tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40994455169708141202024-03-12T18:05:19.035-07:0066 in 25This blog follows my wife and I as we enjoy a 25 day road trip on Historic US Route 66. The trip was made in May/June of 2012. We travelled in the traditional Chicago to Santa Monica direction.
People told us this would be a life changing trip of a lifetime. Months latter it is still sinking in; history, nostalgia, folk art, real people, terrain, local foods, the march of time and progress, the American spirit, and so much more.Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-47816829126448113642012-06-16T17:11:00.003-07:002012-07-09T18:12:51.845-07:00Trail’s End<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Wednesday June 13 - Friday June 15, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">It was to be a partly cloudy day here
in Southern California with high temps in the 70’s. It was one of the cooler
days of the trip. We left Pasadena to bring this journey to a conclusion. The
expressway was a block from the motel but true to form we stayed with 66 to the
end, making our way down to Santa Monica beach where we were able to park near
the pier. On the way down we passed some of the known 66 icons but traffic
really didn’t allow for much in the way of picture taking. Lorna took a bunch
of on the fly shots more as a city visitor than a Route 66 traveler as many
paces welcomed us as. I learned later in the day that taking drive by photos in
bright light is not as easy as it looks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">It was breezy driving through town
but down by the beach and even up on the pier it was calm, sunny and warm. When
we got up on the pier we went over to the “End of the Trail” kiosk and met
Henry who was working the stand that afternoon. Route 66 as a highway had a few
endpoints in the streets over the years but they are now just points on map and
hardly celebratory. The Santa Monica Pier has become the popular endpoint for
modern travelers of the Mother Road. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">As Henry explained, his boss, Dan
Rice had traveled the road and at the end of it realized there was no real endpoint,
nobody to greet him and the ending sort of fell flat. He had seen in an old
movie an “End of the Trail” pictured up on the pier. This was never a real
sign, just a movie prop but he worked to establish the sign as a permanent
fixture on the pier. With hard work and petitions the sign was installed and he
got exclusive rights to operate his kiosk and sell “End of the Trail”
merchandise. Henry was a real nice guy
to talk with, he hadn’t done the trip but he knew a lot and had photos of many
of the local celebrities we had met or learned about. He leant a certain
credibility or validation to the journey we undertook. It had been real, not a
dream. Dan has written a book about his 66 experience and I need to get a copy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Yes, you guessed it, more T shirts.
I got the “official End of the Trail” shirt and they had a neat shirt mimicking
the Hampton Historic Sites signs that we had been watching for over the last 3
weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Afterwards we walked down to the
sign snapped some pictures and asked a fellow on a bench to oblige us and he
took a few of Lorna and I by the sign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">With that began the transition back
to reality and the world off of the old road. We had decided to do the classic
double decker bus tour of Hollywood and the surrounding communities so we
bought our tickets there on the pier. No time to wait around for a lunch so we
celebrated with ice creams so we could catch the next bus. For me it was a banana
split: fruit, nuts for protein and the waitress added a great source of
calcium. The bus tour offered plenty of distractions as the GPS triggered
recording narrated the tour. We could hop on and off as desired with buses
ever 20-30 minutes along the route. The narration mostly in a British voice was
kind of hokey and it was layered thick with what sure sounded like paid plugs
for business that would be great places to get off the bus . Apart from the
small annoyances it was a nice easy way to get a glimpse of the streets,
landmarks and communities we have heard in a lifetime of TV and movies. We
didn’t spot any celebrities aside from some costumed superhero characters up on
Hollywood Boulevard. We did hop off to walk the Walk of Fame. Lorna had me take
pictures of some favorites and I posed with the “America” star. We missed the boat
on the Beach Boys, it was too late when I realized it meant back tracking from
the drop off point. The time went by fast and we realized there wasn’t time to
follow through with the downtown LA part of the trip. We hopped the return leg
bus and began the trip back seeing more spots like Sunset Strip. As the sun got
low in the sky the mist rolled in and it got downright chilly, especially for
me in shorts and polo shirt. We survived and once back at the pier we went to
the car for some warmer layers. We did a little more sightseeing. The line to
get into Buba Gumps was absurd and at 8:00 other places were shutting down. We
headed out looking for something to have on the way “home” We grabbed a quick
bit to eat at an IHOP and told the GPS to find our way back home where we
settled down for the night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">That got us to Thursday morning. We
had set this day aside to unwind and set-up for the trip back, it was also a
contingency day but I’m glad we didn’t need it. Between sorting and shipping souvenirs,
balancing luggage loads and getting all of our squirreled away belongings out
of the car the day was well spoken for. We did manage to chill out at the theater seeing men In Black 3 which was a fun flick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Friday morning we headed out to LAX.
The highlight was passing the Slauson Cut-Off made famous by a line in a Johnny
Carson Art Fern sketch ….. Get out and cut off your Slauson! We did get to
validate the new digital luggage scale with it matching the airline scale as
close as one could imagine. The flights
home were entirely as planned and the nearly 5 hours cross country leg wasn’t
as bad as I expected. The bags made it and by 1:00 or so we were home with
enough jet lag to keep us puttering till about 3:00 AM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Saturday morning came not much more
than 4 hours later and it was a most surreal experience. I would wake up look around and try to figure
out where I was and what was outside in the neighborhood and then I’d fall back
to sleep. I think this repeated 3 or 4 times until I realized I was home in our
own bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">That pretty much sums up the trip.
In some ways I expect to be processing this experience for the rest of my life.
In the near term I do want to write some sort of summary or closing comments
that capture what I do understand of the last 25 days. If I think it comes out
coherent I’ll add it to this blog as an epilogue.</span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-13603484329335856592012-06-16T16:55:00.003-07:002012-06-16T16:55:36.313-07:00The End of the Innocence<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tuesday June 12, 2013</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We took our time getting started in
Barstow. The end is in sight and we’re starting to cut ourselves some slack as
we ease back towards reality. We’re not yet at the end of the road but you can
see it from here as they say. It’s been an incredible journey but we’re
starting our day in the 21st room in 22nights and we’re thinking that the route
66 mystique is thinning fast as we approach the coast. If nothing else the
building traffic is taking us far from the meandering solitude that the old
road has been gifting us with.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I forgot to mention yesterday that
when we checked into the motel here in Barstow our room had towels folded to
look like an Elephant, Rose and Seashell, pretty cool, you can find folk art
anywhere.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So, with the mobile household under
control we checked out and began to explore Barstow. One of the first stops was
the McDonald’s, </span><a href="http://www.barstowstation.net/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Barstow Station</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
to be specific. From the street this is a sprawling McDonald's with Railroad
cars integrated into the buildings, a big old wooden water tower complete with
golden arches.<span> </span>Once you get on the
property you find that it’s a Greyhound bus depot with a slew of shops and
eateries packed into a mall like setting. Apparently a lot of people pass
through here on mass transit since the cars in the lot did not foretell the
headcount inside. Anyhow. the inside was nothing special but the outside
certainly was roadside oddity.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Barstow has good collection of
historic murals painted on blank walls and integrated into storefronts. It is
getting to the point where someone interested in history or a parents that are
home schooling could build a curriculum from what’s on the walls found on a
road trip. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The lodging business is doing well
with most places operating and looking good. The Desert, Nites & Stardust
Inns, and the Sands, Sage. 66 & Cactus Motels being noted for having that
period look. The El Rancho - Barstow really stood out with a 3 faced aerial
sign and a huge tiered motor court on a property that slopes up from the
roadway. It was a tidy property that could have just come from yesteryear. <span> </span>They have a route 66 themed sign near the pool
with distance arrows to many US and international cities. Village Café, on the
corner with lots of neon has seen surly seen generation of locals and lots of
road weary diners. The Bun Boy is another 66 favorite.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Barstow has another </span><a href="http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/barstow-harvey-house-hits-100-35415.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Harvey House, Casa Del Desierto </span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span> </span>this one competed in
1910 is more complete on the inside with some rooms restored and other underway.
The building has largely been repurposed by the Chamber of Commerce and
agencies. One downstairs dining room has been put into service as a grand
ballroom and the other wings is in process. They also have a Route 66 museum
with the California spin but it was also closed for the day. As one that has traveled the road there is some value to these museums but they seem far more
valuable to the curious individual that has not been able to experience 66 directly.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lorna trolled a few resale shops for
glass ware and I captured a few more murals before it was time to say good bye
to Barstow at about noon. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A few towns out of Barstow in
Helendale it was once again desert like with sandy gravel stout blond plants
and some green brush. Burdens Store and Post Office is boarded up and standing
along the roadside. A giant Parrot sits on a towing company sign along with the
Polly Brand Gasoline logo and the vintage price of 18-9/10 cents a gallon. The
Sage Brush Saloon home of Sage Brush Annie is gone but the property owner keeps
the legend alive with a mock facade of the original with silhouettes in the
upstairs window. The Sage Brush filling station building now a private home
sits next door with a pergola canopy supported by stone pillars like the Way-Way
Store. If buildings like the Way-Way Store captivate you then this trip would be
a treat.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Helendale’s real claim to fame is
the Bottle Tree Ranch. Here in a large fenced in yard you wander through posts
with lateral spikes, each supporting a bottle like limbs of a tree. With some
“trees” having matching bottles and others assorted it’s a whimsical place. The
real kicker is when you look up to see that each post has an eclectic topper
like a sewing machine, skill, big jug, bird house, oil lamp. milk can, tractor
seat, weather vane, bull horn, Gatling gun, wheels, pulleys, fan blades and
assorted creations. There must be about 50 trees in this forest and
interspersed at ground level are other eye catchers like a wagon wheel, rocket
and wood stove. It’s all a foot steps from route 66 and free to visit,
donations accepted in the box. From the looks of the material and welder out
there it’s still a work in progress.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Oro Grande stands the Mohawk
filling station and Mini-Mart. I have yet to learn the age of this station but
it goes back a good time. It’s now closed but 1970’s vintage pumps remain and
it was open long enough to get on the convenience store bandwagon. Cold Beer,
Wine, Ice, Soda Pop and Groceries are lettered on the facade. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Victorville is the home of Emma
Jeans Holland Burger Cafe, home of the Brian Burger. It was after 1:30 when we
drove by and the look of the place and crowd in the lot screamed. “ stop for
lunch”. The few tables were full so we sat at stools at the bar and were served
by none other than Brian. The menu read like burger heaven with all sorts of
wonderful cheesy gooey toasted in butter wonderfulness. The daily special of
pastrami on sourdough with melted cheese entrapping a handful of crinkle cut
pickles looked really good but too hearty for my tastes that day. I went for
the regular cheeseburger with the standard house trimming. mayo, lettuce, onion
slice and tomato. Here tomato means about half a tomato, not a thin slice
dispensed like it’s gold. <span> </span>I had the
equivalent of a side salad in the sandwich! Fries were good and it was fun to
be at the counter with all of the action happening. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I didn’t see the usual posters but
they had been featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives. This makes at least 3
DD&D haunts that we ate at on this trip. Established in 1947 the founders
have passed away. It’s now run by Brian the second generation and his wife
Shawna. The place has a historic monument and plaque. It has been featured in numerous
movies and TV shoes for its mid-century ambiance.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As you enter the village a big truss
welcomes you to Old Town , Route 66 and sports the Victorville city seal. It’s
really to cool to see the way some towns have gone out to declare and celebrate
their part of the 66 legacy. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The New Corral Motel has a nice sign
with a big black stallion that is said to quite a neon sight when lit at night.
As usual the local Route 66 museum was closed when we drove through so we
didn’t get to see the 15 foot tall Hula Dancer that was rescued from a
restaurant.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With that 66 had turn into I-15. The
fast, busy, downhill freeway past Cajon Summit was quite a ride but it got us
to our next stop really fast. The wide open roadway with a steep downgrade did
nothing to relax Lorna but she recovered. She got some good on the fly pictures
and we didn’t need to use the runaway truck lane!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Cajon Junction we got off the
highway and savored the last section of old pavement the old road was to share
with us. Had I realized this we would have stayed even longer. As it was we
drove it back and forth over getting back on the interstate. Here were remnants
of 4 lane 66 and todays version is a blend of the old east and westbound lanes.
Like elsewhere “Historic US 66” shields are painted on the pavement. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We found the vertical EAT sign
behind a fence with the original eatery long gone.<span> </span>At the eastern end of this spur is a dead end
stub where we found a cluster of remnants with some new life. The neighborhood
had a lot of cars but most seem to be commuters in a lot and along the road. Behind
a security fence is an non-descript late 60’s service station with red trim
that took a round sign on the mock chimney, Texaco?<span> </span>The pumps are gone and it’s all clean and
quiet.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Next door ins Tony’s Diner,
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. It may have had a filling station at some time
judging by the blown out signs above. It’s probably been a while with the gas
price section only having 2 digits for ??-9/10. It seems to been renamed along
the way, an older aqua neon sign say’s EAT at ??C”S. It did have traffic.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Last on the strip and maybe the most
curious was the Screaming Chicken Saloon in a converted filling station painted
bright yellow. You can’t miss the giant rooster up on the old pump canopy. It’s
the home to Hot Women and Cold Beer complete with a big Route 66 shield in the
window. We passed on checking it out further and scrammed before some asked
about all the pictures being taken.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Driving each way on this stretch in
a valley we were running into some honking big black flying bugs. Most bounced
off of the windshield with an occasional splat!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The guide book flagged this side
road for elicit activity and there were more than a few folks hanging out in
what seemed odd ways. Was it just the power of suggestion? </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’m catching up on the blog of these
last few days before the trip home and after reaching the end of the trail on
Santa Monica Pier. This last quirky stretch of the old road will always have a
special place in my memories of our trip.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A run down a less exciting I-215
took us into San Bernardino which set the pace of suburban congestion that set
the tone for the rest of the trip. This strip of 66 had its share of iconic
places and a mix of active and abandoned conditions. One of the most impactful
was the Lido Motel completely intact but dormant. Literally in the shadow of
the I-15 overpass that towered alongside the small strip of rooms. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Palms Motel is still open but
the neon is gone, replaced with a modern plastic face. The El Cajon is shuttered.
