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| Southern route Westward, Northern route Eastward |
Every day of this journey unfolded in fascinating and unexpected ways. I ventured into what Americans call "the heart of America" and met plenty of salt-of-the-earth folks—some saltier than others.
From the start, I wanted to connect with the real souls of the land, not just "the haves" cruising in their SUVs. The people I met had stories as diverse and rich as the landscapes around them.
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| Where have all the people gone? |
Would I do this trip again? Absolutely. But next time, I’d have a more focused approach.
Some places I’d skip in favour of spending more time in others. The further west I traveled, the more the land seemed to call to me, luring me off the beaten path and into the unknown.
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| Once a busy place, now no one drops by |
I know it sounds cliché, but it wasn’t until I truly strayed from the well-worn tourist routes—sometimes so far off that I started questioning my decision-making skills—that I really felt like I was experiencing the essence of Route 66. This road made and broke the towns along its path, and you can still feel its lingering impact. Many times, I found myself in areas with no cell coverage, meaning if something went wrong… well, I’ll let your imagination run with that one.
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| Once the great Route 66 |
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| Even the vehicle has rusted away |
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| A house of stone |
Maybe it’s just that the vast open spaces of the West are easier to photograph than the bustling urban centers crammed with people, industry, and traffic. Or maybe it’s because those wide, empty landscapes have an almost timeless quality—where the only change over the years is that the grass has grown a little longer.
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| Perhaps the lawn mower is broken |
What Would I Do Differently?
Two things.
First: Equipment. (a) Buy a Tilley hat. Baseball caps are a pain—I took mine off so often that I ended up with a sunburn on my bald spot within two days. Rookie mistake. (b) Get a GPS unit for my DSLR. As much as I tried, keeping track of exactly where I was proved to be a challenge. Many places I visited had no visible signs, and even maps and GPS systems didn’t always agree. Case in point: Jericho, Arizona. It was on my map but not on my GPS. The only way I found the remnants of the hamlet was by stumbling across a faded, weather-beaten sign lying on the ground that read "Jericho Cemetery." That was reassuring…
Second: Planning, I’d do a bit more research on the areas I planned to visit. While I knew a lot about Route 66’s history, I knew far less about the small towns and hidden gems along the way. The trip was about exploration, and I feel like I partially achieved that goal—but once I arrived in an area, I quickly realized there was even more to discover than I had anticipated. Next time, I’d narrow my focus and dedicate more time to fewer places.
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| Round Barn |
Places I Loved—and Those I Couldn’t Wait to Leave
I’ll let you figure that out for yourself. My preferences may not be yours, so I won’t spoil the adventure.
Funny how sometimes it’s the little moments that stick with you the most. One such moment was in Carthage, Missouri. I sought out the old Civil War battlefield where the first major battle of the war took place. Standing there in the cool drizzle, surrounded by tall trees and absolute silence except for a soft rustling of leaves, I was struck by the surreal contrast between the site’s peacefulness and its bloody past.
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| How could such a lovely place have once been a killing field |
Ghost Towns That Aren’t Really Ghost Towns
Some of Route 66’s so-called ghost towns have been revitalized into tourist attractions. While they still have photo-worthy moments, many felt a little too "Disneyfied" for my taste—full of souvenir shops (selling mostly made-in-China trinkets) and restaurants hyping up "Route 66 burgers" and cheap beer. Outside, massive SUVs and Winnebagos lined the streets while families devoured nachos drenched in processed cheese. Not quite my scene.
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| Garish, but the tourists seem to love it |
Dodging Crowds
Tourist hotspots like Horseshoe Bend and Monument Valley attract waves of selfie enthusiasts, making it impossible to avoid crowds—unless you wait. The moment the sun sets or the weather turns ugly, most people scatter. That’s when the real magic happens. In the fading light, the desert transforms: red soil turns pink, and the bushes seem to glow.
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| As the sun goes down, the colours come out. |
Leaving Monument Valley wasn’t the end of breathtaking views—it was just the beginning. As I headed north toward Moab, I kept one eye glued to my rearview mirror, and I’m glad I did. This part of the country surrounds you with beauty in every direction, whether you capture it with a camera or just in your mind’s eye.
Altitude Reality Check
Driving into the Colorado Rockies, I learned firsthand what a lack of oxygen feels like. As I climbed higher, I noticed my engine needed more gas to maintain speed. Then I realized traffic was slowing down, and truck engines were groaning like they were on the verge of a heart attack. That’s when it hit me—oxygen. At over 11,000 feet, even my car was struggling to breathe. Considering that small aircraft are not allowed to fly above 10,000 feet without oxygen, here I was at over 11,100 feet.
And what goes up must come down. Descending at a steep 6% grade presents its own challenge. Overuse your brakes, and you’ll reach the bottom with none left. I relied mostly on my gears, but I passed a few less fortunate SUV drivers who had pulled over, their brakes completely fried.
From Nebraska to Iowa
Nebraska was as expected: flat, open, cattle, farms. No surprises there. Iowa, however, was a different story. I had planned to drive straight through, but its lush green rolling hills and endless unpaved country roads proved irresistible for a photographer. I found myself detouring off I-70 just to capture the scenery.
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| Iowa's green fields and dusty roads |
The Final Stretch
Around Gary, Indiana, I stopped for my last night on the road. The next day, I crossed back into Canada at Sarnia and drove straight home to Markham.
The Trip by the Numbers
Days on the road: 15
Principal lodging: Motel 6
Best Wi-Fi: McDonald's
Best coffee: Also McDonald's
Bottles of water consumed: 60+
Miles/kilometers traveled: 6,275 / 10,100
Gallons/Litres of gas purchased: 160 / 605
Lowest gas prices: Michigan
Highest gas prices: California
Least photos taken: Nebraska
Most photos taken: New Mexico & Arizona
Highest altitude reached: 11,116 ft / 3,388 m, Colorado
Hottest temperature: 117ºF / 47.2ºC
Principal cameras: Nikon D610 & Fuji X100s
Frames shot: 8,500
Best photo opportunity: Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Iowa
Would I Do It Again?
Without a doubt. There’s simply too much to see in one go, and I’ve barely scratched the surface of what lies off the beaten path. Until next time, Route 66.
