travel Plaza which first served travelers along Route 66 in 1928. We were seated immediately and had the choice between ordering off their menu or eating from a full buffet consisting of a salad and soup bar and an extensive hot bar. The food was fresh and delicious, and the service was fast and friendly. Everyone enjoyed their lunch.
We continued traveling along Route 66 to Atlanta, Illinois. Atlanta is swiftly becoming the town of the giant statues of the “Muffler Men (and Women)”. Like the Gemini Giant, Atlanta bought Paul Bunyan holding his Giant Hot Dog in 2003 from the Bunyan Hot Dog Shop that closed in Cicero, Illinois. Since, it’s added three more giant statues including the first woman named Lumi holding a pie. They expect to put up three more by 2026. We also walked through three small museums featuring the town of Atlanta and Route 66. “Memories”, the museum of Route 66 relics, was recently sold and is now called Midway 154. Although we were able to tour the museum today, it will become a tap room (with Route 66 memorabilia) by 2026. This was a fabulous stop, and Atlanta is working tirelessly to make their town even better.
Route 66 does disappear in certain spots forcing us to travel on I-55 for a few exits to reach our destinations. That was the case traveling to Springfield, Illinois and “The Land of Lincoln”. Back on Route 66, we stopped at the Largest Covered Wagon Statue with Abraham Lincoln sitting in the “driver’s seat” reading a law book. As we’ve done all day, we took many pictures of these unique works of art along Route 66. We continued traveling to the Springfield Fairgrounds where a huge statue of young Abraham Lincoln stood holding an ax, named “The Rail Splitter Statue”. The enthusiasm of our experiences never waned!
We arrived at the Drury Inn and while everyone was enjoying the Kickback, in walked Abraham Lincoln! Abe went around the room, shaking hands and meeting everyone. It was amazing to see such a powerful resemblance to the real man walking around and telling stories to us. Lincoln was a true humorist and a deep thinker. His words and thoughts still resonate and relate to current times. I had the pleasure of eating dinner with him. This was truly a special moment for all of us. One member of our group walked up to Lincoln and thanked him for “Freeing my people”. Lincoln stood, smiled, became a bit teary-eyed, and bowed to her while shaking her hand.
Tomorrow we visit the Lincoln Presidential Library.
Day 5: Thursday, September 5, 2024
After a wonderful breakfast, we departed the Drury Inn and traveled three miles into downtown Springfield and the Lincoln Presidential Library. The Lincoln Library was opened in 2004 after Springfield negotiated for Federal Funds to build it. It is truly a masterpiece of a museum both visually and factually.
The museum is made up of two halves; Lincoln’s life before the White House and Lincoln’s life as the President. We entered a large atrium with a log cabin entrance to Lincoln’s young life to the left and the White House entrance to the right. Knowledgeable and friendly volunteers recommended we see the two magnificent holographic movies first and then begin with Lincoln’s young life.
The holographic movies were brilliant. One was named “Ghosts” and told a personal account of the experiences of a Civil War Veteran. The second summarized the life and accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln. We left both shows wiping away tears and shaking our heads in disbelief.
We entered the log cabin entrance which was all life-sized dioramas depicting scenes of young Lincoln reading Aesop Fables at night beside a fireplace, the ugliness of slavery, the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, and much more. Explanations of each were filled with much detail. The same format was used inside the White House. A corridor filled with nasty political cartoons depicted Lincoln as the cause of war and hate. The realities of the Civil war were the major theme as one display followed 8 soldiers from their enlistment in one room to their fate in another room. Seeing Abraham Lincoln in the flesh last night was a magnificent lead-in to this fabulous museum honoring the 16th President of the United States.
We arrived at Docs Just Off Rt 66 for lunch. Maddie took our order and Casey, the new owner and also the chairperson of the Route 66 Foundation in Illinois, greeted us and told us the history of Deck’s Drug Store that was established in 1884 and later became Doc’s. The food at Doc’s was delicious.
We departed Doc’s and traveled to Henry’s Rabbit Ranch along Route 66. The owner had passed away a few days prior, so a gentleman named Bob came out of the store when, to his surprise, a bus pulled up. After extending my condolences, Bob told me, “Richard Henry was a good friend who had done so many nice things for me so I’m covering the ranch for his sister until we could figure everything out”. He invited us to look around, take photos, and visit the store. The one long-haired rabbit still remaining was in its cage inside the store. Bob proudly accepted Starr’s donation to Henry’s Rabbit Ranch with much gratitude. Bob took a group picture of us next to our Starr Bus to send to Richard Henry’s sister. So glad we stopped here – I even bought a hat!
We continued traveling south along Route 66 and I-55 to Collinsville, Illinois. Collinsville has been known for its Catsup factory since 1891. When the company needed a water tower, they built a 70-foot water tower in the form of a Catsup Bottle that doubled as a giant advertisement. When the Catsup Company moved to Indiana in the 1960’s, the people in Collinsville insisted on keeping the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle as a Route 66 attraction. We took many pictures of the Catsup Bottle during this unique photo stop.
We crossed the Mississippi River into Missouri on I-55 and arrived in St. Louis. Everyone was tired and looking forward to relaxing at Drury Inn’s Kickback. Today was filled with many iconic stops and one magnificent museum.
Tomorrow, we will visit the Gateway Arch and stop at many more iconic sights in Missouri.
Day 6: Friday, September 6, 2024
After breakfast, we met in front of the Lewis and Clark life-sized diorama in the magnificent lobby of the Drury Hotel and walked one block to the Gateway Arch, also known as “The Gateway to the West”.
We stuffed ourselves into small tram cars that held five people squeezed together. The tram took 3 minutes to reach the top of the Arch and the views were absolutely spectacular on this beautiful day – we could see for thirty miles. Magnificent views of the Chain of Rocks Bridge, Busch Stadium (home of of the St. Louis Cardinals), the mighty Mississippi, and the Old Court House (where Dred Scott was tried in 1859) highlighted the sights. Everyone had a wonderful experience.
We departed St. Louis and traveled to Wildwood, Missouri, home of the Big Chief Roadhouse. In the early days, a Roadhouse was defined as a place where a weary traveler could stop to sleep, listen to music, dance, fill the belly, and even gamble. The Big Chief had a great reputation for all of it. The Big Chief first opened for business in 1928 on Route 66. After we were seated, the servers took our orders. The atmosphere was vintage yesteryear with a buffalo head on the wall and Route 66 memorabilia plastered all around. The food was fresh and delicious and enjoyed by everyone. This was a terrific stop!
