The only thing better than being a car enthusiast is being a car enthusiast driving down one of the most beloved stretches of highway in our country’s history. Route 66 is America. It is a drive that connects the dots from the past to the present. When you touch this great road it touches you back.

Here are a few pics I’ve taken along Route 66.

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As one of its newest members, I  went to my first meeting of The Route 66 Association of Missouri. A huge thank you to my husband, Brad for riding shotgun!   We didn’t know what to expect, but the hour-long drive to Wildwood, Missouri was a beautiful one. You might be curious as to how it took an hour to drive from South County to Wildwood. In truth: when I hit the “avoid highways” option on my navigation, I really do mean it. Our destination was Stovall’s Grove Dance Hall & Saloon. We enjoyed a great meal of pork steak, chicken, salad, and other sides along with 60+ other members.

The meeting did not disappoint. Led by our president, Tommy Pike, it was extremely well run, informative, and entertaining from start to finish, The agenda included items such as the treasurer’s report, old and new business, and upcoming events. Rounding off our visit was a historical presentation given by Stovall’s proprietor.

Yes, I drove on and parked near a gravel road!

Prior to joining the association, I knew I had a fondness for The Mother Road and its history. However, it was when Ruth Keenoy, a historic preservation specialist, spoke about the work she and our club have done, and continue to do, on the Meramec River Bridge.   It was then that I became excited about being part of The Route 66 Association of Missouri. I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that the association also takes very serious the preservation of neon signs along the road, in addition to a great number of other worthwhile endeavors.

Extras:

A big thank you to our table mates Ginger and James.   There was another likable fellow with great humor, but I can’t recall his name.  I later found out we were sitting with royalty, as James is the VP of the association.

Anyone can join the Route 66 Association of Missouri.

The bridge we are saving is located in The Route 66 State Park.

Please click on links throughout this post to learn more!

Picture credits: Me, NPR Service, flickr.com, and a gofundme page set up by Keenoy for the bridge.

My greatest apologies for any misinformation.