Now that she’s had a couple of days of rest from her cross-country bicycle trip on Route 66, Michelle Thompson has posted her post-ride thoughts and thank-yous on her Web site.

Route 66 enthusiast Emily Priddy has announced that she’s going to update her parents’ guide to the Mother Road, “Route 66 for Kids,” on Feb. 1. The book has been available a free download as Adobe Acrobat or a Microsoft Word file from the Kids on 66 Web site since 2005, although it was initially self-published in 2003 and lightly updated in 2005.

“I’m really excited about this latest update, because it’s the first edition to come out since the release of Pixar’s ‘Cars,’” Priddy says in a media release. “I think you’re going to see a lot of families hitting the road next summer, trying to find all these places they saw in the movie, and I’m really looking forward to getting this new version of the book out there to help them plan their trips.”

In February 2006, another parents’ guide to the Mother Road, “Route 66 Road Trip Family Fun” by James H. Roche, was published. I decided to compare the two and found out interesting things about them.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I am married to Emily. I’ve never met Roche, but we exchanged e-mails when he asked me in February to announce the publication of his book on Route 66 News, which I did.)

In comparing the books, here are the facts:

Cost: Roche’s book lists for $7.95 after going for $10.95 earlier in the year. Priddy’s book is a free download.

Content: Roche’s book lists 74 attractions on Route 66. Priddy’s book lists more than 160.

Roche’s book has large gaps between attractions, such as 240 miles between Stanton, Mo., and Riverton, Kan., and 244 miles from Albuquerque, N.M., to Joseph City, Ariz. Gaps in Priddy’s book never exceed 100 miles.

Both books contain several spots not on Route 66. Priddy’s book has a key that indicates which attractions are not actually on the Mother Road to help travelers avoid confusion. Roche’s book does not.

Roche’s book lists Web addresses, phone numbers and addresses. Priddy’s book lists Web addresses, phone numbers, addresses, admission prices and hours of operation.

Illustrations: Roche’s book has several dozen photographs and line drawings that were converted from photographs. Priddy’s book, save for the cover, is not illustrated, but she has drawn 17 coloring-book illustrations that can be downloaded from her site.

Text: More than one-fourth of the sentences in Roche’s 2006 book are similar or identical to the text in Priddy’s 2003 book.

Here’s one passage about Winslow, Ariz., from Roche’s 2006 book:

“Standin’ on a Corner … You know the rest. The hit song by Jackson Brown [sic] has given Winslow its musical claim to fame and a reason to construct a small park on Route 66 in downtown. Anyone who cares to stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona can do so at the Standin’ on a Corner Park, a brick-paved corner lot on eastbound Route 66 featuring a bronze statue of a guy with a guitar case at his feet and a mural painted on a nearby wall, depicting a large window in which we see the reflection of a girl in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at all the tourists who stop for this irresistible photo.”

Here’s what Priddy wrote in 2003:

“Standin’ on a Corner … You know the rest. Winslow has used its musical claim to fame as the inspiration for a small park on Route 66. Anyone who cares to stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona can do so at the Standin’ on a Corner Park, a brick-paved corner lot on eastbound Route 66 featuring a bronze statue of a guy with a guitar case at his feet and a tromp l’oeil mural painted on the side of a nearby building, depicting a large window in which we see the reflection of a girl (my Lord!) in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at all the tourists who stop for this irresistible photo op. The only down side is that you end up humming ‘Take It Easy’ all the way to Winona. But you’d probably do that anyway, right? Come on, baby….”

Here’s what Roche has about Funks Grove Maple Sirup in Shirley, Ill.:

“Heading down RT 66 between McLean and Towanda, you’ll see a large sign at the side of the road advertising ‘MAPLE SIRUP.’ (Yes, it is spelled that way on purpose.) Follow the arrow to a small building in the middle of a group of maple trees, where the Funk family produces its famous maple sirup. The spelling is correct: Maple ‘syrup,’ with a ‘y’ in the middle, contains added sugar. Maple ‘sirup,’ with an ‘I,’ is pancake topping in its purest form, its sweetness the result of natural maple sugar, its flavor both rich and delicate. The shop is open whenever the Funks have sirup, maple cream or their exquisite chocolate-covered maple truffles to sell; when they run out, the shop closes. The land has been in the family since 1824.”

Here is what Priddy wrote:

“Driving down 66 between McLean and Towanda, you’ll see a large sign at the side of the road advertising ‘MAPLE SIRUP.’ Follow the arrow to a little building in the middle of a stand of maple trees, where the Funk family produces its famous maple sirup. The spelling is correct: Maple ‘syrup,’ with a ‘y’ in the middle, contains added sugar. Maple ‘sirup,’ with an ‘i,’ is pancake topping in its purest form, its sweetness the result of natural maple sugar, its flavor both rich and delicate. The shop is open whenever the Funks have sirup, maple cream or their exquisite chocolate-covered maple truffles to sell; when they run out, the shop closes. Come out in the early spring and buy some of that naturally sweet ambrosia before supplies run out. For more information, check online at www.route66.com/FunksGrove or call (309) 874-3360.”

Here’s what Roche has to say about the Jackrabbit Trading Post in Arizona:

“‘HERE IT IS’: The most photographed billboard on Route 66. The Jack Rabbit advertises its presence with bright yellow billboards along 66 and I-40 emblazoned with a black silhouette of a jackrabbit and the mileage to the trading post. Upon reaching the store, tourists are greeted by a final billboard that proclaims, in large, red letters, ‘HERE IT IS.’ Besides its famous billboard, the trading post is known for its giant fiberglass jackrabbit wearing a saddle, which visitors can sit on for photos. Store offers a huge assortment of Route 66, Arizona and jack rabbit-themed souvenirs as well as snacks and gasoline.”