Our next historic place on 66 was Meramec Caverns in Sullivan, Missouri. We had special permission to visit the “Ballroom” inside the cave to take pictures. We experienced the cool 55° cave temperature while we photographed the rugged beauty of this cavern that was carved out by an underground river. We learned that parties and weddings have taken place in “The Ballroom” since the 1880’s. To add to the excitement of Meramec Caverns, it’s the place outlaw Jesse James used as a hideout at age 22 after robbing a bank. Jesse James was killed at age 34 by a member of his own gang. Bob Ford wanted the reward money and shot two bullets into his back when Jesse turned around. Jesse James lived his life hating northerners (he was in the Confederate Army during the Civil War), robbing banks, robbing stagecoaches, and robbing trains. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed Meramec Caverns.
We continued to get our kicks on Route 66 at the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. The Wagon Wheel Motel has been serving weary travelers since 1936 and continues today. The Motel has fourteen upgraded cottages with an old gas station and a 1952 Plymouth rusting outside. The grounds are beautiful, and the neon sign is iconic. We were granted permission to enter Cottage 22 for a photo opportunity. This stop was another unexpected gem along Route 66.
A few minutes’ drive took us to “The Largest Rocking Chair” on Route 66 in Cuba, Missouri. Built in 2008, it stands over 42 feet high, over 32 feet in width, and weighs 27,500 pounds. The Giant Rocking Chair doesn’t rock (for safety concerns) and was built to draw tour guests along Route 66 into a store attached to the property.
A stop at the 1946 Munger-Moss Hotel in Lebanon, Missouri, I played the History Channel’s Documentary “The Making of the Gateway Arch” that told the story of how the Gateway Arch was constructed. It used actual footage of the 1960’s and was enjoyed by those who watched it.
We arrived in Springfield, Missouri’s Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven Hotel. Elvis had stayed here (with his mother) in 1956 while on tour with his band. His room number was 409 and since it was, unfortunately for us, occupied with guests, our guide, Julio, took us to see the Wild Bill Hickok Room. Although Wild Bill never stayed here, they designed a room after him because he performed often in Springfield. The room was beautiful and included a painted wall mural of Wild Bill in action and a dark brown ancient-looking bathtub on four legs. The Hotel also designed a room in honor of Marilyn Monroe. This was a wonderful stop.
Tonight, we stayed at another wonderful Drury Hotel.
Today was another amazing and fun-filled day with many different attractions and experiences. We look forward to our spelunking experience tomorrow morning.
Day 7: Saturday, September 7, 2024
After breakfast, we traveled on Route 66 a short distance to Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, Missouri for an underground tour. We all piled into two long open wooden “wagons” designed to fit in the narrow pathways that exist inside the cave. We sat opposite each other on wooden benches. Each tram driver pulled one trailer behind it as we rode underground through the man-made entrance of the cave (the original entrance was a small hole in the rocks adjacent to the man-made one). We made frequent stops in magnificent rooms of the cave that displayed vibrant colors of calcite formations. Stalactites hung from the ceiling. Stalagmites grew up from the floor. Whenever the two connected, they formed a column. Many times, during the ride, the tram narrowly fit into the spaces. The guide shut off the lights for us to experience total darkness. At one point, we had ridden 1.5 miles into the cave and were 100 feet below the surface. We thoroughly enjoyed this unique attraction. Fantastic Caverns lived up to its name and was truly fantastic.
We continued our Route 66 travels to Carthage, Missouri and an original Route 66 Drive-In Theater. “Beetlejuice” is playing at the theater at 8:15 PM tonight for only $10 for adults and $5 for children under 13. We were able to walk up to the theater entrance, take pictures of the giant movie screen, and enjoy this Route 66 relic even without watching a movie. This was another winning stop!
Our next stop along Route 66 was Iggy’s Diner, also in Carthage, Missouri. This was an original 1950’s diner made of steel and shaped like a giant trailer. After a delicious lunch of generous portions served by a friendly staff, we were back on the bus.
Our final stop on Route 66 in Missouri was Bonnie and Clyde’s Garage Hideout in Joplin. I told the story of Bonnie and Clyde prior to the visit so everyone was excited to see the house, that is currently a Bed & Breakfast. Bonnie and Clyde lived here with friends, partied too hard, and were eventually raided by police. Bonnie and Clyde escaped arrest after killing two police officers. A bullet hole exists above the door embedded in concrete from the incident.
We crossed the Kansas border as Route 66 runs through a small southeast corner of the state. We stopped at the Kan-O-Tex Service Station, in Galena, Kansas, opened to service cars on Route 66 in 1934. It sold a certain brand of gas called Kan-O-Tex, short for Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Today, its fame comes from the Disney-Pixar movie, “Cars” since the writers and creators of the film got their inspirations from Route 66 and this gas station. The people who ran the store were extremely friendly and enthusiastic about sharing details of their meetings with Disney people. Tow Mater, the fire truck, and the sheriff’s car were all sitting on the property smiling at us with two wide eyes attached to the windshields. This was an extremely cute stop and was another highlight of our Route 66 experience.
Our second Kansas stop was on Rt 66 in Riverton at Nelson’s Old Riverton Store. This store has catered to Route 66 travelers since 1926. Despite a recent name change from Eisler to the Nelson Old Riverton Store, the cousin of the original owner, Scott Nelson, now owns it. Scott has worked here for 50 years, and we had a nice chat (and picture) with him while he worked the cash register. Many bought sandwiches along with a few Route 66 souvenirs. This was another extremely friendly and historic stop.
Another short drive took us to the Rainbow Curve Bridge over Brush Creek. It’s the only remaining Marsh Arch Bridge on Route 66 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1983. It’s a small white bridge with giant half wagon wheels that make up its frame. We walked across it and took beautiful pictures.
Once back on the bus, I played a documentary on the life of Mickey Mantle. Our next stop was in Commerce, Oklahoma, boyhood home of the Baseball Hall of Famer and Yankees great, Mickey Mantle, born in 1931. Commerce is where he grew up, learned baseball, and graduated high school. We stopped at his boyhood home which looked freshly painted and well-preserved. Signs outside talk about “The Mick”. Even though the doors are locked, you can peer through the windows of this one-story moderate home and take pictures of the living room and kitchen. Everyone showed enthusiasm for this stop including all of our Phillies fans! The one Yankees fan (me) was in heaven!
