Sunday Drive

Route 66.  The mother road.  Before it was simply a catchy old rock and roll song.  But since Pixar's Cars came out I've found driving along this famous stretch of old highway and catching a piece of Americana is on my bucket list.  But researching route 66 doesn't seem to be looking too promising.  The official preservation society national66.org hasn't updated their blog in almost 2 years.  Wikitravel looks helpful.  Here are some tips from the site that are sure to help.

However, you should realize that some parts of the trip are in remote areas; make sure that you have extra food and water, just in case. Food for your car is as important as food for yourself. In the western half of the route, gas stations (at least open ones) may be up to 100 miles apart, so know your vehicle's range and fill up accordingly. Repair services are equally sparse; make sure your car is in good repair before setting out, and have a spare tire.

The desert parts of this route get really hot and lonely. If you're driving, carry a big cooler, not one of those styrofoam jobs, and fill it with ice every day. Soak a hand towel in the icy water and wear it around your neck. No, not really, but this is a good trip on which to drive a car that has air conditioning. (The moist-towel routine really does help if you're on a motorcycle, though.)

Lodging along this route is generally not too hard to find, and in most areas you'll probably be able to find something basically satisfactory on the spur of the moment. However, it never hurts to make reservations, and at Flagstaff and (if you take the recommended alternate route through New Mexico) Santa Fe, reservations border on mandatory. Additionally, some other waypoints get full at certain times of the year, for example Albuquerque during the first or second weeks in October when the International Balloon Fiesta is in full swing. Plan and reserve accordingly.

Get a good turn-by-turn description of the old Road. Signs for it are sparse, and in dense traffic easily missed or worse, they have been stolen by souvenir hunters. A turn-by-turn description can be found at the historic66.com website.

Over time Route 66 got realigned a few times, you will need to make choices as to which alignment you will follow. A first example of such a major choice are the Santa Fe and Los Lunas loops that got cut-off by a more direct east-west route in 1937. Similarly, the alignment south of Springfield, IL changed significantly.

While it looks like Route 66 isn't officially marked and on the maps it's named something else (and apparently people steal Route 66 signs regularly) there is a route that goes along the old road (or close to it).  It starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles California.  2400 miles of road.  And it looks like you can make the trip in 8 days.  So what would one need for a week of seeing America?  A convertible with a CD player would be a must.  Don't forget to bring the charger for your smartphone so you can take plenty of pics.  An tablet so you can read and watch movies (make sure to download Cars and Cars 2!) And below are some of the type of clothes I would pack for a perfect road trip down the mother road.  Since Route 66 brings a rockabilly mood to mind, most of what I picked out was cheetah print, red, black, white and polka dot.  I think about three pairs of jeans and three tees are fine so you can wear each piece for two days with a little mix and match.  Throw in a maxi dress for easy casual style, one nice dress for a nice dinner out and two pair of shoes.  Boots and a pair of flats.  A denim jacket for cool desert nights and a fun retro style swimsuit!  Plus some basic grooming accessories including a refillable water bottle.  Think of it as a way to get your kicks on Route 66!