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Day 4, 09/08/2009, of my Route 66 road trip started in Joplin MO & ended in Tulsa OK, with notable stops in Galena KS, Baxter Springs KS, Commerce OK, Miami OK, Afton OK, Chelsea OK & Catoosa OK. Singling out a photo was difficult as I met some awesome people this day, including Melba at 4 Women On The Route (now Cars On The Route) & Laurel at Afton Station. But, this pic shows a hoped-for-but-not-planned chance meeting.

Just before I left for Route 66, word spread that famed Bob Waldmire would be traveling the route back to Springfield IL at the same time. I hoped I’d meet him, but wasn’t counting on it. Then, as I sat & chatted with Laurel at Afton Station, suddenly Laurel looked up & spotted Waldmire’s Ford Mustang pull into the station’s lot. I was thrilled. Laurel snapped this picture of me & Bob. At the time, none of us knew how dire the health situation was for Bob; he died of cancer a few short months later.