The Terrace and Oasis motels are working the long term rental market. The San Bernardino
and Dream Inn Motels are still hosting guests. The Mitla Café family owned
since 1937 is still serving.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Rialto the Wig-Wam motel was a
work of art. These are the concrete Tee Pees like we saw in Holbrook.<span> </span>Lorna wanted to nest so we had booked the
final 3 nights in Pasadena. This place was immaculate and groomed in a first
class manner. We missed our cancellation window by this time; otherwise we
would have spent a night here.<span> </span>This is a
“not to miss” icon if there is a next time. Next door the El Rey motel was
looking classic.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Fontana we found the Fontana and
Sage Motels. The real icon was the 1936 Bono’s Historic Orange. This is one of
several surviving roadside juice stands. The near spherical orange is about 10
feet in diameter. Some of these things are mere mentions in the books or on the
GPS and it’s fun to see what they really are. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glendora is home to the Golden Spur
Restaurant. The day was getting late so we opted for a 66 themed restaurant
next door. It was Ok with plenty of eye candy. I do wish we held out for The
Hat located down the road. The Palms Motel and Flappy Jacks Pancake house were also
along the road.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Azusa is home to the restored Foothill
Drive-in theater sign and marquis. Since our guide book was written it has as
planned been rescued, restored and relocated at crossroads in the town The big
sign is being used for local messages. On this day a woman was being recognized
for 37 years of service to an organization. The giant sign makes quite an
impression.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> In Monrovia the Aztec Hotel is an
in-town hotel with an ornate facade and a bright neon sign. We were driving by
at dusk when it was lit and it really popped. Directions to a restored service
station weren’t working for us so we had to move on.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With that
we arrived in Pasadena our home for the final 3 nights of the trip. Tomorrow we
will drive to the end of the trail on the Santa Monica pier and officially end
the journey and spend the rest of the day sightseeing. Thursday we will be
shipping off the last of the souvenirs, prepacking bags and cleaning the car
out plus whatever local diversions we can find. Friday morning we will head to
LAX<span> </span>for the flight home.</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-29487135936148439892012-06-14T10:13:00.001-07:002012-06-14T10:13:29.749-07:00Mountains, Burros and the Mojave<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Monday June 11, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We did the mileage tally and we had only lost about 10 miles a day by loafing on Sunday. It felt good and the
blog was back on track. We now need to travel 135 miles a day on average to get
to the end of the road and have a day left to dub around and get ready to fly
out Friday the 15<sup>th</sup>. <span> </span>Early in
the trip we started the day with no firm endpoint for the day. In the northern
states even on rural 66 we were never far from an interstate exit that would
have at least one motel to stay at. As we got into the desert states there were
some significant gaps where there were no options for many miles. We also had a
time or two where we snagged on of the last rooms in the area.<span> </span>Considering those 2 situations we had taken
to identifying end of day options if not actually booking a room before hitting the road. When we
looked at where our departure from Kingman would take us we were sort of
surprised that we would have either another short day of driving or a long
haul. In the end, the only real choice as to drive on to Barstow California,
228 miles away.<span> </span>As a day of driving this
is nothing special but when touring and sightseeing it can be quite another
story. Fortunately we didn’t have any cities to get snarled up in and no other
big stops were in sight. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We were rolling out of Kingman by
8:30, about an hour earlier than usual. The road led us into McConnico where as
we left the city of Kingman behind a desert valley opened up in front of us.
This section of 66 is designated as a National Back Country Byway. There was a
kiosk with information and suggestions for making the 42 mile trip through
desert and the Black Mountains. There were scattered communities of people in
travel trailers or beat up mobile homes. There did seem to be some mining
activity. We got some nice pictures of mountains with pronounced peaks, wild
flowers and a small wind farm. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Cool Springs we stopped to visit
Cool Springs Cabins. There aren’t really any cabins, just souvenirs and a few
convenience items you may want before heading into the mountains. Lorna did get
a few trinkets including a hunk of RT 66 pavement with a certificate of
authenticity. This place was built in 1926 but the stone filling station /
store had crumbled away to almost nothing. Hollywood recreated it as a prop for
the movie Universal Soldier. Afterwards the present owners set to rebuilding
the place once more, to its original state. Much of the work was done by a
fellow from Maine that went down and decided to stay. It’s a nice place on the
edge of the road in the valley. Outside there are the usual vintage gasoline
signs and glass jar punps. The owner tells us that they have the model for Tow
Mater the tow truck in Cars but the owner would not sign a contract with Pixar
so they don’t have official credit. That leaves the door open for the claim 4
Women on the Route had back in Kansas.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Down the road we passed Ed’s Camp, home
of the Kactus Café, all abandoned. From there we began to wind our, way up to
Sitgeaves Pass. The road was narrow and paved with the traditional route 66
guardrails, usually none. In a few areas there were posts and cables but for
the most you got it right or else. The climb was easy, never needing to leave
Drive. The bigger challenge for me was watching around the blind corners.
Trying to crane my neck around the “A” pillar while turning to the left meant
taking my eyes of the road, so I just went slow. We stopped about 3 times at
turnouts to get pictures and to let an occasional local on a mission fly ahead.
Lorna didn’t think much of the experience as she more often than not was on the
cliff edge side of the road. Of course if we went over we’d be together but I
suppose that’s scant comfort. When we made it to the summit pass at 3550 feet
we set up for some timed photos to commemorate the climb. There were still
some stout pipe railings around the summit to protect people in the days when
there was an ice cream stand up there. The trip down was pretty easy with the
usual tight turns. Dropping to 1<sup>st</sup> or 2<sup>nd</sup> gear did most
of the braking. We got more good pictures of the mountains and desert plants.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What came next sort of blew my mind.
Some of the signs and Lorna had mentioned running into burros but the next
scene was totally unexpected. As we drove down into the valley with the
mountainsides closing in we rounded a bend and a village began to
emerge. We knew we had arrived somewhere and as it turned out Lorna knew more
about this than I did. The scene was out of an old western with both sides of
the winding street lined with aging sun faded storefronts, raised wood
sidewalks with cover for shade, a burros milling about. We got one of the last
free parking spaces before the village and got out to explore.It was like walking into a movie set.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As it turns out this was an old gold
mining town that 66 ended up running right through. This must have been on heck
of a bottle neck.<span> </span>The gold mining
eventually ended in the 1940’s, a more expeditious route diverted the traffic
in the 50’s and by the 60’s the place was virtually abandoned. In recent years
with the international interest in 66 it has boomed into a tourist stop with
plenty of gift shops, eateries and snack stops, all with that rustic, always
been here feel, no neon, no glitz. It’s like walking into a real life “Six Gun
City”. On some weekends they even have shootout reenactments.<span> </span>Many other weekends are busy with car
rallies, bikers and the 4<sup>th</sup> of July fry an egg on the sidewalk
contest. They expected 105F the day we visited.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We did the usual wandering around
collecting a few souvenirs and the inevitable Route 66/Oatman/Burro T shirt. Lorna
got nipped in the leg<span> </span>by a curios burro
who left a patch of donkey snott behind.<span>
</span>It was a fun place to visit, something I never expected to find outside
of a theme park. After an hour or so knew it was time to get going, we still
had a big day of driving ahead of us.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The road wound gently through old
trails where we found an local memorial to Korean war veterans up on a rocky
ridge. There as a lot more loose rock here perhaps disturbed by the mining work
of long ago. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Golden Shores the diner had
burned. Talking to a local it sounded like a gas explosion while the owner was
staring the place up one day last year. The fatal event put an end to what he
called one good greasy cheeseburger. However on this guy’s garage we did find
the Route 66 mural inspired by and dedicated to Bob Waldmire. <span> </span>Remember Bob? We toured his school bus turned
home/studio/RT 66 information center back in Pontiac, Illinois. More and more
things like this seem to be knitting together. If you’re driving through the
mural is on the blind side of a beige and red former service station with a
Phillips 66 sign. The place is fenced in but the owner was welcoming.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Topock was the last we would see of
Arizona. Here and back in Golden Shores we began to signs of campgrounds and
boating on the Colorado River. We were leaving the desert behind but the
landscape was still largely barren, complete with tumble weed. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Arizona Spit us out on to the
interstate for lack of surviving Route 66 and delivered us to Needles
California. Here we found many signs of 66 including our lunch stop at the
Burger Hut. The patty was probably the thinnest I have ever seen with paper
thin crisp edges. It was good eats on a picnic table under the awning. The place was
doing a steady business for our after 1:00 arrival. Needles has many murals
around town so this folk art renaissance does extend in to California. It is
also home to one of the last surviving Harvey House structures. This handsome
structure is fenced in gutted and said to be under restoration. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There is plenty you can read about
the Harvey Houses but in short they were grand hotel & restaurant
operations built to serve the railway traffic. They became especially known for
their Harvey Girls, well bred, educated, white, conservatively uniformed,
ladies with a 10:00 curfew. They served to bring a sense of civility to the travelers’
existence. While many did end up finding husbands these were reputable
operations. The structures including this one were often grand rambling stone
or masonry building more in the style of a courthouse or grand hotel, an amazing
legacy.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Beyond the murals and Harvey House
were a potpourri of vintage motels like the 66, Sage, Ranch Road resort Motel LeBrun
Relax Inn and Needles Inn plus a nice old theater building still in use. About
½ of the Motels were dormant.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Needles sent us out into the Sahara
Desert where we stopped at the Sahara Oasis, a convenience store / filling
station. We needed a pit stop and this place was cool with pools of water,
fountains and pink flamingos. The road led us to Essex, a desert ghost town. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Essex we found the remains of the
Wayside Market with the circular sign frame just empty loop. The building is
all white with no discernible lettering. The small stone Post Office is closed
and replaced with about 3 dozen outdoor lock boxes like you see for trailer parks.
The old stone well that travelers would use for fresh water is now dry but remains at the roadside. The Essex Café is standing by, Good Food, Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner – Air Conditioned. Behind most of these desert buildings you can
see elevated water tanks for apparently self sufficient water systems. The Café
is now closed, the pump island devoid of pumps and only the framing of the
canopy remains.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Across the road stands a white weathering clapboard building.
The elements are slowly peeling the roof away. On the front at the far right
STUDIO can still be read. Another one to research latter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Essex is also the start of the folk
wall. On the north side of the road running to Amboy, about 50 feet from the
pavement runs a sand & gravel berm, perhaps the desert equivalent to a snow
fence. People have taken to creating art or at least leaving their mark
generally with local stones arranged on the slope but some have used bottles,
painted stones or what looks like marble chips. This runs for many miles and is
a desert version of the murals seen in the towns.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Danby has a broken down service
station that is in descript save a mural painted on the front wall. Out in the
open is a turnout for a former picnic area that included tables and shade
canopies in the day when travelers used this road. A panorama of text panels
tells of Route 66, the former picnic area, the desert and its inhabitants. You
can still see the footings that anchored the tables and canopies. As I stood
there the air was calm and I heard silence, complete total silence like I don’t
remember hearing in a long time. The temperature was running around 108F and it was hot but comfortable, at least for small sight seeing excursions</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Chambles stands an old store,
Soda Pop, Food, Ice, Snacks And Beef are lettered. A big CHAMBLES sign has been erected in
front so you know where you are. A historic marker across the street tells the
history.<span> </span>Further down the road is the
Road runner Restaurant and adjacent filling station. They offered fountain
service and it says it’s in East Amboy It’s all boarded up now but the towering
sign and giant roadrunner at the apex is a sight. The station is marked as
“Official Garage”. Did that mean something in the day? We have seen a few
real roadrunners on the trip, no Beep Beeps though.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Amboy we passed the school. A
significant building now abandoned, testament to what must have once been here.
Just past the school is Roy’s Motel & Café as the sign says. A restaurateur
has bought this place and is slowly reviving it. The filling station pumps are
back in service and the store and fountain have been fixed up quite nicely.
Walking into the place is like a time warp with a long fountain running most of
the width of the place. There isn’t much happening for lack of traffic, a few
snack and souvenir items are on sale but food’s not being served. Unfortunately
a hired hand was tending shop and he was more interested in his daytime TV
show. It would have been fun to meet the owner who must has a passion for this
project.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We wandered next door to see what
was happening with the motel section. It looked pretty nice from the road but
it seems that the desert conditions are quite kind to buildings. Up close it
was aging and somewhat weathered, not freshly painted as I may have guessed.
The rooms were emptied but intact. One was left with the door open. A lot of
work will be needed if they are ever again to be occupied but there is hope.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The mind blower was the office
building up in front. The building had a full width glass lobby with a a
residence out back. The roof line projected far beyond the front ending in a
point providing plenty of sun shade. The inside is an amazing time capsule and
should be memorialized. An Orange counter sits on a beige carpet. The counter
has lamps I would expect from 1960, old copies of McCall’s and Time magazine
are in a rack. Plastic apples are waiting in the coffee table basket that sits
in front of a bug cushy tan couch. Against the back wall sits a 1950’s HI-FI
with at least 5 feet of wooden cabinet with the turn table open. This probably
was for back ground music when the adjacent grand piano wasn’t being played.
Lest this sound austere a colorful carousel pony is front and center in the
window. Through the door is a dining room with table service for 5 set in the
blue floral wall papered room. All of this is sitting behind glass with light
dust like they left it when they closed the doors years ago.<span> </span>Restrooms are in a plumbed outbuilding though
it looked like the motel rooms were also equipped. Camping may have been
offered.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Out back is a smaller vacant
building with a windsock that seemed to be frozen half filled, pointing south.
Across the street is a white church with a weather toppled steeple.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Down the road was something we had
seen coming for some time. These vast desert spaces play some weird tricks with
your mind and sense of distance. Things seem close but you just don’t seem to
get closer as you drive on and on. Eventually we came to the turn-off for the
Amboy Crater. It is a volcanic cone that last erupted about 500 years ago. The
250 tall crater can be climbed but in the 108F heat we thought better though it
was tempting. The access road is paved and rolls organically with the terrain
as it tries to blend in with the ground and lava field. From the big parking
lot the leads a trail to the mentioned crater climb and another to a viewing
area under a canopy on a rise. We went up to the viewing area looked at the
crater, took some pictures including Lorna posing with the crater, another
first for her, and me too.<span> </span>If you want
to make a day of it there are restrooms and picnic canopies down by the parking
lot. It was a nice, unattended, free stop courtesy of the U.S. Department of
the Interior.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The trip from Amboy to Ludlow
brought us from isolation back to the side of the interstate. Being on an exit
a few businesses have survived here. The Ludlow Café, a white block building is
closed. Between the café and I-40 stands a big high in the sky sign and arrow
shows where they tried to lure interstate drivers in for a bite to eat. The
sign panel is blown away with the frame and arrow left to tell the story.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Next door a filling station with a
long canopy jutting out and up is stripped down, fenced in and being used by
someone as a storage lot. A fairly new truck stood near some fresh looking
wooden crates.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Next was a repair garage building.
The 2 bay structure has lost its roof but the lettering on the walls offers 24
hour towing, welding, Generators, Regulators, Water Pumps and Fuel Pumps. Just
the list of specialties <span> </span>makes me think
of the family with the struggling jalopy trying to make it to the west coast.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span> </span>Across the street is a green building with a
vacant round rimmed sign by the road. If someone told me it was a general store
I’d probably believe it. Off to the side a white building says Post Office to
me but who knows. One more vacant filling station with Ludlow Tire lettered in
the window completes the scene on the east end of the exit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Across the road the road is the
Ludlow 66 Café, an odd sort of building with a lot of 1950’s touches. We were
getting hungry but the few cars in and out of the lot just couldn’t convince us
to trust the place.<span> </span>In the first quarter
of the 20<sup>th</sup> century Ludlow had something of a boom supplying borax.
A rail line was extended to the town but the whole thing crashed by the 40’s
and was torn up. A plaque and some model rail equipment in front of the Café commemorate
this period. Another plaque commemorates project CARRYALL. This involved
underground nuclear tests designed to clear mountain passes for I-40 and rail
lines through the Bristol Mountains near Ludlow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Still another dormant service
station with 2, 1950’s trucks under the canopy lies between the Café and the
Ludlow Motel which appears to still be tidy and operating. Across the street is
a modern convenience store / filling station where we got a snack to tide us
over. All things considered this little place had a lot to say.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Newberry springs had more surprises.
