Old Guys Route 66 Blog

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

2010-06-13T09:11:00.002-04:00

States visited - Fifteen…Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and California.

Cheapest fuel - most everywhere in Arkansas was less than $2.50/gallon. The cheapest we found was $2.34, although we think we saw a sign that was $2.12, but that might have been a dream!

Most expensive fuel - Needles, California was $3.79. We were already warned it was expensive in the middle of the desert, so we timed our fill-up so that we wouldn’t have to stop.

Average cost for fuel - less than $2.50/gallon. When planning the trip, we expected $3.00 or more. Even California was way less than $3/gallon.

Total cost for fuel - each of us spent about $1200 for fuel.

Nicest overnight accommodations - the Best Western in Hannibal, Missouri. Flat panel TV‘s, brand new bedding, and a really good hotel breakfast.

Best Route 66 Motel - The only one we stayed in was Munger Moss in Missouri. Very cool, but after that, we opted to stay in the more modern accommodations along I-40.

Average cost for the accommodations - About $65/night. We spent 23 nights in a hotel, for a total of about $1500.

Best hotel breakfast - Quality Inn in Barstow, California. We got a voucher for breakfast in the attached restaurant. It’s cooked to order, was a full breakfast, and was by far the best.

Best breakfast - Lilo’s Westside in Seligman, Arizona. Great menu, HUGE portions, and good folks.

Best dinner - Dambar in Kingman, Arizona. One of the rare times we sat down for dinner. The food was first-class, and the desserts, if it’s possible, were even better.

Best barbeque - Bad Brad’s in Yukon, Arizona, but only because it was our first taste of Texas-style brisket on the trip. Smoked, then thinly-sliced; you add the sauce. The beans had chunks of jalapeno’s in them…you’d better like it hot.

Worst barbeque - Not on this trip! We ate barbeque several times, and it was ALL good!

Most often eaten - Papa John’s pizza; thin crust, with all the meats. We had it delivered to the hotel when we were just too tired to go out, which was most evenings.

Worst meal - Baghdad Café on Route 66 in California. They didn’t have any carbonation, but gave us the sodas anyway…pure syrup. We ordered potato salad; they were out of it. The fish sandwich was about 1/3 the size of the bun it was on. They’re nice people, so visit them, buy a T-shirt, but DON’T order any food.

Food we missed most - White Castle’s. We were in the heart of White Castle country, and saw several of them, but due to the timing, we were never able to stop.

Coldest day - The morning temp is Flagstaff, Arizona was less than 40* for the two days we were there. Snow still covers the mountain peak’s.

Warmest day - the day we got back to Florida, and them temp was in the low 90’s. There’s definitely something to be said about the dry heat out west.

We fixed - Cecil’s water pump was barely leaking (maybe a thimbleful overnight), and probably would have been fine, but rather than be forced to do it on the side of the road, we swapped it out in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The shop fixed - Packard Bill’s transmission in Kingman, Arizona. ‘Nuff said about that.

Best cruise for the day - The trip from Flagstaff, Arizona to Sedona, then on to Jerome. It put the Tail of the Dragon to shame…big time!

The Rest Of The Trip Home

2010-06-12T20:34:00.000-04:00

Since the Hot Rod Power Tour was being held in Memphis on Thursday, then on to Mobile on Friday, some of the Power Tour vendors were staying at the same hotels we were. Comp Cams was there, as was the National Guard recruiter, and a couple others who were driving unmarked vans. We couldn't even get a lousy T-shirt out of any of them!

We headed south before 7:00 AM, and just after breakfast, Cecil and I dropped the tops for the 19th consecutive day without any rain.

The drive was uneventful, unless you counted a couple wrong turns we made somewhere in Georgia, which delayed our trip nearly an hour!

Bottom line...we stopped for fuel along I-10, and while Cecil and I grabbed a quick Arby's sandwich, Sonny motored east to Middleburg.

Cecil and I stopped at NPD, so he could check out a new steering wheel for the Mustang...the sun had taken the toll on the existing one. However, at $212, he decided a $5 genuine imitation leather wrap from AutoZone would have to suffice for now!

I spent the night at Cecil's, not wanting to drive another three hours home. We went out for dinner and a celebration cocktail, and before we knew it, it was midnight!

I left Cecil's at about 8:00 AM Friday morning, and was home well before noon.

I heard from Packard Bill, who stopped in Memphis for a day of the Power Tour. The show was on asphalt, and it was hot, so after four hours (and a couple T-shirts) he'd had enough, and went back to his hotel.

At about 3:00 AM Friday, he headed south, and was home in Englewood by mid-afternoon. A great trip, and everyone arrived home in the same car they left in!

Pelham, Alabama

2010-06-09T18:54:00.001-04:00

Today is the next-to-the-last day of the trip home. I’ll spend tomorrow night in Altamonte Springs, then have a short 210-mile ride home Friday morning.

If you’re traveling this area, there’s two places you really don’t want to spend the night…Memphis or Birmingham. Sure, there’s plenty to do in the evening, but it will all have been for naught when you have to deal with their rush hour traffic in the morning...sorta like Atlanta, but with fewer driving lanes.

So we opted for Pelham, with is far enough south of Birmingham not to put us in the bypass traffic, and just off I-65, which we’ll use to get back to Florida.

On the way, we went through Little Rock (didn’t stop at Sim’s for BBQ), Memphis (didn’t stop at Interstate or the Rendezvous for BBQ, but Packard Bill did), Tupelo, Jasper, Birmingham, and lotsa small towns with populations you could count on your fingers. There wasn’t even anything worthy of a photo.

This was another top down day for us, and again, no rain. In fact, except for days three and four, and a sprinkling the day before yesterday, there hasn’t been any rain at all!

Around Tupelo, it was time for a pit stop, and we exited, because there’s plenty of gas stations and lunch places. Bad news…they’re all about five miles from the exit, down into the heart of town. Good news…we ate lunch at the Steak Express, which has two choices for subs, either streak or chicken, two choices for rolls, either white or wheat, a dozen toppings to choose from, and fantastic fries (think Five Guys Burgers). It was VERY good, and very inexpensive.

The ride was uneventful, even with the highway construction around Memphis. It was all good until we got on the Birmingham bypass, right at rush hour. The speed limit is 50, traffic moves at 70, and if you’re trying to catch up, you’ve gotta do 80!

We had to do a brake test…twice. That’s when you’re going 70, and traffic suddenly stops for no good reason. It’s pretty much like driving I-95 in South Florida during rush hour, or doing the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Daytona.

So we’ve landed at the local Sleep Inn, which the Old Guys really like because they have stand-up showers, and not tubs. And the hotel happens to be right in the heart of the food district…decisions, decisions.

Fort Smith, Arkansas

2010-06-08T19:40:00.001-04:00

Today we covered some serious real estate. We left Arizona at first light, had breakfast in Texas, a snack in Oklahoma, and we’re about to have some dinner in Arkansas!

The morning started off cool, but quickly warmed up into the 90’s. Cecil and I opted to keep the tops down for the entire 600+ mile trip. We’re both fried!

Breakfast was at the Mid Point Café. We were there on the trip westward, but didn’t eat. The food was pretty good, the portions were good, and we agreed the price was more than fair, especially since Sonny got stuck with the bill this time!