We drove around the block to Commerce High School and found Mickey Mantle Field and the statue of Mickey Mantle that stands beyond the centerfield fence adjacent to the giant scoreboard. Mickey’s famous swing is immortalized in this statue. He stands on a cement base that reads, “A Great Teammate” and “The Commerce Comet, CHS Class of ‘49”. This completed the Mickey Mantle portion of Route 66!
We drove by Allen’s Conoco Fillin’ Station in Commerce before arriving at our hotel, The Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Vanita, Oklahoma.
Today was another memorable and exciting day. We look forward to a day of museums and quirkiness tomorrow as we make our way 99 miles to Tulsa, Oklahoma along Route 66.
Day 8: Sunday, September 8, 2024
Our Starr Driver was off today so we traveled on a Village Travel bus and Glen met us the next morning.
Our first stop was Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park in Chelsea, Oklahoma. Galloway was an artist who crafted his totem poles in stone, concrete, and steel. One rises 90-feet in the air and is known as “The largest totem pole in the world”. Totem poles of different sizes and shapes are adorned with birds, trees, arrowheads, and Native American symbols. Each is a colorful and unique work of art. The gift shop was open for us. We learned that a young family had just purchased Totem Pole Park three months ago and have plans to keep up and improve this outdoor museum. Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park was enjoyed by everyone.
We continued to Claremore, Oklahoma, hometown of Will Rogers and the Will Rogers Museum. We were greeted at the door and directed to a theater at the end of the corridor. We were treated to a live show by a man named Bart who reenacted many of Will Rogers’ rope tricks while telling the story of a most beloved man who lived from 1879 to 1935.
Will Roger’s was born in Cherokee Territory in Oklahoma before Oklahoma became a state. He became interested in rope tricks at age 7 and won rope contests by age 13. He worked his way into vaudeville, silent films, and the “talkies” and made 71 films (50 silent and 21 “talkies”). He was also known for his brilliant wit and classified as a humorist. His clever words and sayings caused people to think of deeper meanings and told the truth while causing people to chuckle. Will Rogers wrote more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper articles reaching more than 40,000 people daily. He was friends with 5 Presidents including Hoover, Coolidge, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was a radio star speaking his brilliance during the 1920’s and 1930’s and was the highest paid of anyone in Hollywood.
Route 66 is nicknamed “The Will Rogers Highway” since Will Rogers traveled it often and spoke of what he witnessed about the realities of life, poverty, and America’s successes along the way. He was the most influential and beloved man in America until his untimely death in 1935 in a plane crash. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Will Rogers Museum and learned much about the details of this great man who, for some unexplained reason, has remained relatively obscure in American history.
After lunch at the Hammett House on Route 66, we stopped at the famous Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma. The Blue Whale sits on a small lake where, at one time, people could swim. The Blue Whale was an anniversary present in 1972 from Zoo-Keeper Hugh Davis to his wife for their family’s use. When their children grew up, the Blue Whale became a public park. Today, swimming and climbing on the Blue Whale are prohibited due to liability issues but it’s a must-see photo opportunity along Route 66. Quirky but enjoyable, everyone had a whale of a time!
It was a short ride to the Woody Guthrie Center. We were met by our young and enthusiastic guide, Sam, who has a wealth of knowledge about the protest movements in which Woody Guthrie was involved. Sam showed us primary artifacts of Woody’s paintings and drawings, showed us an original Woody Guthrie guitar, and showed the original manuscript of Woody Guthrie’s signature song (out of more than 3000 songs he wrote), “This Land is Your Land”. “This Land is Your Land” protests the 1930’s, the Dust Bowl, and the great depression when people traveled along Route 66 into California and were told by authorities they had “no right to the lands of California” being the outsiders. Woody wrote about this land being yours and mine, not only from California but to New York as well. The land was made for you and me.
Sam also emphasized songs and letters from Woody Guthrie to Fred Trump in the 1950’s. Woody bought a home in Trump’s housing project thinking it housed people of all races and heritages. When he only saw people of white skin, he did his best to force Fred to integrate his housing projects. Woody would never have accepted any housing project that discriminated against people for any reason and worked to discredit the Trumps. The Trumps were eventually cited in 1973. Woody Guthrie wrote songs to improve the lives of people who had no voice. We gained a different perspective of this great American icon and enjoyed this museum.
We walked one block to “The Center of the Universe”. It’s simply a ring of concentric circles on the ground, that, if you stand in the center and project your voice, the sound echoes and gets louder like you’re speaking into a microphone. The fascinating thing is no one else can hear your louder voice – they only hear your normal voice speaking. Everyone had a fun time speaking while standing in the center. It was a unique phenomenon!
We arrived at the Doubletree by Hilton Tulsa-Warren and we were on our own for the remainder of the evening. A few of us travelled to Tally’s Route 66 Restaurant for dinner. The restaurant was vintage 60’s with a nice variety of food choices at reasonable prices. We all thoroughly enjoyed our dinner along with the great conversations.
Tomorrow we continue traveling to Oklahoma City after starting our day in Greenwood.
Day 9: Monday, September 9, 2024
Glen arrived at the Doubletree Hotel after a restful day off. Our first stop this morning was a photo opportunity at the famous Circle Cinema and Walk of Fame in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1928, the first silent film, “Across the Atlantic”, arrived in Tulsa bringing Hollywood to the Circle Cinema. On the cement sidewalk adjacent to the theater are names of show business personalities who are from Oklahoma. We saw the names of Brad Pitt, Reba McIntyre, Tony Randel, and Roy Clark to name a few. It was a taste of the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Okies – a fun stop.
We arrived at the Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center in Tulsa. After being seated in the theatre, we listened to an introduction and short motivational film about rising up from adversity. In fact, this was the theme of the History Center. Despite the horrific massacre of innocent people and the destruction of their homes and businesses, the people of Greenwood always rose up. The fateful nights of May 31 to June 1, 1921, are depicted on a floor-to-ceiling split-screen. White mobs marched into the affluent Greenwood neighborhood with torches and burned the city to ashes. Other displays talk about Jim Crow, segregation, the birth of the NAACP, and the rebuilding process. The Greenwood Massacre, at the time, was hushed and purposely silenced for decades until research began to dig up the horrors of the attack in 2001. The Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center is a must see and a great learning experience.
An hour-long ride (during which I began the Pixar movie, “Cars”) brought us to POPS Soda Ranch on Route 66 for our lunch. Featuring a 66 foot, 4 ton soda bottle in front of the restaurant, POPS offers over 700 different sodas imported from all over the world. Bottled sodas line the uniquely slanted windows and act as colorful sun catchers. The food was very good. Some chose to search for a a uniquely flavored bottle of soda in the refrigerators that line one entire wall of this large establishment. Everyone enjoyed this unique restaurant that sits on Route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma.