An Old Whiting Brothers service station was fenced in. They were a big player
in the fuel business on 66. The fading yellow shield is still visible on the
sign atop the canopy. On the façade of the building large fading lettering suggests
an eatery may have operated. It’s not all visible but the pictures do show. Tony’s,
Italian And American, Dish. The way the canopy obscures some of the lettering
makes me think this was prior to the filling station use of the building and
paint chalking is revealing history. In any case 3 little old gas pimps still
stand on the island. Sitting benches are in front of the air conditioned
building. It’s all retired behind a security fence. I seem to be seeing much
more fencing around these places in California. Perhaps they have tighter control
over derelict properties. I’d like to think they are trying to preserve history
but it’s probably public safety. I have observed in prior states that these
places do become crash pads. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Just down the road is a retired 3
unit motel with an attached home. The name is gone from the sign but for
$125,00. OBO it on 3-1/2 acres could be yours. I have no idea how old the sign
is but I bet they’d take less if there is even a remaining owner of record.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A little farther in Newberry springs
we came to the Bagdad Café made famous in the 1988 movie of that name. At the
time it was the Sidewinder Café but in 1995 they changed the name to capitalize
on the movie fame. They’re open from 7-7 and were just short of that so passed
on going in at closing time. Through the windows I could see that chairs were
already up on the tables. It earned a Hampton Landmark sign. We had spotted the
old side of the original Bagdad Café back in the desert, now marked by a
foundation remnant and a big lone tree.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This got us into Barstow, our home
for the night. This is a railway town where the Santa Fe has a big presence.
Around the 1920’s the main street was actually moved back to make more room for
the rail yards. This may account for a long stretch of the street that has a
very consistent appearance. We checked into the room and Lorna noticed a pair
of wrapped earplugs on the night stand. Wondering if these were standard room
equipment or left behind I just had to ask the desk clerk about them. It turns
out they do provide them since some customers are concerned about the nearby
trains, we slept soundly sans plugs. Driving through town I began to see why
Johnny Carson used to pick on Barstow. Dinner options were slim pickings but a
small Denny’s chicken salad hit the spot. More will follow on Barstow tomorrow
when we get to look around.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It was a memorable day on the road,
from crossing the Black Mountains, to Oatman’s burros to the desert ghost towns
and natural wonders it all played out at a nice pace and puts us on schedule to
complete this journey as planned.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tomorrow morning we will decide
where to stay for the rest of the trip. We should get to the end of the trail
on the Santa Monica Pier on Wednesday. Thursday is set aside to do odds and
ends and get ready to fly out Friday morning. </span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-90762292283412372152012-06-10T23:55:00.002-07:002012-06-12T21:08:25.219-07:00Swarming Tourists, the Prairie and Taking Pause<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday June 10, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We woke up in Seligman at the Canyon
Lodge as planned. I got an early start working on Saturday’s blog while Lorna
got ready for the day. While I kept pecking away she went up front and got us a
tray of breakfast that I had while writing. When she came back she said I
wouldn’t believe what was happening in the town. The sleepy village we had
rolled into after dark was awash with tour busses, tourists from all over the
world and the village was an incredibly eclectic route 66 mecca. The window was
closing on the 11:00 checkout time when I realized the lap top had flipped out
of Arizona time where Daylight Savings Time is not observed. That gave me a
bonus hour so I finished capturing Saturday’s essentials recollections (to edit
later), showered and we toured the village. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She wasn’t kidding! The place was a
real destination, with busses pulling up reminding passengers that they had 20
minutes to visit the village. It’s mostly gift shops with all sorts of Route 66
paraphernalia but every shop is also a folk art exhibit loaded with bookmarks
of yesteryear. The visitors were a very international crowd as has been the
observation right along. The assault on this town was like nothing we had seen
before. When we started this journey almost 3 weeks ago in Illinois we were
told that the tour bus traffic would pick up in a few weeks, I guess that’s
what we are seeing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We walked the main drag up and back
collecting the usual trinkets, photos and still another Tee Shirt. Don’t ask
how many this makes but I can tell you that Lorna has far more pins marking the
stops. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As it turns out this is where the
route 66 revival had its genesis. A local barber observed people coming in off
the road on a daily basis to have their hair cut to establish a tangible bond
to the road. He had the foresight to form a band of businesses as the Arizona
Route 66 Association. Within a year the state followed with an agency and over
time all 8 states fell into line and the federal government declared it a historic
byway. The rest of the history continues to be written. This is all commemorated
with some murals at the barbershop location. He has since passed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Words defy the usual descriptions of
this place. Old vehicles, visual gags, period dressed mannequins and cutouts
are all there catch your attention. One building has a small airplane embedded
in the facade with the tail section hanging out of the building. The buildings are colorful, vibrant and
engaging. I can’t wait to add some pictures to bring this home. People
everywhere were taking pictures; if this were still the age of film Kodak would
not be bankrupt! We had seen what we came to experience. It was time to
check-out and head up the road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The day’s driving was on 66 mostly
well away from I-40 through a string of ghost towns. We had left Seligman with
the road flanked by lush evergreens. The 2 lanes rolled along with a 65 MPH
speed limit, the sky was bright and it was downright pretty. Just as we have
seen times before change was foreshadowed, this time by golden shoulders.
Gently we emerged from the evergreens as the golden prairie opened up ahead of
us in every direction. Soon we were rolling along though a mountain rimmed prairie
that was many miles across in every direction. Golden desert grasses were
ground cover and stout hardy bushes dotted the landscape. Sprouting plants threaten to overtake the pavement making the roadway’s connection to the prairie
seamless. Cattle were grazing on the fenced land and prairie dogs were teasing
us from the side of the road, some darting for cover just in time. You could
see the many boroughs out in the fields.<b>
</b>Once again we were rolling through a scene we had never witnessed before. The
flanking mountains were an ever-changing film strip as our point of view glided
up the road. Traffic was light and as we often did we enjoyed the pleasure of
driving below the speed limit to soak in the scene.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Peach Springs stands the majestic
1923 John Osterman service station building. It’s abandoned now but recognized
in the National Register of Historic Places. The white cement block building has
a good number or ornamental touches and pumps remain on the island. There is a
good chance that will be restored and put back into service. It’s owned by the Hualapais
Indians and there isn’t a service station for many miles in either direction. Grant
money is falling into place now that it’s registered. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Across the street is the historic
Peach Springs Trading Post, circa 1932. Following the interstate bypass it
closed but the Hualapais tribe has made regular use of it most recently for
their Fish and game management. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Truxton the café is long closed
along with Barker Apartments, a former motel. The handsome white and blue
Truxton Station looks ready to serve motorist tomorrow but seems dormant while
another more modern station is looking more dated by the year. The Frontier Motel
has an awesome neon sign, especially if it still functions. It would be quite a
sight to spot it on this road late at night. A Café at the Frontier looks more
likely to still be active. The weathered Orlando Motel is down for the count
despite a nice naked lady water fountain up front. Gas-N-Grub is the sole going
business. It’s a newer facility with basic groceries, beverages, and some convenience
store type foods. We stopped for a snack (forget about finding lunch out here) and
the business with locals was brisk.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Valentine the garage is overgrown
with trees and brush but the (Phillips) 76 ball still rises above the site. Chet’s
Motel appears to be carrying on as a private residence. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Hackberry the General Store is a
major attraction. The yard is loaded with memorabilia and 66 themed props,
inside is mock soda fountain with a mannequin sitting on a stool waiting for
her date. There are even booths that are a great photo opportunity. The guestbook
like most is loaded with overseas guests. There must have been a dozen motorcycles
from a caravan and a few motor homes full of folks swarming the place when we
arrived. The men’s room is plastered with pin-ups mostly of gals modeling next
to vintage soda machines, all G rated in bikini or short shorts. Lorna said the
ladies’ room was an eyeful too. The mannequin in the room creeped her out. The inventory
is 90% souvenir and 10% road snacks and beverages. It was a fun stop and welcome
break from the road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">That got us to Kingman, home to the
Arizona route 66 museum. We grabbed
lunch at Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner which looks like a repurposed service station.
It is a colorful, clean place that served a decent lunch. Just for perspective
from the time we left Seligman and arrived at the diner 2 hours had elapsed, Writing
about it took almost as long!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After lunch we went to the museum.
They had a lot of stuff that was Arizona centric. Some other material was very broad.
The exhibit based on the Grapes of Wrath told me I need to get my head into
that one. It really stuck a chord about the reality of the 66 legacy. It wasn’t
all about trading posts and folk art. The real story that makes it a historic
byway is the people fleeing the dust bowl and seeking relief from poverty as
they chased the California dream. After wards they had a 20 minute film that tied
together a lot of what we experienced in the past 20 days recognizing the sites
and stories brought a lot home and we
learned more that filled gaps in the how’s and why’s of the preservation
movement.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There is an old alignment of 66 that runs along the railway tracks and weaves long the curvy valley base. We drove that to the end. Even right off of a town street we were soon in the wilderness. The winding road probably speaks to some of what we can expect when we </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">get into the mountains.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Originally we had planned to roll
through to California but decided not to navigate the mountains while driving
into the setting sun. We found a room here in Kingman and settled down early.
Lorna wanted a dinner of fruit. My lunch had been a salad so I wanted more than
rabbit food for dinner. We ended up at the Golden Coral here in town. They had
been a favorite when we honeymooned in Florida so it was a fun thing to get
back to. Today’s version seems to be over the top compared to my recollection with
a larger buffet section and a desert bar that was ludicrous with a chocolate
dipping fountain, cotton candy and hard and soft ice cream, not to mention
assorted pies, cakes, cookies and puddings. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Monday morning we plan to get
something of an early start and we think we have a pretty good idea of what these
final days will have us. I had read that this can be the trip of a lifetime and
that it can change a person forever, I am beginning to really understand those
sentiments.</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-41989626798131526162012-06-10T21:15:00.002-07:002012-06-10T21:17:16.922-07:00The Desert, Dust and Dusk<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Saturday June 9, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">All things considered we did good,
getting on road before 10:00 AM. Lorna brought my breakfast to the room so I
could wrap up the blog while eating. Between touring sleeping and blogging the
day is gone fast! As planned we began by
back tracking Winslow to Holbrook, 30
miles to the east on the interstate. The day was bright hot and breezy and
expected to become downright windy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">The exit we took dropped us into the
middle of where route 66 makes a turn as it runs through town and there was
plenty to check out so we stopped there first. At that turn is a park space
with a big town sign featuring route 66
and a rock slab with a jumbo version of the shield. The town has a ton
of route 66 spirit, vintage establishments a few major league quirks that made
it a fun visit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">First let’s talk about petrified
wood. When we toured the Petrified Forest National Park on Friday they made it
sound like what we were seeing was the last on earth. Now I realize that it’s a
finite resource but let me tell you that once you get into town it’s as common
as cordwood in skidder country. The town has chunks of it as benches, the bank
has hunks by the walkway set like gargoyles, the stuff is everywhere and they
celebrate it. The sellers all seem to be Indian and it’s probably mined,
harvested or whatever the term is from their lands, under their laws.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">The first stop was the Indian Rock
Shop and it introduces the second quirk. There once was the “International
Petrified Forest-Dinosaur Park-Museum of the Americas” which was drive though
tour of Dinosaur Statues and fake Indian ruins. Well, the Dinosaurs have found
new homes scattered about town and the Indian Rock Shop has a mother lode of
them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Behind the fence must be a dozen dinosaurs,
the largest approaching 20 feet in height. One mother has 3 youngsters at her
feet. Petrified wood is everywhere from logs to fragments piled like they just
fell from the dump truck. The run of the mill stuff seems to sell for about
$2.50 a pound in small quantities. They have piles of geodes starting at 80
cents each. A geode is sort of a volcanic spit ball that might have some nice
crystal in a hollow center. You crack it open like an egg to see if you got
lucky. Like most places the building is covered with fading murals in dinosaur
and Indian themes. This embellishment of the vintage buildings is being carried
forth in the many murals found on building walls. A big part of the route 66 experience
is going on the Easter Egg hunt for all of the folk art. Inside you find a potpourri
of polished petrified wood, Indian jewelry, souvenirs and other mineral
curiosities. They polish the end grain to a high luster and it looks pretty
cool. Lorna bought a few odd pieces and we were on our way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Up the road the other place that
looked interesting if not am amazing to us was Jim Gray’s Petrified Wood
Company. With lots of big signs , a huge outside fenced area and a nice big
building it was like going to a petrified wood home center! Oh and here you
find another dozen or so dinosaur refugees. Most of Jim’s dinosaurs are in a
space of their own on a nice field of crushed stone, they look king of natural
there especially against the big blue sky. Outside in the fenced yard were
mounds of geodes , petrified wood and other colored stones, all in organized
mounds. Larger pieces were free standing and marked with prices, large ones were
in the $500. range. Other big pieces
were around the building and in the grass strip between the parking lot and
highway. Inside was a massive gift shop
featuring the petrified and stone items along with common gift shop kitsch. Here
large pieces with polished petrified wood could approach $1000. How about $3400
for a 2 foot square slab top end table? Long glass shelves featured more modest polished
pieces all arranged like items in the finest gift shop. I have to say the place
was really done up in a professional manner. Even the large clean restrooms
were loaded with shadow boxes in spider, butterfly and other critter themes.
And if that’s not enough they had an indoor pond with fish and turtles. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">At the same corner is a Welcome to
Holbrook display that includes a man balancing atop what looks like a tree trunk
of petrified wood while another man points a gun at him. A stone slab with
Holbrook inscribed props the trunk up. I don’t know if it’s silly fun or symbolizes
the relationships of the local cultures and petrified wood. It’s something else
to research. Yea I know this needs pictures badly! They will come the photo
count has passed 4500, thank God for digital.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">The rest of the town seemed to be
doing quite well. There were very few derelict properties and a number that
seemed to be doing quite well. Many non-vintage properties were happy to jump
on the bandwagon with 66 shields on lots of signs. How about a RT 66 Bail Bond
shop? The bail bond shop got to be a common sight back in Oklahoma and has
continued. The service station we
stopped at had an A&W counter, something I haven’t seen in ages. They still
brew a good root beer. The Dairy Queen had a very unusual sign, ancient sign or
non-conformist? I don’t know. They did have the classic red lips high in the
sky on a sign post.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">The most notable Motel is the
Wigwam. They have a series of concrete wigwams that serve as individual
“cabins” encircling the property. The owner has classic old cars parked in the
place to instill that vintage motor court feel.
Recently revived and remodeled it would have been an interesting choice.
There once were many of these places along the road and the crown jewel lies
ahead in California.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Away from in town Holbrook is the
Geronimo Trading post situated right on the exit ramp of I-40. The prominent
gift shop has more petrified wood including the alleged largest piece. Tee
Pees, a wind mill, wagons and other props line the perimeter of the yard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">We’re exit hopping and a few miles
ahead is Joseph City. Founded as a Mormon fort it is the Jack Rabbit Trading
post that drew us. Highway signs entice motorists to come ride the jack rabbit.
Lorna posed with the 8 foot critter but he was way too slick and hot to mount.