Gas stations and rest stop’s are few and far between. I’ve got the shortest range…just over 200 miles, so coordinating our stops was near impossible, and to say the least, The Old Guys got a little testy on occasion.

We blew past all the towns and attractions we visited while traveling westbound…Winslow, Clinton, Tucumcari, The Texas Steakhouse, and lots more. Each time we passed one, it brought back memories of a couple weeks ago.

As we passed the Cadillac Ranch, we could see that the white background for the Florida Old Guys tagging was still there. We didn’t bother stopping to make sure, because we already know that most of the tagging only lasts a few days.

Northeastern Oklahoma is Indian Country, and the area is dotted with casinos. They’re just off the interstate, they’re Quonset hut small, they advertise the best payout anywhere, and they ALL seem to be busy!

We’re here in Fort Smith now, and Packard Bill will be splitting off in the morning, timing his ride through Memphis just in time to have lunch at the Rendezvous, a BBQ joint on Beale Street. In the next couple days, he’ll be joining up with the Hot Rod Power Tour, and finishing the last couple stops with them.

The rest of us have to make a decision. How are we gonna get home from here? There’s two choices…go to Memphis and go south, or go to Memphis, and go east. We’ll make that decision over dinner.

Santa Rosa, New Mexico

2010-06-07T23:09:00.000-04:00

Last night, dinner at the Dambar was delicious. The ribs were good, the steak was good, and the shrimp were good. The dessert made the dining experience at full ten!

Just before 6:00 this morning, we headed east about 85 miles to Seligman, where we would have breakfast at Westside Lilo’s, and do a little Route 66 shopping.

The temp in Kingman was in the low 70’s when we left, so we put the tops down. Well, once we climbed the mountains, the temp dropped to the high 40’s. Even turning on the heat, with full fan, didn’t warm the car any!

Sonny ordered a full order of sausage gravy and biscuits, same as he ordered the last time. And same as last time, he couldn’t finish it. You’d think he would have learned from the first time, but he said, What the hell, Cecil’s buyin’!“

It should be noted that a few of the Old Guys are sausage gravy and biscuit authorities, and they all agree that Westside Lilo serves the biggest and best ANYWHERE!

After breakfast and shopping, we continued east, under nice skies. We were making good time, as we climbed the mountain in Flagstaff (7500’ elevation), then worked our way back down it.

We stopped at the New Mexico/Arizona border, and did some shopping with the Indians. Their prices are the best anywhere, and they have a great selection, but no Route 66 stuff.

We passed by the Route 66 Casino (for the second time), but being pressed for time, we didn’t stop. Must be a popular spot…all three of their parking lots were full!

About the middle of the day, Cecil’s Mustang developed a fuel delivery problem…maybe vapor locking…a few times, the most recent being just east of Albuquerque.

We were ready to stop for fuel anyway, but there was none to be found, so we continued east. We stopped in Moriarity, but a lightning strike left them without power, and we continued on.

The next stop was Cline’s Corner, and the same story. And we heard that the power was out in Santa Rosa, too. We had to wait it out, since a couple of us really didn’t have enough fuel to make it much further.

About a half-hour later, power was restored, and the pumps were working again. We filled our tanks, made hotel reservations, and headed to Santa Rosa.

This hotel is right across the street from the one we stayed in as we traveled westward. And there’s a Dairy Queen right across the street. Right now, it’s ice cream time…more tomorrow.

The Pomona Swap Meet

2010-06-06T19:07:00.002-04:00

The Old Guys have heard nothing but good about the Pomona Swap Meet, so when we planned our Route 66 Cruise, we pretty much planned it around being in Pomona on a swap meet weekend.

This morning at about 5:30 AM (it was jacket weather), we loaded up our cars, and headed for the FairPlex, which is only a few miles away.

When we arrived, we saw that although traffic was backed up, the local police department was doing a good job of keeping it moving, and we were inside the complex in no time.

Most of the vendors were already in place, and the cars were streaming in. Quite a difference from yesterday morning, when there were just a few vendors, and almost no cars! But since the swap meet is open for thirty-six hours, there’s traffic in and out of there all day and night!

We parked in our prime parking spaces, and started walking the swap meet. It’s laid out neatly in rows, and very easy to navigate. And the selection is better than anywhere we’ve been!

Packard Bill was on a mission to find a metal sun visor for the Packard. The only one you occasionally see in Daytona only fits the old Chevy’s, and they’re too small.

We walked just three rows, found about 30 of them, and most would fit, but they were rather pricey. Then he hit the jackpot! A vendor who happened to be at the end of the row, and directly across from our cars, had one!

The seller told him to take it over to his car, and test-fit it. We did, and it fit. So Packard Bill went back to pay him…an amount he’d rather not disclose, Ms. Bill, but it WAS a good deal!

We walked some more, had some BBQ, bought out much of the Pomona Swap Meet T-shirt inventory, then walked a little more, and returned to our cars.

The sun finally broke through the smog (the locals call it fog), and the temperature quickly soared into the 80’s.

Since we had to cross the Mojave Desert again, we decided it was time to get on the road. We met up with Kim Cross, the PSM owner, and took some pictures with her. They plan to feature us again in their next newsletter.

If you haven’t crossed the desert before, words really can’t describe it. You climb a couple tall mountains, your engine begins to heat up, then as you descend, the temp comes back down.

Then you cross the desert, with temp‘s far in excess of 100*, and the engine temp comes up again. Now, you’ve gotta climb another mountain or two, and the engine temp’s continue to climb. They never came back down all the way into Kingman (only 100* here), where we’re spending the night.

Packard Bill went back to Jan’s house, and is making another adjustment to his exhaust system, because the transmission guys didn’t reinstall the mufflers properly.

While he’s there, he’ll give Jan the In Appreciation tin sign we found for him at the swap meet, which we’ve all signed.

Then we’ll be having dinner at the Dambar, a steak house very close to our hotel, and one that all the locals rave about. It’s about time the Old Guys had a decent meal!

We'll continue the blog, but I doubt we’ll be adding many more photos to the album, unless we come across something really unique, or one of us breaks down, or gets pulled over for speeding!

It has been a GREAT trip!

Pomona - Day Two

2010-06-05T21:28:00.000-04:00

First thing this morning, after a typical Choice Hotel breakfast of almost nothing, we headed west on I-10 for the Santa Monica Pier, and the official end of Route 66. Even at 7:00 AM, the dreaded freeway’s are already full of vehicles. About halfway there, we were passed at maybe 110 MPH by a Lamborghini!

We drove onto the pier, and were among the first to park. We later learned that nothing opens on the pier until 10:00 AM, and it was just 8:00.

We took some pics, had a couple taken of us, walked around the pier for a while, took a couple more pics under the Santa Monica Pier sign, then headed back towards the hotel. Now we’re driving like the LA pro’s, and we zipped back home in no time!

We decided to visit the NHRA Museum at the FairPlex, and since we passed it yesterday, we drove right to it today, without even asking directions!

The museum is awesome, with display’s from all the big-named racers of the past. And they’ve got a gift shop, which has the most NHRA memorabilia and other trinkets anywhere in the country. We tried, but couldn’t resist!

And it just happened to be the day of the 200 MPH Club, so we saw several old drag racer guys, although we didn’t recognize anyone.

