BEFORE YOU GO
We live our life somewhere between that of an Amish farmer and full fledged technofile. The rotary dial wall telephone that mirrored the one on Leave It To Beaver was replaced to celebrate New Years Eve of the year 2000, a CD player replaced the cassette player that http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=1968adventurer&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004NNUWSK&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrreplaced the eight track tape player in about 2005, a black and white television that met our family needs until about 1990 was my wife’s graduation present, and I still depended on a 6 volt electrical system and a generator in my daily transportation until somewhere around the year 2003.
So, it shouldn’t come as a real surprise to learn that I still enjoy my reading material to be of paper and ink. Anything else for a bathroom reader just doesn’t seem natural.
Even though the sale of magazines and books for electronic readers exceeded print editions for the first time in January of this year, I am a bit slow in embracing the new technologies. Fortunately, my publisher isn’t.
As a result, Ghost Towns of the Southwest is now available for the Kindle. Yesterday, I took the plunge, or would it be more appropriate to http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=1968adventurer&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0760338434&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrsay I tested the waters, by having the blog made available in that format. You can order the blog by following the link at the top of the page.
There is a new, fully digital on line Route 66 publication scheduled for a debut on May 1 of this year. In talking with the brainchild behind this endeavor, John Springs, I am quite convinced this will write a new chapter in the history of that legendary highway and introduce the world to the wide array of mom and pop shops along the road that make it so special.
As we are on the topic of Route 66, I would like to share some ideas about ways to enjoy the adventures only found on that highway in spite of rising gasoline prices. My suggestion is this, find a festival in your part of the country and join the fun.
For those in the western half of the United States, there is the annual Route 66 Fun Run. This three day block party on the longest remaining http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=1968adventurer&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0312281617&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifruninterrupted section of Route 66, more than 180 miles, celebrates Route 66 and the American love affair with the automobile in some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere.
Just how big is this festival? Well, this year an Australian tour company that specializes in Route 66 adventures has included the Fun Run in their spring package.
http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=1968adventurer&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0738580295&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrIf you happen to reside somewhere around the middle of he country it will be tough to beat the international Route 66 festival in Amarillo scheduled for a June 9th kick off. This will be big, very big.
The publisher has chosen to use this event as the stage to introduce my new book, Ghost Towns of Route 66. Michael Wallis, the celebrated author who lent his signature voice to that of the sheriff in the animated movie Cars and wrote Route 66 – The Mother Road, a cornerstone for the modern resurgent interest in that highway will also be in attendance. Other authors of note who will be there include Joe Sonderman, author of a number of Route 66 titles for Arcadia Publishing, and KathyWieser Alexander, the primary author of http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=1968adventurer&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=076033885X&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrGreetings from Route 66.
To say this will be the years premier Route 66 event would be an understatement. If your in the neighborhood this would be one to mark on the calendar in red.
There is also a New Mexico cruise organized by the New Mexico Route 66 Association this summer, the biggie in San Bernardino in September, and several in Illinois organized by the very active Illinois Route 66 Association. So, don’t let the high price of gas keep you from getting your kicks on Route 66 this year.
The next, and last, item on my list today is a bit removed from Route 66. I received this book for review from Veloce Publishing about a week ago and couldn’t wait to delve into it.
With the exception of the photograph quality, most likely the result of utilizing poor quality material, I found this book most interesting. However, it is not a light read nor is it really something the average “car guy” would find of interest.
With that said, if you have a deep curiosity about obscure automotive history, or find enjoyment in expanding your thinking process through seeing the world from a different perspective, Russian Motor Vehicles is definitely a book you need to add to the library. http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=1968adventurer&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1845843002&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr