Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 was one of the original highways in America. Established on November 11, 1926, it winds for 2,448 miles (3,940 km) all the way from Chicago to LA.
Often called the 'Mother Road' and the 'Main Street of America', it's now been removed from the US Highway System, while many segments of the former route have since been preserved as 'Historic Route 66'.
There have been many events taking place across the country this year to commemorate it's 100th birthday. A recently Podcast: 'Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip' was broadcast with Sean Fletcher hosting different guests over the eight programmes. Brought to you by Visit The USA and produced by Telegraph Media Group, it had a commercial angle but that aside it explored the Route with stories of Music (naturally), Films, Outdoors, Food, Creativity and simply Riding the Road. Well worth having a look, if you have the time: (on YouTube).
Small towns feature as well as those places famously mentioned in the 'Get Your Kicks on Route 66' song. In fact I only recently found the original 1946 lyrics by Bobby Troup, included the small town of Joplin, Missouri, after going through St. Louis. Partly because the Rolling Stones version didn't included this line.
Other small towns of Pontiac, Cuba, Shamrock and Tucumcari are mentioned in the Podcasts along with landmarks like Roy's Cafe, the neon signs and vintage motels. While photographer David Schwartz had his photographs selected for the official USPS Route 66 Centennial stamps. These are great - see here.
And then we get to the music! Google 'All Time Best Road Songs' and this invariably comes up first. Immortalized in the 1969 movie 'Easy Rider', which includes a number of Route 66 locations, we're heading out on the highway with some heavy medal thunder looking for adventure on Steppenwolf's 'Born To Be Wild'.
For fans of the movie, here's a neat link to the 'Easy Rider Route' -
Now there's one for Tuesday
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