East Meets East Meets Route 66

 

At 10:05AM I called Steve to let him know that I was running late and where I was on the road, told him where I was arrived shortly after 11:00AM, 11:01 to be exact according my phone record referenced.

I was an hour later than I planned but my eight year old GPS without updates got me exactly to where I was going.


When I got to Steve’s house I had to recheck the address because the GPS was too accurate for me.  I called Steve when I arrived.

My cell phone as usual acted up as Steve failed to hear my voice causing minor confusion.  Steve came out looking just like his picture but a tad older version.

My mind went wild into its analytical mode wondering before entering the house what was this guy about having very little by way of family on his Facebook page except for the great selection of Route 66 pictures.

I knew very little about Steve but the inside of his home was very clean and tidy.

I was,  my usual self, talking my head off .  I don’t even remember what I was talking about but I did have to pee.  When I came out of the bathroom there was a news paper article on the wall facing where I was standing or magazine article about a local woman who worked on the an Ellis Island committee which Steve told me was his mother then went on to tell me of his heritage.  He knew of actual people who came through the country that way but not from his family. 

Steve asked me if I would like to have lunch first.  He made a nice healthy fruit salad. I told him that I would prefer to see the collection first.  Thinking to myself, "seeing the collection will help me digest the poisoned breakfast I just had at Mickey D’s then eat the healthier salad after seeing the collection."


Steve mentioned that his dog just got put down the day before.  Steve did look distraught over his recent loss.  I still think of my Stumpy who suffered longer than he had to because we couldn’t bear to put him down.  My oldest daughter made the call for us.  That phone call worked far better than my email to the vet I never wanted to get.  But a chance to show off this Mother Road Collection sure seemed cheer Steve up.


Considering how challenging walking is to me anyway while navigating to the garage that was in back of the house, thinking now how some flagstones might have made it a tad easier for me to maneuver toward the garage.  Steve went ahead to turn the lights on while I trudged through the grass, shorter than mine at home due to my lawnmower being turned into a tiller by my daughter's boyfriend who helps us out once in a while. 

When I was within ten feet of the door what I could see as I approached was Route 66 paraphernalia.  I took my first shot five feet from the door.  I was amazed to see a ’62’ Thunderbird sitting there in mint condition, a soft top convertible that folds into the trunk.  

This was way more than I bargained for.  It was almost as great as being on Route 66 itself at a fraction of the cost in time traveled and gas.  There was so much to shoot I was lost.

Steve had everything sectioned off nicely.  Everything was in clusters and hopefully I’m using the right words.

This is a museum with history; everything right there in Steve’s head.

He knew every piece intimately.

 Like This Bob Waldmire original.

Looking around I could tell this man had a passion far beyond mine.  As one can see from these pictures I’ve posted it is worth telling this story that I’ll have no problem blogging about.  I took well over fifty shots before realizing this was overwhelming me.  I thought it might be worth having a video, shot by the man himself and I love putting people on the spot, so I asked.  Steve not only shot video for me he was relentlessly generous and knew exactly what to shoot.  This was one of many.  The man knew how to pan.   


As one can see from within this collection there are many great shots that Steve took him self.  Some of what he had pictures of and how they were taken seemed to outweigh the value of actual signage and or objects from the Mother Road itself.

If this museum in Albany NY was food from the Mother Road and I was eating it; I was full for now and knew I would want to come back and eventually eat the rest in smaller amounts as I paced myself and of course ask prepared questions. 
      

My Appology To My Fellow Roadies, But Depression Hurts!

It's the economy could be an excuse,

my mothers death but that was back in the beginning of 2010,

it could be my oldest daughter who came over on Mother's Day right after my wife and I came back from spreading my mothers ashes on Revere Beach, with her drunken boyfriend who seemed to let out on me what my daughter has been holding back but venting to him,

it could be my only grandson who is now Twelve by my youngest daughter has no home because we're the "Arguing Grandparents" and chooses to stay with his father's dysfunctional family and his ailing grandmother.

My grandson sleeps "Somewhere" on weekends while his mother and father sleep here without him.

This bothers me.

It bothers my wife but she refuses to deal with it.

If I threaten to say anything to my daughter, about how she has a great job but didn't even have money to bail out her sons father on MLK day, my wife nearly had a nervous breakdown.

My youngest daughter who has a twelve year old son has also been living here for over a year to get her finances together has nothing but a fake Gucci Bag and 12 year old BMW to show for it.

I am a prisoner without my free will and would feel like I was running away if I hit the road. 

Follow @Route66Boston

I Need To Hold My Own Feet To The Fire

"Hold your feet to the fire", is an Idiom or an Axiom really not sure but being from the Boston area I'm sure it was an effective method used by Puritans to make you believe or die.

If anyone happens to read this who lives near or around Route 66 I doubt your a puritan but please feel free to hold my feet to the fire as far as letting others know what a great experience traveling the Mother Road is.   It is a piece of ongoing living history not to be confused with Hillary Rodham Clinton's book "Living History"

Thanks to my nephew Tyler Cantone and taking him with me or him taking me on my third trip makes me an expert of The Mother Road.

I guess it was me taking him after all it was my van but leaving 3 weeks earlier than our original plan so we could chase tornadoes?

