In the last installment I listed a few key items needed for the research stage of the adventure as well as the for the journey itself. Here are the books I use and carry:
1) The EZ 66 Guide for Travelers by Jerry McClanahan and the Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide. Both books are published by, and are available through, the National Historic Route 66 Federation –
2) Traveling …The New, Historic Route 66 of Illinois by John Weiss –
3) A current edition of the Rand McNally Atlas
I have also added the directory published by Dave Emerson. The latest edition was released several weeks ago.
Keep in mind that I am covering a large segment of the road at one time. Depending on your budget the Route 66 adventure may be a series of fun filled weekends. It is also important to rembember that Route 66 is an endless adventure and it is an ever changing adventure. So, don’t be discouraged. Do what you can as the budget allows.
As the time available for our trip is far less than ideal, and as this is in part a business trip, it will require a bit more planning than usual to get the most from the adventure. So, in addition to making advance plans for lodging, I am also making a list of possible extended stops from which one will be selected for each day.
With the mileage for the overall trip determined, I have evaluated a rough number of miles that will need to be covered each day. This also enabled me to determine that there would be a cost savings in a rental car over driving the tried and true Cherokee.
Now, with a rough idea of where each day would end, I set out to find suitable lodging within that area. To clarify, I am looking for a place that is clean, that is quiet, and that is reasonable in price. A second rule of thumb is to avoid modern chain motels if at all possible and to scour resources for available discounts.
As noted in the first installment, I locate these places through the above mentioned guides, the TripAdvisor website, and various social forum such as the Yahoo Route 66 E-group. You will quickly discover that Route 66 is truly unique as it is a linear community, the world’s longest small town with some very helpful and friendly folk.
At this stage of planning, about two weeks before we leave, I am finalizing motel reservations. Here is what I have so far:
1) The historic El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, $81.00. This is a special treat –
2) Chalet Inn, Groom, Texas, $49.95. As we want to be getting sunrise and early morning photos in Jericho and McLean and need photos of the illuminated cross at Groom, and as we will be the guest at a meet and greet at Bob Lile’s Gallery in Amarillo on the afternoon of the second day, this motel meets all of our needs –
3) Baxter Inn in Baxter Springs, Kansas, $49.00. This again meets several needs as they offer a microwave and refrigerator (more on the importance of this later) and we want to photograph the Kansas segment early in the morning.
4) Carlinvilla Motel in Carlinville, Illinois, $46.00, again with the all important refrigerator and microwave.
5) This is a secret, a little something special for my dearest friend. Details will be provided from the road.
6) I am looking at Pontiac, Illinois but this will be depend on several factors that are yet to be resolved.
7) On Friday and Saturday night we will be guests at the most delightful Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, ($55.00) truly a crown jewel on Route 66 today.
8) Howard Johnson on the west side of Oklahoma City, $69.00. We made this concession as we want to avoid morning traffic issues.
9) Monterey Non Smokers Motel in Albuquerque, $64.00.
In the next installment of this series I will layout options for cutting the cost of food as well as make a few suggestions in regard to some of our favorite places to dine.