Here’s what Priddy wrote in 2003:

“HERE IT IS: the most photographed billboard on Route 66. The Jack Rabbit advertises its presence with bright yellow billboards along 66 and I-40 emblazoned with a black silhouette of a jack rabbit and the mileage to the trading post. Upon reaching the business, visitors are greeted by a final billboard that proclaims, in large red letters, ‘HERE IT IS.’ Besides its famous billboard, the trading post is known for its sweet cherry cider (pleasantly reminiscent of Kool-Aid) and its giant fiberglass jack rabbit wearing a saddle, which visitors can sit on for photo ops. Store offers a huge assortment of Route 66, Arizona and jack rabbit-themed souvenirs as well as snacks and gasoline. Open 8 a.m. to sunset Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to sunset Sunday. For more information, visit www.jackrabbit-tradingpost.com or call (928) 288-3230.”

Roche has offered no explanation on why the text in his 2006 book is so similar to the text in Priddy’s 2003 book. He did not answer my e-mailed questions about this issue. And Priddy is not credited in Roche’s book.

To recap:

Roche’s book contains more illustrations, but lists fewer attractions and less information about them, and is available for $7.95.

Priddy’s book doesn’t have any illustrations in it, but some illustrations are available online. The book lists more attractions and more information about them, and it’s free to anyone with a computer.

From KCAL-TV, a CBS affiliate:

GLENDORA, Calif. – A 27-year-old Army specialist from Glendora who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on Saturday became the San Gabriel Valley’s 22nd death in the war, it was reported Thursday.

Army Spc. Elias Elias is believed to be the first casualty from Glendora, where he has a yellow banner in his name near old Route 66 and Barranca Avenue. The city’s Yellow Ribbon Committee put up the banners to honor locals serving in Iraq, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported.

My list of Iraq and Afghanistan war dead from Route 66 towns is here.

It was first posted on Veterans Day. I’ve added about one a week since then.

UPDATE: The San Gabriel Valley Tribune has an update on the Glendora soldier and the banner dedicated to him that was hung on Route 66:

They tied the red, white and blue-flowered wreath to the flagpole with a long yellow ribbon that whipped in the wind. Two yellow roses - one for Elias and one to honor the soldiers who continue to serve, Davis explained - also had to be tied down after the wind threatened to blow them away.

The strong gusts had already ripped down a banner with Elias’ name on it early Thursday. Glendora’s Yellow Ribbon Committee has posted banners on city lampposts to honor Glendorans serving in the military. Elias’ banner has been re-hung near Route 66 and Barranca Avenue, said committee co-chair Meg Everton.

“When we were putting that banner back up, I was crying,” she said. “We get really attached to our soldiers, and it’s really really hard for us to know that one of ours is lost.”

Remember Dennis Kinch, the man afflicted with chronic pain who walked Route 66 to raise awareness for the National Pain Foundation?

He’s no longer with the foundation, but he’s establishing a nonprofit group called Pain Education, Awareness and Re-invention, or PEAR. He’s also writing a book about his experiences and producing a documentary.

He also plans to revisit the people on Route 66 who helped him during his long walk (if you missed his adventures the first time, check out the Route 66 News archive here). This time, however, he’s going by car.

Kinch has launched a Web site, called WalkforHealing.com. He’s also established a MySpace site.

According to this short story in the San Bernardino County Sun, a new California Welcome Center on Hospitality Lane near the junction of Interstates 215 and 10 will have a Mother Road flavor when it opens in February:

The California Welcome Center will combine a Route 66 and 1950s retro theme with plasma screens, multimedia, and kiosks linked to local Web sites, along with wireless Internet access.

California might have gotten the idea from Texas and this rest area.

There’s a big, painted stone frog on Waynesville Hill just off old Route 66 in Wayneville, Mo. It’s been a local landmark for years, and its name is W.H. Croaker.

According to the Waynesville Frog Fest site, this is how the frog was created:

You see, several years ago the Missouri Department of Transportation was widening the roadway into Waynesville and it was necessary to do a lot of blasting to the mountainside and when they were done it left an outcropping of rock that many said looked like a very familiar shape. Well the ladies at Waynesville City Hall (Barbara Stinson, Toni Wright & Sheila Debo) decided to do something with the outcropping and called Phil Nelson, the operator of Blue Rose Tattoo, who shaped and painted the rock into the likeness of a frog, me, W.H. Croaker. The ladies were interested in starting an annual event that was set in the cool springtime and with the new rock frog on the hill they made that the theme. Now with many more members to the committee it is growing into a grand event, so hop on down and have a good time.

A postcard of W.H. Croaker can be seen here.

Today, the Waynesville Daily Guide reports that a similar-looking frog could be part of a water slide at the town’s upcoming water park, which would replace the closed city pool. The story includes an artist’s rendering of the water park, with the big frog.

Although plans for the water park aren’t final, Park Board Chairman Roger Olney says the frog idea is a popular one.

“Everybody on the park board kind of liked the big frog slide in keeping with the frog theme and the frog on the hill,” Olney said.

The frog concept would run about $50,000 with a total cost of about $150,000 for the full splash park, Olney said.

The park is looking at a water park instead of another pool because it’s much less expensive. A full pool, Olney said, would cost $1 million to $1.5 million.

The current pool closed because of structural problems.