Afterwards, we went to the swap meet, and met up with Kim Cross, one of the owners. She directed us to a trailer, where there were a couple hundred people already in line to register.

All the swap meet employees immediately knew who we were, since The Old Guys were featured in the Pomona Swap Meet newsletter about a week ago.

We were directed to the back door, where there was NO line. We found out that all four of us were already registered (not sure how they did THAT), and they provided us with complimentary swap meet passes (we saved $100).

Show car parking at this swap meet ain’t like the shows in Florida. For Sale cars are with the Show ‘N Shine cars, and all for one price…just $25.

One of the other employees led us to a four-car, roped off parking area, where we would be parking while we were at the swap meet. Not only is it in the front row, but on one side of us is the Pomona Swap Meet Classified’s gang, and on the other side is the local radio station, which does a live broadcast tomorrow.

And we’re parked right between two draft beer stations, and across from a margarita stand! I guess they know us pretty good!

The swap meet and show began early today, and is open around-the-clock until tomorrow afternoon. NOW we understand why it’s best to get there before 6:00 AM…there’s traffic coming and going for 36 straight hours, but the bulk of the crowd arrives early Sunday morning, and leaves just after Noon. We’ll be there first thing in the morning!

So we’re in the covered parking area of the hotel, wiping down our rides, when we hear a couple sirens getting closer to the hotel.

Wondering if the hotel was on fire, we walked out into the parking lot, and were treated to a car show of stuff you’ll never see in Florida! The club is the Viejitos, which for non Spanish folks, means Every Man.

Without getting into the details (all the pics are in the photo album), their rides are incredible, and they’re a most personable group! We spent a couple hours with them, before they headed for home. Do yourself a favor, and see the pics!

We’re going to call it a night early, so we can get to the swap meet early. And somewhere about noontime tomorrow, we’ll begin our trek back to Florida.

Pomona, California

2010-06-05T01:05:00.000-04:00

With less than 100 miles to travel today, we relaxed at the hotel this morning, had breakfast, did some car PM, and then headed south sometime after 10:00 AM.

The weather is still holding up nicely, and we haven’t had a drop of rain for the past sixteen days!

To get to Pomona, you have to drive the I-can-cut-you-off-better-than-the-other-guy freeway, and we got a sample of it this morning. But this is just a primer for the much bigger LA freeway system that we’ll be traveling tomorrow.

Once in Pomona, we found the swap meet, just so we would be able to find it without difficulty Sunday morning. We circled the entire FairPlex (and it’s nine square miles) before finding the right gate to enter. The vendors were already starting to set up, and from what we can already see, it’s gonna be huge!

We went to the hotel, checked in early, and then found the closest In-N-Out Burger, which we’ve been waiting the entire trip to sample. The burgers and fries were pretty good, and there’s no doubt we’ll be stopping there again before we leave Cali.

Of course, having In-N-Out Burger’s a couple times still doesn’t make up for us never stopping for White Castle’s on the entire trip!

Next stop was the So-Cal Speed Shop, where we were given a tour of the entire facility. They are a full-service shop, doing design work, fabricating, assembly, engines, body and paint work, and more! If you’re ever in Pomona, this is a place you’ll want to stop and visit!

This evening, we drove about 20 miles to Whittier, and attended a cruise in hosted by the American Streetrodders at Ruby’s Restaurant. We looked at a bunch of cool classics and street rods, then had dinner, and it was excellent!

We bought some 50/50 and raffle tickets, and at drawing time, they brought the Old Guys up to the main tent, and told the crowd of a couple hundred where we were from, and that we had cruised Route 66. We got a huge round of applause!

Not only that, but we also won a couple door prizes…a 77-piece tool set, and a tool caddy…as well as the $300 50/50! That’ll pay for a couple tankful’s of gas on the way home!

We’re back at the hotel, and it’s almost 10:00 our time, which is way past the Old Guy’s bedtime. Tomorrow, we end our Route 66 cruise at the Santa Monica Pier.

Barstow, California

2010-06-03T21:56:00.001-04:00

This is the sunset taken last evening, from the hotel. And best of all, it's to be our LAST sunset there!

Knowing we would spend the best part of today waiting for the transmission shop to have the Packard ready, Cecil made an appointment at the local tire shop for a front end alignment, a tire rotation, and wheel balancing.

We had a quick breakfast at the hotel, dropped Cecil’s Mustang off a half-hour early, and then took a tour of the local museum.

A half-hour into the tour, Tim from the shop called, and told Packard Bill that the Packard was ready!

Bill picked up his car, we all went to the hotel, loaded our cars, checked out of the hotel, went to Walmart for some supplies, gassed up, and went to the tire shop to check of the Mustang.

Well, about an hour-and-a-half went by since we dropped off the Mustang, and they hadn’t even started work on it! The guy who was supposed to be doing the work was busy BSing with his wife/girlfriend/baby’s momma/whatever she was.

Two hours later, they said his car was ready, but the tires should be balanced. Cecil had asked they be balanced when he dropped off the car.

They got right on it, in a speed that would make a turtle proud. An hour-plus later, they were finished, and we headed west on I-40.

Leaving the high desert, we crossed a couple mountains into Cali, where we drove the low desert for another hour or so. The temperature was more than 100*, the wind was blowing at more than 30 MPH, and that makes driving the convertible difficult.

There isn’t much of Route 66 left in California. But we did run the short section that took us to the Baghdad Café, and since it was time for us to eat, we did.

They’re nice people there, but that’s as far as it goes. We ordered sides of potato salad, and they were out. We ordered sodas, and the carbonation was out. The food we were finally served was fair at best, but the crowds continue to stop there by the busload…all foreigner’s!

We’re taking a break at the hotel, a really nice Quality Inn on Route 66. The modern hotels offer much more in the way of amenities than the older ones on Route 66, and with the exception of Munger Moss, we’ve chosen convenience and comfort over nostalgia every time!

Tomorrow, we’ll make it to the Santa Monica Pier, and that will conclude our cruise of Route 66...from the start of it, all the way to the end!

Kingman - Day Three

2010-06-02T18:22:00.001-04:00

We knew the Packard would be down today, and after an official Old Guys meeting, we decided to backtrack east to Seligman, and ride the piece of Route 66 we missed on the way to Kingman.

And it was a good thing we did! Seligman has several shops offering Route 66 and oldies memorabilia, and we checked them all out.

In one of the shop’s, Packard Bill saw a small wooden box sitting on the counter, with a ’FREE…TAKE ONE’ sign on it. He slowly opened it, and a huge black spider popped out!

So Packard Bill called Sonny over, and told him there was some free stuff in the box. Sonny likes free, and quickly opened the box. Sonny’s heart rate doubled, and he jumped back about five feet! Where’s the video camera when you need it!

We had breakfast at Lilo’s Westside, right across the street from the Road Kill Café. We were warned that the food is great, the portions are huge, and no trip to Lilo’s would be complete without a slice of carrot cake.

Well, the food was GREAT, the portions were HUGE (just ask Sonny, or see the photo above), and the slice of carrot cake slice, which weighed about a pound, was the best! Sonny was so full from his sausage gravy and biscuits (with hash browns) that he couldn’t even down a small taste, and the three of us, working hard, could only eat about 2/3 of it!

Later in the morning, Packard Bill got the word on his transmission. Bottom line is that it should be ready late tomorrow afternoon, and the cost has doubled!

