Chris Johns
@chrisjohns36.bsky.social
Follow my substack blog, American Pilgrimages at chrisjohns.substack.com. The motels are always cheaper on the far side of town and other paradoxes of the road.
In memoriam of David Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025).
Are all of life’s questions found in David Lynch’s quest for the perfect chocolate milk shake at Bob’s Big Boy?
(Picture courtesy of Bob’s Big Boy, Burbank)
open.substack.com/pub/chrisjohns/p/in-search-of-bob
Are all of life’s questions found in David Lynch’s quest for the perfect chocolate milk shake at Bob’s Big Boy?
(Picture courtesy of Bob’s Big Boy, Burbank)
open.substack.com/pub/chrisjohns/p/in-search-of-bob
January 16, 2026 at 5:30 PM
In memoriam of David Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025).
Are all of life’s questions found in David Lynch’s quest for the perfect chocolate milk shake at Bob’s Big Boy?
(Picture courtesy of Bob’s Big Boy, Burbank)
open.substack.com/pub/chrisjohns/p/in-search-of-bob
Are all of life’s questions found in David Lynch’s quest for the perfect chocolate milk shake at Bob’s Big Boy?
(Picture courtesy of Bob’s Big Boy, Burbank)
open.substack.com/pub/chrisjohns/p/in-search-of-bob
Nostalgia causes you to pivot your head when driving the backroads—trying to spot abandoned motels, ghost signs, and fiberglass statues with missing body parts. Why are we attracted to things that are no longer here?
Learn the answers of life in my new blog.
Learn the answers of life in my new blog.
In Search of Bob
Happy New Year and happy two-year anniversary to my blog.
chrisjohns.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Nostalgia causes you to pivot your head when driving the backroads—trying to spot abandoned motels, ghost signs, and fiberglass statues with missing body parts. Why are we attracted to things that are no longer here?
Learn the answers of life in my new blog.
Learn the answers of life in my new blog.
A year since the giant’s triumphant return to Wilmington, IL, and the first official event of Route 66's Centennial next year.
The Return of the Giant
Despite it barely reaching 20 degrees today, multiple porta potties had been set up on the perimeter of the park for this often-delayed event.
chrisjohns.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:54 PM
A year since the giant’s triumphant return to Wilmington, IL, and the first official event of Route 66's Centennial next year.
On its best day, the Route made travelers slow down and stop in some unfamiliar town. There at a local diner, in-between eating the daily special, an unexpected sense of belonging could wash over the vacationer.
Read my full substack on the lead up to Route 66's Centennial in 2026.
Read my full substack on the lead up to Route 66's Centennial in 2026.
The (very) Unofficial History of Route 66
Part Two: Myth or Main Street of America
chrisjohns.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
On its best day, the Route made travelers slow down and stop in some unfamiliar town. There at a local diner, in-between eating the daily special, an unexpected sense of belonging could wash over the vacationer.
Read my full substack on the lead up to Route 66's Centennial in 2026.
Read my full substack on the lead up to Route 66's Centennial in 2026.
Route 66 will be turning 100 next year. It’s a birthday party where everyone is supposedly invited. Unfortunately, it’s not clear when the party will start and who’s having the birthday in the first place.
Read the full story at: chrisjohns.substack.com/p/the-very-unofficial-history-of-route
Read the full story at: chrisjohns.substack.com/p/the-very-unofficial-history-of-route
August 22, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Route 66 will be turning 100 next year. It’s a birthday party where everyone is supposedly invited. Unfortunately, it’s not clear when the party will start and who’s having the birthday in the first place.
Read the full story at: chrisjohns.substack.com/p/the-very-unofficial-history-of-route
Read the full story at: chrisjohns.substack.com/p/the-very-unofficial-history-of-route
“I'm itchin' like a man on a fuzzy tree” -EP
Elvis "Tribute Week," August 16, 1987.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/elvis-and-the-new-age
Elvis "Tribute Week," August 16, 1987.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/elvis-and-the-new-age
August 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
“I'm itchin' like a man on a fuzzy tree” -EP
Elvis "Tribute Week," August 16, 1987.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/elvis-and-the-new-age
Elvis "Tribute Week," August 16, 1987.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/elvis-and-the-new-age
Stuff on my walk..
August 2, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Stuff on my walk..
With the recent news surrounding rain modification, it reminded me of my trip to the Ozarks after a storm with questions about unexplained floating phenomena, cloud seeding, and trying to find common ground.
#americanpilgrimages
#americanpilgrimages
Muddle in the River
“Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope.” —F.
chrisjohns.substack.com
July 12, 2025 at 8:10 PM
With the recent news surrounding rain modification, it reminded me of my trip to the Ozarks after a storm with questions about unexplained floating phenomena, cloud seeding, and trying to find common ground.
