AND THE TREADMILL PICKS UP SPEED
Flowers peeking through a dusting of snow in the north country, and winds that wind the sand into a stinging fury in the southwest are indicators that spring is upon us. In my world an even more accurate indicator is the speed of the treadmill.
At this point it looks as though I will be moving through life at a dead run for the foreseeable future (a feeling enhanced by my choice of background music for this mornings work). Still, in all honesty I wouldn’t want it any other way as this means the season of road trip, friends, and adventures shared with fans of the double six and the road less traveled is upon me.
As I have the pending deadline for the Route 66 historic atlas looming on the not so distant horizon, the challenge will be to find a balance. The sense of responsibility that comes with age will be in a near constant struggle with the urge to run off and play hooky with friends at least until there is frost on the pumpkin.
Last evening it was a pleasant dinner at the Dambar shared with my dearest friend, and John and Judy Springs, the former publishers of 66 The Mother Road that provided a pleasurable distraction. On Saturday it is the 26th annual Route 66 Fun Run, a celebration of the American love affair with the automobile and iconic Route 66.
The event is a veritable cacophony of sight, sounds, and tastes that blend many of my favorite things – friends, vintage cars (and trucks), Route 66, and the majestic landscapes of western Arizona – into one amazing weekend. It will start in the morning as the cars roll into Kingman from Seligman.
Tomorrow evening it is dinner with Mike and Sharon Ward,and a pint or two with friends from the land down under. Then, on Sunday, as per request, I will be sharing a bit of the history from my corner of Route 66 with folks from the land down under.
There is also the self set goal of pushing the text for the new book to the 25,000 word count mark. Yesterday, the “to do” list grew by one project.
A few weeks ago I was the guest for an Alamogordo, New Mexico radio program, Otero Then & Now (April 9 podcast). Well, apparently I made an impression because the producer, Sunny Aris, has asked I create three program layouts for what may become a weekly radio program that will be available on podcast.
As the development of the video project, Jim Hinckley’s America, is on a temporary hold while the producer finishes a production about the restoration of the bus owned by legendary pioneering artist Von Dutch. Even though the delay has resulted in an overdose of frustration, it will provide an opportunity to develop the radio program.
An exciting aspect of the program is in the opportunities it presents for promoting Route 66, and the people as well as places that make it special. As an example, one of the program ideas is to promote the New Mexico Route 66 Motor Tour. This would allow for plugging the book signing in Albuquerque at Bookworks as well as places such as Motel Safari, Blue Swallow Motel, and Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post.
Needless to say, my over active imagination is kicking into high gear as I contemplate the possibilities. Of course that often happens if there is nothing planned for the day except for eager anticipation of sunrise.