Page Page 12 12 ·· Richmond Review
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Friday, November 28, 2014
Welcome to the driver’s seat
Chicago Illinois ROUTE US
Missouri Kansas
California ROUTE US ROUTE US
Santa Monica
Arizona New Mexico
Texas
Oklahoma
See Keith Morgan’s Route 66 blog and photo gallery on DrivewayCanada.ca
Getting your kicks on Route 66 I recall watching the TV show Route car parked on the forecourt. I thought we would Riding the highway west along Route 66 for around 4,000 kilometres is on 66 in the 1960s but today tens of have the first crash of the trip when the first Rogue many people’s bucket lists. thousands are drawn each year to the Altima, or maybe Altimate Rogue (referring to the After completing the epic journey from highway by the 2006 animated movie drivers, of course), screeched to a halt at the Chicago to Santa Monica, California, I Cars. The movie action takes curb in Galena, Kansas. There at the front must say there were times during the place on the route, many of HISTORIC of the service station was the ‘real’ Tow 56 hours, 36 minutes of driving that the fictitious locations are Tater truck, on which the Cars’ character DRIVEWAY I figured it might be the last item on based on actual places, and Tow Mater was based. my list! real people inspired some of On the way to Amarillo, Texas, we pulled On the Nissan Altimate Rogue Trip we the characters. into the U-Drop Inn – a building that is the saw the spectacular in spades. And Space limitations permit just exact replica of Ramone’s Body Art Shop in when the dozen journalist participants a sampling here of what we ROUTE the movie. I guess that could be the other pulled up at the end of the road by the saw and did along the way. way round. Santa Monica Pier, we shared a great However, you can The next day, some of the sense of achievement. We all knew find a complete each other from new vehicle launchreport of the group spray-painted messages On the Nissan es around the world, but this was journey, gallery of (that’s the tradition) on the different. This hardened, cynical bunch Altimate Rogue photographs, vidCadillac Ranch art installation developed a greater camaraderie along Trip we saw the eo links and how of ten Cadillacs, sunk nose the way and some even hugged as the vehicles fared first into the red dirt. Seen spectacular in we gazed at the lapping waters of the as long-distance from a distance they bore an spades. And when Pacific. transportation at uncanny resemblance to the Cadillac the dozen journalist drivewaybc.ca. ROADSIDE We climbed aboard the 2015 model Mountain Range from, you guessed ATTRACTIONS Nissan Rogue crossovers and Altima Our first contemporary participants pulled it, Cars. AHEAD sedans one very chilly Chicago Sunday culture reference came up at the end of the The semi-desert from Albuquerque, DrivewayCanada.ca and set out to retrace the route of this on the first day in Joliet, New Mexico, to Williams, Arizona road by the Santa historic highway, which was decomIllinois, where we were offered stunning vistas and yet missioned in 1985, and replaced by the Monica Pier, we treated to action figures another movie reference. The rooms I-40 freeway. Actually, routes – plural of the Blues Brothers shared a great sense – would be more accurate as the road, dancing above a building close to of the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook are concrete of achievement. which carried hundreds of thousands where some of the movie action took teepees. (Cozy Cone Motel in Cars.). seeking prosperity out west, has place at the local penitentiary. The Side trips to the Petrified Forest and Grand Keith Morgan followed a number of paths since the Bluesmobile was also on view, sitting Canyon National Parks left us all in awe and late 1920s. atop a pole. The early part of the stunning views soon filled our camera memory The Mother road, as it is known, carried us through route features many giant-sized statues of historic sticks. The gold rush town of Oatman gave us Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New figures, such as Abe Lincoln, and not so historic an excellent send off for our last day though the Mexico, Arizona, and finally California. For most of figures promoting various products. Mojave Desert and down into Los Angeles. us, it was an adventure musically inspired by many Local communities have funded the restoration of versions of the song “Get your kicks on Route 66”. many old service stations and many have a classic keith.morgan@drivewaybc.ca
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FTY
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A Traditional
German Christmas Festival For all!
November 22 – December 24 • Open daily 11am – 9pm
The Plaza @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre • West Georgia St & Hamilton St
Qu stion Question ti of the Week This week’s ICBC tip recommends that people who feel nervous driving in poor winter conditions should take the bus or call a cab. How bad would it have to be for you to park the car? Go to DrivewayCanada.ca to submit your answer. QUESTION
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OF THE WEEK!
Safety Tip: Almost four in 10 respondents to an ICBC survey feel less confident driving in winter. Staying off the road can sometimes be a less stressful and safer option. Instead, take public transit, get a ride with a friend or family member who is a confident driver, or take a taxi.
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