They did have a neat Tee Shirt design and one is coming home with me. Other
than that it’s struggling to get by on the side spur and even sells some
grocery items for locals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Remember that increasing wind I
mentioned earlier? It had really kicked and blowing desert dust put a haze in
the air. We spotted many dust devils where the dust would get spun up into a
column and resemble a small tornado. The desert is not what I expected, there
were no sand dunes like at the Desert of Maine. The ground was partly covered
with lightly colored grasses and stout bushes. The ground was partly bare
accounting for the dust but it’s far from barren, it’s rich with plants that
have adapted. The big classic cactus is nowhere to be found, they are a Mexican
plant. There are plenty of smaller cactus plants to be spotted and the colorful
wildflowers are gone for now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">That took us to Winslow where we
found a whole different spin on becoming an attraction. They have taken the
Eagles song Take it Easy which includes the line “standin on a corner in
Winslow Arizona” and made it the theme of the in-town loop of 2 one way
boulevards which comprise route 66. There
is the Standin on the Corner gift shop across from a small park on the corner
with a bronze statue of a guy with a guitar, the sign near him refrains the
lyric then it hits you like a Moe Howard poke in the eye. At that same intersection is the mother of
all RT66 shields, filling the brick intersection diagonally. The backdrop of
the park is a 2 story brick wall that is a huge mural including the “girl my
Lord in the flat bed Ford”. I missed posing there since I only learned of her
latter. The park even garners a Hampton Roadside Landmark sign. We have seen
these signs since the start of the trip and I’ll need to explain them latter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Overall it was a nice in-town with
lots of murals. The little tin Highway Diner (closed), Winslow Theater (for
sale), Brown Mug Café, Desert Sun Café and Earl’s Motor Court were notable
sightings. At Earl’s a sign says, “Sleeping in the corner in Winslow Arizona”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">We were running late and decided to
garb something quick at Church’s Fried Chicken. The tenders were light and
crispy but the breading does nothing to get in the way of the flavors of the
dipping sauces.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Next stop was Meteor City, home of
the Meteor City Trading post. This one is stranded on a dead end spur of 66 and
is reached from an I-40 exit. Lots of mural walls are here including what they
claim to be the largest RT66 map. There are tee pees with Indian artwork, a
giant dream catcher and the gift shop inside a geodesic dome. I didn’t go in
but Lorna felt the place was getting long in the tooth. Odds are the only
customers are people like us wanting to see these relics before they turn to
dust. Nobody has any good reason to drive by the place anymore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">From there it was time for the big
stop of the day, Meteor Crater. This is the most well-known, best preserved
meteorite crater on Earth! It was too windy for the guided tour along the rim.
We got to watch a movie and then the tour guide did a talk in the auditorium
followed by Q&A. Afterwards we went outdoors to the observation areas.
Steps lead to a high viewing point and the wind (said to be gusting to 60 MPH
and building) made me want to keep at least 1 hand on a railing. If I wasn’t afraid of being blown away I was certainly
worried about being blown over! We had a tailwind going up making for an easy
hike. The view was great but the wind was very distracting, after a few shots
we headed down. We found a hardly used lower platform that was actually down below
the rim a bit that made for great photos with the crater as a background. After
the visit to the gift shop (another T
shirt) we were on our way. They had an AM station plugging the crater and
Winslow, I stopped and made a recording of the 2 minute blurb.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Two Guns is a ghost town on another
exit to almost nowhere. Fenced off as private property you can still see ruins
of an old stone village, KOA Kampgound and a Shell gasoline station. 2 big
upright tanks have giant murals of outlaws blazing guns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">A few miles up the interstate lies
Twin Arrows, a similar orphaned property now a State Land Trust. The 2 giant arrows are still standing as the
strike the earth as is the Twin Arrows Trading Post and Café which is some sort
of prefab metal building. Above ground fuel tanks, 2 gutted pumps and small
attendant booth remain. I’m sure there are people that still remember stopping
here when it was thriving on 66. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Well, Winona was not what I expected
. Other than one retired through truss bridge there was nothing of a town. I guess it just rhymed well in the Get Your
Kicks on RT 66 song. The old trading post has been remodeled into a cookie
cutter Shell station but it did hold the answer to a riddle. After going in to
use restrooms and buy ice I noticed they had a 6 letter Shell sign like the one
in Grants NM. I went back in with the obvious trivia question. They had to
think for a minute but then showed me the post card (they sell) with the
station pre-renovation as a TEXACO station, a 6 letter brand! I bought the
card.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">It was along this stretch of road
the rapid transformation from desert to National Forest took place. It was
amazing how fast it all morphed.
Flagstaff is a booming resort like place with a busy downtown and route
66 strip. I think we’re beginning to get to the tourist money that flows
towards the Grand Canyon and out of California. The vibe was distinctly
different and more upscale. Places were doing well. We spotted an old Howard
Johnson’ still operating as a restaurant and the Museum Club, a bar of historic
significance, more to research later.
The in-town Hotel Monte Vista with a big roof top sign was striking. There was
a Paul Bunyan statue and an enormous cow mural that looked 3D. The Western Hills Motel restaurant was
probably the most striking RT 66 survivor. RT 66 signage has been improving as
we move westward in the state.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">We next got on the Branigan park
Scenic Byway in the national forest. This is stretch of 66, some of which
remained a gravel road. It was a nice peaceful drive with some old
establishments to spot and interpretive signs along the way. If you ever wanted
to create an idyllic paved road, just wide enough for two cars with gentle
grassy shoulders weaving through the forest this would be it. Over the hour we
may have encountered half a dozen other vehicles and 1 bicyclist. We got a
dashboard video of one stretch in tree lined road opening up to a meadow. First you could see the golden shoulders down
the road and as we approach it opened up until we were alone traversing the
space. One thing that has been stunning on this trip is to suddenly have the
scenery change with a turn in the road or as we crest a hill. One poorly marked turn sent us into the back
country so after a while of that we doubled back and were on our way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">The last real visit of the day was
the town of Williams. It didn’t read like much in the guidebook but it was
loaded with classic places and it seems to be ground zero for the Grand Canyon
visiting crowd. There was a motorcycle gathering going on this weekend and the
place was hopping with lots of live music, eclectic places, neon and history. A
future trip back to do the Canyon and such is likely and this place wants to be
part of that trip. With the dim dusk light most pictures are shabby but they
capture the energy we witnessed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">After a stint on I-40 we had a 17
mile run on a rolling wooded stretch of 66. Driving west we had the silhouettes
of the western mountains in shade of pink, azure, leading to nighttime blue
higher in the sky and as the stars began to emerge. As is often that case other
vehicles were few and far between and the rural road was sparsely populated. The
radio had a Saturday night oldies love song program with the DJ waxing poetic
between the songs. Somehow it set the mood for a peaceful drive into the
setting western sun as we longed to get some rest after a busy day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">Then came the near calamity. As the
lights of Seligman came into view we set
to find the motel where Lorna booked the room. I went to the GPS for the place
and the name was nowhere to be found, I loked in the GPS under RT 66 lodging
and still no match. She checked the AAA guidebook that she got the listing from
and though she missed a town heading putting our room 100 miles down the road.
After a moment of hysterical panic she saw that she was in fact in the right
town, we sight relief. We then went with the basics. Knowing that it was a
Route 66 institution we just followed the mother road until it led us to the
Canyon Lodge. The town was quiet and dark with the exception of the numerous
motel signs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">The guy got us registered and we set
off to room 3. They have theme rooms and Lorna had tried to get the John Wayne
room, it was booked. When we opened to door we were surprised that we had the motorcycle
room. The walls were covered with lots of motorcycle artwork including many
framed puzzles. The bed had a mountain of motorcycle themed throw pillows and a
can of Harley Davison motor oil waited on the shelf, just in case. The room was
very clean and fresh with all of the essentials. The predictability of the
brand name hotels is nice but getting into these places helps keep us in touch
with the real experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">We had done good, dropping our daily
mileage target to a comfortable 110 miles a day without really sacrificing
much. It really came down to more legs on I-40 where 66 was absent. By the time
I had downloaded pictures, backed them up and sorted them by town I was beat
and decided to get up early Saturday to work on this blog before going forward.
I got the essential down and I’m finishing it up to publish Sunday night. We
started this trip following our bliss with a very rough timeline to set the
pace. On the way we took stock of the pace and with minor adjustments seem to
be on target to have adequate time in the right places clear to the end.</span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-16259541863520769672012-06-09T09:05:00.001-07:002012-06-09T09:05:04.006-07:00See you at the Trading Post<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Friday June 8, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We got an early start getting out of
Grants NM. The first stop was the local Post Office to send a carton of
souvenirs home. While there I asked the clerk about the building. It turns out
that the Postal Service did in fact build it to complement the area with a
Spanish stucco building style, accent tiles and neon piping!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We headedv out of town on a nice
stretch of old 66. In Milan we found Bowlin’s Old Crater Trading Post. This was
the first of what would be many trading posts we would see today. The white
stucco building is boarded up but the murals of Indian life on the outside
walls are still quite attractive though fading. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As we headed into Bluewater mesas
began to be in view, We got to see the 1955 Bluewater Motel, now closed. The
signage is partially intact and a number of vehicles are on the property. The
sign has a lower panel for Melco Used Cars. The place did not look active and
may be entirely defunct. There is a while building just west of the Motel that
may have been a restaurant or service station, it’s a fair sized building with
large awning roof over the entry. I need to research what it may have been.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Prewitt there was the Rattle
Snake Trading Post, building.<span> </span>Down the
road was the Tomahawk Bar It was all spiffed up with traffic at 11:00 AM. I
think I had mentioned earlier, the bar is the last place to fail. This continued
to be a wide open gently rolling sparsely developed stretch of 66 with mesas always
in<span> </span>view. It was pleasant driving but did
have some traffic unlike other legs where we were alone for long stretches.
Train traffic was ever present along the parallel track.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The amount of intermodal freight in stacked
containers and piggyback trailers is astounding. Mixed in would be the
occasional train of coal or livestock cars. We saw very few of the box cars
that make up much of the trains in Maine.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Thoreau we found the old Red
Mountain Market and Deli and Jonnie's Inn, elevation 7200 feet. It looked like
it was quite a place in the day. Next Door was Herman’s Garage. The building
started out in Grants in 1935 as a Standard Oil station moving to Thoreau two
years later. <span> </span>It looks like one of the
steel panel stations that shipped flat and were erected on site. We visited one
like this in Illinois. The station still has old pumps on the island but is
closed. There were lots of cars around and life out back so the place is not
exactly abandoned.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Down the road was another abandoned Indian
trading post. Some mural work could be found but stucco is starting to fall
from this wood building as the roof has failed and water is getting in. I have
not been able to identify this one. Across the road is a unique Tee Pee shaped silo.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Continental Divide is the continental
divide, elevation 7275. It is from here on RT 66 that water will flow either to
the Pacific or Gulf of Mexico. The theme is familiar with two Indian trading
posts, Indian Village and Indian Market though this time both were stocked and
busy. We got Gasoline, Ice and souvenirs. They had a nice shot for photographing
the scenery and props like a Conestoga wagon. Both were colorful buildings with
lots of red, yellow and white. Nearby were some unique RT 66 signs including a
BEGIN sign for a segment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Down the hill was an old <span> </span>Whiting Brothers Motel. They had been a big
lodging and fuel provider in the region on 66. The rusting road sign rises from
the valley to be seen from afar. The beige stucco string of units is still open
for business. An adjacent filling station is dormant. Back up on the main road
are two red white and blue USA rockets made from tall staged posts. Route 66
people are notorious for attention getters. They don’t have a monopoly on
gimmicks but they do elevate the art form. Commercial or not, folk art is
everywhere.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Gallup NM has a route 66 commercial
district that is extensive and doing quite well.<span> </span>The Road Runner, Arrow Head, Blue Spruce, Lariat
and Desert Skies to name a few were doing well. Very few derelict properties
were spotted speaking to good business or prompt redevelopment. The area
businesses were predominately vintage places.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Two places stood out from out brief
visit. One was Earls, established 1947. The place looked neat and busy and made
a good stop for lunch. When we got out of the jeep and walked around we
realized that the sidewalk was lined with Indian craftspeople selling their products,
mostly jewelry and leather crafts. We sat down, ordered lunch and while waiting
craftspeople came to the table showing what they had to offer. We ended up
getting some nice and unique gifts for folks back home. I had Earl’s special
sandwich a modified club made with grilled ham and a special sauce. It was
pretty good.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The next highlight was the discovery
of the El Rancho Hotel. It is famous as being the place where stars stayed in
the day with rooms named after famous guests that had stayed there. This was on
Lorna’s list of places to stay but got scratched when we saw it would be a mid-
day visit. She did get wound up when she saw they had a restaurant we could have
eaten at instead of Earle’s! We did the next best thing, she went to their gift
shop while I loitered in the majestic lobby getting pictures. I did get a shot of the
Doris Day room.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Manuelito brought us to the Chief
Yellow Horse Trading post and the Arizona border. The state line runs through
the property including a line painted on the store floor! The shop in in the face
of a massive cavern and curiosities abound with props and odds and ends like a yellow
rhinoceros and a big brown cobra snake posed to bite. They had petrified wood
for sale. Legend has it that Yellow Horse got shut down by the government for misappropriating
the stuff. Apparently he had a stash and his son is now selling that and other
mineral oddities for $2.50 a pound. Lorna snagged some specimens.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Next door, fully into Arizona is
Lupton and a bizarre string of trading posts and truck stops. Found there is
the Tomahawk Indian store featuring the world’s largest Tee Pee, a steel
fabrication that houses….. you guessed it….. the gift shop. Above the Indian
Village Trading Post at the end of the strip a nice mural was painted on the
rock wall backdrop. Lot’s to look at. It was a good spot to get a mid afternoon
ice cream bar in the 96F heat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Houck was home to Fort Courage made
famous in the TV show F Troup. This was a little bit of a let-down. It was
neither a real fort nor a TV set. It is actually another Indian Gift Shop
wrapped in a decent effort to masquerade as the fort. Fences, a water tower
(Upright under grown gasoline tank) and 2 serious guard towers with painted
cutouts of guards out there are enough to lure you off the road. More interesting
was the closed Pancake House restaurant sharing the parking lot. I remember
seeing pictures of these but never visited one. The round building sort of
resembles a stack of pancakes and the handsome brown and orange sign towers
over the place.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">From I-40 we could spot the Querino
Canyon Bridge. This is a 1930 269 foot bridge towering over the canyon. It’s on
a dirt stretch of 66 we chose not to drive. I took some pictures while out in
the breakdown lane of the I-40 bridge. Remind me not to ever to that again! It’s
of <span> </span>Warren Deck Truss design with 3 spans.
The 2 support towers are steel posts and cross braces. Once again this is a big bridge
spanning a dry creek in the valley.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Sanders we found the yellow bridge
over the Puerco River. It’s closed to traffic on an abandoned stretch right
near an I-40 exit. The two spans are of the Pratt Pony Truss design that
includes outboard side bracing of the trusses.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The next stop was the Painted Desert
/ Petrified Forest National Park. The 28 mile loop ($10. / car) wound though
colorful shale mesas and led to petrified wood deposits that could be viewed
but not taken. It was a nice visit with good photo ops. There were also some Indian
ruins with petroglyphs. . I did get some pretty nice pictures in the late day
light. The park actually spans I-40 with a bridge near which a Route 66 turnout
has been created to recognize the old road. Lorna spotted a lizard out on a
rock that I got a picture off as well a deer we met near the exit gate, this isn’t
out local white tail deer I’ll tell you. I’ll refrain from a total description of
the park, plenty is published.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After leaving the park we headed
down a<span> </span>looooooong, straaaaaight,
flaaaaat road that led to Holbrook where we would eat and check into the hotel.
When we got to the town I went to the GPS and realized our room was in Winslow,
30 miles away. Fortunately I-40 made beeline to it was it was only a 30 minute
goof. We did see enough of the town to know that we need to double back
tomorrow, more on Holbrook tomorrow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Winslow it was a late meal at
Denny’s and then we checked in. By the time the pictures were downloaded, sorted
and backed up I barely started this posting and decided to crash. I’m committed
to having continuity so were getting a late start today while I capture
yesterday. Today will be another long day touring but there are several
significant stretches where I-40 is gone and we will be on I-40.</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-28291631486689643832012-06-07T23:53:00.002-07:002012-10-04T20:22:52.796-07:00Santa FE - Albuquerque - Grants<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thursday June 7, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I don’t think I mentioned it but a
wild fire in Arizona had cast a plume of smoke over Santa Fe last night. It was
waning at sundown and gone when we woke up this morning, good news for all.
