Lyman Stucky held his small rally Wednesday to protest San Bernandino, Calif., not draping a 30-by-22-foot flag on the side of City Hall, reports the San Bernardino County Sun. The city council has turned down a request for the giant flag because of logistical and expense reasons. There are, by the way, plenty of standard-size American flags flying regularly at City Hall.

But at least Stucky got the message that a threatened boycott of the city's Route 66 Rendezvous wouldn't be productive:

For his part, Stucky backed away from an initial proposal of boycotting the annual Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous if the council did not reverse its decision.

"I want to support the Route 66," Stucky said. "It is a good organization, and I support it in good faith. I just hope I can expect the same from the City Council."

Steve Henthorn, president and CEO of the San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau, said he spoke with Stucky earlier on Wednesday and talked him out of the boycott.

"I was just letting him know that I thought that he was holding the wrong victim hostage," he said. "He did have a little change of heart, and I'm glad."

Although the Rendezvous is an economic boon for the city, Henthorn said the targeting such a huge event largely supported by volunteers would be "like sticking it to yourself" for the protesters a group that is primarily made up of car buffs.

Based on the meager number of protesters (as shown by the photo gallery with the story), Stucky also probably figured out that a boycott would have been an empty gesture. The Route 66 Rendezvous is much bigger than Stucky is, or ever would be.

I also have a hunch that the festival's sponsor, Stater Bros. Markets, called Stucky and told him to knock it off. I briefly met one of Stater Bros.' key organizers during the festival last year; he's a Vietnam veteran who will match his patriotism with anybody's. And if you need further proof, just check out the front page of Stater's Web site.

The Route 66 town of Victorville, Calif., is hosting one heck of a Huck Finn Jubillee this weekend.

Not only is the festival going to try to set a world record with the world's biggest bluegrass jam session, but it will have a special Father's Day show of country legend Mel Tillis and talented daughter Pam Tillis on Sunday night. Most people know Mel Tillis for his twangy croon and a stuttering schtick that isn't entirely an act, but he's also one of the best songwriters ever to walk Nashville. Pam's last album, "It's All Relative," was one of the year's best CDs.

Music acts also appearing at the festival include The Grascals, Lonesome River Band and Larry Sparks.

There's more, according to the Victorville Daily Bulletin:

Among the events happening at various times during the three-day run of the festival are a hot-air balloon lift and glow, fishing derby, egg toss, tomahawk throwing, clog dancing and treasure hunt. Also, musket loading and wood carving demonstrations, horseshoe pitching, line dancing, the Russell Bros. Circus, Route 66 car show, arm wrestling and cow chip throwing championships, plus a Huck Finn look-a-like contest.

There's a group that's organizing a motorcycle tour in the Southwest, including Route 66, for about $18,000 a head.

Before you say it's a ripoff, it's a fundraiser for the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, based in the United Kingdom. There's a pre-trip motorcycle training on Sept. 2, with the actual trip on Oct. 16-24. The cost is 10,000 British pounds, which converts to just shy of $18,500.

For information, go here. 

If you can't make the 2006 Route 66 Festival in Albuquerque next week, there's the Highlights of the Mother Road car and motorcycle event, which runs June 30 to July 2. 

Travel Television News has the details about the event in the Duke City. 

A wildfire west of Flagstaff has closed one lane of Interstate 40 westbound. Smoke could be seen all the way into downtown, according to the AP.

The blaze off Woody Mountain Road has burned about 200 acres and several campgrounds, and is heading east toward the city.

If you're heading that way on the Mother Road, be careful.

UPDATE: Here's a new report from AP. A small subdivision has been evacuated.

UPDATE2: Evacuations may extend into Friday, AP reports. Here's another report from the Arizona Republic.