Route 66-based story
written by OC,SH’s founder, inspired by his September 2009 Route 66 road trip

CHAPTER 31: HOLDING PATTERN

A few days later, the brothers still did not know when they were leaving on their Route 66 trip, though both were ready to go. The younger brother had the approval from Kyle at WSM to do live broadcasts along the road & had already secured the equipment needed for the journey. The older brother had mapped out the route & contacted several people, including Rich at Henry’s Ra66it Ranch in southern Illinois, Melba at Cars On The Route in Galena KS, Laurel at Oklahoma’s Afton Station, Dawn at the Rock Cafe in Oklahoma, Angel in Seligman AZ, Jim Hinckley in Arizona & Debra in Barstow CA. The eldest had also finalized plans with his sister & the local Route 66 Association to keep the family business open while he & his younger brother were away. The brothers had also decided to take the family car, their parents’ (now the eldest’s) 1976 Caprice Classic sedan.

But, holding them back was the couple from Illinois. The eldest had told the middle sibling what was happening & why the couple was there. Not that he understood it fully himself. He needed some time to think about it & what, if anything, he would do. The shopkeeper, of course, had his opinion, & while he held back, he let the eldest know he wasn’t too keen on trusting the couple.

Meanwhile, the rebuilding of the town’s train depot seemed to roll ahead. The local Route 66 Association requested a meeting with the town council about the project, funding, & how to prepare to battle the State, in terms of getting it approved & authorized, just in case the State balked at the idea. The town itself was a buzz with the progression, & one couldn’t escape the conversation, mostly favorable, all over town.