Driving out of Santa Fe there were quite a few worthy vestiges of the Route 66
era however morning traffic took the fun out of snapping pictures and we rolled
on out of town. There were some nice Spanish style motels that would have made
good pictures. The plan today is to stay in Grants NM tonight with
a midday stop in </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Albuquerque </span></span>on the way. Once we were out of town it wasn’t long before we
were traveling in Indian Territory where photography, especially of the
villages is forbidden. There was a mix
of forgotten properties from all races as we rolled though quiet countryside
and small communities. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I think we were down in Bernadillo
after we had seen an “End of Indian Nation” sign taking pictures of a water
tower and the hillside when 2 police cruisers pulled up behind us. They wanted
to make sure we were OK but then they saw the camera and mentioned that
pictures are not allowed. When Lorna mentioned I was taking pictures of the
water tower they looked at me like I was some sort of screwball. I didn’t
bother to mention that the last sign I saw said we were out of the territory. I
didn’t see the one about pictures either. Live and learn, we went on our way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">On the outskirts of Albuquerque we
did see some nice classic places like the El Camino Motor Hotels and Dining
Room. A big winged steel dragon was the folk art for the hour. Route 66 rolls
right through the city and we decided to log some walking distance. We parked
and bought 2 hours of time from the ticket machine. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The first thing we came to was the
1928 Madonna of The Trail, which pays homage to the pioneer women. The downtown
is significant in size with a big city feel. The midday traffic was
surprisingly light. The city like many has
a lot of murals painted on vacant buildings and blank walls. Some murals are in
the form of tile mosaics including 3 chairs along a sidewalk. There are lot of interesting
buildings and we even got a shot of the SUBWAY sandwich man dancing on the
sidewalk! We made it appoint to target the route 66 path and a few related
places just of the route. There were many shops actively marketing to the RT 66
followers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We ended up having lunch at Lindy’s Diner,
a nice little spot on a corner. They had a lot of classic RT 66 brick-a-brack.
I had a cheese steak sandwich that really hit the spot. Instead of the usual
shredded beef this was made with a thin stack of paper thin slices. Peppers and
onions with cheese all toasted in the bun rounded it out. Lorna had a nice BLT
that came with a fantastic pasta salad.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We spotted the KIMO and EL Rey
Theaters, both active. The KIMO was especially nice. We didn’t stop to browse but the Indian Jewelry
and Crafts store looked like someplace where a lot of time could be spent. Just
from the street the layout looked elegant with items like feathered head
dresses. There were several gentleman’s clubs including one where couples
always get in free. We even saw a genuine man’s hat store socked with many
hundreds if not thousands of man's hats, mostly cowboy. They have taken a lead
with electric cars with street side charging stations. We got back to the Jeep
with :15 left on the ticket and headed out of town to see what was waiting on
the west side. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">On the way out of town it was mostly
Lorna taking shots on the fly. She did good at capturing a representation of
many places we just didn’t have time mess with in afternoon traffic. The Hot Dog
House, a wiener emporium is one that came out good. The Western View Steak
House & Coffee Shop, Mac’s La Sierra Coffee Shop with a big cow on top of
the sign and the El Don Motel were some of more the keepers. I did get to park and walk a few adjoining places with my camera. Overall it was a
vibrant area with relatively few dormant places. There were signs of repurposed
buildings which is good news. The styles are from another time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As we left town a decorative beam spanned the
road with a Route 66 shield, neon and art deco touches. The posts minus the over the road beam repeated several times as we left town. We were glad that we took the
time to make more than a drive-through visit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Rio Puerco Lorna checked out the gift
shop while I visited the 1933 Parker Through Truss bridge. At 250 feet long it
is one of the longest in the state. It was rebuilt in 1957 and retired in 1999.
It is being preserved as a landmark by the state. It was hard to imagine two
lanes of opposing traffic on this narrow bridge. Also notable is the total lack
of water under it. Many of the bridges I see in these parts are really there to handle
rainwater surge, not constant flowing water.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Down through Correo Lorna was
getting shots of the terrain. The strata varies between skewed and dead flat.
Most of these shots were taken while rolling down the highway and the camera
continues to impress me. The speed limit on I-40 which we had to use for some
abandoned legs is 75 and few exceed it. 75 is not a fun speed with the short wheel
base and high center of gravity of the Liberty. 70 is OK and 45 on old 66 is
even better. Also on 66 my eyes have time to take in much more and we can pull
over for a still shot, rarely with anyone else to deal with. The terrain is
also much closer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We entered Laguna tribal land and
this time I found and read the sign. It read to the effect that the villages and
people were not to be photographed. With that we headed down 66 and in Miesta
came to Owl Rock, a lava outcrop at the edge of the road. Shortly thereafter we found Dead Man’s Curve
where the road winds tightly around a small mesa. Between the narrow road, oncoming traffic and falling
rocks the title of the curve is well earned. The camera remained still for
several more Laguna towns. There was a
rich mix of Indian and “white man” buildings. When we spotted one of interest we
jotted down the name and description. Someone else’s photo is probably
available online with no risk of a hassle. On the way we drove through a volcanic
lava field and crossed under I-40 using a 2 lane box culvert passage.. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This got us to Grants and our room
at the Comfort Inn, just past 5:00. Very nice and a good buy. We went to The Surf Shack for a
Pizza Meal we had been craving. There is a Pizza Hut be we wanted to sample something
local. Salad, bread sticks and a small pizza were all good and 1/2 of the baked
food is in the room fridge. This place has taken most of an old shopping plaza
and become a homegrown Chuck-E-Cheese including a roller skating rink. They have
an arcade, room of larger activities, party dining space and the roller rink
that they bundle for parties and events. It’s nice to see local operations put
stuff like this together. The place was as clean as a whistle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After dinner I walked the main drag
capturing the place in pictures as the sun lowered in the sky. This meant that the west face was usually the best to photograph. There must have been a freight train on the tracks in one direction
or the other every fifteen minutes. Some even had the double stacked shipping
containers. The Main street is in pretty good shape with some dormant or
repurposed places. A quick read of the town’s history shows some nice diversity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I should have measured it, the main drag goes on forever with 2 theaters,
one the WEST in daily operation. The LUX is in OK shape but activity is
uncertain. The Roarin 20’s Speakeasy, Lavaland Motel (remember the lava field?)
and rambling Franciscan Lodge Motel "your home on the road” all spoke to
another age. The Wayside Motel has… gone by the wayside with the units gone but
the office standing. The Uranium Café remembers the local Uranium boom. Outlaws
Saloon and Dance even has a band in there on this Thursday night. The Post Office
apparently scoffed up an awesome art deco, pueblo style building, complete with
neon trim! The Sands and Southwest
motels were doing business in spite of the 5 or so newer places here by the
interstate. I will say that the small players are hard to find fast online and
in this age of bedbugs and such going to a local place in a strange town is a leap
of faith.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The town park has a huge iron work
piece of folk-art highlighting Route 66 in New Mexico. A stream runs along the
park and across the road where a water fall fountain spills back into the
stream. They are connected by a sidewalk running under the bridge that carries
route 66 over the steam. This works out a lot like the subway crossings we found
in Oklahoma and Illinois. This helped keep pedestrian traffic out of the busy roadway.
There were many more interesting places I captured.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Getting out of the car to finish unloading
the SHELL sign towering above the nearby station caught my eye. It is a the
common series of square boxes, each one having one big letter. The original
owner must have had a 6 letter name since on this sign the blocks read S H E L
L [blank].</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We finally got back, logged on, took
care of things, downloaded and backed up the pictures then worked on this blog.
In between we needed to research some minor side trips, set tomorrow’s goal and
book a room. We are now just about on schedule to finish in time without short
sheeting a state. We have a 135 mile per day goal right now. We beat that
yesterday, met it today and will beat it tomorrow so we are closing the gap.
Each state will now be progressively less in mileage and as expected New Mexico
and probably Arizona will have longer hops and more sites that are stop and go
photo opportunities. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Winslow Arizona here we come!</span></span></div>
Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-58141534925012340362012-06-06T22:17:00.000-07:002012-06-06T22:17:00.643-07:00Up the Santa Fe Loop<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wednesday June 6, 2012</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We rested well in Tucumcari and
headed over to the suggested restaurant for breakfast, “Kicks on 66”.<span> </span>It looks like it is part of a dormant motel
complex. We were a little past the rush (I think) getting there just before
9:00 AM. Half of the 6 parties had Route 66 books and were plotting their next
moves. I guess we’re really not alone in this endeavor. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We headed out of town checking out the
last 6 or so establishments on the west side. The first leg to Newkirk was on
I40 letting us get some real miles behind us PDQ. Wilkerson had an old figural bottle
shop, a few gas stations and a small church, all abandoned. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We left Newkirk on old 66 and Lorna
started to get into snapping pictures of the terrain. Every curve, knoll or
mile down the road brings us to a different scene. The space is broad and open
and the surrounding hills, mountains and mesas make it expand and contract as
we weave ahead. After a solitary drive down the road we came to Quervo, a town
that got sliced in two by I-40. A 2 lane underpass keeps things connected but
the interstate must have taken a huge swath out of the town. A number of towns
have moved once or twice to dodge highway work. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">One abandoned filling station on the
north side bad sold BELL gasoline and also served as the post office. From
there you could see QUERVO spelled in white on the hillside to the south. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">On the south side we found a handsome
red block building. The roof <span> </span>as intact
but tired and the windows look to be gone. The stone has an inscription ending
in No.6. It looks like it could be a school. Along the frontage road there were
a number of small housed left open to the elements. A 1915 red block church
looks like it might still be in use. In the streets further back homes were inhabited.
There was also some commercial trucking equipment in use. Several generations
of water towers were visible suggesting a community water supply.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Along the way Lorna was getting pictures
of wild flowers, lot’s nice stuff we don’t see at home. A few times now I have run
into “picky bushes” that can leave your socks booby trapped with spiny balls. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We decided to make the loop up to
Santa Fe and Santa Rosa was our departure from the I-40 corridor. Santa Rosa
was chock full of Route 66 icons, many still in business. It was good to see
so many doing well. The town was refreshing, far removed from that ghost town
feeling. On a Wednesday morning near noon I didn’t have any trouble walking
across the 5 lane main drag. The Silver Moon, Route 66 Restaurant, Joseph’s Bar
& Grill and Johnny’s Comet II were all still serving food. Most motels were
active but fuels stations and the truck stop at the west end were on hard
times. We didn’t stay too long being early for lunch.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">From there we headed to Santa Fe for
the night. US 84 has replaced 66 for most of this run though there are many
sections of the old road available as respite from the 75 MPH highway. This took
us up through some really nice country and we made numerous stops to take
pictures of the scenery, flowers, cows, sheep horsed and anything else of
interest. Today’s image tally was 320. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Dilia we found a nice pale yellow
adobe Catholic Church that must have been active. While taking pictures a woman
pulled up offering to sell us burritos. Maybe she knew something. An abandoned
store had been selling antiques, fine art and ice. This Santa Fe loop is a pre
1937 alignment. On the way out we got some nice open road pictures. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After we left I checked the GPS for
food. Everything was about 28 miles away in Las Vegas, NM. Driving up through
Anton Chico we stopped for lots of nature pictures and enjoyed the open high
country.<span> </span>We had been thinking about
Mexican food and happened on the Smiling Faces Restaurant, Authentic Mexican
food. It was a letdown with oily tacos that lacked seasoning. The rice was
equally bland and soggy. They did have a big collection of smiley face stuff
that Jocelyn will enjoy seeing.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">US 66 runs alongside many of the
highways and there is usually a similar frontage road on the opposite side. To
let activity pass there are drive through box culverts under the roadway. <span> </span>We had been wanting to do some “dirt 66” and
decided to see where one of these culverts would take us. We drove down off of
66 and drove through the square tunnel just 1 car wide with height limits.<span> </span>Once across we were on a dirt road and one
direction was closed. We headed down the open side for a few miles passing many remote
properties folks called home. Eventually we found the Serafina Post Office and
we continued on to the main road. Birds had lined the top corners of the tunnel
with mud nests. This road has railway tracks running out back. In order to give
the same access across the roadbed to pedestrians and animals a similar tunnel
was built under the tracks. It was nice stone block construction with arched
passage.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">San Jose NM gave us a closed through
truss bridge and a nice church. The village is active with many adobe
structures. Nobody looks prosperous but the many tan adobe homes of varying patterns
fit well. Farther on San Juan NM we found another nice little church and a dead
end. We did get to drive along a steep drop off where an amalgam of discarded jalopies
could be seen hanging out of the slope above. It gave Lorna the creeps. She wouldn't let me stop to take pictures.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In Canconcito we found historical
markers and a chapel that had outdoor items commemorating a Civil War battle.
We hit dead ends when trying to find Apache Canyon. <span> </span>There is so much to explore in these places that
you need to make choices and cut losses when it’s not happening.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Entering SantaFe the Bobcat Bite was
suggested as a point of interest. It looks to be doing well. Driving 66 to our
hotel there isn’t much remaining. I did find the Stage Coach Motel next door
that is slated for demolition. A few doors down is a dormant restaurant with what
must have been a nice neon sign.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It’s been a string of late nights
and I have a chance to hit the hay before midnight so I’ll be skipping some of
the other goings on. Tomorrow we will be heading back down to I-40 and should
be approaching the Arizona border.</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-21417052963270290562012-06-06T00:13:00.001-07:002012-06-06T00:13:17.921-07:00Tucumcari Tonight<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tuesday
June 5, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We got
going today and took some time out for shopping. My old trusty roll aboard
suitcase blew a zipper and the retractable handle had gone to heck so it got
replaced. I needed more external memory to back up the pictures; we’re past 20
Gig by now and needed to stay ahead on batteries. With that done we were out of
Amarillo before 11:00 AM. We snagged a few more vintage motel shots on the way
out of town and soon we were rolling on route 66.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Before we knew
it we spotted a crowd on the east bound service road and recognized the site as
Cadillac ranch. After crossing over at the next exit we were east bound back to
the ranch. Set back from the road in a farm field is a row of 10 old Cadillac’s, planted
grill down up to the windshield. There was a good crowd including a motorcycle
caravan. What we didn’t realize is that the custom is to bring spray paint so
you can leave your mark on a car. This has been going on for a while and the
cars look like they have been covered with spray foam the paint is so thick.
The appearance of the cars is a cross between tie died and graffiti. We posed
with the cars for a picture and after taking a few dozen more were on our way.
