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Perhaps I should adhere to that old adage, "discretion is the better part of valor" and bug out of this . But I got myself into this soooooo......here goes.

But after a reading of zeldasdad postings, I don't see any lies. That was the way it was for zeldasdad and a lot of us and maybe others have an entirely different viewpoint. I have a lot of memories about the old road, too; some mostly good but very few some bad. I don't think Route 66 was any pleasure trip for the Joads and those of their ilk. I first saw Route 66 from the window of the Santa Fe' RR passenger train in the 1950's....to and from "Annual Leave" in the USN from San Franciso, Long Beach and San Diego. I wished that someday I could drive it. Since 1961, I've been doing that on an average of about every three years. I usually see something new of find some new place to eat or stay on each trip. However, the bottom line here is that the "Route 66" of the present is mostly "hype" and "myth". Once more "IMHO".

But also, let's face it. Route 66 wasn't the only route to California. If you came in from the North...if your destination would be San Francisco..... it would be on US-101. Or if you wanted to take tne route from the Northeast....again to San Francisco...40 (in my opinion the most scenic and historic) or 50. If you came in the from the southeast ...if your destination would be San Diego... it would most likely be US-80. Of course 66 was the logical choice to Los Angeles. Each of these routes had there own fans. And they all have their counterpoint in the Interstates. As stated before, the scenic hasn't changed.

So, I think the bottom line is: If you have never experienced the 1940's to 1960's and want to see that, Route 66 is for you (but arguably, it's not necessarily really the way it really was.) If you want to travel in comfort and style, the Interstates are for you (but arguably, that's the way it really is.)

For just two examples, if you want to see how life in the very early days of colonization was, go to "Plimouth Plantation" (it's probably the closest thing to actual conditions); the Revolutionary period at "Colonial Williamsburg" (alhough it's probably very much prettified and sanitized) ; and there other eras and areas such as Fort Necessity or Fort Davis National Historic Sites.

Phew ! There's lot of stuff out there waiting to be seen besides Route 66 ! This argument could go and on and I don't think anyone is going to change anyone else's ideas and opinions on the subject. Glad to see some honest...at least opinions...in the postings, though. LOL.

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Edited by: jnb Edited due to some typos I found after posting.

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#70, ZD did not say "the only section," but "the only significant section" (emphasis added). That extra word changes the meaning of the phrase, and opens the phrase to multiple interpretations. Further, ZD qualified the statement with the remainder of the sentence.

Second, US 66 does not exist. The road(s) that used to define US 66 may exist in places, maybe even most of the route, but it is not US 66. The route was either replaced by interstates, taken over and re-designated, or left to deteriorate. But as it is, US 66 was decommissioned, and thus no longer exists as a current route.
I say this to note the differences between your argument and ZD's. ZD is correctly saying US 66 does not exist because it is no longer listed as a current US highway, while you correctly indicated that the roadways that formed US 66 still exist and can still be driven.
No one is "lying." It's simply two different interpretations--one for the designation (which no longer exists) and one for the physical roadways (which largely do).

Now, can we please kill this 18 month-old thread?

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ZD did not say "the only section," but "the only significant section"

What a nonsensical qualifier. If "significant" is supposed to be a reference to mileage, then no, he's still wrong.

Second, US 66 does not exist. The road(s) that used to define US 66 may exist in places, maybe even most of the route, but it is not US 66.

Congratulations, you're the proud winner of the Thorn Tree Pedant of the Week award.

The fact that the federal government no longer pays for the pavement (which is what the numbering designates) is not at all relevant to someone who is interested in the history of the road.

Just because the feds transferred the roads to state control doesn't mean that all of the roads vanished into thin air. Surely, this shouldn't be difficult to comprehend.

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"I already posted a link that states that about 2/3rd's of the traffic moving westward during the 30's used 66. There really weren't all that many routes to take back during the 30's, when the road system was fairly new.

Historically, the route was important. I don't follow the effort being made on this thread to either rewrite or scorn history."

Maybe so about the percentage of traffic. But all the other routes were there, in some form or other in the "numbered routes" that came into being in 1926. And just about any other route has some historic significance.

Discovery of "Encyclopedia TItanica" and this website has been most interesting.You people seem to get
in as many heated arguments as the "rivet counters" on ET. :-)

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PS- I wasn't trying to "rewrite or scorn history" but merely to point out my own personal history and "opinons" (i.e. "IMHO") insfofar as Route 66 is concerned. If anyone found them insulting or demeaning, there was no malicious intent on my part.

