RSS Getting your kicks
Filed in Landmark-Hunting, Motorcycling
Today, in the parking lot of Trader Joe’s, a woman accosted me, having seen my Route 66 saddlebags (which I actually bought in England, a very long time ago.) “Where is Route 66?” she asked. “I have always wanted to know where it is. Wait, let me fetch my kids. They’re always asking me.”
She fetched an assortment of kids, probably in the 10-12 year old age, who stood looking admiringly as I told them that well, it started in Chicago, and went down through Missouri, and then through some of the Midwest States that I couldn’t remember (Kansas, Oklahoma) and then over the Panhandle of Texas. And then it goes through New Mexico, Arizona, and into Southern California, and stops at Santa Monica. (It’s likely I missed a few bits.)
Except of course, it doesn’t exist as such any more, so you need to piece it all together to see it, and it took any of a thousand different routes. And all this I knew because a) I had dreamed of doing Route 66, have in fact done a little bit of Route 66, and someone at Markeroni recently did about 90% of Route 66 and kept me busy for a month with their 500+ snarfs.
But they were very happy with this (partial) information, and it turned out that she was from the Hamburg area, so I got to practice a little German, which is good, because it’s about as rusty as it gets, after 15 years of not using it any more. One kid asked me if my bike were a chopper and I said that no, this is a cruiser, and the mother made appreciative “nice bike” noises.
See? Shopping, biking and history. What could be more fun?
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9 Comments, Comment or Ping
Bluefinch (1 comments.)
Cawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
I can see you are out and about. I haven’t heard much about your move of late.
Hugs Janice
Aug 19th, 2007
beautyredefined
Very cool encounter! (My gravatar seems to have disappeared!)
Aug 19th, 2007
Rebecca (6 comments.)
I live about 20 minutes from Route 66. In fact, I’m 1/2 way between Route 66 and the old Lincoln Highway (South Suburbs of Chicago). 66 is in much better shape, cross country wise than Lincoln. There are places where the Lincoln just dies out completely.
Anyway, whenever I have visitors from overseas, I make sure to take them for at least a few minutes on Route 66.
I think it may have been one of the highlights of Skyring’s trip to Chicago. :)
Aug 19th, 2007
Scott Piotrowski (1 comments.)
I’m about two blocks from 66, and am amazed at how many of my neighbors do not know where Route 66 is. My co-workers had mostly never really heard of the road before working with me. It seems many Americans have forgotten about “The Main Street of America.”
Yet, as soon as a non-American is around, I’m sure that 66 will come up in the conversation. It’s inevitable. It’s so ingrained throughout the world that Route 66 IS America, and in a way, it is. It’s how we, as Americans, have forgotten a part of our past. But it’s also how car culture has dominated us. And it is a great way to tie all of America together.
From Route 66 in beautiful Pasadena, California
Aug 20th, 2007
Linda R. Moore
Hi Bluefinch! Nice to see you here. :)
We’re staying until the end (which isn’t that far away); still intending to buy an RV; I just got a job. So, we just have to find someplace to park it.
Aug 20th, 2007
Linda R. Moore
BR: For whatever reason, the gravatars seem to fade in and out. I have no idea how it all works, other than that they do seem to come back eventually!
Aug 20th, 2007
Linda R. Moore
It’s one of my dreams to ride the entire route, finding all the little bits and pieces that were left behind. It would be a very slow ride, but I’m fascinated by old, abandoned roads.
I’m glad Skyring had fun with that. :)
Aug 20th, 2007
Linda R. Moore
Rebecca: I also put you on my blogroll. :)
Aug 20th, 2007
Linda R. Moore
Scott–thanks for stopping by, and for the very thoughtful comment! Your site is fascinating–I’m glad you stopped by. Awesome photography.
I’ve always been fascinated by old roads, though in my case it started with Roman Roads. I didn’t actually know much about Rte. 66 until a few years ago when I rode a little bit of it. I’d like to do the whole thing, searching out the hidden portions.
Aug 20th, 2007
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