Pontiac G6 GT rental car - 3.5L V6, not bad! Let's get our kicks!

On track through Joliet IL.

Chicago Street in Joliet IL.

The main street in Wilmington.

The condition of old Route 66 out of Wilmington was pretty bad - the verges were very crumbly.

Yep, still on track, Gardner IL.

Main Street, Gardner IL.

A street scene in the charming Illinois town of Gardner.

Main Street, Dwight Illinois.

Still on track, Dwight IL.

An abandoned and filled in pedestrian subway, Odell IL. Hard to believe that this suburban street was once so busy that pedestrians needed a subway to safely cross the road. It's just a quiet and narrow suburban street now.

Route 66 near Odell was once 4 lanes, now reduced to two. These are the abandoned extra lanes from the glory days.

Old 4-lane Route 66 abandoned lanes, Pontiac IL.

Jo in Memory Lane, Lexington IL.

Main Street, Chenoa IL.

Famous Dead Man's Curve, Towanda IL.

A stretch of abandoned lanes of Route 66 has been converted into "Historic Route 66 - A Geographical Journey" in Townada IL.

Street Scene, Bloomington & Normal IL.

A cut off remnant of old Route 66 gradually breaking up in pretty woodland near Funks Grove IL.

Main Street, McLean IL.

Main street, Atlanta IL.

Route 66 Park, Atlanta IL.

Springfield IL is also home to the Cozy Dog Drive - home of the corn dog.

The famous stretch of 1930s red brick Route 66 near Auburn IL.

Wonderful old Concrete 2 Lane Route 66 and the Illinois countryside near Thayer IL.

Street scene, Virden IL.

Magic original 2 Lane Concrete Route 66 near Girard IL.

Old concrete Route 66 & a reassuring road sign in the back blocks near Nilwood IL.

The famous tracks left by a turkey which walked over a freshly poured section of 1920's concrete Route 66 near Nilwood IL.

Closed 1920 Bridge South of Carlinville IL - classic early Route 66.

A degraded and bypassed stretch of old Route 66 leading to the old 1920s bridge.

We're still kickin' on Route 66 in Mt Olive IL.

Goodbye Illinois, old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Mitchell IL.

The old Chain of Rocks Bridge with its 22 degree dogleg is a Route 66 icon near Venice MO enroute St Louis.

This closed and abandoned on-ramp just across from the Eat Rite Diner in St Louis leads to an abandoned "freeway" style section of closed old route 66 - almost like a small version of an interstate. 2 lanes each way stretching to some old bridges a few hundred yards away, all closed and abandoned - I would love to have had time to explore it but alas the Route was calling me on!

Crossing the Meramec River in Route 66 State Park MO.

Still tracking on Route 66 through Gray Summit MO.

Old Route 66 passing the Gardenway Motel, Villa Ridge MO.

Modern Route 66 pavement near St Clair MO.

Entering Bourbon MO.

The restored Jims Motors graces the main intersection in Cuba MO.

Street scene, St James MO.

A cut-off, bypassed and nearly forgotten piece of old Route 66, Rolla MO.

Route 66 passing the Mule Trading Post, Rolla MO.

The road widened out into this very pretty original concrete Route 66 section.

1923 Bridge over the Big Piney River, Devils Elbow MO.

1923 Rubidoux Creek Bridge, Waynesville MO.

Another cut off Route 66 Section, Lebanon MO.

Marshfield MO City Square Shops.

Route 66 street scene near the city square, Springfield MO.

Route 66 past OLD Ruins, Plano MO.

Main Street, Halltown MO.

Route 66 past Paris Springs MO Gay Parita Restored Sinclair Station Sign (15 Apr 2009) Full.jpg

1926 Thru-Truss Bridge over Johnson Creek, Spencer MO.

1923 Pony Bridge Turnback Creek, Spencer MO.

Old shops, Main Street, Carthage MO.

Entering Carthage MO.

A nice section of old 66 Road between Carthage and Carterville MO.

Old overpass foundations thought to have been Route 66 near Webb City en route to Joplin MO.

Route 66 past the now well-known 4 Women on the Route Restored Gas Station, Galena KS.

Main Street, Galena KS.

Route 66 does a hard left in Galena KS (or is that hard right?!).

The last operational Rainbow Curve Marsh Arch Bridge, Riverton KS.

Route 66 passing a restored 1930 Phillips 66 Station, Baxter Springs KS.

Route 66 past an abandoned Phillips 66 Station, Quapaw OK.

Welcome to Commerce OK!

Pretty north Oklahoma countryside approaching Miami OK.

An amazing stretch of original 1922 9' Route 66 pavement crumbling away with the years south of Miami OK.

Restored DX Gas Station 'Afton Station', Afton OK.

The abandoned Rest Haven Motel Neon Sign, Afton OK. Full house here too.

Dead Mans Corner and LONG abandoned gas station ruin, north of Vinita OK.

Interesting 1884 building & old faded signage, Vinita OK.

