California, here we come! That was a common cry for the OKies and the people displaced by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. And after WWII it became the motto for GI’s with new family’s that were chasing dreams. That was followed by the era of the family vacation, station wagons and trips to Disneyland.

California Here We Come

California figures prominently in the Route 66 story. The U.S. Highway 66 Association promoted Route 66 as the road to the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. California was the hope, the promise and dream of the mythical Joad family in The Grapes of Wrath. And it was the destination for Lucy, Desi, Fred and Ethyl as they motored west along U.S. 66 in several episodes of the popular television program I Love Lucy. 

So, in the era of Route 66 renaissance a new generation of traveler should be shouting, California here we come. But, surprisingly, aside from Santa Monica many enthusiasts skip Route 66 in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Why?

In Search of Answers

That was a focal point of the conversation with Scott Piotrowski, President of the California Historic Route 66 Association on the March 10, 2024 episode of Coffee With Jim, the podcast from Jim Hinckley’s America. It was an eye opening, road trip inspiring, and thought provoking discussion.

The program descriptor reads, “How do you explore, and survive, the Route 66 corridor in the Los Angeles metropolitan area? Will Route 66 in the Mojave Desert ever reopen? On today’s program we answer these questions and talk with Scott Piotrowski, President of the California Historic Route 66 Association, about a neon sign museum, exploring Route 66 via use of the light rail, ghost towns, the National Old Trails Road, and much, much more.”

Sharing America’s Story

Aside from promoting road trips, we share America’s story. And what is more American than road trips, Route 66, and a rich blending of cultural diversity? So, even though I have had discussions about Route 66 in California with Scott on numerous occassions, I was inspired by this program to see Route 66 in LA a bit differently.

I felt the stirring, the hunger for a road trip and some exploration as Scott talked with passion about Route 66 in the LA area. And the discussion about Mojave Desert ghost towns such as Daggett further fueled my passion for new Route 66 adventures.

I wrote about Daggett in Ghost Towns of Route 66. But since that time I have learned more about the town’s rich and colorful history. And Dries Bessels, a good friend that is with the Dutch Route 66 Association, recently gained access to long shuttered buildings, and provided picture. So, today’s podcast definitely provided incentive for another Route 66 adventure in California.

Sharing The Adventure

Jim Hinckley’s America was conceived as a shared adventure. That is our starting point for the podcast episodes, the YouTube channel videos, the books, and the presentations. So, your input is appreciated, and encouraged.

Are you enjoing the podcast episodes and the video series? What can we do to improve our programs and road trip inspiring outreach?