Our next Route 66 stop was the Arcadia Round Barn. Bill Odor first built this 360° wonder in 1898 by soaking burr oak timbers in water and bending them into the perfect curve. The round barn is 43 feet high with a diameter of 60 feet. It has two levels; the upper level is used as a giant dance hall while the lower level is a museum and gift shop. Upon arrival, we were provided with a ten-minute history talk of the round barn that had fallen into disrepair in the 1980’s. The Arcadia Round Barn was sold a decade later to an architect who restored the round barn to its original look by soaking burr oak timbers once again. This is a beautiful red structure that cannot be missed while traveling Route 66.
Another short ride took us to Edmond, Oklahoma and the 1889 Territorial School, the first public school in the Oklahoma Territory. The United States had just opened the Oklahoma Territory with the 1889 Land Rush. People were permitted by the U.S. Government to claim land in the Oklahoma Territory, build a home and farm on it. Edmond attracted 150 settlers and soon built a school for their children. They built this one-room schoolhouse and hired a teacher who got paid about $300 a year. A retired first-grade teacher from the Edmond School System graciously opened the schoolhouse for us and spoke about the history of Edmond, the schoolhouse, and the classroom while we sat at those old-time desks with seats attached and a hole for ink. She was wonderful. We all thoroughly enjoyed her talk, which brought back many fine (or forgettable) memories for all of us, especially the many retired teachers in our group.
We continued our journey along Route 66 to the capital city of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City. We stopped at the infamous Milk Bottle Grocery Store, a tiny 350 square-foot brick building (now closed) with a giant milk bottle sitting on top of it. The milk bottle was built in 1948 as an advertisement for Route 66 travelers. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and once housed a dry-cleaning shop and a Vietnamese sandwich shop.
We stopped to pay our respects to the 168 victims of the Oklahoma City bombing at the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building that took place on May 19, 1995. The memorial is brilliantly designed in symbolism to honor those who perished, survived, and rushed in to help. Two large monoliths with 9:01 and 9:03 emblazoned at the top represent tranquility at 9:01 AM and healing at 9:03 AM. The bomb exploded at 9:02 AM. A long reflecting pool connects the two monoliths and represents where 5th Street once stood in front of the Federal Building from which the bomb exploded. Where the Federal Building once stood is now lined with 168 chairs, one chair for each of the victims. A small chair represents a child from the nursery who died that day. The memorial brought tears to many and thoughts of “how could someone do something like this” to others.
After checking into our Oklahoma City hotel, everyone was on their own for the evening.
Today was another wonderful day of travel with stops that touched all the senses. Tomorrow, we arrive in Texas.
Day 10: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
We departed Oklahoma City and traveled to Clinton, Oklahoma, to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. The curator explained that the museum is organized into decades beginning with the 1920’s. Each decade features an authentic automobile, photographs, newspaper headlines, and unique life-sized dioramas focusing on Route 66, travel, and Americana. Everyone enjoyed walking and reminiscing through the decades of their lives. This was a magnificent museum, organized beautifully, and had the best souvenir shop of any attraction we’ve visited thus far.
Lucille’s Roadhouse, a 1950’s restaurant on Route 66, was around the corner from the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and served a delicious lunch.
We crossed the Texas Border, and I played a few lively songs welcoming us to this wonderful state. We stopped in Shamrock, Texas, sight of the CONOCO Tower Station and the U-Drop Inn Cafe on Route 66. Built in the 1920’s, the CONOCO Tower rises 60 feet advertising its gasoline. Antique cars dot the attached parking lot. Today, the U-Drop Inn Cafe continues to serve food, and the CONOCO Station has been converted to a gift shop.
At the Devils Rope Barb Wire Museum in McLean, Texas, we were greeted with iced tea and cake by the volunteers. The museum was fascinating. Branding irons, barbed wire, digging tools, sculptures created from barbed wire, and information why the invention of barbed wire changed the American West were all on display. In addition, the museum had a section of Route 66 artifacts and pictures. Everyone found this museum interesting.
We found the Britten Leaning Tower of Texas along I-40 and Route 66. We stopped for a photo op and enjoyed this unique example of physics. Ralph Britten bought this tower and moved it 34 miles to this location that once was his truck stop and restaurant in Groom, Texas. To attract more people to his restaurant, he half-filled the water tower with water, used his bulldozer to tip it at a 10° angle thus allowing its center of gravity to keep it standing on two legs. It was interesting to see, and we photographed it from different angles emphasizing the two legs off the ground. Britten’s truck stop and restaurant burned down in the mid 1980’s but the Leaning Tower survived the fire.
We arrived at the Country Inn and Suites in Amarillo, Texas. After freshening up, we traveled to dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Upon arrival, we took a group photo in front of the giant steer that stands in front. We walked inside and were seated at our two long tables. Each place setting was complete with utensils, napkins, a salad, a piece of cheesecake, and an iced tea. We began eating immediately. We barely had time to finish eating our salad when our server began delivering either 16-ounce steaks or 16-ounce chicken filets to each. Each platter was complete with a baked potato and a small bowl of creamed corn with peppers. It was a delicious feast.
Time was provided to shop in the Big Texan Steak Ranch gift shop and play in the back area. Tour guests marveled at the wall of spooky photographs that change images when you stare at them. Many crawled in and out of the giant rocking chair and had their picture taken. Everyone enjoyed the Big Texan Steak Ranch.
Today was another fascinating day. We look forward to reaching the midway point on Route 66 tomorrow.
Day 11: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Our first stop today was the iconic Cadillac Ranch – ten Cadillacs buried front down in the ground. Many picked up a can of spray paint and added another layer of paint to the already thick layers that existed. The Cadillacs are completely stripped, and their frames continue to sink slowly into the ground. Many photos were taken!
We traveled to Adrian, Texas, the midway point of Route 66. Upon arrival, we all took pictures of the sign at the Midpoint Cafe that said we were exactly 1,139 miles from Chicago and 1,139 miles from Los Angeles. We were all proud of our accomplishment! Many tour guests bought souvenirs, and many bought a cinnamon bun and coffee for $7. This was a well-appreciated stop.
