As I mentioned earlier I have been all over the U.S.A. and I have been as far north as you can go in Canada and as far south as you can go in Mexico, but my favorite trips are the ones I took down Route Sixty Six. My Route 66 trips began when I was 10 years old and went to Chicago with my dad. I saw a sign there that said, "Historic Route Sixty Six Begins Here". I ask dad about Route 66 and he described it very well. Dad was good at that. He told me it was "the highway of dreams". He explained that it connected the Great Lakes and the Pacific Ocean, and that along the way there was always something better to see just over the next hill or through the next valley. He also explained the importance of Route Sixty Six allowing people to quickly obtain goods and services and also how that highway helped the economy in several states. I was hooked right there, and I decided that I was "gonna save my pennies, and buy me a car", and see all of Route Sixty Six, and I did it! The trip that I began as a kid with my dad in Chicago, Illinois in 1962 ended in Sana Monica, California in 2008 with a girl named Lisa. I could have drove straight through and a lot of people do but I didn't. I read about places to see in each state and planned trips one state at a time, often staying in one location for quite some time. I lived in "Cali." for awhile. Something that never would have occurred if not for Route 66. I lived in Chicago because of Route 66. I also spent a lot of time on the Ozark Mountain Trail, In the Arizona desert and canyons, and in a wonderful place I discovered in New Mexico where Route 66 is still the towns Main Street. That area is filled with neon signs, old diners, strange but lovely hotels, one where the cabins are fashioned after Indian tee pees. There is also and Indian Reservation there and a wonderful hot air balloon race each year.

It is sad that much of Route 66 is decommissioned now, but it is,all in the name of "progress". (Sometimes I wonder about that. I liked the old "Mom & Pop" ways better.) I do what I can to help preserve some of Route 66. _______________

Route 66 runs through these states. From east to west: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

(2,448 miles one way) Route 66 follows a relatively straight path from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California. It now parallels several U.S. Interstate freeways including I-55, I-44, I-40, I-15, and I-10. As a child I dreamed of having a time machine. I dreamed of traveling though history and meeting great people and going to great places. In a way Route Sixty Six became my time machine. America is a vast and beautiful place filled with wonderful people. I'm very glad I was able to see so much of it. _______________ _______________ _______________