1932 Pony Truss Bridgeon on the way into Chelsea OK, right next to the ......

1926 Iron Bridge on the other road into Chelsea OK.

This old neon sign still shows the location of the abandoned Chelsea Motel, Chelsea OK.

Your clothes will get dusty in this abandoned Laundromat, Chelsea OK.

The former El Sueno Courts (now Adobe Village Apartments), once of Route 66 fame, Claremore OK.

Typical town street near downtown, Claremore OK.

McClellan-Kerr Navigation System twin road bridges, Verdigris OK.

Route 66 past the former Arrowood Trading Post at Catoosa OK.

Giant Coke Bottle on the way into Sapulpa OK.

Main street, Sapulpa OK.

No Through Road - the place where scenic and interesting loops of old original Route 66 begin near I-44, winding from Kellyville through Bellvue and on toward Bristow, OK. The most unkind cut of all!

An interesting original concrete section of the old Route 66 loop, Bellvue OK.

Old Route 66 "tank farm" loop scenic section near Bellvue OK.

Main Street, Depew OK. The EZ 66 Guide recommends driving an old 1926-28 loop through downtown here, calling it a time capsule. It's a fascinating place but, alas, crumbling away fast.

The approach to Stroud OK and the surrounding area are dotted with stretches of abandoned Route 66 pavement.

Main Street, Stroud OK.

Restored 1933 Texas Co Gas Station, Davenport OK.

Abandoned old buildings and businesses, Chandler OK.

Main Street, Wellston OK.

Neat little 1933 bridge over Captain Creek, west of Wellston OK.

The private Route 66 pavement is in pretty good condition still, Luther OK.

Private Route 66 end of the line, Luther OK, cut by a newer state road.

Route 66 is still busy past Anns Chicken Fry House, Oklahoma City OK.

Closed 1924 Lake Overholser Bridge, Oklahoma City OK.

Maes Home Cooking neon sign, Yukon OK.

Huge Grain elevator & abandoned video business, El Reno OK.

Main Street, Calumet OK.

Still tracking on old concrete Route 66, Calumet OK.

Picturesque concrete Route 66 out of Calumet OK - "the road goes ever on".

Closed Roadhouse, Geary OK.

A lonely stretch of old Route 66 near Geary OK.

Route 66 still kicks - now as a frontage road to I-40 near Clinton OK.

The Dairy Best Drive In promises "broasted" chicken (whatever that is!) in Clinton OK.

The abandoned Kobels Place, Foss OK.

Former Washita Motel, Canute OK.

Just west of Canute OK we found this little dead-end bit of old concrete Route 66 - a classic example of how it was chopped into pieces by the interstate highways, I-40 in this case. Beware monsters if you drive straight ahead!

Main Street, Elk City OK.

Large closed building, Main Street Elk City OK.

Main Street, Sayre OK.

Bloody ugly ute, Sayre OK.

An abandoned, and yes, ghostly, former Route 66 alignment runs for miles in its concrete glory alongside the existing alignment near Hext OK. I was all for trying to drive a section but Jo sensibly talked me out of it! Apparently this section may become a bike trail.

On track through Erick OK.

Route 66 past abandoned First National Bank (1907), Erick OK.

Main Street, Texola OK. I'm guessing this place was MUCH busier at some time!

Long abandoned Gas Station beside Route 66, Texola OK.

A Route 66 welcome to Texas!

Route 66 as a frontage road to I-40 near Shamrock TX.

Abandoned Motel complex & VERY old sign, Shamrock TX.

Main Street, McLean TX

Nice restored Phillips 66 Gas Station, McLean TX

A Route 66 street of abandoned and empty houses, McLean TX.

Restored 1932 Phillips 66 gas station, Alanreed TX.

We're still with Mother - old Route 66 road marker, Alanreed TX.

Route 66 passing the 'Leaning Tower', Groom TX.

This old Route 66 section seems in a hurry to get to New Mexico, near Conway TX.

Signs to "Panhandle" and "Borger" on old Route 66 as we approach an overpass of I-40 near Conway TX.

The abandoned Ding Ho Chinese Restaurant neon sign is a mournful sight, Amarillo TX.

Route 66 as a busy street of motels, Amarillo TX.

Faithfully on track on the Mother Road, Amarillo TX.

Sinclair dinosaur & sign at OCs Used Autos on Route 66, Amarillo TX.

This abandoned Shell Gas Station looked like it hadn't been closed THAT long, Vega TX.

Main Street, Vega TX.

Welcome to Adrian Tx!

Welcome to friendly Adrian TX, the geographical mid-point of Route 66, half way between Chicago and Santa Monica.

Tom, now working at the Midpoint Cafe, is the former proprietor of the now closed Bent Door Midway Station and Phillips 66 Station - another Route 66 icon in Adrian TX.

Main Street, Glenrio TX.

Long abandoned Gas & Service Centre, Glenrio TX.