We crossed the New Mexico border, and our watches and electronic devises went back one hour into Mountain Time. Just across the border is a TA Truck Stop named Russel’s that has a fabulous antique car museum and features pictures and artifacts from the fifties and sixties. Twenty cars ranging from 1920 to the 1960’s were shining in all their glory around the museum. Each car is drivable and is maintained in excellent condition. Featured all over the museum are Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, The Beatles, and artifacts and photos from yesteryear. Even Yoda made an appearance. Everyone enjoyed their time at Russel’s.
We continued to Tucumcari, New Mexico. We stopped at the famous Blue Swallow Motel, still in operation and recently purchased by Robert and Donna. Robert met us at the bus and was gracious enough to tell us the history of the Blue Swallow. It was built in 1939 to handle Route 66 traffic and was the first hotel to offer free television and 100% refrigerated air. Lillian Redman was gifted the Blue Swallow as a wedding present from her husband and ran the Motel until the 1990’s when she passed away. Many went next door to a wonderful Route 66 gift shop after Robert completed his talk.
Lunch was at KIX on 66, a fifties style restaurant with a diverse menu and 50’s swagger. After a delicious meal, some ventured to the Te-pee Gift Shop across the street.
Our next stop was the New Mexico Route 66 Museum, the Convention Center, and iconic Route 66 sign. The museum is small and packed with vintage cars dating back from 1913 through 1936 including a few from the 1950’s. Route 66 memorabilia lined the walls and filled in available spaces. Upon departing, we took pictures in front of the iconic Route 66 sign.
We departed Tucumcari and traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico. During the ride, I played the movie, “Founder” starring Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc. “Founder” tells the story of how the McDonald’s franchise got its start in San Bernardino, California. Since we will be in San Bernardino and visiting the McDonalds Museum where the original McDonald’s once stood, “Founder” provided everyone with a perspective of the company.
We arrived at the Drury Inn in Albuquerque for the Kickback and a comfortable night’s sleep.
First thing tomorrow morning, we go “Up, Up, and Away”.
Day 12: Thursday, September 12, 2024
We departed for our ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway to the top of the Sandia Mountains, 10,378 feet above sea level. Of course, I played “Up, Up, and Away” by The 5th Dimension.
Each gondola holds forty people standing and we rode the first gondola of the day. We ascended 10,378 feet in elevation during this fifteen-minute ride to Sandia Peak. The 360° scenery was spectacular on this sunny day. Reddish rocks made from potassium-feldspar crystals in the granite line the Sandia Mountains. In fact, the color reminded early Spanish explorers of watermelon, which translated into Spanish, is Sandia. The name stuck. The Sandia Mountains sounds a lot better than “the Watermelon Mountains”.
The temperature at the peak was 54°, fifteen degrees colder than at the base of the mountain. We walked around a boardwalk that took us to many magnificent overlooks. On the opposite side of Sandia Mountain is manicured ski trails and a chairlift. The skiing season generally begins on November 15. Everyone marveled at the beauty of Albuquerque and the mountains looking down from 10,378 feet. After exploring the peak, we took the tramway down to the base and once again, enjoyed the sheer beauty of the watermelon-colored mountains.
Next, we visited Madonna of the Trail. Madonna pays tribute to all the women who braved the unknown and sacrificed everything to travel west with or without their families. Women pioneers traveled west during the 1800’s to begin a new life. There are eleven Madonnas of the Trail scattered throughout the United States and we had the honor of seeing Madonna in Albuquerque. I played “Lady Madonna” by The Beatles.
Old Town Albuquerque on Route 66 is a quaint town built from old Spanish architecture. It is a wonderful area composed of two main streets and six side streets encompassing many restaurants and shops. The restaurants range from exquisite cafes to traditional Mexican and Italian offerings. The stores are unique, selling souvenirs, jewelry, and colorful clothing. We had two wonderful hours exploring Old Town Albuquerque.
Next, we stopped at the exterior of the famous Kimo Theater on Route 66 in Albuquerque for a photo op. The theater opened in 1927 to silent films that brought Hollywood to Albuquerque for the first time. Shows are still performed here today. The marquis and colorful building made for many fine photos.
We departed Albuquerque and traveled to Gallup, New Mexico. I showed the twenty-minute National Park Service video titled “Timeless Impressions: The Story of The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest”. It explained how petrified wood was formed over millions of years and showed the beauty of these two National Parks along Route 66. Tomorrow we will visit the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest..
I showed the documentary titled “Harvey Girls”, the story of women being hired as servers in Fred Harvey’s restaurants during the early to mid 1900’s. Fred Harvey was an immigrant entrepreneur who was the first to create dining cars on railroads and build restaurants at railroad stations to feed the travelers. Lillian Redman, owner of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, was a Harvey Girl prior to marrying and receiving the Blue Swallow as a wedding gift from her husband. The film featured actual Harvey Girls telling their story. Harvey girls had strict rules; they needed to be single, wear uniforms that covered their entire body from neck to ankles and be flexible to move around to different locations. They worked at a time when most women did not hold full-time jobs and were extremely proud of their careers.
We arrived at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico. D.W. Griffith, famous movie director of the classic westerns of the 1930’s & 40’s, and his brother, R.E. Griffith, teamed up to build the magnificent El Rancho Hotel in 1936 for the purpose of housing actors, actresses, and crew during the filming of over 100 westerns in Gallup. Famous people like John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Lucille Ball, and Angela Lansbury all spent time at the El Rancho Hotel while making westerns from the late 1930’s through the 1950’s.
The El Rancho Hotel’s lobby is two stories with two large, curved staircases covered with red carpet spiraling to the second floor. You could almost imagine “Mame” walking down these staircases singing. The second floor has a 360° walkway with invaluable photos of the famous people who slept at the El Ranch Hotel hanging on the walls. The Hotel also has a wonderful restaurant and gift shop. Although we only spent a short time here, everyone was extremely fascinated by the El Rancho Hotel; both its historic significance and its western decor.
A quick ride brought us to the Springhill Suites in Gallup, New Mexico.
Tomorrow, we enter Canyon Country and visit our first National Park (Gateway Arch in St. Louis is considered a National Monument).
Day 13: Friday, September 13, 2024
Today we visited the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. After a stop at the Visitors Center and gift shop, we boarded the bus for our tour. At Kachina Point, our first overlook of the Painted Desert, the sun was shining brightly without a cloud in the sky. The Painted Desert, with its vibrant colors of reds, yellows, greens, and grays was brilliant as far as the eyes could see. We were totally in awe of the beauty and took many photos.
