The term “Bible Belt” often refers to the southern states where conservative, evangelical, Protestantism is pre-dominant. This is a term oft-used by journalists and should in no way be taken to mean disrespect to the strong moral values and Christian faith of the South. I only include it here because it cannot be missed during this part of our trip. And for many who meet “godless, heathen, Americans,” they do not often get to experience this part of the country. They also miss out on the “Rosary Belt” of the southern tip of the US, the Mormon (Church of Latter Day Saints) corridor of Utah, Muslims in the Washington-Boston corridor, Jewish communities in New York and California, and the other faith-strong communities throughout the United States. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the earliest immigrants who came to this country were those seeking religious freedom. In difficult times it can be one of our most divisive issues, and in better times it gives us a chance to have important dialogue to better understand that we share far more things in common than we have things that differ and separate us.

When the Interstate Highway System was created, the importance and expedience of US Route 66 was greatly diminished. Route 66 was officially retired in 1985, but it’s legacy has been kept by the communities along it’s route and is slowly making its way back onto maps as a national scenic byway. It’s been nice traveling through cities honoring US Route 66.