Advertisement
Published: October 18th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Route 66
An overgrown alignment Here it is, the final stretch on our journey down the "mother road". We have spent the past week in a Dodge Magnum driving across farm land, cruising through half forgotten towns, and eating the best American food you could ask for. I have to say, I am quite familiar with the interior of the car, but it has proven to be the ultimate American grand tourer. Sure, I may not need 340 hp for this trip which is primarily 45 or 55 mph speed limits, but it is always nice to have it on tap. Our last excursion took us through El Reno, onto Geary, across the famous 38 truss "Pony Bridge" featured in the 1939 classic film "The Grapes of Wrath" starring Henry Fonda. We counted the trusses, and they are all still there. As a side note, you can see after grandpa dies in that movie, they bury him towards the west end of the bridge. If you look close you can see it in the distance. Through Bridgeport and other forgotten villages (I am not sure they were developed enough to call them full blown towns) you eventually find yourself in Clinton, home to one of the
Historic Route 66
I wish all Route 66 states would post more of these two Route 66 Museums in Oklahoma. I found it interesting that the other museum was in Elk City, 35 minutes away. After visiting both, we crossed over into Texas and visited the Tower Station in Shamrock, TX. This old refurbished Conoco station, completed in 1936, serves as the quintessential filling station landmark along Route 66. You can see a Pixar illustration of Tower Station in the Disney movie Cars. I also found that it currently houses the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce. I know this because I walked around cupping my hands around my eyes, staring into windows and realized the lady behind the desk was not a mannequin. Fairly startled, I walked back to the car and we headed out to McLean to see a cute little Phillips 66 station which is the first Phillips to be restored along old 66. We passed through a few other towns and eventually landed on an old dirt alignment of 66. Not feeling up to several miles of dirt and rock, we cheated and hopped on the interstate. At this point we were nearing Amarillo. After passing by the leaning water tower in Groom I could almost taste that steak at the Big
Mural in El Reno
This is probably the best mural I have seen along 66 Texan Steak Ranch. It was calling my name so we could not tarry. Conway is just past Groom and it houses the famous "Slug Bug" Ranch which was a deliberate attempt to rip off Stanley Marshs "Cadillac Ranch" in a humorous way. The "Cadillac Ranch" was technically our last stop along the route, but that Big Texan marquee was the sweetest sight I had seen in a long time. Can you tell we skipped lunch? The Big Texan greets you into Amarillo with huge road signs tempting hungry motorists with the possibility of a free 72 ounce steak. If you eat it under one hour, along with the shrimp cocktail, bread, and a salad, it is on the house. I was hungry, but would the ambulance ride be complementary as well? We checked into the hotel for some much needed rest, but awoke with one last obligation: to photograph ten Cadillacs, nose down in the Amarillo soil. The "Cadillac Ranch" is the brainchild of Stanley Marsh, a local millionaire artist who is well known in the area for his roadside pranks. The Cadillac Ranch was built in 1974 with ten Caddies ranging from 1949 to 1963 representing the "golden age"
Historic Route 66
A dead end alignment of American motoring. But what is funnier than these cars half buried in the Texas dirt is they were carefully faced west "at the same angle as the Cheops pyramids." It leaves Misti and I on a lighthearted note. After all, the trip down 66 comes with some sadness from home. There have been friends pass on both sides of the family since we left as well as other disheartening news. Life really is like a vapor. I want to soak up ever moment I can, and share my faith with whomever may listen. I want to learn from the past so that I may have wisdom for the present and future. I want to be with family and experience life with them. Life is too short. My passion for driving and automobiles has led Misti and I to Route 66, but it does not matter what we do together, as long as we are together. She navigates, always telling me where to turn and where I missed it. She manages my entire life and I could not have entrusted it to anyone any better. So to her, I say I love you and thanks for making the trip fun.
I also extend my gratitude to her parents for sticking with us on the route. And to the many readers, thanks so much for your interest. You are the reason I stay up until 1:30 every night posting these blog updates. So this is the end of the road for now, but we intend on picking back up 66 and heading out west another time. I can already hear Tucumcari, NM calling for us. One thing is for sure, it was a kick!
-I would like to dedicate this to Jerry Johnson. He was the definition of integrity and he will be missed.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.049s; Tpl: 0.015s; cc: 6; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0246s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
anonymous
non-member comment
what a fun journey!!!! ALMOST feels like we were there with you. Almost.