Kicks on 66

May 11, 2014

Adios Nuevo Mexico

Even though we have been on and off Route 66 at different points since the beginning of March, our Mother Road adventure started in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

From here we would do our best to follow all paved sections (definitely skipping the dirt portions towing a trailer). You could spend several days in Tucumcari–so much Kitch to see! We focused on a few of the famous neon and the murals.

One of the best stops was at Tucumcari Ranch Supply and Watsons Barbecue.

I was in search of a spoon rest and was told to try the ranch supply. They have everything. The aroma of pulled pork was enough to make you salivate. The actual restaurant  was not open. (I swear nothing in New Mexico is open until the weekend).

However, they were happy to wrap us up a pound of pulled pork to take with us. And if ever we are to return to Tucumcari, I will be sure to book a room at the legendary  Blue Swallow Motel.

Blue Swallow

TeePee Curios

Texas Star

I purchased the EZ 66Guide by Jerry McClanahan because I had heard 66 is not navigable by map or road signs in most places. So I took the wheel and Gerard grabbed the book and became navigator extraordinaire. I have no idea how one person could figure out how to get on down the road, you really need a navigator! Shortly before the town of Glenrio is a travel center that has an amazing car collection and antique toy display, definitely not to be missed.

Russells Travel Center

From here it is only a short distance to Adrian, Texas touted as the midpoint between Chicago and Los Angeles.

 The Midpoint Cafe and the Sunflower Station are about the only places in town and amazing to see travelers from all over the world stopping for the photo op. Traveling the Mother Road is particularly popular with Europeans, Australians and New Zealanders. Who knew?!

 

A Texas Millionaire commissioned an art group to install Cadillac Ranch in 1974 near Amarillo, Texas. It consists of what were (when originally installed during 1974) either older running used or junk Cadillac automobiles, representing a number of evolutions of the car line (most notably the birth and death of the defining feature of mid twentieth century Cadillacs; the tailfins) from 1949 to 1963

Just down the road is the Cadillac Ranch gift shop with one of our first Giant Alerts: giant Cowboy. Kind of started the search for the giant everythings.

We realized we needed gas and pulled off to stumble on to the Bug Ranch, a satirical answer to Cadillac Ranch…VWs buried instead of caddys.

Billed as the largest crosses in the western hemisphere, 190 foot tall cross stands in Groom, Texas and just east of there is the leaning tower of Britten, built that way to attract attention.

In McClean Texas a restored Phillips 66 station stands. The original owners of the oil company were driving down Route 66 when he noticed they were going 66mph and that's when they decided to name the gas stations.

We knew, even going only 100 to 150 per day, we couldn't see it all, but we would do our best to experience as much as we could. I think one of my favorite memories will be cruising down the original1930s portland concrete, curbs and all, east of Shamrock, Texas, continuing on through Oklahoma. It truly gives you the sense of what it was like back in the day.

original pavement curbs and all

OOOOH-klahoma where the winds....

Our first night on the Mother Road was at Sayre City Park. The Beckham County Courthouse in Sayre was featured in the movie The Grapes of Wrath.

Our next day we would only cover 101 miles but with 2 Route 66 museums and more kitchy Americana, it would take us 8 hours to cover those miles!

giant Kachina at the National 66 museum in Elk City, Oklahoma

I have to agree with our guidebook that one of the best drives on 66 is the 1930s route from Hydro to El Reno. The curbed concrete heads away from any view of the interstate, curving through woods and crossing bridges revealing beautiful countryside.

1933 pony truss bridge

Our second night, we camped at Lucky Star Casino. I learned that many casinos not only allow overnight camping, but actually have FULL hook-ups. They also give you $10 on a players card and Gerard went off and won $25 on penny slots. So the casino paid us to camp!

Day three and we were on the road bright and early. I wanted to breeze through Oklahoma City with as little traffic as possible. I had hoped to stop at the National Memorial of the Federal Building, but for a Saturday, there was too much traffic and too narrow streets towing the Land of OZ and I just wanted to get through. However, the little towns following were a delight. A massive grain elevator is a formidable sight in Yukon.

The Lake Overholser Bridge has been restored and reopened in Bethany  which is the home of the Southern Christian University with its giant Globe.

The centerpiece of Arcadia is the restored 1898 Round Barn and, not old at all, but a new 66 foot pop bottle at Pops, a diner and convenience store with hundreds of soft drink flavors.

Motorcycle museum in Warwick

Rounding the bend and entering Warwick we stumbled into the Seaba station that is a great antique motorcycle museum. We gave a quick call to Jerry McClanahan, the author of our guide to see if he would be home for a book signing and tada! …our lucky day. His home and studio are in Chandler, Oklahoma. He is also an artist who memorializes this Americana in his paintings. We bought a couple prints for the trailer of course.

Jerry McClanahan, author of EZ 66 Guide

From 1926-1928, Route 66 took a loop through Depew, all but a ghost town now.

Heyburn Lake Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Not far from the route we would make camp at a CCC (Conservation Corp of Engineers Camp) at Heyburn Lake, another benefit of the federal access pass–1/2 price camping! It's been in the 90s these last couple days and being lakeside has been a great way to re-energize to hit the road again on Monday the 12th. We expect to meander into St. Louis on Wednesday or Thursday and stay with my sister for a few days.

So meet me in St. Louie