We drove Route 66 for about 75 miles back to Kingman, and it was another great ride. Back at the hotel, we decided to catch up on our laundry. There’s no way any of could have brought enough clothes not to do laundry at least once! For obvious reasons, you won’t find any pictures of us doing our laundry, either. Since none of us brought a cashmere sweater, Packard Bill had no problem doing his laundry!

It’s the middle of the afternoon, and we’re gonna spend some time cleaning the cars. Being on the road for two weeks, and only cleaning the cars once just don’t get it…especially the engine compartments.

Kingman - Day Two

2010-06-01T21:36:00.002-04:00

After breakfast at Mr. D’s, we all went to the local transmission shop. This is a BIG shop, with several lifts, lots of employees, and a dozen-and-a-half cars and trucks waiting for service.

Tim, the shop owner, met Packard Bill, put the Packard ahead of all the others, road-tested it, and initially diagnosed it as governor failure. It’s fixable, but the transmission needs a thorough going-through, and may not be ready until Thursday or Friday.

So yeah, this constitutes a break down, but we’re not going to let it interfere with our trip. We originally planned to be in Kingman for two days, so Bill rode with Sonny, and we headed to Hoover Dam, about 70 miles from Kingman.

Overall, it’s impressive, and especially impressive as a construction marvel. And even more an engineering marvel is the new bridge being built over the dam. For the first time, we didn’t buy anything in the gift shop!

On the ride back, we stopped at a classic car lot, with well over 100 classics for sale. The bad news is the property is fenced, and locked. The reason is that the entire property, with cars, is abandoned, and for sale. You’ve gotta see the photo album when we get a high-speed opportunity to publish it.

Back in Kingman, we decided this would be a good opportunity to change our oil, and do some other minor PM. We called Jan Spradling again (NSRA), because he had already offered his garage to us.

Cecil and Sonny went to Walmart, and picked up 15 quarts of oil, and three filters. We did a quick stop for lunch, then it was off to Jan’s.

All we can say is WOW! A full-service garage next to his home, complete with an indoor lift. You’ve gotta see the photos of his place, too!

We did three quick oil changes, and some PM. Being able to work indoors is a big plus in this area, where the wind blows a steady 30 MPH or more.

Steve Early (http://www.woodywagon.com/) stopped by, and brought us some goodies, including frameable posters of the show that they host in early May, which draws more than 900 cars every year.

We talked cars and car trips, and quickly learned they subscribe to the Old Guys philosophy…it’s more about the journey than the destination.

Back at the motel, we expect to hear from Tim tomorrow morning, and we’ll make our plans, depending on what the status of the Packard is.

Kingman, Arizona

2010-05-31T23:12:00.002-04:00

Happy Memorial Day from the Old Guys…please take a moment, and remember why we celebrate the holiday. Thanks!

Another cold morning as we left Flagstaff. This time, it was too cold to put the tops down, as we headed south to Sedona, which is a yuppie (Cecil says they’re beatniks) town, full of pricey boutique shops, apparently established as a place for women to shop.

Traveling south from Flagstaff on Route 89A is truly a driving experience. We’ve driven the Tail Of The Dragon in Tennessee, which has more than 300 turns in the eleven-mile stretch of roadway.

The trip today is actually a drive through the canyon, and has more turns, they’re much sharper, and we were six or seven thousand feet up in the air. Oh yeah, there are NO guard rails to keep you from going over the edge! In comparison, the Tail rates a distant second to 89A South, and as we found out later, 89 North!

We arrived in Sedona just after 7:00 AM. We had breakfast at the only place that was open, and just like the rest of the shops, it was pricey, too. Breakfast for the four of us was just shy of $50, and it was Packard Bill’s turn to buy!

Cecil made the day for a couple kids that were in Sedona visiting with their parents, who were not beatniks. He let them sit in his Mustang, while the father…also not a beatnik…took some photos. We never asked the mother if he was a beatnik, but Cecil said she didn’t look like one.

Leaving Sedona, we traveled south for awhile, and then took Route 89 north into Jerome. It’s pretty much carved into the side of the mountain, and even the newest structure has got to be more than 100 years old!

We got onto the interstate, then quickly onto Route 66. Packard Bill was having trouble with his transmission…it wasn’t going into overdrive. It’s still drivable, but overdrive will eventually be needed, especially for the return trip home!

We stopped at the first gas station, and it turned out to be the full service variety, complete with a lift, although it was outside.

The owner let Bill use the lift, and he determined that it wasn’t the electrical connections. We decided we would drive straight to Kingman, which is a bigger town than the no-named one we were in.

At the hotel, we called Donnie from SERC, and he suggested a cable adjustment. That helped, but only slightly.

So we swapped cars, with Packard Bill driving Sonny’s truck, and Sonny riding with me. We stopped at Mr. D’s Diner, had lunch, then headed for Oatman, which is about 30 miles from the hotel.

It was another white-knuckle ride through the mountains, and about forty-five minutes later, we were in Oatman, being chased by the wild donkeys that roam the streets.

Oatman is a wild west-type town, with a population of just under 100, and it’s easy to see why! Cecil wondered where they kept the donkeys at night, and learned that they live in the hills, come down for the day (to be fed), then return to the hills at night.

We think they should let the donkeys have the town, and the residents, who are pretty much the shop keeper’s, should go into the hills at night!

After an hour-plus visit, we returned (using the same mountain route) to the hotel, and using our NSRA Fellows book, called the local contact. He recommended an auto trans shop just a few blocks from our hotel, which happens to be one that all the local street rod guys use.

So right now, it’s pool time. Packard Bill plans to be at the transmission shop first thing in the morning, and then we’ll know just how many days we might be spending in the booming metropolis of Kingman…population 29,000. FYI, we’re less than 350 miles from Santa Monica, and the end of Route 66!

Flagstaff - Day Two

2010-05-30T21:21:00.003-04:00

It was a little chilly in Flagstaff this morning…a whopping 28*, although it warmed up to about 40* when we headed for the Grand Canyon. That called for top’s down…plus layered clothing, and in Cecil’s case, a pair of gloves!

We drove the two-laner up to the Grand Canyon (great ride through the mountains), with a couple stops for trinkets along the way. For the first time on the trip, we saw gas selling for more than $3/gallon…$3.29, although we’re still paying less. The cars are still running well, in spite of the high elevation we‘ve been traveling through.

We went to the airport, and saw Packard Bill off on his $4.50 a minute helicopter ride over the Canyon. While he was flying, we were cleaning the cars, using our Car Choice Detail Products, of course (the Dry Wash is an exceptional product!).

Once he was safely back on the ground, we went into the Grand Canyon Park. Don’t visit there on a Sunday. Don’t EVER visit on the Sunday of a three-day weekend! We couldn’t find a parking space anywhere!

So The Old Guys, believer’s that it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission, parked on the side of the road (along with plenty of others), and walked over to the rim.

One work easily describes it…BREATHTAKING! From the edge, you can see that it goes on forever, and there’s no way we can even begin to describe the view. There’s lots of photos…nearly 150...to be published in today’s album. Look for them later this evening.

After about an hour, we headed out of the Park, and took the long way home. Another great ride up and down the mountains…lots of ear-popping as we continued to change elevations.