The Painted Desert was first discovered and named by Francisco Coronado, a Spanish explorer looking for the “Seven Cities of Gold”. He never found the cities, but he first saw and named this colorful area, “Desierto Pintado”.
Our second stop was Pintado Point. We walked up a slight hill to a magnificent 180° view of the rich colors of the Painted Desert. The wide-open spaces, the beauty, and the vastness of nature left many speechless. Stop number three honored Route 66 where it once cut straight through the Painted Desert. A 1932 Studebaker, stripped to the framework, sits here as a reminder. Route 66 is nowhere to be seen but I-40, which has replaced Route 66, is a stone’s throw away.
We crossed over I-40 into Petrified Forest National Park. Our first stop in Petrified Forest was Agate Bridge. Here, a 110-foot petrified log spans what once was a raging river below. You can almost walk right up to the Agate Bridge which has been reinforced by concrete to preserve it from breaking and falling into the abyss below. Many great pictures were taken here.
The final stop in Petrified Forest was the Crystal Forest. Petrified wood and logs lay everywhere. The Crystal Forest has a paved .75-mile circular trail that leads into the badlands, or back-country. Many were excited at the challenge to hike the trail. Eighteen of us plus Glen and I chose to hike. Thousands of pieces (and many still in-tact) of brilliantly colored petrified logs were present all along the trail. We sat on tree-trunk size petrified logs and took pictures. We even picked up small pieces of petrified rock and marveled at their heavy weight. The walk was invigorating. Many great pictures were taken. The exercise was a great benefit. We returned to the bus proud of our accomplishments.
Before departing Petrified Forest National Park, we stopped at the Rainbow Forest Museum and Visitors Center at the southern end of the park. We had just completed the 26-mile loop road. We departed and traveled to Holbrook, Arizona for lunch.
Romo’s, located on Route 66 in Holbrook, is mainly a Mexican restaurant with some American choices as well. The food was delicious, and everyone enjoyed their lunch.
Next up on Route 66 and I-40 was the Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, Arizona. Upon arrival, the friendly owners had warm, freshly baked cookies waiting for us to enjoy. A large Jack Rabbit sits outside waiting for visitors to climb aboard and take pictures. The Jack Rabbit Store, the only thing in sight on this stretch of Route 66, sold all kinds of Route 66 items, small pieces of petrified logs, and food and drink items. This was another fun stop on Route 66.
Our next stop was Winslow, Arizona. I played two versions of “Take It Easy”; one performed by co-writer Jackson Brown and the more famous version by the Eagles. Glenn Frey of the Eagles was the other co-writer. The second verse of the song says, “I was standin’ on the corner in Winslow Arizona…..”. We arrived in Winslow. “The corner” has a statue of Glenn Frey, a statue of Jackson Brown, a flatbed Ford, and a full painted mural on a brick wall depicting the storyline. Two “Standin’ on the Corner” gift shops stood on opposite corners, and both were visited by our group members Winslow is proud of and makes the most from the fame they’ve received from the hit song. In fact, every September, Winslow holds its annual “Standin’ On The Corner” Festival. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this stop.
Glen took us to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams Arizona, a beautiful hotel where we’ll spend the next two overnights.
Day 14: Saturday, September 14, 2024
We all met in the main lobby of the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. At the Wild West Pre-show, we sat on bleachers surrounding a make-shift western town filled with sand in the street and two horses tied up to a hitchin’ post. The show was very entertaining; with rope tricks, outlaws shooting guns, outlaws getting killed, audience participation, and the Marshall coming in to save the day. Following the show, we boarded the train.
We were all together in the Yavapai Train Car with First Class seating and great service. We sat on soft, comfortable reclining seats and each had three feet of legroom. We spread out. Our guide and server, Jovan, had a vast knowledge of the land and a clever sense of humor. He put out donuts and pastries for us to take and brought drinks to our seats. We were all relaxing in luxury as the Grand Canyon Railway chugged north at 40 mph. The Marshall with his gun and holster walked into our train car to give some advice and make sure we were behaving ourselves. His back-and-forth banter was very entertaining and funny. A guitar player walked into our car and played a few songs. It was an extremely enjoyable ride that dropped us off at the Grand Canyon Railway Depot adjacent to the El Tovar Hotel in Grand Canyon Village.
The skies were blue with a few cumulus clouds hovering above creating pockets of shade and sun on the brilliantly colored rock of the Grand Canyon. The clear views today were spectacular. As the puffy clouds moved across the sky, the landscape of the Grand Canyon changed with the shadows. Tour guests seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time were awestruck! “It doesn’t look real!” “It looks like a painting!” “This is totally amazing!” “Pictures can’t do this justice!” All were just some of the remarks!
We had three wonderful hours at the Grand Canyon. Everyone walked at least a part of the Rim Trail. Some hiked the Bright Angel Trail down into the Grand Canyon for 30 minutes knowing it takes twice as long to climb out of the Canyon. Some hiked along the Canyon Rim Trail 2.5 miles east to the Visitors Center and Mather Point. Many visited Kolb Studios, The Lookout, the Bright Angel Lodge, the Hopi House, and the El Tovar Hotel. All took time to reflect while peering into one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their time at the Grand Canyon.
We all boarded the Grand Canyon Railway for our trip back to Williams. Upon entering the train, we all found platters of vegetables and cans of soda for the taking. First Class just got even better! We sat in the same comfortable reclining seats with three feet of legroom with Jovan continuing to serve us and ensure our comfort. The scenery changed from Ponderosa Pines growing 70 feet to desert conditions featuring Juniper Trees growing 10 feet. The ride was relaxing until outlaws on horseback attacked the train, boarded it, and walked through “robbing” all the tour guests. The entertainment on the train was fun and consistent with the “Wild West”. The Grand Canyon Railway was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
The buffet dinner at the Fred Harvey Restaurant was all-inclusive of a carving station, a pasta station, a complete salad bar, potatoes, vegetables, and much more. The food was delicious, and everyone left totally fulfilled.
Today was a magical and magnificent day from the Pre-show to the buffet. We continue our travels along Route 66 tomorrow.
Day 15: Sunday, September 15, 2024
We departed Williams traveling along Route 66 to Seligman, Arizona. I showed the DVD documentary titled, “The Angel of Route 66”, the story of Juan (aka Angel) Delgadillo who organized the Association of Route 66 when the road was declassified in 1985 to save all the businesses from closing. We are stopping at Delgadillo’s for lunch and shopping today.
