Nancy Shevell

Paul McCartney’s trek across the USA on Route 66 caused pockets of chaos in some of the places where he stopped. For example, Paul and his girlfriend Nancy Shevell pulled into the Circle K gas station in Springfield, Missouri, in their 1989 Ford Bronco the first week of August, and no one paid attention. But when Paul got out to use the men’s room, one of a car full of young local guys on their way to St Louis for a Cardinal game, gasped “That looks like Paul McCartney!” He yelled “Hey, Paul!” and Paul answered in his distinctive accent. The excited guys chatted with Paul and he posed for the above photo with them. The State Journal_Register published the picture and it started a major uproar. The paper was inundated by readers insisting it was a hoax and the picture was photoshopped. They couldn’t believe Paul was in their town, much less driving a Bronco! It was the subject of much speculation for days. We can imagine this scene repeating itself in many of the small towns Paul visited.