Well I just got back from vacation. It was sure nice to get away for a while. I like to travel the backroads. Through the small towns and scenic byways. We drove from California to Colorado Springs. We stoped over in Williams Az. along the way. Now Williams is located on whats left of the orginal Route 66. A small town about 60 miles south of the Grand Canyon. According to the town history, Williams is the last town to be bypassed by interstate 40. By the looks of things, not a lot has changed. It still looks alot like it did back in the early days. Lots of old buildings, shops and memorabilia. One old gas station was converted into a restaurant. One store had nothing but car stuff. Old signs, shirts, hats, mugs and banners. I got a few signs to tack up on the walls of my garage. As I was paying for my stuff the guy mentions that I must be a Ford fan. I said "yeah". He says, "well then, you'll want to take a look at that". Then he point outside to his partners car that just pulled up. A 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 with a factory 427. I mean this car is the kind I've only read about in the Ford magazines. He pops the hood and the engine bay looks as good as the rest of the car. Aluminum intake, heads, headers, 850 Holley, the works. 'Sigh', oh well. We walk down the street, past the old street lamps and brick buildings to the western gun fight they put on at the end of town. We eat at 'Rod's steak house' afterwards. This is one of the oldest steak houses still in business. I read the history on the establisment as our dinner is being prepared. I tell my wife my parents had traveled this road. Sitting there I imagine my folks comming out to California from Michigan back in the 50's. My dad talked about the trip he and my mother made in their Buick. Out running the state police 3 miles from the state line. I wonder, 'did they stop here? Perhaps they ate at this very place. I wonder what motel on main street they might have stayed'. Soon I'm lost in thought about what it was like back then. Traveling on a two lane road that carried tens of thousands of people from all over heading out west. Through farm lands, over mountain passes, over the long streaches of desert before comming into what is now the Los Angeles basin. The history behind these small forgoten towns along the way. The movie "The Grapes of Wrath" come to mind. My thought is interupted my the arrivel our meals.

The next day we head out. I guess most of the small towns along old route 66 are gone now, or just barely hanging on. But Williams is one that still survives. I'm sure there must be others that survive too. We stop there again on our way back. This time we stay at one of the old motels on main street. If your passing by one of these towns, stop and take a look. Relive a little bit of history of the earley travelers in their automobiles.

 

My wife and I were in Williams last year. We spent 2 days cruising around a few of the scenic stops out side of the town and took the train ride into the Grand Canyon. Pretty neat little town. There are some pretty areas to visit around there. They were secluded and there was almost no tourists around.

I could not believe how many old ford trucks I saw that were paint faded but in otherwise excellent condition. I must have seen 50 trucks from the 60's and 70's in every combination you could think of.

Stopped in a bar/restaurant called Poncho McGillicuddys one night for a little food and a few cold beverages. I saw this guy playing a guitar on a stool taking requests. He had a James Taylor/Crosby, Stills, Nash acoustic type sound. You would throw a song title out and he would sing/play it. Guy was really great. In between songs he'd tell ya a story about "when I was in San Fran in '68" type stuff. Never forget that guy....

 

DD, you're an excellent storyteller. Reading those words, I could see in my mind the town of Williams and feel that nostalgic tug at my heart. It sounds like you and I share a love of things from a simpler time. I too, try to take the road less travelled when the opportunity arises. There's a lot to be said for worrying less about how long it takes to get from point A to point B, and caring more about the richness of the journey. Being from the other side of the country I don't know that I will ever get to make the drive you did, but I sure would love to.

Ron

 

 

If you do a web search for route 66 mother road you will get tons of sites. There are also some good books. I have one I think called Route 66 the Mother Road by Michael Wallis. Has a lot of history and covers the road from its start in Illinois and to the end in Calif.

I have travelled teh stretch between LA and Albuquerque many times as a child to adult though the late 50s to 80s. My most vivid memory is of those giant Jack rabbit signs for hundreds of miles leading to Jack Rabbit Flats tourist stop.

Jim Henderson

 

Great story! For years, when I travel cross country, I get out the map, draw a line to where I'm going and take 2-lane roads all the way. It's a great way to see the country.
Dono