We traveled along Route 66 towards Seligman until it dead-ended onto I-40 West. We rode on I-40 until we saw another Route 66 marker and rode through Ash Fork. Arizona Ash Fork is a semi ghost town today that once was a hub for the Santa Fe Railroad and the location of one of the first Harvey’s Houses, the Escalante, which served weary travelers from 1907 to 1953. The Harvey Girls were famous for serving patrons at this restaurant.
Route 66 ended again, and we rejoined I-40 until we arrived at another Route 66 sign leading to Seligman, Arizona. Route 66 was newly paved in this section. We rode through the desert with hardly a sign of life around until we turned into Seligman, a town with as many dilapidated homes as well-kept homes along Route 66. Angel Delgadillo recently celebrated his 97th birthday and is still seen walking around town. He continues to carve birdhouses and puts them up for sale in his Gift Shop that is now run by his daughter and son-in -law. Everyone we met was extremely friendly and welcoming.
The Hackberry General Store outside of Kingman, Arizona, on Route 66 was our next stop. On the bus, I played the video shown at the Grand Canyon Visitors Center titled, “Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder”. It brought back many fond memories of yesterday and taught us new facts about our wonderful day at the Canyon. Hackberry is a tiny town with only 68 mailboxes today representing residents. The Hackberry General Store opened in 1926 only to close in 1978 after the completion of I-40 through Kingman that rerouted traffic away from Hackberry by 17-miles.
However, in the 1980’s, famed Route 66 traveler Bob Waldmire reopened the Hackberry General Store. The store was restocked with memorabilia and gained the nickname “The Mother Lode of Mother Road Memorabilia”. It is located literally in the middle of nowhere and we needed to travel 17-miles in the desert to arrive. Upon arrival, we noticed old gas pumps, a 1960’s police car with the red light on top, and many vintage automobiles rusting in place. Inside, the store was filled with Route 66 souvenirs and memorabilia of all kinds at prices that were considerably lower than other gift shops. The store had an entire section honoring Elvis. Members of our group bought Route 66 suitcases, bags, shirts, and more at low prices. The Hackberry General Store was a pleasant and unique stop enjoyed by everyone.
We drove back along Route 66 into Kingman to the Kingman Powerhouse and Visitors Center. The lower level of the Visitors Center is a large gift shop of Route 66 merchandise. The upper level is a museum featuring the history of travel across the country including a life-sized Prairie Schooner that took families across America in wagon trains, a 1936 truck (similar to the truck used in the movie, “The Grapes of Wrath”), stuffed with all the belongings a family owned, and a 1950 Studebaker Champion 4-door that transported a family along Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles. The museum was a totally unexpected treat and was enjoyed by all who ventured inside.
Also on the second floor was a tribute to the great Angel Delgadillo of Seligman and included a barber’s chair (since that was his main profession) and much information on his life and his work in preserving Route 66 after it was decommissioned. Across the street from the Kingman Powerhouse and Visitors Center sat Locomotive Park featuring the giant 3759 Santa Fe Locomotive from Kingman, Arizona. Many walked across and took some wonderful pictures.
Upon arrival at the Holiday Inn Express in Kingman, everyone was on their own to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening.
Some of us chose to ride to Mr. D’z for dinner. Mr. D’z is a fabulous 50’s themed diner and had delicious food, fast service, and friendly employees.
Tomorrow, “California, here we come”!
Day 16: Monday, September 16, 2024g
We departed and traveled to Topock, Arizona on the California border for a photo op of The Old Trails Bridge. The Old Trails Bridge was the original Route 66 bridge that spanned the Colorado River into the state of California in 1926. The Old Trails Bridge was used in the movie, “The Grapes of Wrath” as the Joad Family crossed the Colorado River into California. In 1947, the bridge was closed down for a larger bridge a few miles away. Today, the Old Trails Bridge is a pipeline bridge. Signs are placed all over in order to discourage tourists from getting close to the bridge. Pictures needed to be taken from a distance. The bridge is maintained very well, and its white color looks as though it’s been freshly painted.
We traveled southeast, a smidge out of our way, to arrive in Lake Havasu City, Arizona to see the London Bridge. In 1968, the bridge was purchased from the City of London by Robert P. McCulloch. McCulloch paid $2.46 million for the London Bridge, had it shipped in segments, and transported by ship through the Panama Canal to the Port of Long Beach and then overland to Lake Havasu City. McCullough purchased the bridge to create an attraction to help sell his housing community and convince people to move here. Since the bridge was rebuilt in 1973, houses sold and an entire town was created. McCulloch’s gamble definitely paid off.
The London Bridge looked majestic, rising over a man-made tributary of Lake Havasu. We were able take many great pictures and even walk across the bridge (although time allowed us to only walk halfway). Seeing a piece of Great Britain in such a unique environment in Arizona was a special and enjoyable experience for all the tour guests.
We crossed the Colorado River into California. I played many songs; “California Here I Come”, “California Dreaming”, “That’s Entertainment”, “Hotel California”, and songs by The Beach Boys to name a few. We traveled through the Mojave Desert with nothing but dry, desert land dotted with varieties of cacti for as far as the eye can see. The brown and beautiful Sierra Mountains rose up before us and we crossed over them enjoying the scenery.
We arrived at Roy’s Motel & Cafe in Amboy, California on Route 66. Roy’s is located in the middle of nowhere. The tiny town of Amboy consists of Roy’s, a small post office, and a few homes off in the distance. It is currently owned by the sons of Albert Okura who passed away in 2023. The Motel was closed and stands in total disrepair. The Okura’s plan to fix up the Motel. The Cafe is open selling coffee, drinks, snacks, and souvenirs. Gas is still sold for over $6.00 per gallon. Ken, the manager of Roy’s Cafe, had set up long folding tables and 27 chairs for us to sit outside, under a permanent awning. The temperature was only 82° in the desert with a mild, delightful breeze and it was very comfortable to eat our boxed lunches in the shade.
Our next stop was Amboy Crater, a National Natural Historic Landmark. It last erupted 10,000 years ago and is considered dormant. We rode to the second parking lot where a gazebo stood, providing us a great vantage point to take pictures of the Crater (the crater stood a distance away, so it was impossible to see inside the crater). The black, igneous rock that once flowed and hardened on the ground still exists in a flowing pattern from the Crater to the gazebo. It was fascinating to see. We were all proud that we could still recall the formation of igneous rock from our high school science days (and we also discussed sedimentary and metamorphic rock).
