Route 66

On my journey I just took the big Interstate 40, but the famous Route 66 runs right along the interstate. Route 66 is much more curved and lengthy and although I wanted to take scenic routes, the desert just doesn't do it for me, so skipping the scenic route was okay!

Route 66 is nicknamed "Mainstreet America" the highway originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and finally ending in California, specifically Santa Monica Pier, covering a total of 2,448 miles. Needless to say, this highway was present along my entire southwest drive! I got into California and went to Barstow, where the Route 66 museum lives.

 They had a few vehicles in the museum, one of which was a Model T

And of course they had to have the classic wagon on display for those that were around in 1926 when the road was established.

There were plenty of other things on display at the museum with regards to roadways

A switchboard

The outside of the train station that runs with Route 66

And they couldn't have a museum without a standing cardboard cutout of James Dean (note: this photo took many takes, don't be fool by my photo skills)

He liked it! :)

I also came across the California train museum, there were whole trains sitting on the unused tracks just waiting for me to have a photo with them...

The biggest plant/cactus I have ever seen!

So that was Route 66, Next will be my arrival to Los Angeles and my new favorite place, the Santa Monica Pier...ta-ta for now