Day 22 Summer Vacation 2008

Today is Day 22 Monday July 28 2008

Today we are going to drive from Amarillo Texas to Clinton Oklahoma. It is only about 300 KM distance, but it is going to take us most of the day because there is so much to stop and see along the way.

First photo op is what is billed as “The Largest Cross In the Western Hemisphere” I am glad that they didn’t claim it to be the largest cross in the world, because I am sure that I saw one as large, or maybe larger somewhere in Georgia last winter.

Then it was on to Groom Texas where we found this water tower about ready to topple over on its side.

It is really not going to topple over because it was designed this way to attract tourists into what once was a service center on Route 66 in Britten OK. The service center is long gone, but this water tower is a great photo op.
Then there was Jerico Gap another mud / dirt section of Route 66, needless to say we didn’t want to get the car stuck or dirty, so it was back out onto the Interstate for a few miles.

Allenreed Texas was next, then McLean Texas. If you are curious about why barbed wire was invented or how it is made, this is the place to learn everything and anything about barbed wire, or Devil’s Rope as they call it around here. The building also houses a very good Route 66 museum. Visit the Devil’s Rope and Route 66 Museum while in McLean Texas.

McLean TX also has a very well restored Phillips 66 gas station.

We found a section of Route 66 between McLean and Shamrock TX that still had its original 1930 concrete. This 1930 concrete was in better shape than most other roads we have driven on in either the USA or Canada.

The U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, but of course it is no longer an Inn, it is now the Chamber of Commerce Building and Tourist Center. It was closed today, and we are going to come across a few other Route 66 must see places that are closed today. Monday is not a good day if you want things to be open.

Closed… The Sand Hills Curiosity Shop in Erick Oklahoma. We really had hoped to meet the owners, Harley and Annabell. They have their own blog so you can stay up to date on their antics. The store front was a good photo op though for our car.

This is one of the few places in America where you can actually see Rednecks work and play in their own environment. Insanity at its Finest. Too bad they were closed.

Next stop was the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City Oklahoma

We spent several hours here, because not only is there the Route 66 Museum, but there is also an Old Town Museum where there are replica buildings and displays of an old town. There is a Transportation Museum, a Train Depot, and a Farm and Ranch Museum. Lots to see and do here in Elk City OK.

It is time to head for our hotel in Clinton Oklahoma, it has been a long day jumping in and out of the car, visiting museums and taking photos. Here is one of my favourite photos from today.. This shows Route 66 following the contours of the land and over to the left is the Interstate. We are the only car on Route 66 for as far as the eye can see.

To see all 191 of our photos from today, you can click on the link to my FLICKR site.

Day 21 Summer Vacation 2008

Today is Day 21 Sunday July 27 2008

We are back on Route 66 this morning after a day of rest and relaxation yesterday.

First stop is Clines Corners, a trading post souvenir shop. Then it is on to Santa Rosa New Mexico. We stopped and took pictures at the Club Cafe, the Sun & Sand Motel and the Sahara Lounge.

Then we stopped for a couple of hours to check out the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa NM.

This is a must see museum for anyone who is in Santa Rosa. There are over 30 restored cars inside and they are gorgeous. You are going to have to see my FLICKR site to look at all the cars because there are too many photos to put into this blog.

We had lunch at the Denny’s in Tucumcari New Mexico, but since we had spent some time in Tucumcari a few weeks ago on our way out West, we kept on going till we got to San Jon NM and checked out the abandoned businesses and weather beaten signs.

Now we are crossing the State Line from New Mexico into Texas. Our destination for this evening is Amarillo Texas, but first we want to check out the abandoned town of Glen Rio Texas.

Then we push on to The MidPoint Cafe in Adrian Texas. This cafe is aptly named because it is exactly located half way between the start of Route 66 and the end of Route 66. The MidPoint Cafe is the home of the Ugly Crust Pie so we had to stop in and buy a couple of pieces plus some other souvenirs of our visit.

After enjoying our ugly crust pie and ice cream, we push on towards Landergin Texas and Vega Texas.

We had to stop in Vega just to check out the windmills that we could see in the distance. We turned North off of Route 66 and tried to figure out how to get close to one of these, but the area was all fenced off.

I had to use the zoom lens to get this shot.

Next stop, The Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo Texas. Another must stop and see location. The owner of the property has buried a dozen Cadillac's nose down into the ground. People come from all over for this photo op and to spray paint their mark onto one of the cars.

We checked into our hotel in Amarillo and then went out for dinner at The Big Texan. The Big Texan is the home of the 72 Ounce Steak. If you can eat this steak with all the trimmings within 1 hour, you get your meal for free. I know my limits so I only ordered the 6 ounce steak with all the trimmings.