We saw some serious formations in Texas but nothing happened. 

It might not be any better than hopping for tornadoes but before we spent a week in Cali I was hopping to experience an earthquake.

  After a nights rest this was the beginning of our adventure.

Late Start Early Saturday Morning Chicago Traffic

20 Hours after crossing the Tobin in Boston! Yea!

 

It was overcast warm and humid when we arived on Saturday June 12th 9:37 AM.

Why was I surprized to see a toll to drive into Chicago?

If I had questions I could have pushed a button to get answers?

It is a Toll Booth Right?

I was excited to be back in Chi-town and was about to be surprised at how excited Tyler was becoming about the whole experience.

We couldn't see the Willis Tower which I knew as the Sears Tower before leaving for Route 66.

We were certainly corrected every time we asked for directions since it was hidden in the clouds hovering over the city that day.

I have been to the beginning of Route 66 here in Chicago now I needed to shoot the end of Route 66.

Without the Willis Tower there was not much of a reference for me and Tyler was satisfied with just exploring this great city amazed of its cleanliness.

We were both exhausted only stopping at a rest area where I sweat a lot more than slept.

We stopped at what would be the best of any place we had to pay to stay at which was the Best Western in Countryside, IL.

Maybe because it was a Hotel instead of a Motel now realizing there is huge difference.

We stopped in a White Castle for Sliders and Chicken Rings and went back to our room for a great nights sleep.

 

Wish I Was Back On Route 66

Revere Beach in foreground Boston in the haze.

Sitting here on my favorite beach I realized that there was a story to tell about about an uncle who took his nephew on his first road trip after a first year in a N.H. college.

My nephew is the oldest of four sibling who are the tightest I have ever known.

Unlike his father and I whom use to get one of my army boots flung at him when his snoring became too loud.

That was when I was trying to sleep but I was Batman he was Robbin when were not.

One of our daily adventures was a climb up the side of the building which was actually holding onto the railing to the upstairs bathroom where we would do our business then slide on our pillows downstairs before the toilet finished flushing.

Tyler told me he would be in Revere as soon as he dropped his brother and sisters off at school.

My wife who usually helps me get my stuff to my van on my other trips needed to be to work early and I was on my own.

I took the essentials out, laptop, GPS, camera and made room in the back of the van.


This is some of the stuff I think of as I reminisce over the trip, anything with Two or more Sixes in it.  This was a tough shot trying to get the Route 66 key chain at my favorite place to park on the beach

66+6 to me = Route 66

 

 

all in one focused shoot.

I contemplated taking my huge Boss suitcase down my front stairs but had visions of it rolling out of my hand onto Route 1A North which is in front of my stairway and driveway.

Eventually Tyler showed up. 

A late start  was better than not going at all.

We shot this short video before leaving.  You will have to hunt around to find it but it was fun shooting it.

This was Tyler's first trip on Route 66 my first trip with company.

We were officially on our way which I measured by the receipt from the Tobin Bridge at 1:49 PM on July 11, 2010.

LAST DAY TO PACK FOR THE ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP

They added the finishing touches on my Caravan repair which was a front end alignment after replacing the passenger side tie rod. 

Along with the purchase of a Verison MiFi and Nat King Cole's Greatest Hits we are finally ready to motor west.

Tyler and I will be on our way to Chicago early tomorrow morning hoping to literally write the book on traveling from Boston to LA by way of Route 66.

We are hoping to have YOU keep an eye on our progress as we journey across this wonderful country of ours.

Speaking of writing the book; could someone Please Kick me in the ass for paying $30.00 for a blank book/journal with a picture that I have a better more professional looking one of in my own collection of Cool Springs than the outdated one on the cover.  That is $10.00 more if you checked out the link and need help with the math like I did.

I don't want to mention where I bought the book but I guess YOU too could make a little profit as a struggling writer and help Amazon make a little on the side on the way to the top. 

I will take donations once I get the gadget set up on this blog.

Hopefully with Tyler's help as I teach him what I know it will be my training time as well.

I have to put all of my gadgets together today after my doctors appointment so YOU can see what works and what does not.

I'll have some links from FB, Twitter and Brazen Careerist and will be looking forward to YOUR input.

The Route 66 Road Trip With New Blood

What could be a better experience for a young man after his first year in college?

To get his "Kicks on Route 66".

I have to admit my nephew did not seem all that hyped up for this trip but believe it or not we are leaving a month before what we had previously planned.

We had two side trips that seemed to be an inconvenience in relation to our original plans and itinerary.

We have decided to save N.C. and NYC for last which fits in perfect for our way home.

If we are killing each other on the way back we can leave out NYC but N.C. is a relative related must do.

We'll be in Chicago on the 12th hoping to get a shot at the "End of Route 66" sign and a redo of the "Begin Route 66" sing hoping it will be without a decoration around or a better shot at the Sears Tower as a back drop.

I'll be taking the "EZ66 ROUTE 66 GUIDE" by Jerry McClanahan for some guidance along with my vast experience we should have a great Road trip.

The  "EZ66 ROUTE 66 GUIDE" is worth twice what I paid for it according to Amazon.com which I have no idea how to link to it being an amazon.com Associate so pardon me for not leaving a link.

There is stuff happening in June along Route 66 and we'll be participating.