#americanpilgrimages
#americanpilgrimages
Not sure this country deserves a birthday party this 4th of July. And the US is certainly living up to its no gifts policy.
Waving Back
The 4th has lost its luster for me.
open.substack.com
July 5, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Not sure this country deserves a birthday party this 4th of July. And the US is certainly living up to its no gifts policy.
Taking a little risk when you're out traveling is a small price to pay to see what’s behind the curtains and the wonders that await you.
Illegal Trespassing
My sons were recently discussing me, hypothetically wondering what type of crime I could be arrested for.
chrisjohns.substack.com
June 22, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Taking a little risk when you're out traveling is a small price to pay to see what’s behind the curtains and the wonders that await you.
To the pagans, and to all those celebrate, happy solstice.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/summer-sol...
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/summer-sol...
June 21, 2025 at 3:11 AM
To the pagans, and to all those celebrate, happy solstice.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/summer-sol...
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/summer-sol...
In light of the President fanning the flames in LA for his nefarious agenda, here’s my earlier blog about how the Watts Towers continue to stand tall, despite being built by an immigrant man who was not even 5 feet tall and with no formal architectural background.
Watts Towers
In light of the President fanning the flames in LA for his nefarious agenda, here’s my earlier blog about how the Watts Towers stood tall, despite being built by a man who was not even 5 feet tall and...
chrisjohns.substack.com
June 9, 2025 at 8:31 PM
In light of the President fanning the flames in LA for his nefarious agenda, here’s my earlier blog about how the Watts Towers continue to stand tall, despite being built by an immigrant man who was not even 5 feet tall and with no formal architectural background.
May 19, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Read the untold story.
Elvis and the New Age
There I was, on a hot mid-August night in Memphis in 1987, 10 years exactly since Elvis’ death. After waiting six hours in the sweltering heat with 50,000 other fans on Elvis Presley Boulevard, we fol...
chrisjohns.substack.com
May 17, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Read the untold story.
Mom's Diner. Hightstown, NJ.
May 12, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Mom's Diner. Hightstown, NJ.
An unofficial history of road music. Read my blog for "the rest of the story."
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/fun-road-t...
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/fun-road-t...
Fun Road Trip Mix
An Unofficial History of Road Music
chrisjohns.substack.com
May 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
An unofficial history of road music. Read my blog for "the rest of the story."
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/fun-road-t...
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/fun-road-t...
Support your local libraries.
#nationallibraryweek
#nationallibraryweek
April 9, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Support your local libraries.
#nationallibraryweek
#nationallibraryweek
KCMO representing.
April 6, 2025 at 1:14 AM
KCMO representing.
I received a piece of bittersweet mail recently; my new passport had arrived. It was usually issued in anticipation of a new trip ahead—an ocean liner to Europe in the 60s, flying down to Puerto Vallarta to get a terrible sunburn and diarrhea in the 70’s...
Click on the link to read my full blog.
Click on the link to read my full blog.
A Passport to Nowhere
I received a piece of bittersweet mail recently; my new passport had arrived.
chrisjohns.substack.com
April 4, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I received a piece of bittersweet mail recently; my new passport had arrived. It was usually issued in anticipation of a new trip ahead—an ocean liner to Europe in the 60s, flying down to Puerto Vallarta to get a terrible sunburn and diarrhea in the 70’s...
Click on the link to read my full blog.
Click on the link to read my full blog.
I’m feeling a lot like Charlton Heston these days.
Read the full story on substack.
Read the full story on substack.
Lady Liberty
Or a Statute of Limitations
open.substack.com
March 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I’m feeling a lot like Charlton Heston these days.
Read the full story on substack.
Read the full story on substack.
The woman looked blankly at me when she opened the door with my two suitcases in hand and a car full of all my belongings.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
This wasn’t the greeting I had expected, especially after being on the road for two days.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/the-partin...
“Can I help you?” she asked.
This wasn’t the greeting I had expected, especially after being on the road for two days.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/the-partin...
The Parting of the Waters
The woman looked blankly at me when she opened the door with my two suitcases in hand and a car full of all my belongings. “Can I help you?” she asked. This wasn’t the greeting I had expected, especia...
chrisjohns.substack.com
February 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The woman looked blankly at me when she opened the door with my two suitcases in hand and a car full of all my belongings.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
This wasn’t the greeting I had expected, especially after being on the road for two days.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/the-partin...
“Can I help you?” she asked.
This wasn’t the greeting I had expected, especially after being on the road for two days.
chrisjohns.substack.com/p/the-partin...