It’s not easy getting back to Flagstaff using a GPS. We’ve got three, and all three gave different directions. Well, sorta! The bottom line is that we DID find our way back to the hotel.

Stan Wilkins left a note on the car last night, so we called him this afternoon, and he and his almost-married daughter met us for a late lunch. We had a good time talking about old cars with a couple people that actually know something about them.

We’ve got another long ride tomorrow, as we take a roundabout route to Kingman. The day should begin about 40*, but as we head further west, the afternoon high will be in the upper 80’s. The local’s talk about it being hot, but say it’s a dry heat. Just what does dry heat mean? 88 degrees is 88 degrees, period!

Flagstaff, Arizona

2010-05-29T20:45:00.002-04:00

With plenty of time to kill before our short drive to Flagstaff, we decided to sleep in this morning. When we finally hit the road, our mission was to find THE corner.

Turns out it’s only a mile from our hotel, and we were there in just a few minutes. We were fortunate enough to meet Jim Conkle, the creator of the Route 66 Pulse publication. Jim has traveled Route 66 from start to finish more than 250 times, and is the undisputed Route 66 Guru.

Jim talks about Route 66 going through nine states. Well, there’s only eight states, we reminded him. He says that the ninth state is the State of Mind, and his positive attitude is typical of all those involved in the effort to keep Route 66 alive.

After some On The Corner photos, we headed towards the interstate. At a gas stop just outside Winslow, we saw Jack and Lorraine Gomulka. They’re also members of South East Rods & Customs (hi Donnie!), and were headed northwest to Washington. We chatted for a half-hour, then headed west ourselves. Small world!

We got back onto Route 66 east of Flagstaff, and traveled into the city. On the way…about two blocks before we saw it, Cecil smelled it…we stopped at Big John’s Texas Barbeque, and tried the smoked brisket. It was Texas-style all the way, and very tasty!

The weather continues to amaze us. Not a cloud in the sky, and the temperature is in the low 70’s. Tomorrow morning, it’ll be about 40*. Might even be too cold to put the tops down!

After lunch, we found the hotel, and checked in. The Old Guys have turned it up a notch…this ain’t the typical Old Guys motel we’re used to spending the night in! This Quality Inn resort has a spectacular view of the mountains, and not one eighteen-wheeler on the property! And we’ll be here for two nights, visiting the Grand Canyon tomorrow.

Actually, Packard Bill has reserved a helicopter flight over the canyon for tomorrow morning. Right now, the other Old Guys are trying to find a life insurance agent who works on Saturday.

Winslow, Arizona

2010-05-28T20:31:00.001-04:00

Last night, we began firming up our plans through the weekend. This evening, we would stay at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, then a couple days in Williams, where we would visit the Grand Canyon, and take a drive through the mini-canyon.

So Packard Bill called the Wigwam, just to make sure they had a few rooms available. Uh oh, it’s Memorial Day weekend, and all sixteen of the teepee’s are already booked. Okay, we’ll go to Winslow, so we can stand on the corner.

Then we looked for a hotel in Williams. We checked dozens of hotels, and expanded our search for fifty miles…nothing to be found anywhere!

We panicked, then finally found a hotel in Kingman that had rooms, and they’re way overpriced, but it sure beats sleeping in the bed of Sonny’s truck!

Then we headed out to take some photos of the neon. That was a disaster! It’s difficult enough getting the camera settings right, but add to it that we took the photos from two moving vehicles!

This morning, it was breakfast at Earl’s, which also came highly recommended. It was good, but far from great.

Then we continued west, stopping for fuel for just $2.42/gallon. We know the price will start going up quickly as we travel further west.

Just before we crossed into Arizona, we stopped at an Indian trinket shop. Packard Bill bought blankets for just $5 each (purple, naturally, and we’ve seen them for $15 in other places). Cecil also made a purchase. I think, at least shopping-wise, we’re becoming just like the women in our lives!

We drove through the Painted Desert (awesome!), and the Petrified Forest (also very cool!), and took tons of photos. We took the two-laner to Holbrook, and visited the Wigwam Motel. Since we couldn’t stay there, we took some pictures.

Then we stopped for lunch at Bubba’s Big Pig Bar-Ba-Que (yep…that’s how HE spells it). It was just another BBQ joint (with no A/C), and it was decent.

Weather wise, it was another perfect day, starting out in the mid-50’s, and sunny all day long. The low tomorrow morning in Winslow will be just about 40*!

We made it to Winslow early, and Sonny and I did laundry. Then I was treated to a huge slice of birthday cake, along with a few humorous cards…very thoughtful of the Old Guys, or were they just ragging on me because it’s my 65th!

And yes, we went outside, and stood on the corner, just like the Eagle’s song says! But we don’t know which corner we should have been standing on.

Gallup, New Mexico

2010-05-27T19:31:00.002-04:00

Last evening, we found our what NY pizza with a New Mexico flair is. We ordered a large, eight slice pizza, and when it arrived at the hotel, all eight slices were stacked on top of each other!

They were all stuck together, and there was no way we could have eaten it. It was obvious to us that the delivery guy had dropped it. Cecil took it back, and they made us a new one!

The Old Guys Cruise was featured in the Pomona Swap Meet Newsletter. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see the article unless you’ve already signed up for their newsletter. To say the least, it was flattering.

First thing this morning, we had breakfast at the hotel, made plans for the day, and went to the car wash. Even Packard Bill washed his car, and we’ve got the picture to prove it!

We stopped at another trinket shop, Joseph’s Restaurant, and made our daily purchases.

Then, as long as we were in Santa Rosa, we stopped at the Route 66 Classic Car Museum. This place must be for people that have never seen classic cars before, because they have more than 30 on display, and they charge $5 too see them!

There were four engines on display in the gift shop, and we took a moment to look at them, but the Old Guys go to car show’s and cruise in’s all the time, and see hundreds of classic cars for nothing, so we passed on the museum tour.

There’s little left of Route 66 between Santa Rosa and Gallup, so we decided to take to the interstate, and head west.

We stopped in Cline’s Corners, just blew through Albuquerque, stopped in Grants for lunch, took a side trip through El Morro, and arrived in Gallup about 3:00 local time.

First stop on our list was the El Ranchero Hotel/Motel, which is on Route 66, and came highly recommended. It didn’t quite meet the Old Guys’ standards, and y’all know we don’t ask for much!

We tried a Comfort Inn, but Sonny didn’t like the pool, so we headed back, and finally landed in the Quality Inn, which we paid dearly for!

We crossed a couple mountains, and now we’re in the dessert. The elevation here is about 6500’ feet, but we’ve been as high as 7900’, and our carburetors were only slightly affected.

If it weren't for the approval from our wives and SO's, we wouldn't be making this trip, so a big thanks to Carol, Sheryl, Sharon, and whoever Cecil is doing these days!

We’ll be doing some Route 66 neon shots this evening after dark. And tomorrow evening, if Packard Bill has his way, we’ll be sleeping in a wigwam!

Santa Rosa, New Mexico

2010-05-26T20:46:00.002-04:00

With plenty of time to do the relatively short drive to Santa Rosa, we didn’t rush to get on the road this morning. In fact, Packard Bill had enough time to go shopping at Walmart before we left.