I'm probably as much a history buff....in a lot of areas other than Route 66... as anyone else and a charter member and tour guide at one of the local Historical and Cultural Museums. I was just pointing out that maybe Route 66 isn't the only way or the best way to see the USA , especially for the first time visitor.

And also, I noticed that my post was #73 on this thread. In "Ham Radio" jargon "73" is "Very Best Wishes", so "73's" to all concerned ! :-)

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just trying to correct my typos....again and again. :-(

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Road Warrior, if you want to drive The Mother Road from Chicago to LA, like in the song. Please, be my guest. I won't even object if you then turn around and drive it from LA to Chicago. Enjoy your trip. You are also welcome to post a travelogue and pictures when you complete the journey. Stay only at the novelty motels. Eat only at the novelty diners. Find that corner in Winslow Arizona. Find a a Phillipps 66 gas station, or even a White Bros. gas station. Interview all of the people moving their families to California. See how many trucks you can pass in one go while crossing Oklahoma. It should be a great trip.

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Road warrior, why don't you take the trip I suggested and document the parts that I misrepresented?

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why don't you take the trip I suggested and document the parts that I misrepresented?

I just pointed out one example of your misrepresentation.

And there are abundant examples online and in print that confirm that you're wrong. It's not as if there is any lack of evidence.

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Are there any figures on traffic counts on Historic Route 66 sections ? I would be particular interested in counts for the Seligman-Barstow section ? On our travels (usually mid to late May, and mid morning to noon) we have traveled those sections several times and seen very little traffic....on more than one trip absolutely none-both ways..... except for Kingman, Oatman, and Needles, the whole of some 300 miles or so without seeing a single vehicle of any kind in either direction.

Road Warrior and zeldasdad....how many times have you traveled the road ? Just curious.

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I rode over the 1950s right of way of Route 66 from St. Louis to Los Angeles once in the 1950s. Beginning in 1975 I've traveled various portions of the road, particularly in Arizona 4-5 times a year on business. I have driven between St. Louis and Los Angeles over the old road and then the Interstate maybe 2 dozen times. I've only driven the route between St. Louis and Chicago once or twice.

I would note that US-66 has not been the designation of any part of the Federal Highway System since 1985. So as not to be accused of lying again, I should say that neither I nor anyone else has driven on any part of US-66 in over 24 years.

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This is the reason I don't mention the stretch of "US-66" between Needles and Barstow. This is I-40:

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7925466

This is "US-66:"

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/9027298.jpg

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This is the way I see it.: The Arizona "Historic Route 66 Loops" ( Seligman to Kingman and Kingman to the California State Line) are the only "significantly different stretches" of "Historic Route 66" in comparison to I-40 or any of the other Interstates from Chicago to Sant Monica - as far as the scenery goes. (I couldn't get the italics, underlining and bold type to operate on my posting for "significantly different stretches.)

I agree with zeldasdad if you use my qualifications on the subject. I will concede that there are at least two "significantly different" points of interest on the Needles-Barstow section in comparison with I-40:
Roy's Cafe' and the ruins of the Road Runner Restaurant. I would also concede "The Shoe Tree" to add to the the preceding. Otherwise, there's not much difference across the Mojave . LOL.

I'm a relative newcomer to the subject so I won't make any claims as to expertise on the subject. I really hadn't noticed...nor cared about it enough to notice at the time...when the "U.S. 66" signs began to disappear during my travels.

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added a comment and corrected some typos

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Just another "incidentally".: If you really wanted to just drive the Historic Route 66 section across the Mojave Desert, you could probably make about as good or better time as on I-40. I've driven both sections on our trips and have yet to see a Highway Patrolman on the Historic Route 66 section but plenty out there on I-40 doing their duty, so you could probaby go as fast as you wanted to go . But who wants to do that, when there are opportunities for picture taking of the aforementioned curiosities, to say nothing of a deserted road ?....However, you just might be lucky enough to get a car on the highway in one of your pictures...if you waited long enough. LOL.

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I don't think zeldasdad is lying or on a personal crusade...he's merely trying to point out the difference between the myth and reality as far as "Route 66" is concerned.
Hey guys.....let's cool it !!!!

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Are we the only three persons on this thread ? ;-)