1. A Long Drive West

My Route 66

This blog is about a long drive west on Route 66.

When I was laid off from my technical writing job, I resolved to hold out for a new, full time job with benefits.  I prefer to contribute as a member of a team and not as a temporary hired gun. Now it is summer and even the contracts have dried up.

The Delta pledge in me tells me that there is only one thing to do when facing such a challenge:

Road trip!

It is in my genes to take long drives.

During World War II, my grandfather drove his 1940 Ford V8 from Connecticut to Canada for vacation. The car was a little underpowered at 60 horsepower (most V8′s then were 85 horsepower) but it delivered 30 miles per gallon (in 1944!). The thrifty gas mileage allowed him to drive to Canada on his wartime gas ration. In Canada he could buy all the gas he needed for the return trip.

Growing up, every Sunday afternoon we took a long drive in New England. I never saw an NFL football game until Monday night football debuted in 1970. But by age 12 I had seen every New England attraction within a day’s drive.

Since my dad retired at age 58, he’s made yearly long drives until recently. I have a map with his northwestern route outlined. I hope to make that drive someday, just to view for myself the vista he described at the Little Bighorn.

One year my brother and I flew to Flagstaff to meet my father (and Joan)  on a southwestern drive.  We took a long, wonderful bus tour of the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, and (my favorite) Monument Valley, the glorious site of many cowboy movies.  My brother drove with them (via the interstate) to his LA house while I flew home to New England.

Without a job prospect on the horizon, it is time for me to take a long drive west. I have always been fascinated with Route 66: the history, the scenery, the Americana, the tourist traps, the TV show, the music.

I wanted to drive or fly to Chicago and follow Route 66 to Santa Monica, CA, where my brother now lives. PBB suggested that I save time and money by starting my journey in St Louis. The airfare and car rental were cheaper. Good enough for me.

Ironically, my dad was not enthusiastic about my trip at first. He thought that I should not spend the money while unemployed. He doesn’t fully appreciate the value of time to do things you can’t when working full time. If I don’t take this drive now, I might not be able to until retirement, which will be years after his retirement age. My cash flow is just fine for the foreseeable future. And I can still job hunt online. As the trip nears, he’s coming around. I invited him to join me, but he declined for minor health reasons.

I’m not being a purist about this Route 66 trip. Besides skipping Illinois, I’m not driving a 1962 Corvette, and if I get behind schedule (PBB is afraid I’ll use up my time by Oklahoma) I will hop on the interstate as needed.

I have to be in CA by Day 10  to be introduced to California cousins I have never met.

I’m traveling alone. PBB has to hoard her days for a fall vacation. Besides, PBB would not stay at the cheap motels I’m targeting.

I will not mind driving Route 66 alone. I can stop and go when I want. I can fuss over the camera on a tripod. And I have “goals of life” to ponder.

Besides, I won’t be completely alone. I’m sharing this journey with you.

-jbbjr100