Our first stop was the Cadillac Ranch…just a few miles down Route 66, where we waded through some of Texas’ worst mud just to get to the cars. Packard Bill brought a couple rattle paint cans…white and purple…and he waded even further into the mud to get to the Cadillac’s. And he DID tag a couple with FLA OLD GUYS, so we’ve left our mark in Amarillo!

As we were leaving, he remembered that he left his favorite Route 66 coffee mug at the hotel. So in order to retrieve it, he drove and extra five or six miles today.

A few miles further down Route 66, we stopped for breakfast. Cecil and I had breakfast burrito’s, and Sonny and Packard Bill had sausage and biscuits. Not a great meal.

Continuing on, we stopped at the Mid Point Café, which is exactly halfway between Chicago and Los Angeles. And more trinkets, of course. Packard Bill also tagged the Mid Point pickup truck with one of the Old Guys Route 66 Cruise decals.

The Mid Point people refuse to accept that the end of Route 66 is actually Santa Monica, probably because they’d have to change all their signs, and move the café west about fifteen miles.

We crossed into New Mexico, and set our watches back another hour.

We drove through Tucumcari, and stopped at Del’s Restaurant for lunch. Again, not a great meal. We’re batting 0 for 2 in the food department today!

We visited Tepee Curios, a place that sells Route 66 trinkets, but most their stock looked like it had already been used! If you see it, don’t feel bad about passing it by.

Agreeing that it’s kinda neat to stay in the old motels along Route 66, we stopped at the Blue Swallow Motel (don'tlet their website fool ya), but then voted 3-1 NOT to stay there. Although it received good reviews from others, it was pretty rustic (that’s about as nice as we can be) looking, and made the Munger Moss (from a few nights ago) look like a five-star Hilton!

Continuing on, we found a relatively new Comfort Suites on Route 66 in Santa Rosa, and immediately booked our rooms.

The cars are filthy, and desperately need a bath…including the Packard. We’ll take care of that first thing in the morning, right after we visit the Route 66 Auto Museum, which is just a half-mile from the hotel.

The elevation here is 4000’ plus, and we’re continuing to climb. We may need to do some carb tuning soon. The Prairie Dogs have been replaced with tumbleweeds and mesa’s. It’s a part of the country we’ve not visited before, and it’s really neat seeing it at less than 50 MPH!

Tonight will probably be a pizza night, and as the desk clerk told us, there’s only two choices in Santa Rosa…Diego’s or Diego‘s. Diego’s bills itself as a NY style pizza with a New Mexico flair. Later, we’ll find out just what the hell that means!

Amarillo, Texas

2010-05-25T22:17:00.002-04:00

For the past couple days, we’ve been driving right through the heart of Tornado Alley, and we’ve been spared. Very windy all day long, but little rain, even in the evening. We’ll be clear of it all before lunch tomorrow.

When we started out this morning, it was drizzling, but the rain only lasted a half-hour. We arrived at the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City at 7:30 AM, and too early to visit, so we asked one of the local‘s, who sent us to a really good breakfast place.

After breakfast, we went back at the museum just as they were opening. This museum is set up like a small town, with several buildings, and is by far the best display of memorabilia we’ve seen so far.

Of course, as we’ve done every day, we purchased more Route 66 stuff that we just had to have.
The weather had cleared enough so that Cecil and I could put our top’s down. The temperature was in the low 60’s, so it was almost jacket weather. We sorta toughed it out…with the heat on.

We stuck to Route 66 most of the way, and as today’s Point Man, I managed to take us on another Farm Tour, which translated (in case you haven‘t figure it out), means we got lost, and went way the hell out of our way!

We got back on track, stopped occasionally to take some photos, and even visited the Devil’s Rope Museum. Can you imagine a place devoted to barbed wire? Nah, neither could we!

When we arrived in Amarillo, our first stop was the Big Texas Steak Ranch, a famous steak house that’s lots more hype than anything else…the food is way over-priced. They DO have a gift shop, and since the Old Guys can never have too much stuff, we bought some more!

We had lunch at Beans-N-Things, which is a kinda dumpy place is East Amarillo. It isn’t a place you’d come upon by accident, and Packard Bill had already researched it.

He was totally right! He had some pulled pork, and said it was the most tender pork he’s ever eaten! The rest of us had barbequed sausage sandwiches, and they were delicious. And for you heat enthusiasts, the jalapeno’s were fresh, and were in a homemade marinade!

Bob Fields, the owner, recommended we stay in West Amarillo, well away from downtown traffic congestion, and told us of a Comfort Suites not far away.

We found it with no problem (ten miles away, but on the same street as the restaurant…no turns to make). It’s brand new, and new is always good, especially regarding overnight accommodations. But don’t worry…Packard Bill says we’ll make up for it tomorrow night!

We’ll take it easy this evening, and our first stop tomorrow morning will be the Cadillac Ranch. Or breakfast, since Bob’s (from Beans-N-Things) wife makes the homemade sausages at BBQ Shack #2 (another place they own) just a few miles from the ranch.

We’re sittin’ in the room, looking out the window, and watching the Prairie Dog’s romp around the field. Or maybe they’re Jackalope’s. We don’t know, and we really don’t care.

We’re already thinking ahead about trying to find a car show over the Memorial Day weekend. The only problem is, with our frequent changes of plans, we don’t have any idea where we’ll be!

Clinton, Oklahoma

2010-05-24T22:31:00.000-04:00

Getting back onto Route 66 from the hotel was a challenge, and after a couple wrong turns, we finally made it, and headed west.

We made several stops along the way, and saw lots more places we should have stopped, but we've already learned that to stop and see EVERYTHING along Route 66 would take months, and we're limited to weeks.

And that's pretty much why we didn't visit the Packard Museum this morning. That, and we finally found out it was 155 miles back east, and even though Packard Bill wasn't too happy, we're NOT doing any more backtracking!

We did stop in a few small towns (they're ALL small), and we did take some photos. We were able to spend most of today's drive on the two-laner's, and that's always a plus for us.

We visited the Round Barn, and of course, picked up a few more trinkets. Wherever we stop, we seem to draw a crowd.

And just a quarter-mile from the barn was Pop's, a brand-new place with more than six hundred varieties of soda.

We got in our daily dose of Packard Bill's Farm Tour, and if you want to know what a Farm Tour is, be sure to ask him.

We had lunch at Bad Brad's BBQ in Yukon...we all had brisket, and it was delicious. They have several locations in Oklahoma, and if one happens to be on our way, we'll surely stop again.

Once in Clinton, we toured the Route 66 Museum, and watched a twenty-minute Route 66 documentary...very well done. Yep, more shirts, and other stuff we just had to have!

We don't have any more hotel reservations made, and there was a motel across from the Museum. The staff there told us not to bother with that place, and we went in search of another place to spend the night. That took a lot longer than we planned, but we finally landed at the Days Inn, and it's acceptable. Oh yeah, and its got a lounge.

With only a couple hundred miles to travel, we expected to roll into Clinton by 2:00 PM, but that didn't happen, and it became another 11 hour day.

Tomorrow, we're heading for Amarillo. It's only a couple hundred miles. We're already wondering how long THAT trip will take us!

Tulsa, Oklahoma

2010-05-23T21:54:00.002-04:00

During breakfast, we discussed backtracking about 50 miles, and visiting Devil's Elbow, which we missed on the trip westward. A couple guys at the next table said it was worth the ride, so we went back. Two words will describe the visit...don't bother...unless you're into a couple tree branches alongside the river.