VERY old Route 66 section through Endee NM. Once paved, the Mother Road has now reverted to dirt and gravel. This is a VERY lonely stretch of the old road with abandoned and ruined buildings met occasionally. I swear I could hear duelling banjos in the distance!

Old Route 66 running along on the north side of I-40 near Bard NM.

Still tracking on Route 66, San Jon NM.

Main Street, San Jon NM. This is another place which appears to have been MUCH bigger at one time.

Main Street Tucumcari NM must have been a VERY busy place once.

Main Street Route 66 "road art", Tucumcari NM.

Route 66 as a frontage road to I-40 heading west out of Tucumcari NM.

Old Route 66 as a frontage road north of I-40 near Cuervo NM.

Old Route 66 into Santa Rosa NM.

The Route 66 Auto Museum is worth a visit on the way into Santa Rosa NM.

The Comet II Restaurant on old Route 66 in Santa Rosa NM was a welcoming sight.

NOT ROUTE 66 - We headed south on Highway US285 - this was typical of the 'scenery' near Clines Corners NM and it actually got WORSE as we went mile after dreary mile south to Roswell.

The abandoned Zia RV Park, Wagon Wheel NM.

Main Street, Moriarty NM.

Route 66 passing a local bar in Dilia NM.

Classic Route 66 New Mexico scenery near Dilia NM.

Main Street, Las Vegas NM.

Old Route 66 did pass through Tecolote NM MANY years ago. The bit that's left ends now at the pylons of this defunct bridge.

Very scenic Route 66 roadway and New Mexico countryside near San Jose NM - I believe this is Glorieta Mesa.

Route 66 through San Jose NM ends at this closed 1921 Thru-Truss Bridge. I walked to the end but old Route 66 couldn't be discerned in the overgrowth and long grass.

Village scene, San Jose NM. This place has NOT thrived since it was bypassed!

Scenic countryside near Ilfield NM looking over I-25.

Pecos NM.

The Aztec Motel in Albuquerque NM is another Route 66 icon and certainly looks different.

The Bliss Building (Lindy's) on the corner of Central in downtown Albuquerque NM is another art deco influenced beauty.

Sunshine Theatre, Albuquerque NM - what a beauty. Note the Route 66 street sign.

Route 66 continues unconcerned past the closed Route 66 Malt Shop & Grill, Albuquerque NM.

Closed 1933 Through Truss Bridge, Rio Puerco NM.

Owl Rock, Mesita NM.

Dead Mans Curve & Route 66 Sign on road, just north of I-40, Mesita NM.

Interesting vista to snow capped mountains from I-40 Exit 117, Mesita NM.

Budville Trading Company established 1928, Budville NM.

View across Budville NM to snow-capped Mt Taylor.

Villa de Cubero Trading Post (1937) of Hemmingway fame, Cubero NM.

The Franciscan Lodge Motel & neon sign, Grants NM.

Neon Sign for demolished Bluewater Motel, Bluewater NM.

The Route 66 Swap Meet wasn't open when we passed through Prewitt NM - damn!

Goodbye to New Mexico as we appreciate the view to Arizona from Devils Cliff NM.

1930 bridge on a long un-maintained stretch of old Route 66 over Querino Canyon AZ. After our earlier experience with a rattlesnake we were VERY careful here.

1923 bridge to nowhere, Sanders AZ.

At one time Route 66 passed right through the Petrified Forest National Park AZ. The old power poles mark the route although it is now heavily overgrown.

The Indian Rock Shop in Holbrook AZ also sells dinosaurs?

Route 66 passing the landmark Wigwam Motel, Holbrook AZ.

We had been looking forward to visiting the famous Jackrabbit in Joseph City AZ and at last we were getting close!

Main Street, Joseph City AZ.

Standin' on the Corner Statue, Winslow AZ. I just love the "ghost painted" reflection of the "girl in a flat bed ford" in the shop window.

Main Street, Winslow AZ. Note the sand storm beyond!

This crazy sandstorm at Winslow AZ caused I-40 to be closed and we ended up detouring about three hours to the south and then back up to Flagstaff to get around it. The side trip wasn't wasted however as we passed through an area of lakes and conifers - very pretty and not at all what we expected in Arizona.

Old Route 66 cut-off section, Two Guns AZ.

Abandoned Trading Post, Twin Arrows AZ.

View from I-40 to snow-capped Mt Taylor near Twin Arrows AZ.

Orphaned Route 66 section, Winona AZ, leading to.....

.... this old closed bridge with another view to Mt Taylor, Winona AZ.

Route 66 passing Miz Zips Restaurant, Flagstaff AZ.

Train Station & Visitor Centre, Flagstaff AZ.

Old shops on Main Street, Flagstaff AZ.

Crown Railroad Cafe, Flagstaff AZ.

We dined at Goldie's Route 66 Diner and can give it a big thumbs up, Williams AZ.

Grand Canyon Hotel & neon sign, Williams AZ.

Route 66 leads to the door of Rods Steak House, Williams AZ.

Main Street, Williams AZ.

Our last contact with Arizona Route 66, Williams AZ.