My Favorite Vintage Vacation Road Map
I just finished reading a fascinating detective novel. I love murder mysteries that take place in interesting settings with a flawed, but fascinating protagonist. The setting of the book,"Find Me" by Carol O'Connell, takes place along the Mother Road, Route 66, starting in Chicago, Illinois and Ending on the Santa Monica Pier in California. Mallory..."just Mallory"...the detective, is following letters written by her long-vanished father who left clues like breadcrumbs for her to follow as she retraces his many trips down that fabled highway. Her journey parallels a caravan of desperate parents following a man who has convinced them that they may find the graves of their missing children somewhere on that road. Somehow, their quest becomes linked with hers. Along the way, Mallory makes a pilgrimage to the landmarks in the letters. Is she trying to find her father or clues to who she is?
Along with her father's letters...Mallory may have had a beat-up old travel guide.
This one is from 1947...older than hers would have been.
Mallory's Landmarks...
Route 66 started on the corner of Michigan and Adams in Chicago, Illinois.
Gemini Giant...Wilmington, Illinois.
"Tall Paul" located in Atlanta, Illinois.
Moved from original location in Cicero.
Our Lady of the Highways... Raymond, Illinois
Meramec Caverns...Stanton Missouri,
Famous for its many advertising barns and as a hideout for Jesse James.
Mickey Mantle Boulevard...Commerce, Oklahoma.
Blue Whale Slide and Arrowood Trading Post in Catoosa, Oklahoma.
The U-drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas...inspiration for Ramone's in Cars.
Avalon Theater in Mclean, Texas
Phillips 66 Station...Mclean, Texas.
You're Half-Way There!
Mid Point Cafe...Adrian, Texas.
Club Cafe...Santa Rosa, New Mexico.
Clines Corners...New Mexico.
El Rancho Motel...Gallup, New Mexico.
Stay in rooms named after old movie stars who once stayed there.
Black Cat Bar in Seligman, Arizona.
The part of the story dealing with the serial child killer comes to a head somewhere near Mallory's Black Cat landmark. There are many...even more famous...sites to be seen along Mallory's route, but these are the ones that held special meaning for her father. I hadn't even heard of most of them. Mallory will finish the trip with only one final landmark before the story ends...End of the Trail.
They say the road didn't really end at the pier, but somewhere near the intersection of Olympic and Lincoln Boulevards. I think it's more poetic this way.
The End...
2 comments:
I have to drive this end of Route 66 soon!
Wow! So cool! I'd be singing in the car all along the way! maggie
Post a Comment