The perfect attraction, free and no gift shop!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Most
communities on the route are 6-12 miles apart. It is very rare to find a reason
to stop between towns and some are just plain gone. This is getting to be more
pronounced as we go west and we’re starting to log some good sprints. We are
also getting into territory where some sections of 66 have been lost and the
leg is done on the interstate at 70 MPH.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Were still in grain country with
massive grain elevators every 10 miles or so. Many are co-op operations. We’ve
seen combines working the fields followed by clouds of dust as the chafe is blown
away. <span> </span>The combines discharge the wheat
into big wagons that are towed alongside in the fields. Those wagons have
blowers that are used to fill open top dump trailers alongside the road. Seeing
the fields that go forever and the scale of this harvesting equipment helps put
Americas ability to produce food into perspective. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Wildorado there was an abandoned
filling station campground with about 10 hookups visible. Hookups were $4.50 per
night. The hookups are still there along with a lone picnic table and a forgotten
Winnebago. Imagine camping on a narrow strip between Route 66 and the wheat
fields. Showers and Ice were available, what more can you ask for?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <span></span>Down the road a bit was a motel and Café with
towering signs calling travelers to pull over. The Royal motel is still operating,
$29.99 and up for one person with a free continental breakfast. The Café name is blown
out the big sign, all that remains is ‘S, maybe it was Rick’s? It’s not
uncommon to see these massive signs with empty frames towering in the sky. Some
are partially wrecked making an aerial game of scrabble.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As is often the case the grain
elevator greeted us in Vega Texas. The longhorn car wash has a big mural of
a long horn steer. The Hamburger House is gone but the sign stands along the
side of the street. Dimas TradenPost had a wild mix of stock piled high inside
and out. A pair of green Roswell aliens chainsaw carved from a 2 foot diameter
log about 8 feet tall and bright green stand by the side of the road. They have
one of those snazzy ball top water towers, painted bright yellow with Vega and
the Longhorns school mascot painted in black. There is a 1924 restored
Magnolia brand gasoline station that is a gem. Tack sharp with some all the
trimmings. There were nice history posters in the window that I need to read
latter. It’s a handsome 2 story building that looks to be built from pebble
faced concrete panels.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">A native building material seems to
be a golden brown smooth pebbles. You can see it road pavement and is
often used as a loose driveway material. It’s interesting to find myself
fascinated by the color of someone elses dirt. We grow accustomed to our local
materials and don’t expect things like that to vary.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I must digress…. While shopping
today Lorna discovered the newly released Beach Boys album, “That’s Why God
Made the Radio” and got a copy. Driving along we forgot to play it today but I
have it on the ear buds while I type and I’m smiling. After a long dry spell the
chance of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys ever producing again wasn’t even in
the cards. As things played out Brian has had a string of solo projects that
keep the spirit alive. To be able to drink once more from the fountain of
summertime joy is a gift. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Getting back to Vega, a giant
rooster greets you at Roosters. The Vega Motel seems to be on hard times but Bill’s Barber Shop at the <span> </span>end of the
horseshoe opposite the office is still clipping. The Roadrunner Drive-in is
closed and the bus station building is quiet. Some real nice murals can be
found around town. The Bonanza Motel had a few cars in the yard and may be active.
The Boot Hill Saloon & Grill had business. The bar seems to always be one
of the last survivors. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Roark hardware store has been
operating since 1925. It is the longest operating hardware store on route 66.
It was closed when we drove by but seems alive judging by products in the side
yard.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Lastly Vega is the seat of Oldham
county. The 1915 courthouse is a handsome <span> </span>golden brown stone building.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Landergin we spotted the usual
grain elevator and derelict filling station with blown out monster sign. The RESTAURANT
panel on the sign was drooping but intact calling us to the abandoned Landergin
café.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Adrian Texas is the last town in
the state. It has the usual abandoned filling stations and the Fabulous 40 Motel
claims vacancy but don’t count on staying there. Did I mention that they have a
grain elevator too?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Adrian’s claim to fame is the Halfway
Café. It is at the exact geo-mathematical center of route 66. We have 1139
miles to go. We arrived for a late lunch, this put us at 13-1/2 days into the
22 days we had after leaving Chicago. We have about 9 day’s left allowing a little
time to ship souvenirs and get the baggage balanced. We’ll need to watch our
time but as I mentioned this is becoming a game of bigger hops. Logging options
are limited out here and in many cases our day’s plan will be set by where we
can find our next bed. We can’t just count on crashing in the next town like we
did in the first half of the trip. Needless to say they sold us lunch and a
mess of souvenirs including a T shirt for my 66 wardrobe. We also took the commemorative
photo in front of the sign. <span> </span>After a
brief stop in Glenrio home to a deserted filling station and café it was on to
New Mexico.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The last 18 miles of Texas had to
be on I-40. As we crested the hill to Exit 0 it was like we crossed a bridge
and a whole new world opened up. In Texas I said that the sky was big and Lorna
expressed it as feeling like she was in a snow globe. Suddenly mesas and high
plains framed the horizon in ways that neither of us had ever seen in person,
very cool!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Before stopping at the state visitor’s
center for information we took a run up into the hills on old route 66 to see
what the remains of Bard were looking like. The place was a ghost town with a
few inhabited homes on a back street. Another guy from Illinois was exploring
the town as well in a period correct Ford Galaxy. He pointed out the last post
office building. Over the top of the hill I found an even earlier post
office.<span> </span>The rambling Motel and Café were<span> </span>getting overgrown and several filling
stations were weathered but standing. One was of a design I have started to
recognize and I need to research what brand they were built for. Lorna is
having a good time taking pictures of the flowers, there’s some nice stuff growing
wild.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">While driving a stretch of old 66 Lorna
noticed sneakers nailed to the tops of a string of fence posts, someone is
having fun, maybe it’s the next route 66 attraction in the making!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We next visited San Jon starting with
ice and gasoline. The only real activity is a newer filling station /
convenience store. The rest is down for the count. They have a municipal park
with free camping, right on the main drag. A mural remembers a local man that
died in 2011 at 19. No name or cause is revealed, another story to research.
The truck stop offers a “taste of India Buffet”. <span> </span>It looks like the San Jon Motel is still renting
rooms. Many offer daily, weekly and monthly rates. Smith’s Café is open to the
elements s and the big red letters on the sign have just about faded to nothing
along with the lettering on the façade.<span>
</span>Abandoned gasoline stations from most 20<sup>th</sup> century decades
can be found. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As I have mentioned in the past
some of these dormant properties have become private homes. Usually you can
spot a car, kids toys or something that suggest fresh activity. When we notice
these we just make note and move on respecting their privacy. They didn’t ask
to be an exhibit in a study of the rise and fall of Route 66. Seeing the places I suspect they have their share of pain.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This brings us to Tucamcari, our
home for tonight. We’re staying at the historic Blue Swallow Motel, a 1942
motel with a <span> </span>garage bay between each unit.
The side doors have been sealed but I the day you could go from your car to
your room without being seen. Handy on rainy days or for a tryst. Listed in the
national Register of Historic Places the rooms have been maintained in a period
correct fashion, within reason, I do have WIFI. The TV is an older model
perched atop a gorgeous old shortwave radio. Other than the TV and ceiling fan
the room is pretty much as it has been for generations. Even the phone here at
the desk is a heavy gaumy rotary dial phone of a style that predates me. The
modern air conditioner is appropriate since in the day all units had what was then
called refrigerated air. The place has a magnificent blue neon sign with piping
around all of the rooms Over the door each unit has a stylized blue neon
swallow. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We got into town just after 4:00
and were able to tour the dinosaur museum as Lorna planned. It was a good
presentation. We then registered at the motel and got dinner suggestions. A
local favorite just down the street is Del’s known for their Chicken Fried
Steak. I found the breading unique and enjoyed my meal. Lorna was equally happy
with her steak. Old route 66 runs right up the main drag here and I went to
take some pictures while Lorna nested in the room. <span> </span>The town used to claim 2000 rooms but I read they
have cut it back to 1200. I have no problem believing that this place has at
least 800 abandoned rooms. Some businesses such as where we are staying make a
go of it but many have fallen by the wayside or must be just getting by. The
number of significant 1<span> </span>and 2 story
motels that have been closed and left, complete with signs is mind boggling. The
same is true for filling stations. Most are closed, some have been repurposed
and many of those failed in their second lives. <span> </span>Open restaurants are equally scarce. The town
does have a Main street that we won’t get to visit. From what I read it has it’s
share of hard luck with burned and abandoned buildings. The best analogy I can
suggest is to drive through Old Orchard Beach in December, lots of capacity but
limited demand.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The town is kicking butt to
survive. They are another mural city with a map that will take you all over
town spotting murals. I got to see some of them. They have spawned the slogan “Tucumcari
Tonight” with highway billboards to entice travelers to the lodging
establishments. This weekend they are hosting an antique car rally. The lodging
here is very affordable so all they need is traffic.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Today we kicked the mileage up a
notch and it we’ll cover even more ground tomorrow to meet our goal. Weather
continues to be good with dry days albeit with some passing clouds. Overnight
rain has been common and continues in the forecast. Crossing into New Mexico has
put us into Mountain Time lagging home by 2 hours. That gave me some extra time
to write tonight and now that the day’s story is told I’ll call it a wrap. Oh... and while writing this I fell in love with the new CD.</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-30736319168877671992012-06-05T00:18:00.000-07:002012-08-10T11:52:45.657-07:00Quiet Places and Amarillo Texas<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Monday June 4, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We started the day in Shamrock Texas by getting a few pictures of the Conoco station / Do Drop in Café in daylight. It was a little overcast but warm. Where I was working freehand, without a tripod last night I was real happy with the pictures I got with the neon glowing. At the station we also found a memorial to Bill Mack a hometown hero who went on to be a popular radio personality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We could see from the maps and guide books that today would be a game changer. The towns are more spaced out and the attractions more Spartan. The upside is some awesome stretches of old roadbed and terrain like we have never traveled across.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On our way into McClean we took a wrong turn. Texas without a doubt has the worst route 66 signage of the states we have seen. For our detour we were rewarded with a plaque commemorating a WWII prisoner of war camp that had been there. Over 3000 prisoners were held there at a single time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">McClean has seen a lot of hard times since the interstate took them off the map. Despite the devastation we did see a number of business that are making a go of it. On this Monday a number of apparent survivors were not open, some seem to have limited their hours to match the demand. The population is about half of it’s peak. Those making a go of it are testament to the human spirit. The business district has it’s share of empty store fronts and derelict buildings. However wherever you turn you see colorful murals on blank walls and boarded up storefronts. The former barber shop looked ready for business with paintings on the boarded up front windows. The mural has been a big theme though this trip. Perhaps it’s a throwback to the days when a farmer could get the barn painted by letting the traveling sign painter decorate the barn wall with an advertisement.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It's important to keep in mind that these had been successful vibrant communities. When you wander down the back streets you usually find handsome schools, town halls, library, museum buildings and parks that may or not still be in service.You stop and say, "what the heck is this doing here?" but they come from another time. The region also was the beneficiary of many WPA / New Deal projects. It's the intestate that pulled the plug on the cash flow and sent them all into tailspins over the years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As you enter town you first see the towering MOTEL and RESTAURANT signs of the Route 66 motel The multi building facility and pool are now silent as the grass grows from the pavement. Just behind the motel complex is a weathering storefront building that may have been a store serving the traveling guests.