However, the Elbow Inn was another story. Packard Bill and I walked down to the river, and on the way back, noticed that one of the 10" square main support column's appeared to be within days of giving out. When it does, the entire building will collapse. From what we could tell, he and I were the only two that were the least bit concerned.

Traveling on, we came upon an old time gas station and garage that we just had to see. As it turned out, Gary, the owner, spent well over an hour with us, and we learned more about Route 66 than we really needed to know.

We're quickly learning that THIS is what our Route 66 trip is all about...the bond created between those that live there, and those that are just traveling through, like us.

We spent most of the day on Route 66, which is at best, just two lanes. That old, rarely-improved road sure beats driving on the interstate!

We made lots of stops in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, all in places where we don't even remember the names. We occasionally took some pictures, but we've visited lots more places than we've documented.

Our hotel in Tulsa (a Quality Suites) is just a block from the Town Pump, a little bar we visited on the 2004 Hot Rod Power Tour. If you're looking for us tonight, that's where we'll be.

We've finally found the time to start the photo album, and have posted our photos from the start, through Hannibal. We'll post more in the next couple days.

We're having a great time, and highly recommend the trip to anyone that has the time to do it! We've already learned two things...it's gonna take more time than you planned, and it's gonna probably cost more!

And after our eleven-hour day today, we're looking for an easy day tomorrow.

Lebanon, Missouri

2010-05-22T21:30:00.001-04:00

After two days of steady rain, we just had to wash the cars...except Packard Bill, of course! But while we cleaned our cars at 7:30 this morning, he spent time adjusting the tension on his A/C belt, which was no easy task.

At 9:30 this morning, which happens to be the latest the Old Guys have ever launched, we headed south on scenic Route 79, which took us alongside the Mississippi River, but found the road washed out about 20 miles south. After a longggg detour, which happened to be on some of the best two-laner's we've ever driven, we caught up with Route 79 again, then stopped for lunch.

I called Ron and Donna (1970 Cougar XR7), and we met up with them in St. Clair, chatted for about a half-hour, then continued south to Lebanon.

We're staying in the Munger Moss Motel...a place right out of the 60's, owned by a really nice couple, Bob and Ramona, that took plenty of time telling us the history of Route 66, and how they came to own the motel. If you're traveling Route 66, you definitely want to stay here!

We're a couple thousand miles out of Florida, and we've been paying at least a quarter a gallon less for gas everywhere we've stopped, and that includes the gas we bought just south of Chicago.

Tomorrow, there's a change of plans. We're skipping Branson...they don't do any shows on Sunday...and going directly to Tulsa. Plus, the day we've gained can now be spent in Los Angeles, where we'll try and visit Chip Foose, along with a couple others.

And right now, the Old Guys are both tired and hungry. We'll take care of the hungry part from Papa John's. The tired part we'll deal with later. Tune in tomorrow for more.

Hannibal, Missouri

2010-05-21T18:45:00.000-04:00

We woke up to rain...no suprise there...and at 6:00 AM, we headed north to Chicago. Having never driven to the city before, we were concerned, but we made it without a wrong turn.

We stopped for a couple pics in front of Soldier's Field, and the museum across the street. Even at 6:30, traffic was bumper-to-bumper, and there's no stopping in front of the starting location of Route 66.

But Lt. Dave Blanco of the Chicago PD saved the day. He assigned a couple officers to make sure we got the photo's we needed. So it was no problem stopping on Chicago's bussiest street during rush hour, and getting shots we wanted. Bad news...we couldn't find the official beginning sign, but we know it's at Michigan and Adams.

After taking our photos, the Chicago PD gave us an escort to I-55, to make sure we didn't get stuck in ttraffic.

About 30 miles out of Chicago, I managed to hit a major obstruction in the roadway, and did some major damage to my front spoiler. Guess I'll be calling Don Rush when I get back.

We got onto Route 66, and visited towns like Dwight (see the photo) and Cordell, plus lots more that are so small that they don't even have names!

We stopped at Cozy Dog in Springfield, had a hot dog lunch, and bought a couple Route 66 memento's.

The rain finally stopped, so we put the tops down. The rain started shortly thereafter, so we put the tops up. Is the sun ever gonna shine in this part of the country?

As the rain stopped, we arrived in Hannibal. Our hotel has a view of the Mississippi River. So does the local sports bar. Guess where we'll be this evening!

Hammond, Indiana

2010-05-20T21:18:00.002-04:00

For the two days of really nice weather Tuesday and Wednesday, we paid the price today...raining from the time we left Memphis, until about eleven hours later, when we arrived in Hammond. And it's STILL raining!

Needless to say, there's only a couple pics, and a short video or two, but even they got rained out!

But we DID find a Cracker Barrel for breakfast, and I DID walk outa there with a couple Skybar's. And if you've gotta ask what a Skybar is, you're way too young to be an Old Guy!

In the future, Illinois needs to coordinate their highway repairs with the Old Guys. There were way too many slowdowns and stops along I-57!

After driving through the entire 'hood in Hammond, we found the hotel, and checked in. It's gonna be an easy trip north into downtown Chicago tomorrow morning, even with the rush hour traffic.

We took a ride over to Johnsen's Blue Top Drive In (thanks to whomever on MCN that told us to check it out), and we all had the Deluxe Big Ben Burger. They're better than a half-pound, and come with fries, and dessert. It's safe to say that in the past few days, we've all gained a couple pounds!

The weather. Aside from the rain, it was just 60*, and windy! Not good when you're wearing T-shirts, short britches, and flip flops! And the seven of you who thought one of us would break down before Chicago...you're wrong!

Early tomorrow morning, we'll be at the official starting location of Route 66, where we'll take some pics, then head west. Be sure to check out tomorrow's blog!

Memphis, Tennessee

2010-05-19T20:47:00.001-04:00

With a long day ahead of us, we had a donut (or two) at the hotel, then at 6:30 this morning, we headed north. It would be a treat for the Old Guys, since about a third of the trip would be on the two-laner's, at about 45-50 MPH.

It was a chilly start, especially with the top down, but it warmed up quickly. We managed to catch nearly every red light along the way, so it was slow going.

Knowing that we would be feasting on barbeque in the evening, we had an early lunch at the local Sonic Drive In in some no-name city.

After a few gas stops (about $2.55 for regular), we were in Olive Branch, Mississippi, where we're spending the night. Another perfect day both mechanical and weather wise!

About 5:30, we drove into Memphis, to have the BBQ Buffet at Leonard's Pit Barbeque. We weren't disappointed. Pulled pork, fried chicken, brisket, catfish, plus all the side dishes, salads, and dessert! We sampled it all...lots of it twice, or in Sonny's case, three times!

We've rated it a five, which is the best rating the Old Guys give the BBQ joints we visit. You should check out Leonard's website, and view the buffet menu...especially the weekend menu!

Back at the hotel, we'll have a couple cold ones, make plans for tomorrow (an even longer drive than today), and call it a night early.

Photos will be coming soon. We've only taken a few for the past couple days, and will start the album in the next couple days.