Upon leaving Amboy Crater, Route 66 ended traveling west so we had to double back 17 miles until we arrived at I-40 West once again. We continued traveling towards Barstow, California. Directly off I-40 and on Route 66 was the Baghdad Cafe in Newberry Springs, California. The Baghdad Cafe was the only stop along Route 66 for miles and is famous for the movie, “Baghdad Cafe” filmed here. Today, after a quick stop, we learned that the Baghdad Cafe sells coffee, snacks, and souvenirs.
A short time after, we pulled into the Holiday Inn & Suites in Barstow, California. The hotel is surrounded by five restaurants and an outlet center, all in walking distance. Everyone was now on their own for the evening.
Tomorrow, we travel to Burbank after going through our final Route 66 Museum in Victorville, California.
Day 17: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Our first stop this morning was Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande, California. Elmer Long and his dad were avid bottle collectors. When Elmer’s dad died in 2000, Elmer decided to put a metal pole into the ground, solder iron branches to the poles, and hang his bottle collection on the trees. Since bottles come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, each bottle tree is a unique and colorful work of art. Elmer’s tree forest currently has over 200 trees. We were all able to walk around Elmer’s outdoor museum of bottle trees and smile. This was a “different kind of stop” and worthwhile to see.
At the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, California, Sue, the Curator, welcomed us and introduced the layout of the museum. We sat in a 1917 car, saw a camping trailer fully loaded from the 1940’s, and examined the original standing radios from the 1930’s. The California Route 66 Museum was filled with fabulous antiques, many older than we were, so we learned rather than remembered. Tour guests commented about seeing so many museums on this trip, and each one was totally unique and fun to explore.
Next, we traveled to San Bernardino, California. Albert Okura, the man who purchased Roy’s Motel and Cafe and the small town of Amboy, California, also owned the Juan Pollo Restaurant and the McDonalds Museum in San Bernardino (now managed by his two sons). Each property honors Okura for his vision and work ethic to preserve these Route 66 establishments. Lunch at Juan Pollo’s was a delicious buffet with baked chicken quarters, rice, beans, potato salad, and more.
The McDonalds Museum was another awesome stop. Marvin was our knowledgeable guide and told us this was the actual location of the first McDonalds owned by the McDonald’s Brothers before Ray Kroc stole their business. Marvin further explained that the movie, “The Founder”, starring Michael Keaton, was extremely accurate and involved heirs of the McDonald’s family as advisors to ensure the accuracy of the movie. Although the original McDonalds was torn down decades ago, Albert Okura spent a lot of money to recreate the McDonalds in this original location and even secured the original McDonalds sign that had somehow survived demolition. Inside is a museum featuring old photographs of the brothers and the walk-up restaurant. Ronald McDonald greets visitors at the door. Thousands of artifacts from happy meals toys to original cooking tools are displayed. A beautiful mural, painted on the outside of the building, summarizes McDonalds’ history. Everyone appreciated this stop, especially after viewing, “The Founder”, on the bus earlier this trip.
We rode through the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains down into Los Angeles to our Burbank hotel. Many of our ventured over to Universal Studios Citywalk to take in dinner, a festive atmosphere, and unique shops.
Tomorrow, we complete Route 66! Hard to believe!!!
Day 18: Wednesday, September 18, 2024
We departed with Judy, our tour guide for the day and traveled to the Will Rogers Estate for a guided tour of Rogers’ 31 room home north of Santa Monica. A 14-mile trip from the Hilton Garden Inn, it took us 90-minutes to get there due to the bumper-to bumper traffic on the 101 and the 405 in L.A. Judy was wonderful, providing us with stories, trivia, and facts about her beloved Los Angeles. Glen did a marvelous job guiding the bus through the horrendous Los Angeles traffic.
Upon arrival at Will Rogers’ Estate, we met Dave, the lead tour guide for the estate. Dave is extremely knowledgeable and told us many stories about Will Rogers. Will would invite many guests to stay at this beautiful estate and would often use his roping skills to rope his guests when they least expected it. At one point, a guest sent him a life-sized stuffed steer with a note saying, “The next time I visit, rope the steer instead of me” (that steer is displayed in the living room). Will Rogers and his wife Betty were happiest being alone on quiet drives through this beautiful countryside. We were all shown his bedroom with a bathroom attached. Will had a “needles shower”, best described as a surround shower spraying water 270° at one time. The kitchen even had an electric stove, oven, and refrigerator, all considered the ultimate of “modern living” in 1928. This was a wonderful visit as we all gained more insights into “The father of Route 66”.
Next, we made our way to the Santa Monica Pier, the “End of the Road”. We first walked to the Visitor’s Booth and took a group picture with the sign, “Santa Monica, California- West End of Route 66”. Then we walked down the block overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean with the mountains rising in the distance to the Santa Monica Pier. We gathered around the “official” sign at exactly 12:00 PM that read, “Santa Monica 66- End of the Trail” for many meaningful photos and to officially end our Route 66 travel. This was a fun celebration and a great sense of accomplishment. Then, everyone was on their own for lunch at the pier.
Following lunch, we traveled along Santa Monica Boulevard and passed the Beverly Hilton Hotel where Whitney Houston was found unconscious and died in 2012. Judy pointed out Rodeo Drive, the most expensive set of shops in Beverly Hills and the jewelry store where Julia Roberts was famously thrown out of in “Pretty Woman”. We passed North Beverly Drive, the street where the Clampetts famously rode their jalopy at the beginning of each episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies”. We also slowed down to take pictures of the famous Beverly Hills sign and the Ringo Starr “Peace and Love” fingers, donated by Ringo to Beverly Hills. Judy was terrific, sharing her wealth of knowledge as we rode through L.A.
We soon arrived at the TCL Theater, formerly Grauman’s Chinese Theater. There was a premier going on for the Apple Original Film, “Wolfs”, so sidewalks were partially blocked and the crowds seemed larger than usual. Judy led us up “red carpet” steps without the red carpet to the entrance to the Dolby Theater, home to the Academy Awards. The Dolby Theater is part of a huge outdoor/covered shopping center on three levels but the stores are covered up with curtains during Oscar Night. Continuing past the Dolby Theater and outside to the left is a view of the famous HOLLYWOOD sign off in the distance. The tour guests enjoyed being here and experiencing the “Starr” studded environment of Hollywood.
We arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn Burbank and said goodbye to Judy. She entertained us all day and did a wonderful tour. She even was kind enough to take our group “End of the Road” pictures in Santa Monica. The tour guests enjoyed today and were now on their own to enjoy “Beautiful Downtown Burbank”.
