Road Memories of Route 66

As a young kid growing up in the desert, I believed that Route 66 was the only road that led people from coast to coast.

Daggett, Calif., is where I spent my childhood years. My parents owned and ran three businesses along Route 66, a bar-restaurant, a local market and a Chevron gas station.

Our place was very popular to travelers, soldiers and business people. Many would designate our place as a rendezvous as well as stop and say hi and have a meal prepared by my mother. My parents offered home-cooked meals and music on Friday and Saturday nights featuring my father’s compositions--people from all around would come to listen.

My father was the best mechanic around. . . . My parents worked hard to keep the businesses going until the day Interstate 40 was laid across the desert parallel to Route 66, killing the inflow of business in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Only two of the three buildings are still standing, but the memories remain strong.

I believe that a high percentage of those who (traveled) Route 66 would remember our place. The names of those who deserve all the credit are my parents Eddie R. and Mary G. Bernal.

RAYMOND C. BERNAL

Culver City