Day 0, I used Microsoft Streets & Tips to calculate our mileage and fuel expenses.

Leg One: San Bernardino, Ca to San Antonio, Tx. Travel 1325 miles.

Leg Two: San Antonio, Tx to League City, Tx. Travel 225 miles.

Leg Three: League City, Tx to Dallas, Tx.  Travel 264 miles.

Leg Four: Dallas, Tx to Joplin, Mo. Travel 423 miles.

Leg Five: Joplin, Mo to Kansas City, Mo Travel 162 miles.

Leg Six: Kansas City, Mo To Illinois 40 miles east of St Louis, Mo. Travel 300 miles.

Leg Seven: Now on Route 66. Illinois back to California. Travel 1900 miles to home.

Driving distance:  4600 miles
Total travel time:  6 days,
6 hours, 32 minutes
Driving time:  77 hours,
43 minutes
Cost:  $402.98

As computed by Microsoft Streets & Tips. I told it we would drive 9am to 9pm. Gee what a fun trip 4600 miles in just under six and a half days. This was our first big trip in Rex and I found out later that gas would cost more than the $1.50 I'd estimated. I thought gas would get cheaper when we left California. When we left gas was $1.54, when we returned it was $2.33.

The Colonel's Journal

     I've traveled from Springfield, Mo back to California before but it was on the Super slab in just over two days. This time I wanted to really experience Route 66.

     I'd planned a week maybe nine days. In actuality it was nine times two. A total of eighteen days. Add to that another nineteen days for the original purpose of the trip. We had been gone since Feb 5th and returned March 15th. Thirty eight days on the road. We is myself, my girlfriend Carol and Cleo my German Shepard. Oh yes and Rex, our 1994 Ford Explorer.

     I invite you to come along with us from Day 1 or join us, at Day 20, when we actually drive Route 66. We faced just about all the weather hazards; wind, rain, sleet and snow. With the help of friends and family along our route we were able to sit out major storms, but we did manage to do more than just sit.

     My journal like our trip holds unexpected twists and turns. There are lots of side trips along the way.

 Check out the hints section.
 

This is our planned route.

Day 1. The plan was to depart San Bernardino at 5 am and drive until 9 pm covering 960 miles.

Day 2. Once you have arrived in Fort Stockton, you will soon become aware of the spectacular landscape of the Big Bend.

Day 3. Mission San Antonio de Valero, later became famous as the Alamo, was established in 1718. Its mission role completed, the old buildings, became the "cradle of Texas Liberty."

Day 4