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next we came to the Devils Rope Museum (worlds largest) & Route 66 Museum. Like most of these places admission is free in hopes of a gift shop sale and maybe something in the donation bin. They had a real nice exhibition of agricultural and rural living needs including barbed wire, fencing and so forth. The Route 66 Museum had a nice collection of artifacts and icons. It was nothing amazing but we did glean a few new details. This was one of the few Route 66 museums that happened to be open when we passed through. They also had a room with a detailed picture story of the Dust Bowl era. They had a giant model snake form the now defunct Reptile Ranch as well as a giant steer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We notice that even in this out of the way place had the utilities are running down alleys between the backs of building. Even the rubbish truck was operating in this space. The main streets are largely clear of utility lines.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Further up town we found the 1920’s Phillips 66 station all restored in vintage colors. This was the first Phillips 66 station in the state of Texas. It was leased as such in 1929. The beige brick cottage style station with a red/ orange roof was immaculate. In addition to the fuel pumps they had the bulk oil pump on the island ready to top your oil off. On one side was a grease rack. In the early days most stations did not have service bays and it was common to find a drive up grease rack on the side. On the other side was an orange Phillips 66 delivery tank truck. Up north it would be considered a heating oil truck. Here in Texas it may have been for delivering fuel in bulk to farms.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">At the far end of town is the Cactus Inn/Motel. With its green and yellow color scheme it is by far the most colorful place in town. It looked real nice and it’s regrettable to find places like this at noon when staying there is out of the question. Speaking of cactus, not only did they have cactus as part of the landscaping we have started to see small flowering cactus along the side of the road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Alanreed we enjoyed rolling along the old pavement for 8 or so miles. The sky got bigger as we could often see as far as the eye can reach in all directions. It has been common to drive for 5 or more minutes without seeing anyone, the feeling was really different. 66 is woven into coexistence with I-40 with ramps and access roads entering and leaving usually with no more than a yield sign. Some grain elevators added a third dimension to the wide open spaces. We also rumbled past Jericho, a ghost town.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We started to see mirages, where the horizon disappears leaving a void between the land and whatever rises from it. Upcoming overpasses were floating in the air with traffic driving up from the void. Trees looked like they were on their sides. Lacking bottoms a progressive treeline looks like one on it's side when your brain tries to make sense of it. It was really strange and I'm sure more is to come.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Groom is home to some bigger than life items. The Britten water tower is leaning as designed. One leg isn't even on the ground. In addition to the tower there is a monster sign next door for a service station and restaurant. At the top of the sign, towering over the roadway is a scale model of the tilting tower. A small truck garage remains, forget about eating there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On the other side of the town we found the giant cross. Standing 190 feet or 19 stories tall it is visible for 20 miles on the flat lands. I got some pictures of it including the tilting tower from a good distance. In addition to the eye catching cross life size figures illustrate the Stations of the Cross and other key bible stories. Lorna captured it all in pictures. They had the unique distinction of having a gift shop with nothing that appealed to Lorna. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There wasn’t any apparent source of food here and we were on the far side of midday. Driving west there was a bounty of signs for Loves (a regional gas station / convenience store) with a Subway counter. We split a foot long and called it good on this summer like afternoon It was time for fuel and I was surprised to see 86, 88 and 90 octane, that’s lower than normal for us. After eating we went down to the lightly traveled ramp area that connects to I40. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The executive Inn was operating and looked tidy. It does have a massive HOTEL & CAFÉ sign. The restaurant looks like it is fully closed. Nearby is a Route 66 Budget Fuel station with another high in the sky sign. The adjacent gift shop door was open so we took a peek. It was set-up as a gift store / market. There were still shelves stocked with thousands of bumper stickers. Then as we took in the scene we realized that the place had been in use as a dwelling with mattresses and other items arranged with a sense of order. Next door again in this mecca of yesteryear is Bug Ranch. It’s a play on the famed Cadillac Ranch with Volkswagon Beetles planted nose first into the ground like they just sprouted. Around the bend as we headed away was an impressive vacant golden stone building. The plaque said it was the Conway School built in 1930.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">At the corner as we leave town is a hodge podge of stone buildings that once added up to to a motor court. Standing proud on the corner is a white building with a front canopy held up by 2 nice large posts. It’s an apparent early filling station. Nothing lasts forever but it’s clear that these places take the years much better without the snow loads and freeze / thaw cycles we have in the north. They do get lots of rain and wind. Leaving Conway we were on the only stretch of 66 with a 70 mile per hour speed limit. That is really flying on a little 2 lane road!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Before long we were working our way into Amarillo, a much larger place than I expected. Just getting around I spotted 2 cool trains. One was a shipping container train with boxes stacked 2 high. The other was the circus train we had seen over a week ago. Here was Barnum & Bailey / Ringling Brothers rolling into or by town.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Route 66 had just one route through Amarillo for the run though today’s one way streets to cause a few gyrations as you make your way. The good news is that all the eye candy is concentrated on a single artery. We were in town around 4:15 with reservations made. This set us up to hit a special destination booked for tomorrow night. We checked into still another Holiday Inn Express Suite and settled in and got our bearings. There is a Route 66 area a mile or so from here and we headed up there to find some dinner. I was getting pictures while Lorna rummaged through a few resale shops looking for more of her pressed glass. She scored a deal on a stack of coasters at the Seven Brothers Mercantile. Like most places he offered to put the items in a "sack" after wrapping them. Sack is the term south of Chicago it seems, not bag. A soft drink (soda, tonic) is apt to be called POP, especially when taken by the bottle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> After roaming around to get pictures of some spots we ended up at Brewski’s Smokey Joe Café. It was suggested by the hotel and has seating in a canopy covered space just off the sidewalk. I had an amazing chopped steak, 2 thin patties pressed together with a bed of caramelized onions in the middle. I need to try that at home! With a salad and Onion Rings it was more than enough food. Lorna had a nice chicken salad. Across the street the Golden Light Café has been serving since 1946.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">A surprising number of route 66 structures are surviving. They have found a knack for re-purposing the buildings. You need to watch the building styles to catch them in some cases. They have their share of route 66 business that have been in operation over the years too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Some highlights would include the Natatorium, known as the NAT. Originally an open air swimming pool building it became enclosed, then converted to a dance floor. Today it’s one of many second hand stores on the stretch. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There is a used car lot in a former Sinclair station. On the canopy roof is one of the big green Sinclair Dino dinosaurs. Dino also appears on the sign and some of the building fascia panels.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Up the street 2 service stations across the street from each other are now restaurants with picnic table seating outside, Moe Dogs Grill and Wild Bill’s Fillin Station .The building and respective canopies are being put to good use for shade and shelter from showers. We’re clearly someplace that has a much longer outdoor living season.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">A former drive-in with car canopy had been the Route 66 Café and it’s now Menchi’s a Filipino/Asian/American place. Around the bend another drive I with a double wing car canopy is now a used car dealership.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The town is loaded with a lot of neon signs that have that early flavor to them whether they are vintage or not is hard to say. The Shriner s building, Kress City Center and Acapulco restaurant were all in the neighborhood On one corner the Acupuco combined with a modern Marriott Courtyard sign to make the intersection pop.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The city has an expressway that runs around it and old 66 runs adjacent to it. There are slew of old motels many still operating that really fit the era including the Wagon Wheel, Sundown, Cowboy Motel and Silver Spur. For restaurants the Cattleman’s club and Big Texan Steak Ranch really stood out. As night was falling we were still spotting places but pictures would not be worth taking. Let it suffice to say that route 66 bling is alive and well in Amarillo TX.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Now speaking of the Big Texan Steak Ranch, we decided to check this out on our way by. We passed it on our way into town but there were so many sights that it didn’t register. The place was an awesome experience with a huge western dining room, 3 piece roaming country band, eat the 72 ounce steak (and it’s yours free) contest. One guy did it while we were there to much fanfare. In the rambling lobby there were slot machines, candy counter, arcade games, a casual bar and a multitude of distractions including the ever present gift shop. I have a new T shirt coming home with me. They have a theme motel with the facade painted up like a sequence of wild west store fronts. There are photo ops like a giant boot and massive cow in the parking lot. The rambling yellow building façade was colorful with lots going on. We were seated for desert just so we could check the place out in detail. The deserts were outstanding and lived up to the bigger in Texas mantra. The lions share stayed on the plates.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After that it was back to the hotel to capture the day. The photo count is just shy of 3000 at this point and Lorna is getting to be more active in taking pictures, especially on the fly, while we drive shots. We gained some time today and are closing the gap in the time / mileage balance. Tomorrow we will cross the mileage midpoint by lunchtime. We can already tell from today that the attractions are spacing out making for more miles per day. There are also some significant upcoming segments where 66 has been obliterated by the interstate construction and we will be blasting though.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tonight with the early arrival was to be an early night, that didn’t happen, but we had a real good time. Tomorrow promises to be another early check-in and in a town where I think there is less to do. More to come!</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-27193883143540762632012-06-03T22:45:00.002-07:002012-09-02T07:04:27.218-07:00Texas!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sunday June 3 2012 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We woke up as planned in Weatherford, OK. The hotel breakfast was top tier and got us off to a good start. Weatherford has the first of several big wind power farms we saw today and they have an informative display set-up in a park. The full sized wind mill blade laying down horizontally got our attention. We checked out the posters and Lorna had fun goofing around with poses with the blade.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiQpHpiVE6E-e8tnE41zqPx4Yi9IF-mIMv6uu3z-Hj45A1PmnLbTULqrycu_hul8XFc9xsTKep1spKwkEzAj_eDXp9o3qsh8v0ytMk46Spef2umrK3-WpwhUG1_0t6PFMiNVDLLLyWoJ7/s1600/Blade+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiQpHpiVE6E-e8tnE41zqPx4Yi9IF-mIMv6uu3z-Hj45A1PmnLbTULqrycu_hul8XFc9xsTKep1spKwkEzAj_eDXp9o3qsh8v0ytMk46Spef2umrK3-WpwhUG1_0t6PFMiNVDLLLyWoJ7/s200/Blade+1.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We stopped at the Cherokee Trading Post in Clinton so Lorna could say she had been to an Indian trading post. A few souvenirs latter we were on our way.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClSbTNOlAIHz8bVpNoPGEn3mNcF56LlAeKPavTNy3sT7_xfZ8nrKTQ8h5O36sO8zZJGFqubEI3G_9ccRuzfjf8Z-Ux4SO5sLj-kurFH0pKXusubIvkG2pgGFH0C_tIizfsjMp_A8SJGln/s1600/100_1999.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClSbTNOlAIHz8bVpNoPGEn3mNcF56LlAeKPavTNy3sT7_xfZ8nrKTQ8h5O36sO8zZJGFqubEI3G_9ccRuzfjf8Z-Ux4SO5sLj-kurFH0pKXusubIvkG2pgGFH0C_tIizfsjMp_A8SJGln/s640/100_1999.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> We ended up spending some time in Clinton. The vintage Clancy and Tradewinds motels took good pictures.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I confirmed that Elvis (Yes the Elvis) stayed at the Tradewinds and learned that he had room 215. Keep that in mind if you are in town and want to live some Rock & Roll history.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdOtLRyGwKOPNa_W9XupuFvvAnPn2Y4CRWF0BWTaTuDzy64quGMoFEfQX2xFU6RqYfF7h1N7F1xr-xWfglsZS-MvILQrPl7BMN-7Vv1v8mAaJ96duA66uqZRCKyATzOYPrzHowBXDnFhF/s1600/100_2019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdOtLRyGwKOPNa_W9XupuFvvAnPn2Y4CRWF0BWTaTuDzy64quGMoFEfQX2xFU6RqYfF7h1N7F1xr-xWfglsZS-MvILQrPl7BMN-7Vv1v8mAaJ96duA66uqZRCKyATzOYPrzHowBXDnFhF/s640/100_2019.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Clinton is also home to a Route 66 Museum, it was closed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> They did have a real nice Valentine Diner that had a good story poster. Those things were tiny!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VLMYYe3pRrwIXeg2sRAyOwPlIoJUTVExOPeaB7hqGKtp0_ZMy1F-qyAqcYJvzPJuJ-q4Reod_K96Id5ZcAI2Fpmeb4rCzkjiln-J9F6lpLsIJ1ZokG6maBDgEhfeHvFkzwI4mH4X3WZ8/s1600/100_2025.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VLMYYe3pRrwIXeg2sRAyOwPlIoJUTVExOPeaB7hqGKtp0_ZMy1F-qyAqcYJvzPJuJ-q4Reod_K96Id5ZcAI2Fpmeb4rCzkjiln-J9F6lpLsIJ1ZokG6maBDgEhfeHvFkzwI4mH4X3WZ8/s1600/100_2025.JPG" /></a></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarrc62J6v1yb7g-6-N9322-KjNNIaAxvUMR3DjyZHjJ5mRa61VeDn9F2mYdrQr9ifRbvsIvwTDDb7f069bYrSUhSv-DoIRYZrGJHtVlvF12mtZeRMsl4U6TxJo_08JG77shozP8Lj5CL_/s1600/Valentine+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarrc62J6v1yb7g-6-N9322-KjNNIaAxvUMR3DjyZHjJ5mRa61VeDn9F2mYdrQr9ifRbvsIvwTDDb7f069bYrSUhSv-DoIRYZrGJHtVlvF12mtZeRMsl4U6TxJo_08JG77shozP8Lj5CL_/s640/Valentine+Poster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The Dairy Best Drive In looks closed but is still in nice shape, complete with carports.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0_relgJSUQpcE90cJhGYcnnYyRJG9uKOCDF6haPKKJFzg_ua3805UE4sbe3f7srq3Az4bXVUUgNscgfMYGSS3-MzeNCUfJ7gzr9q53MxJeTVp6XwXyALw7ZJ4yl_kyeGhziI1TZAFseF/s1600/Dairy+Best.