Coffee With Jim

Journey Through Time, March 29, 2026

Take the excitement of the Route 66 centennial, add a vintage 1973 Chrysler New Yorker, a passion for road trips, and a desire to honor the memory of an old friend, Hans Granberg, a Finnish Chrysler enthusiast. This is the perfect recipe for an epic once in a life time adventure. The trip hasn't even started and the adventure already added some zest to today's lively wide ranging conversation with Markku Jaakkola and Jacob Gilbert. 

The duo will be taking to the road in August with plans to experience Route 66 as well as meet the people that infuse a road trip on this storied highway with infectious magic. And they are hoping that their trip will inspire other vintage car owners to discover America with a road trip or two, and to join them for a few miles as they motor west toward California. 

You can learn more about the work to make the car road ready, the Route 66 road trip planning, and then the adventure at the Detroit's Unforgotten Wheels website. 

Next week on Coffee With Jim we are serving up a heaping helping of road trip inspiration and innovative ideas about historic preservation, cultural and heritage tourism, related economic development, and the Route 66 centennial. Today’s guest is Ken Busby, Executive Director & CEO, Route 66 Alliance. We will be discussing the AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and innovative programs and initiatives that are revitalizing the Route 66 corridor in that city. Invite your friends and join the conversation.

Today's program is sponsored in part by Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Wagon Wheel Motel, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and RouteTrip USA. It is also listener supported through Patreon. 

Four Miles East of Bagdad, March 22, 2026

It’s a riveting story of 19th century crime, violence, the railroad, racial tension, and injustice in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California. Steve Reyes has a diverse background that includes work in law enforcement and with courts. That made him the perfect person for unraveling and telling this fascinating story in his book, Four Miles East of Bagdad. Aside from a lively conversation about a desert oasis with a Route 66 connection we found time to talk about ghost towns, forgotten cemeteries in the desert, immigrants and 19th century railroad life in the Mojave Desert. 

Today's program is sponsored in part by Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Wagon Wheel Motel, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and RouteTrip USA. It is also listener supported through Patreon. 

Next week on Coffee With Jim, take the excitement of the Route 66 centennial, add a vintage 1973 Chrysler New Yorker, a passion for road trips, and a desire to honor the memory of an old friend, Hans Granberg, a Finnish Chrysler enthusiast. This is the perfect recipe for an epic once in a life time adventure. And it will make for a lively conversation. Invite your friends and join our conversation with Markku Jaakkola and Jacob Gilbert.