Trial Run #1 ~ Brown County Indiana

While it didn't follow the Mother Road, we decided to go on a 3 day trial run.  We spent last weekend traveling to Brown County Indiana in the Pony (plus it was our 32nd wedding anniversary gift to each other)!


Much to our amazement, we (actually Jim) did an OUTSTANDING job of packing and got an incredible amount of stuff packed into the Pony.  Of course we had our traveling suitecase minis but I was able to pack all of my hair products and makeup in the mini also.  Our new Purdue insolated cooler served us well in keeping us well hydrated (and subsequently keeping the homemade fudge we purchased from melting in the unseasonably warm fall weather).  We took a snack bag, which was fine, but found we needed extra napkins and wetwipes - added those to our growing list of supplies.

But once the Pony was packed for the trip, it left, what we thought, little room for purchases made on the road....like the case of blackberry wine we purchased or the Purdue Scoreboard Clock we found.  Oh yes, BIG stuff.  Not little stuff......sigh.....


So, more rearranging we (actually Jim ) did to fit everything in and didn't have to leave anything behind!  We learned some valuable lessons about plotting bathrooms, packing and getting gas when cheap!  We also learned that I may need to get a new camera, as my old Sony has limited space ~ I think it is about 8 years old.  Plus we may need to take a laptop to dump pictures when the memory cards get full.  And they surely will!

Route 66 Documentaries....courtesy of Netflix!

To mark the 80th birthday of America's famed Route 66 in 2006, author Michael Wallis hit the road from the Midwest to the West Coast in search of both unique and antique classic cars, talking to the often eccentric personalities who collect them. Stops along the 2,000-mile journey include the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Ill., the Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque, N.M., and the Historic Route 66 Museum in Kingman, Ariz.


Thanks, Netflix!

Books & Such

Have not had much time to research the journey on the Mother Road, except pondering some books we may purchase.  In reading all of the reviews on Amazon, I figure that this one is one that we will probably need ~ both of us being foodies, we love a good meal.

And me, being the anti-camping type...or the one who thinks that staying in a Hampton Inn is camping....we might need to evaluate accommodations prior to leaving on the trip.

I am still looking for the guide to give me all of the cool, kitchy places to see along the Route.  Like where to look for the Cadillacs that are all buried hood first into the ground - I understand you are encouraged to bring a can of spray paint and graffiti to my heart's content. 

How fun!

Cars #2 World Grand Prix

Just found out today that Pixar Studios is coming out with the second Cars movie next summer (2011)!  Titled "Cars ~ World Grand Prix", I was able to find a trailer for it:

Mapping the Trip

Connie mentioned in a previous post about Jack the GPS. I did indeed download a Route 66 map which is suppose to work with Garmin and my trip mapping software. More to follow on how much success I will have on this. Hopefully I will have some time this weekend to work on it. Right now we are at Route 66 planning center, Det 1 (Oakwood SBUX).

I am having some computer problems which I have been working for the last 2 hours with not a lot of success. I am thinking I will have to rebuild the software soon to fix it. Not a big deal just a pain. But on the other hand, once done it will be in prime shape for the trip.

The Coffee Conundrum

If you know me at all, you know my love of coffee....Starbucks Coffee to be precise.  My love of Starbucks began long before our daughter became employed there.

But now, as we are in the beginning stages of planning what sites we'll be stopping at along the way on Route 66, it just occurred to me that there might be a lack of Sbux along the Mother Road.

What to do?

Apparently Jim  has found an app that can be downloaded for our GPS (aka "Jack") so we can plot the trip.  I know we already plot other trips  with Sbuxs being via points along the way.  Perhaps we can do it on the Route 66 app. 

I'll keep you posted.  Not sure I could go 16 days without my latte or Frappuccino!

After a little effort......

I can now post my thoughts about our trip on the Mother Road also. It took a some head scratching but Connie and I figured out how to add an author to the blog. I am looking forward to the trip and time with Connie as we "ride the Pony" out west.

The Search for Info

Just thinking about this trip makes me happy!  Ending up at the end of the historic Route 66 at the entrance to the Santa Monica pier makes me even happier.  Again, those of you who know us, know that we'd really like to end up in California ~ the place where Heaven and Earth meet.  We spent about 10 years there during Jim's military career: some at Vandenberg AFB near Lompoc and some at LA Air Force Station (we lived in Thousand Oaks, just across the canyon from Malibu).  Yes, I know, why did we leave.  Air Force, baby, Air Force.

So now I have done a little research and came across some of the sites we'll be visiting.  Like the place where they've buried several elderly Cadillacs nose down in the dirt.  Or the Paul Bunyon statue - he is carrying a giant wiener.  Plus trying to match all of the locations from the movie "Cars".

Check these sites out:

Super interesting!

http://route66.backroadsplanet.com/

An inspiration for the movie “cars”

http://www.wigwammotel.com/about/index.html

T Minus 9 Months & Counting

Welcome to the blog ~ Route 66 in the Pony.  For those of you who know us well, Jim and I are the proud owners of a 2003 Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang Convertible.  We call it "The Pony" and since it is a convertible, we often ride in it "topless" or with the convertible top down.  Jim recently purchased a wind deflector from http://www.lovethedrive.com/ and if you also happen to own a convertible, I highly recommend that you purchase one for your car!  It has reduced the swirling in by 75% !

In preparation for our 2011 trip across Route 66, inspired by one of our favorite movies (Disney's "Cars"), we are starting this blog!  It will chronicle our research, planning, preparation and then (drum roll please), the actual trip with pictures too!

Enjoy!