Day 10 Route 66 - Amarillo to Tucumcari 127 miles (We're half way there!)

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We self-catered our breakfast this morning, re-packed the car and turned the Mustang's nose west again. We turned up Eastern to take us back to Route 66 and then followed it around to the historic SW 6th Avenue area where there are lots of antique stores. We found a painted fibreglass pony and the Natatorium with its castle-like crenellations. Originally the building housed a swimming pool - who knew that a natatorium is an indoor swimming pool? - but now it is an antique store. They had heaps of really cool stuff, but we limited ourselves to one small purchase!!

Just out of Amarillo we took a slight deviation to the south of the interstate to visit Cadillac Ranch. Although this 'artwork' was never actually located on Route 66 it is still considered to be a road icon. It's a bit bizarre - 10 graffiti covered cadillacs that are planted nose down in the middle of a field, but people were flocking to see them. It is the busiest attraction that we have visited en-route. Go figure?!

From Cadillac Ranch we returned to the north of I-40 and drove through Wildorado. There's not really anything to see in Wildorado, but you sure can smell it! It is the site of a cattle feed lot - fortunately on the other side of the interstate from us. I don't think that I would have liked to get a better view of all of the cattle penned up to be fed a high grain diet to fatten them for market. The poor things - they come in off the range to spend three to four months in a feed lot before going to market. I wish I hadn't Googled that.

In Vega we photographed the restored 1920s Magnolia Gas Station before driving on to Adrian - the geo-mathematical midpoint of Route 66. We had planned our day so that we could have our lunch at the Mid Point Café and Gift Shop ... as you do!

Shortly after Adrian, Route 66 petered out and we had to join the traffic on the interstate. We exited briefly to explore the remains of Glenrio and then returned to I-40 to cross the border into New Mexico. We weren't going to stop on the side of the interstate to take photos of the State line, but then we saw that there were other tourists doing it so we decided, why not? Yeah, it's daggy, but we're probably only going to do it once!!

Not far from the border, after about 18 miles off the Mother Road, we were able to pick up Route 66 again through Bard and San Jon. At the border we had to change from Central Time to Mountain Time so we gained an hour and arrived in Tucumcari just before 2.00pm. It was nice to have a relaxing afternoon. We explored Tucumcari a little bit (not that there is much to explore!) and then had a swim in the pool at the Best Western.

Earlier in the week we did look into booking a more traditional Route 66 motel, the Blue Swallow, but it was already booked out. They suggested another motel that didn't do internet bookings, so we sent an email, but they didn't respond to us. While not as authentic, sometimes it is just easier to book a chain hotel over the internet.

For dinner we drove down to the 'Rocking Y' which was recommended by the staff on the front desk. There weren't many other options to choose from - unless we wanted to go to McDonalds or Pizza Hut. I ordered the Nekkid Chicken - 'cos it weren't supposed to have nuthin' on it and I felt like something plain - with beans and baby carrots. So much for plain, the chicken tasted like it has been basted with teriyaki sauce and the beans were tossed with onion and bacon!

We were chatting with the young man serving us and he told us of his ambition to travel to Australia. He is currently high school senior and plans to train as a chef. We told him that is a really portable skill and it should complement his plans to travel.

After our fine dining experience (?) we took some photos of the neon lights in town. Our guide books had led us to believe that Tucumcari still has lots of neon lights, but we were sorely disappointed!! We did get a photo of the Blue Swallow, but there weren't many other lights. The biggest disappointment was the sign at Tee Pee Curios that has recently been restored with Federal grant money. I guess they can't afford the electricity bill though, because IT WASN'T TURNED ON!!

Back in our room we watched history being made as US tightrope walker, Nik Wallenda, fulfilled his childhood dream of walking on a tightrope across Niagara Falls.







It was hardly a fine dining experience, but it was OK.

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Comments

[Janet]

Neons everywhere
Love the photos of the Neon signs. It must have been a huge business in the US at some stage. There was an item on American Pickers about how they are made and it is a lot of work to make them with more than a couple of colours. We also saw a travel item on Vegas that showed a place where you can see a huge number of old unused signage which would be interesting to see, like a big Neon graveyard. The midpoint cafe looks very retro. Must look up a recipe for nekkid chicken! What is the most revolting thing you have seen on a menu during your travels? I am sure you must have seen some beauties. I remember seeing a sign outside a takeaway place in Florida for fried gizzards but sadly the place was closed so we couldn't have a tasting??? Ha ha! Reminds me of the Beverley Hillbillies and Granny's gourmet cooking. love Janet