Bennetts insurance of the United Kingdom conducted a survey to see what are the most desired places in the world for motorcyclists to drive, according to Motorcycle News.

The winner was the Great Ocean Road, a 250-mile stretch along the southeastern coast of Australia.

Not far behind in second place was Route 66.

Not the Pacific Coast Highway. Not Highway A1A in Florida. Not even any the spectacular coastal highways of Europe.

It was Route 66.

That’s great. But next time, we need to take it to No. 1.

The Route 66 Cellars winery in Needles, Calif., held its second annual grape stomp, reports the Mohave Daily News, where customers could crush the fruit with old-fashioned way — with their feet.

The article gives some background on the relatively new business:

Route 66 Cellars opened its doors in March of 2006 and they are currently producing about 10,000 bottles a year. They sell about 14 varieties including a signature jalapeno wine, an award winning orange muscat and an award-winning port.

Boyd said that the prices for his wine average around $12-$16; “what we offer for $12 is the equivalent of what you’d get in Paso Robles for $24 or Napa for $50.”

“My everyday is the equivalent of a big vineyard’s custom reserve,” said Boyd. He said that because he’s brewing smaller quantities, he can pick out the best fruits that the vineyards have to offer.

Regrettably, Route 66 Cellars won’t use the grape juice from the stomp event for winemaking.

The City of Joliet, Ill., found a unique way to kick off its Joliet Kicks on Route 66 tourism campaign. It has placed fiberglass replica gas pumps at various historical landmarks, complete with informational placards, reports the Joliet Herald News.

The story contains a photo of a Texaco gas pump in front of the Rialto Square Theatre.

The downtown gas pump locations include: a Mobil Oil pump outside of the Joliet Area Historical Museum at Cass and Ottawa streets; a Sinclair pump outside of the Will County Court House; and a Standard Oil pump at Chicago and Cass streets.

Other Route 66 features in Joliet include a Joliet Kicks on Route 66 lighted ice cream cone at the Rich and Creamy Ice Cream Stand next to Route 66 Park. The park has a 12-foot tall Joliet Kicks on Route 66 shield and a Shell nostalgia gas pump.

The Joliet Area Historical Museum includes a Route 66 Experience and Visitors Center with videos describing the history of the highway and an interactive guest book for those interested in seeing who else has come through town while traveling the old route.

The projects are part of a $150,000 Attraction Development Grant from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.

The Joliet Kicks on Route 66 site contains a section about the gas pumps.

The gas-pumps-as-markers idea is unusual, but it’s certain more eye-grabbing than your typical tourism kiosk.

This is a good one. Veteran blues and gospel singer Linda Hopkins sings Bobby Troup’s “Route 66″ in front of an enthusiastic European audience.

Believe it or not, Hopkins is 82 years old and was still performing as recently as last year. Here’s her impressive bio.