Get Your Kicks…

Get Your Kicks on Route 66 is the classic 1946 R&B tune about motoring west from Chicago to LA, written by Bobby Troup and first recorded by Nat King Cole. Most of Route 66 has been replaced by the interstate system, although some original segments of the road remain, in varying conditions of drivability. The towns along the old route 66 are proud of their heritage and vestiges of earlier times – gas stations, motels, diners – remain alongside the interstate.

We had driven the I-40/Route 66 from Tulsa to St Louis in the past, humming along the whole way. What we didn’t realize is that this trip would take us along most of the original route. We were surrounded by the lyrics! St Louis (Saint Louie, in the song); Joplin, Missouri; Oklahoma City; Amarillo; Gallup, New Mexico; Flagstaff, Arizona; Winona (I didn’t forget); Kingman; Barstow; and we turned north just before San Bernadino, however we spent a night at a Walmart in Barstow which is at least in San Berdino County.

I guess Tulsa didn’t rhyme well enough for the Route 66 song, but it got picked up by Danny Flowers for Tulsa Time. The Eagles stood on their corner in Winslow, Arizona for Take it Easy. And Lowell George and Little Feat hit Route 66 in Tucumcari for Willin’ [interestingly, as we left Route 66 and headed north from Barstow we went through Tehachapi, where we saw that the weighing station is on the main road – so Lowell must’ve used the back roads there to get around. And, for completeness, Tucson and Tonapah, neither one on Rte 66, remain on our to-do list].

We’re living the songs! Maybe now those earworms will go away.