After a goodbye dinner on the patio of La Pearla with my new Milwaukee friends, I picked up Mike Lightyear Sr.'s Jaguar, packed it with all my knick knack patty whacks and by dawn's early light, I was off on Route 66.
My first stop was in Chicago, IL, where I picked up my road trip buddy, Michelle. It was also where the Mother Road began. Cyrus Avery initiated Route 66 as a way to expand his oil business and by 1926, people began to travel west, in search of hopes, dreams, and the start of a new life.
Our first stop was in Chenoa, IL where we ate at a small mom and pop diner and then headed out to the small town of Divernon, just outside of Springfield. It was so weird to see such a small town exist. I really thought they were the creation of Hollywood folklore.
But, no. The library had about three thousand books total and the only "electronic store" in town featured a washer and dryer in the display window.
We stopped in St. Louis, MO for the night, saw the arch, walked down Laclede's Landing
and before heading out the next morning, we ate at Eat-Rite, an institution of Route 66.
The small diner only has 15 stools and if you ever get the chance to stop on in, it's well worth the wait. They cook with real old-fashioned butter. Cholesterol be damned!
Traveling down the old and winding route, Michelle and I saw the landmark Chains of Rocks Bridge, which once linked Illinois to Missouri, crossing the Mississippi River,
Jellystone Park, home of Yogi Bear,
and the Blue Whale Amusement Park.
Jellystone Park, home of Yogi Bear,
and the Blue Whale Amusement Park.
Built as an anniversary gift, the whale has two slides and the fin doubles as a high board to dive off of. It was the ultimate stop in Catoosa, OK during the 50's and 60's for families, while traveling west. 
Past Oklahoma City, we stopped at the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, OK and then the Sandhills Curiosity Shop,
where Michelle and I met Harley and Annabelle, two energetic, outgoing and inspirational old hippies, who met in 1986 and together they've run the curiosity shop in the small town of Erick, OK.
The entire shop is filled with antiques and Route 66 memorabilia from yesteryear, but not a single thing is for sale.
They live, solely based on the kindness of strangers from all around the world, who donate money to them, so they can continue living and entertaining people with their "redneck shtick". 
The two "Mediocre Music Makers" have even been the inspiration for Disney ImaginEARS, 
who are planning on designing a Cars theme land in Disney's California Adventure Park, using their shop as part of the queue.
who are planning on designing a Cars theme land in Disney's California Adventure Park, using their shop as part of the queue.
After making lifelong friends with the happy hippie couple, Michelle and I drove past The Leaning Tower of Texas
and the World's Largest Cross,
before staying the night in Tuccumcari, NM, a tiny six mile town that hasn't changed much since the golden days of Route 66. The Sahara Motel,
La Cita Taco Shop
and even the Blue Swallow Motel,
which inspired the Cozy Cone Motel in Cars, are still around. The owner, Bill, a retired electrician from Las Vegas
took over the motel when he saw it slowly fading away and restored it to it's original neon glory.
We stopped for lunch at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, NM,
once the hideaway for famous stars
who stayed while filming classic western movies.
Mid-afternoon, we arrived in Flagstaff, AZ to the Hotel Monte Vista,
enjoying a cocktail in the hotel lounge.
Scenes from the classic black and white film, Casablanca were actually filmed in the lounge and as Michelle and I sipped vodka martini's we couldn't help but say, "Play it again, Sam..."
once the hideaway for famous stars
who stayed while filming classic western movies.
Mid-afternoon, we arrived in Flagstaff, AZ to the Hotel Monte Vista,
enjoying a cocktail in the hotel lounge.
Scenes from the classic black and white film, Casablanca were actually filmed in the lounge and as Michelle and I sipped vodka martini's we couldn't help but say, "Play it again, Sam..."
Through picturesque Sedona
and metropolis Phoenix,
we made it to Tucson a little past midnight and right on Mother's Day. It was the absolute perfect present. The return of a prodigal son and a prodigal daughter, what mother wouldn't be estatic?
and metropolis Phoenix,
we made it to Tucson a little past midnight and right on Mother's Day. It was the absolute perfect present. The return of a prodigal son and a prodigal daughter, what mother wouldn't be estatic?
Two days later, Michelle and I were back on the road,
re-visiting new old friends and seeing other sites we missed along the way including the world famous, Cadillac Ranch,
The Big Texan Restaurant
and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.
Being on the road, I learned a few things about myself. I learned how to get a hotel room without using my ID or credit card (trust me, it can be done!) change a tire (first and last time!)
and I learned the warning signs for a tornado watch. That was a major one. Not being from tornado country, Michelle and I had no idea we were driving through a tornado warning, until the freeway looked like an above ground roaring river and people actually started to park under the overheads.
That was scary. But obviously, we made it out okay, or else I wouldn't be back home typing this blog post.
re-visiting new old friends and seeing other sites we missed along the way including the world famous, Cadillac Ranch,
The Big Texan Restaurant
and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.
Being on the road, I learned a few things about myself. I learned how to get a hotel room without using my ID or credit card (trust me, it can be done!) change a tire (first and last time!)
and I learned the warning signs for a tornado watch. That was a major one. Not being from tornado country, Michelle and I had no idea we were driving through a tornado warning, until the freeway looked like an above ground roaring river and people actually started to park under the overheads.
That was scary. But obviously, we made it out okay, or else I wouldn't be back home typing this blog post.
The great thing about being back home is that everyone and everything I left behind was waiting for me with open arms. Absolutely nothing has changed. The bad thing about being back home? Absolutely nothing has changed. It's like I never left.
There's a saying in French, je prévois de vous promener à pied sans but sans un plan, which means to walk around aimlessly without a plan, and I might be doing that for a while, to clear my head and let everything I've seen and done soak in, before starting the next chapter in my life. It's kinda nice not knowing my next move. And it's also nice to know, no matter how far away I may roam, I'll always be welcomed back home.
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