Marianna, Florida

2010-05-18T19:49:00.003-04:00

First thing this morning, the FOUR of us had breakfast at the local greasy spoon. Good food, and it deserves to be featured on the Diner's, Drive In's and Dives TV show...as a DIVE, of course!

After breakfast, the FOUR of us headed north on I-75, stopping at National Parts Depot in Ocala for some odds-and-ends stuff we really didn't need.

Then the FOUR of us continued northbound, until Sonny turned off on Route 301, and headed east. Where was he going? Home, of course. Would he join us later in Marianna? Well, he wouldn't say, and as of now, he hasn't arrived.

WE arrived just before check in time, but only because we crossed into another time zone; an hour earlier. We'll do that again before we reach California.

We went to the local coin-operated car wash, and pressure cleaned a heavy coating of love bugs off our cars. And on the trip to and from, we were on the lookout for a dinner spot. Packard Bill spotted a Firehouse Subs, which is one of the Old Guys favorites.

Back at the hotel, Packard Bill and Cecil frolicked in the pool, while I tried connecting our web cam. Not much success there!

After dinner, we decided to walk off the 1500 calorie sandwich by touring the local Walmart. We were doing good until we found the snack aisle!

So all in all, and uneventful day. The weather was perfect (although it's raining now), gas was less than $2.75 a gallon, and none of us got a speeding ticket, although a couple trooper's we passed missed their chance!

For whomever voted that one of us would break down before we got to Marianna, well, YOU were wrong! No issues whatsoever on the first day of the trip!

And tomorrow, after a long drive, it's BBQ day in Memphis.

8:20 PM CST Update...Sonny has arrived...we're back to FOUR!

Tomorrow We Launch!

2010-05-17T19:38:00.000-04:00

We gathered at Ceil's in Altamonte Springs, because he's central to all of us, and it shaves a few hours off the drive time for a couple of us who live south.

While Sonny, Cecil and I dined on hot dogs and pizza, Packard Bill was out in Land 'O Lakes, chowing down on Hungry Harry's excellent BBQ.

We did a couple last-minute fixes...a tranny shim, a horn-not-working diagnosis, tightening a gauge...the kind of stuff the Old Guys usually end up fixing on the side of the road!

And for the rest of the evening, we'll have our first drivers' meeting, watch the latest episode of 24 (it's a shame this is the last season), and end the evening early, so we can get outa here right after breakfast tomorrow morning.

Although Packard Bill and I drove 200+ miles to get here, we're not counting our mileage...yet. The mileage (and the trip) officially begin tomorrow.

Will there be three or four of us on the trip? We just asked Sonny (for the tenth time), and he's STILL on the bubble. I guess we'll know for certain later tomorrow.

Here's Our Plan

2010-05-15T08:28:00.003-04:00

We've received a couple e-mails asking about the route we plan to take.

Well, once we leave Chicago, we really don't have one. We're gonna travel as much of Route 66 as possible. We've decided where we want to be at the end of each day, but that's about it.

We DO know when we'll be in Chicago to start the trip, and the only other for sure's, as far as hotel reservations go, are Hannibal, Branson, Tulsa, Santa Monica, and Pomona.

So here's the Old Guys event's calendar. It'll show you where we plan to be each day. Just click on the Route 66 red tags:

Old Guys REALLY Do Rule!

2010-05-12T14:52:00.002-04:00

Okay, so we're not the originators of the Old Guys Rule shirts and caps you see everyone wearing. But we ARE the Florida Old Guys, and we've been wearing their stuff since before it was fashionable!

They maintain a very cool website, with a photo gallery, and a blog. So when I contacted Thom Hill, the president of the company, I did so to let him know that he was free to grab anything from our blog that he could use on his website.

In return, Thom sent us a care package, full of Old Guys T-shirts, ball caps, and decals. And as you look at the photo album every day, I guarantee you'll see Old Guys shirts in most of the photos.

If you're even close to being an Old Guy, be sure and visit the Old Guys Rule website. And if you're not old enough to be considered an Old Guy, think about visiting them anyway...any one of their products would make an excellent Father's Day gift!

Thanks again, Thom.

Thank You, Kim!

2010-05-06T08:02:00.001-04:00

When we planned our Route 66 trip, we planned it around attending the world-famous Pomona Swap Meet when we got to California.

Our plan is to arrive in Santa Monica Friday (June 5th) afternoon, take some pics, then head east about 45 miles to Pomona, where we'll spend a couple days.

Friday evening, we'll visit a cruise in in Whittier (about 20 miles from Pomona), Saturday we'll spend some time at the NHRA Museum, and Sunday, we'll enjoy a few hours at the swap meet before heading east on our journey back to Florida.

On the Pomona Swap Meet website, they encourage you to be there between three and five in the morning. That's wayyyy too early for the Old Guys, so we sent them an e-mail, explaining we were on a tight schedule, and asked, among other things, if we REALLY had to be there that early.

We heard back from Kim Cross, who addressed all our concerns, then provided us with VIP admissions. They also linked their blog to ours, so that their viewers will be able to follow along with us on our trip.

We're excited about our visit to the swap meet, and we're looking forward to meeting Kim and the gang in Pomona!

Thank You, Dino!

2010-05-01T06:53:00.006-04:00

When Dino Pellegrene, the Director of Interent Sales for Car Choice Detail Products, learned we were about ot launch our trip across Route 66, he wanted to make certain our cars were spotless for the entire trip.

Knowing that we would have limited time to keep the cars clean, he sent us a care package of cleaning supplies, including a dry wash, so we wouldn't have to spend our time looking for coin-operated facilities.

But wait, there's more! A couple bottles of glass cleaner, with a Rain X-type product built in, so that every time you clean your windshield, you protect it.

And several bottles of detailer, which will ensure that our cars shine (well, except for the Packard) throughout the entire trip. And a couple bottles of Pure Scent, so we won't be smelling our dirty laundry that will accumulate in the trunk!

And even a handful of micro fiber towels, which in my opinion, are the ONLY towels to use when detailing your car.

So we want to thank Dino and the rest of the Car Choice Detail Products folks...we DO appreciate it! You can visit Car Choice Detail Products, and if you place an order, be sure to enter promo code dino10...you'll save 10%.

If you want to contact Dino, e-mail him at dino@carchoicedetail.com, or call him at (813) 784-4882.

One Month...And Counting!

2010-04-20T08:25:00.001-04:00

Just after last year’s Hot Rod Power Tour, the Old Guys decided to fulfill another of our Bucket List items…a cruise along Route 66.

We initially planned to go to Springfield, Illinois for the Route 66 Festival in the fall of 2010, then drive Route 66 for a few hundred miles, and head back to Florida.

The more we talked about it, the further west we planned to go…first it was Tulsa, then Needles, California, and after a few more meetings (and a few more cocktails), we’d finalized the plan, which is typical of us…nothing like what we had originally planned.

So on May 18th, we’re meeting in Marianna, Florida, and heading to Chicago, via Memphis, to the start of Route 66. From there, we’ll travel as much of Route 66 as we can, ending up at the Santa Monica Pier, which is where it ends.

Along the way, we’re planning to visit Branson, the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, and once in Cali, we’ll spend some time at the world-famous Pomona Swap Meet. Then we’ll head back to Florida. We expect to put more than 7000 miles on the clock.

We’ll be posting to the blog daily, along with some pics. Y’all are invited to follow along with us, and add your comments.