Billy Connolly's Route 66_ The Big Yin on the Ultimate American Road Trip - Billy Connolly [120]
The world-famous photo of the first atom bomb test at White Sands, Albuquerque – facing the wrong way.
The world’s oldest continuous rodeo in Payson, Arizona.
Meteor Crater, Arizona – it’ll fascinate you or bore you to tears, depending on your gender …
The medicine man who attempted to cure my sore leg and aching rib – I felt very privileged to have the experience.
Strumming my banjo in Monument Valley – an incredible place (see facing page), filled with vistas I’d ridden through in my imagination as a child.
I’ve always loved steam trains and this one, which took me to the Grand Canyon, was no exception – although the vegetable oil it was powered by gave off a rather different whiff to the sulphurous smells I was used to from my childhood.
The Grand Canyon. Much more than I’d imagined, and quite unlike anything I’d ever seen in my life.
Angel Delgadillo – an extraordinary man whose guardianship of Route 66 has ensured the survival of much of it.
The network of tunnels beneath Williams, Arizona.
One of the extraordinary custom-made trikes I encountered in Seligman, Arizona.
Heading through the desert and onto the home stretch of my journey.
Me and Mike, the director, with the lions from the Keepers of the Wild refuge in Valentine, Arizona. The whole crew fell in love with Anthony, the wee lion cub.
Elmer Long and his bottle orchard outside Helendale, California – my favourite find of the trip.
Offering my own take on ‘Over the Rainbow’ at the California Theatre, San Bernadino.
The De Alba boys in front of one of their incredible low riders.
Outside the De Alba garage with a breathtakingly impressive customised Harley.
Forever Hollywood – a cemetery that could only exist in this part of the world.
The Will Rogers Highway marker in Palisades Park.
Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean beyond – the end of the road, and a chance to reflect upon my extraordinary journey.
Table of Contents
Copyright
1 Get Your Kicks
2 Winding from Chicago
3 A Royal Route
4 It Starts in Illinois, Let Me Tell You Boy
5 Travel My Way, Take the Highway
6 Go through St Louis; Joplin, Missouri
7 You Haven’t Seen the Country ’til You’ve Seen the Country by Car
8 Springfield, Illinois … Springfield, Missouri too
9 Oklahoma City Looks Oh So Pretty
10 You’ll See Amarillo …
11 Albuquerque and Tucumcari, Make New Mexico Extraordinary
12 Flagstaff, Arizona, Don’t Forget Winona
13 You’ll Wanna Own a Piece of Arizona
14 Get Hip to This Timely Tip, When You Make That California Trip
Appendix Mileages from Chicago to Santa Monica
Table of Contents
Copyright
1 Get Your Kicks
2 Winding from Chicago
3 A Royal Route
4 It Starts in Illinois, Let Me Tell You Boy
5 Travel My Way, Take the Highway
6 Go through St Louis; Joplin, Missouri
7 You Haven’t Seen the Country ’til You’ve Seen the Country by Car
8 Springfield, Illinois … Springfield, Missouri too
9 Oklahoma City Looks Oh So Pretty
10 You’ll See Amarillo …
11 Albuquerque and Tucumcari, Make New Mexico Extraordinary
12 Flagstaff, Arizona, Don’t Forget Winona
13 You’ll Wanna Own a Piece of Arizona
14 Get Hip to This Timely Tip, When You Make That California Trip
Appendix Mileages from Chicago to Santa Monica