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0_relgJSUQpcE90cJhGYcnnYyRJG9uKOCDF6haPKKJFzg_ua3805UE4sbe3f7srq3Az4bXVUUgNscgfMYGSS3-MzeNCUfJ7gzr9q53MxJeTVp6XwXyALw7ZJ4yl_kyeGhziI1TZAFseF/s640/Dairy+Best.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The REDLAND Theater has a striking red and white neon sign and marquis.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B8Emfzy1V3-06EZc7kh8uC_4fr2_1jYSHXojt_JSKlQSCNEnh7iYY3A5rIFD5Ipq4EJwKfmWmLH8xVqW0_pBUadmKNpCZo4NWCmUzjcVzyyg8xX6vX8mNKe0KzJjap8DboPy0V1liz2V/s1600/100_2032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B8Emfzy1V3-06EZc7kh8uC_4fr2_1jYSHXojt_JSKlQSCNEnh7iYY3A5rIFD5Ipq4EJwKfmWmLH8xVqW0_pBUadmKNpCZo4NWCmUzjcVzyyg8xX6vX8mNKe0KzJjap8DboPy0V1liz2V/s640/100_2032.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The McLain Rogers Park has a nice neon arch sign over the entry gate. It features some WPA projects including a 400 seat amphitheater. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN64OzRxCz8Ori99J4xhJGI2OyeeOwFlIB0G1RXNfOlWPc5MLB4KCE6glPca288NOeXvGAPVUCbLM6jt7J8HHWEYznbxjFMJD1XZanmtBYC3UXIoz3iztx6DV914jph7cXBTIUg7QOBj5t/s1600/100_2034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN64OzRxCz8Ori99J4xhJGI2OyeeOwFlIB0G1RXNfOlWPc5MLB4KCE6glPca288NOeXvGAPVUCbLM6jt7J8HHWEYznbxjFMJD1XZanmtBYC3UXIoz3iztx6DV914jph7cXBTIUg7QOBj5t/s640/100_2034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It seems that one byproduct of so many community economies collapsing with the advent of the interstate is one heck of a regional yard sale. Lorna has been able to make some great finds in the pressed glass she collects. This is the first time she has ever seen new old stock that still had the Anchor Hocking stickers. She also scored her first colored (green) piece, a small dish. We have also been in many stores containing a mind boggling amount of stuff. There must have been a lot of goods in shops and store rooms as well households sold out as people moved away.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Foss we found the remains of Kobel’s place. This was a long time fuel stop on the mother road. The weather has gotten into the masonry building and it’s collapsing from the inside out as trees envelop it from the outside. The lettering on the facade is still legible. This town is also where we spotted our first armadillo though in the form of road kill.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoj-vBxYwIxErRMNTkJsXDomPksd3M-qW6j3aymZguWs7xv_kOvaSViG9WJkiFKgmACCfG8uP292CbQ8rd1I7wTM8IWa_Yk75rCt2B2IbJoo5C80bKwh3ouglzm1qPLo-qFGghmQ15heF/s1600/100_2037+Kobels++Place.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoj-vBxYwIxErRMNTkJsXDomPksd3M-qW6j3aymZguWs7xv_kOvaSViG9WJkiFKgmACCfG8uP292CbQ8rd1I7wTM8IWa_Yk75rCt2B2IbJoo5C80bKwh3ouglzm1qPLo-qFGghmQ15heF/s640/100_2037+Kobels++Place.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Canute is nearly a ghost town with an exit on the interstate. On 66 we did find a nice display of granite monuments that told the history of the town. It was a big stop in the days of the cattle drives.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy55GaM-goyCk4peDXIPqSmG3wvisRs_rSqOwI6Y5BjR4WABxpo_KgYNbi6pC8QowEN8uxSSJrfiNfvkZtMo4y2flAaCDEgWfZISceuXGHEj-A_UMz0yIOIWo6cGSHSvPWe_tqLiqvbJ-I/s1600/100_2044.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy55GaM-goyCk4peDXIPqSmG3wvisRs_rSqOwI6Y5BjR4WABxpo_KgYNbi6pC8QowEN8uxSSJrfiNfvkZtMo4y2flAaCDEgWfZISceuXGHEj-A_UMz0yIOIWo6cGSHSvPWe_tqLiqvbJ-I/s640/100_2044.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Across the road in the Holly Family Cemetery is a replica of the Crucifixion scene. A life-size bronze figure of Christ on the cross. In the side of the hill, a glass-enclosed sepulcher holds the waxen image of Christ. Two individuals were entombed there in the 1930’s.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAG1zU-SG47QFbPOy95jMlRhR9WzR0byK2lJ3qFrCFOmerp-5wLtevcA-rLHMif4AGkPyVzRg2UdDwgUwmc_xbZ6BvUdz-jGUH9wURrq3uX4CZP0wUWammnqnCKRB2Bls7lbiTFrdkEcH/s1600/100_2053.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAG1zU-SG47QFbPOy95jMlRhR9WzR0byK2lJ3qFrCFOmerp-5wLtevcA-rLHMif4AGkPyVzRg2UdDwgUwmc_xbZ6BvUdz-jGUH9wURrq3uX4CZP0wUWammnqnCKRB2Bls7lbiTFrdkEcH/s200/100_2053.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPT6xS5YLI-KGu93yCPrz51Oa2drg-qCSLPofXMBGXHvZcRYmHfCkjHnk1MsPgPc2c94uayeYHmqU1YFKRuv0Cyx_9wiJn58LEEtvMAHva_w5kVTc9xXFaypDt509SLYm0tjfqiCgd58Z/s1600/100_2054.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPT6xS5YLI-KGu93yCPrz51Oa2drg-qCSLPofXMBGXHvZcRYmHfCkjHnk1MsPgPc2c94uayeYHmqU1YFKRuv0Cyx_9wiJn58LEEtvMAHva_w5kVTc9xXFaypDt509SLYm0tjfqiCgd58Z/s200/100_2054.JPG" width="200" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We located the Cotton Boll and Washita motels. Both are intact but neither seems to be operating. Looking at these lodging places it’s easy to imagine the days when 66 was jammed with a nation on the move. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCijorN5TNoJfU-76fa8rADmK8nSwMdrFRFM9h952OCf-dhQTU9T2LaAkN6WYhBpx6ifjb_tizxr27YY0GrMI_kvn_Wbeb8Sj0DHK0GXv8_9TegR8PVvy7_QC0V_sBXwIjVtse4WExDAE/s1600/100_2055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCijorN5TNoJfU-76fa8rADmK8nSwMdrFRFM9h952OCf-dhQTU9T2LaAkN6WYhBpx6ifjb_tizxr27YY0GrMI_kvn_Wbeb8Sj0DHK0GXv8_9TegR8PVvy7_QC0V_sBXwIjVtse4WExDAE/s640/100_2055.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We’re getting into ranch country. It’s getting common to see gated properties with arches over the driveway carrying the name of the ranch. Fields of grazing cattle are easy to find.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Elk City is home to the Elk City Motel. It made it a big point that it is American owned. We saw this same marketing strategy at several other places today.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqjIv9kdk4dcZXlGn4ngnCXcXdg8dxMi3vx_RSyrESP8uE7o-faR03aNzXvWdNd8u6YRvPHfQ5tiNEljF-fCZYvvXEeyos9NA7NN9oQU2AF_z_qEewnmEq4CeGsnEkvqmgSq1Ttr6v2Ir/s1600/100_2066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqjIv9kdk4dcZXlGn4ngnCXcXdg8dxMi3vx_RSyrESP8uE7o-faR03aNzXvWdNd8u6YRvPHfQ5tiNEljF-fCZYvvXEeyos9NA7NN9oQU2AF_z_qEewnmEq4CeGsnEkvqmgSq1Ttr6v2Ir/s640/100_2066.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> They have a 179 foot oil rig on the main drag.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HWqRt-dT81igD8kTdFbxpiukmUcfyyRGG8uohkcpkn4U7V-mTWWCMP7rpgzZdnaUPnkDO5zPrro3NhQLAhvQn5g3wf8eqteA85R4DAqXeWt1mOW0wAMr3QozCtsnPxvCHnEXt1ZIWhIV/s1600/100_2070.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HWqRt-dT81igD8kTdFbxpiukmUcfyyRGG8uohkcpkn4U7V-mTWWCMP7rpgzZdnaUPnkDO5zPrro3NhQLAhvQn5g3wf8eqteA85R4DAqXeWt1mOW0wAMr3QozCtsnPxvCHnEXt1ZIWhIV/s400/100_2070.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Elk City is home to the National Route 66 Museum. This seems like a pretty significant exhibit but it was closed. Too bad, since lots of folks were pulling in to visit. Despite the name of the place it’s is a local operation with some state funding.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJnSI6kNBkDUTx2pHxluba9itK5ZUQh8qXOY8bIGBtBpRuYnOCqKrw0Y0ZmHDeN72h9wOHa33-QS55J_BZAi-IbSPutIZEeOB80234uPVEbTeBTQF9jqohKuT5p-JxR-QXEkSq74NGg0j/s1600/100_2079.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJnSI6kNBkDUTx2pHxluba9itK5ZUQh8qXOY8bIGBtBpRuYnOCqKrw0Y0ZmHDeN72h9wOHa33-QS55J_BZAi-IbSPutIZEeOB80234uPVEbTeBTQF9jqohKuT5p-JxR-QXEkSq74NGg0j/s200/100_2079.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaiOScxe1o9wK5DwdboFy2M__jQUCTwTnFgfEQTrD03-Oe8neRRiIL208ZX6fb62SkI0RZHsHrUjhUlqGsHVO1YMuUcH6z7u4Roy4UL2EuIz-AM5kG6MU1p96TjrWALOi6_klaUVgVtxG/s1600/100_2078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaiOScxe1o9wK5DwdboFy2M__jQUCTwTnFgfEQTrD03-Oe8neRRiIL208ZX6fb62SkI0RZHsHrUjhUlqGsHVO1YMuUcH6z7u4Roy4UL2EuIz-AM5kG6MU1p96TjrWALOi6_klaUVgVtxG/s200/100_2078.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sayer looked like a drive though…. Wrong! On the way to town we crossed the 1926 timber creek bridge. It is a riveted, 6-panel Pratt through truss spanning 96 feet.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah7Ync4kqNC09mx7fBrZUOWh0dsP3wlNB5pEFa23A1wWua2-O8e3RvG_tp_lC-aZhsOlZ7mSBW1SJGaQ5jhmMOVZ0OqCXCOX0_7rbvsxRFkCRHXRvG9Wa3pYpKjdYst70BGZj2yESz9au/s1600/100_2081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah7Ync4kqNC09mx7fBrZUOWh0dsP3wlNB5pEFa23A1wWua2-O8e3RvG_tp_lC-aZhsOlZ7mSBW1SJGaQ5jhmMOVZ0OqCXCOX0_7rbvsxRFkCRHXRvG9Wa3pYpKjdYst70BGZj2yESz9au/s1600/100_2081.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">While there I got some wild flower pictures including pumpkins, gourds or squash growing wild.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVdk__3tDZpFmhKeRmTHJk-NuOT8coGgLb5oSvq6lFwhCn0zSlnq9ZXk7X55ijLNU4Lf4obW1DP-3eIVbrRg3_5Bo7UfhaQgpA6bL3GJ99Zjewj7VDeffDLXmXbPyyhZB4Dh__2zaHyrP/s1600/100_2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVdk__3tDZpFmhKeRmTHJk-NuOT8coGgLb5oSvq6lFwhCn0zSlnq9ZXk7X55ijLNU4Lf4obW1DP-3eIVbrRg3_5Bo7UfhaQgpA6bL3GJ99Zjewj7VDeffDLXmXbPyyhZB4Dh__2zaHyrP/s640/100_2085.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Next we found another pedestrian subway at the top of the hill. We went down the steps and crossed under route 66 and exited on the other side. It is in good shape and it appears the town is maintaining it for the novelty or actual use. It was a 1939 WPA project.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX4ZDNSCaIVFk7sn8KkjJfpYoOXrsFnhLG_nfHpGgR622jQYoC243C0ieezpESsK4DRfvacLrX7cPocLz3y8q1yGs7AczB6OInT5NV_VtX9JcJmGwu2GJugclU6gb86KGLQkgyir72StZ/s1600/100_2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX4ZDNSCaIVFk7sn8KkjJfpYoOXrsFnhLG_nfHpGgR622jQYoC243C0ieezpESsK4DRfvacLrX7cPocLz3y8q1yGs7AczB6OInT5NV_VtX9JcJmGwu2GJugclU6gb86KGLQkgyir72StZ/s200/100_2143.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhJPJry2zDVf51l5raaxTojYdOoEpUyS75wSEin2c2ry5d3tQkl_Oimaq8vU9eJ5vOLwjJxg62l-TbwjLiZAoVOTcX81kjoRwFENuzt0xgZ6AkxOpncibAJvNBsBoZ60xnKKlEt7N3voZ/s1600/100_2140.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhJPJry2zDVf51l5raaxTojYdOoEpUyS75wSEin2c2ry5d3tQkl_Oimaq8vU9eJ5vOLwjJxg62l-TbwjLiZAoVOTcX81kjoRwFENuzt0xgZ6AkxOpncibAJvNBsBoZ60xnKKlEt7N3voZ/s200/100_2140.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvK2zwX2a9nbujmm4EPdYsm351rs1OE1p4m5zugkQ8TniAlNinGN3yoPH89WqUBn0jtWj2ZD8yYOU_kiFkuLiJ3WZ5EhM1bWogRrr7EKQFNaFWe4HRv-TjfEKI9G8SgTWxV8ttGxYibz_h/s1600/100_2142.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvK2zwX2a9nbujmm4EPdYsm351rs1OE1p4m5zugkQ8TniAlNinGN3yoPH89WqUBn0jtWj2ZD8yYOU_kiFkuLiJ3WZ5EhM1bWogRrr7EKQFNaFWe4HRv-TjfEKI9G8SgTWxV8ttGxYibz_h/s200/100_2142.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRJZb4tiR4vWMSx1Ejy7CL5gXsCnrb4folyfGfbvLtv9wBzKDCSL1EhSxKbR7juPsjGrG7PGa5KNpsPkSlb1wocaBrhiwQ-fPwXtWKQDDaj-pXRm_e8e1bPVwKXeIaVKpM0NyWvz_S9fU/s1600/100_2141.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRJZb4tiR4vWMSx1Ejy7CL5gXsCnrb4folyfGfbvLtv9wBzKDCSL1EhSxKbR7juPsjGrG7PGa5KNpsPkSlb1wocaBrhiwQ-fPwXtWKQDDaj-pXRm_e8e1bPVwKXeIaVKpM0NyWvz_S9fU/s200/100_2141.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Owl (Rexall) Drug Store and soda fountain were closed (out of business). The place is complete with the orange and blue sign panels on the facade.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVYetFi1wT4J_wLT5E3BY04wJoYSDPJ58N2qbW58vq0Bd7CzB5KZJifynCt0sWfpnbNcrggwytnHihAc3_KUdXH-oEibEm78Aeav4zU6A5dMPoSjpcN-Ckcu9LttSzmRKLRAlJ0kDKv30/s1600/100_2130.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVYetFi1wT4J_wLT5E3BY04wJoYSDPJ58N2qbW58vq0Bd7CzB5KZJifynCt0sWfpnbNcrggwytnHihAc3_KUdXH-oEibEm78Aeav4zU6A5dMPoSjpcN-Ckcu9LttSzmRKLRAlJ0kDKv30/s640/100_2130.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> When Lorna checked in at the gift shop next door they said it was theirs and to go have fun. I got shots of the old fountain with glassware still in place. While Lorna was shopping I played with the camera timer and got pictures of me as a soda jerk. When Lorna got out we shot some pictures of her manning the fountain.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OtREo7NthcQmdKXiy88bmD7xgpkxkBdkU_Dp0eDVmWnyUeUcJsbFdmsj1h-6mp3HTxmoyERK7lNVnySEOg_SzCyWT4UvepY5uJIWDVpCuSduPlB_EmowgButUnOaK6w0eFRmbUR9O6CH/s1600/100_2135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-dr5aXHR1Mtrc4zn5lXdcsNV6C14d3JE-p8qCJ65kZT25T8zc1t-tumXTJ1saZXkn5rx2by26jMYwNv7PjCXYATtB5RL5R_DfhyphenhyphenrZjq_EWbZEM2D0KIuojJahgaHdmVyWfNIu15RTUfl/s1600/100_2137.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-dr5aXHR1Mtrc4zn5lXdcsNV6C14d3JE-p8qCJ65kZT25T8zc1t-tumXTJ1saZXkn5rx2by26jMYwNv7PjCXYATtB5RL5R_DfhyphenhyphenrZjq_EWbZEM2D0KIuojJahgaHdmVyWfNIu15RTUfl/s640/100_2137.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyCFkThIYQoZdypsUOxkwrJL55tcEcdnVe8ctpRQuX6Du529B7ZtKQ3stu9XA0CHQISlVjCMqWabdpg6H2dojXPKMcTL3BiptUDG0p9jzKG763oim_D8WS96ICuDTGYxKOTvNa9uDKoLg/s1600/100_2129.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyCFkThIYQoZdypsUOxkwrJL55tcEcdnVe8ctpRQuX6Du529B7ZtKQ3stu9XA0CHQISlVjCMqWabdpg6H2dojXPKMcTL3BiptUDG0p9jzKG763oim_D8WS96ICuDTGYxKOTvNa9uDKoLg/s640/100_2129.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> She did good, coming out with her first colored (green) Star of David pressed glass piece.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OtREo7NthcQmdKXiy88bmD7xgpkxkBdkU_Dp0eDVmWnyUeUcJsbFdmsj1h-6mp3HTxmoyERK7lNVnySEOg_SzCyWT4UvepY5uJIWDVpCuSduPlB_EmowgButUnOaK6w0eFRmbUR9O6CH/s1600/100_2135.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OtREo7NthcQmdKXiy88bmD7xgpkxkBdkU_Dp0eDVmWnyUeUcJsbFdmsj1h-6mp3HTxmoyERK7lNVnySEOg_SzCyWT4UvepY5uJIWDVpCuSduPlB_EmowgButUnOaK6w0eFRmbUR9O6CH/s640/100_2135.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> We took pictures of the downtown including the sign and marquis of the Stovall Theater.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAcZA_K3bqCAip-r_q_ywPQMGhWhuAf45o63kfEshT_enMs9n675zVm2Rd4UpEZZIhkoc4cgYWnfC8uocnU0f58qF9yfQfqxP2kMLwq16-Xtu6yRKhLlz21DkG9Ms1KK5y7pj2G7ONnlq/s1600/100_2105.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAcZA_K3bqCAip-r_q_ywPQMGhWhuAf45o63kfEshT_enMs9n675zVm2Rd4UpEZZIhkoc4cgYWnfC8uocnU0f58qF9yfQfqxP2kMLwq16-Xtu6yRKhLlz21DkG9Ms1KK5y7pj2G7ONnlq/s400/100_2105.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD7R-NL5mW07KEHBdmmoBz5Z0RDBvupGRfo6O7k7TI4xt9oQENB7Sd4DB0QQsbATFcZAtIEW98MG-ZH8bHGwJ7OWVwLgE0ubvtf57J_soxuw9iTlY1bk9Vx4AF2ITEwWaX6g21gTQeWnS/s1600/Stoval+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD7R-NL5mW07KEHBdmmoBz5Z0RDBvupGRfo6O7k7TI4xt9oQENB7Sd4DB0QQsbATFcZAtIEW98MG-ZH8bHGwJ7OWVwLgE0ubvtf57J_soxuw9iTlY1bk9Vx4AF2ITEwWaX6g21gTQeWnS/s200/Stoval+Sign.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVqBqRI-WqeWybx4kzWsjx4FqtNMfzBtnqrhZwSGEO6ktTGkFGh8MN0v_2GRkaDRlrTtXBujVG6OMsSQo5JW0qd4fQ-LXtcuVBJehvqVkPJd_UyYQkwbGSnBq2iCbevq1mCIIUBCn0i5v/s1600/100_2111.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVqBqRI-WqeWybx4kzWsjx4FqtNMfzBtnqrhZwSGEO6ktTGkFGh8MN0v_2GRkaDRlrTtXBujVG6OMsSQo5JW0qd4fQ-LXtcuVBJehvqVkPJd_UyYQkwbGSnBq2iCbevq1mCIIUBCn0i5v/s640/100_2111.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcPSjH8IqdCBxSugiXS03zc_NWomGlpl4fW-T7NPRALycLUJXNqyg062JkjWKMrAllCHSllcQ-88-M5HNjFR6lhFgX-VaogFCddkTQr-46Pn7ECtzO3cM0GKzmghE1VZCK3B5jx6XKtyl/s1600/100_2131+Sayer.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcPSjH8IqdCBxSugiXS03zc_NWomGlpl4fW-T7NPRALycLUJXNqyg062JkjWKMrAllCHSllcQ-88-M5HNjFR6lhFgX-VaogFCddkTQr-46Pn7ECtzO3cM0GKzmghE1VZCK3B5jx6XKtyl/s640/100_2131+Sayer.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSWWFtyK_L9EczMoDMvCW4xy30BPGWV7j5WuEf2I9LW_y5stAdOiH3xhrgP6Km-BLmXnXwBt4eM97-0gg4s4o6yZdbivm7rnErPEmljpMn-QnJURavmC20AZnhLuQBxnD5lxUkm_DresE/s1600/100_2132+Sayer.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSWWFtyK_L9EczMoDMvCW4xy30BPGWV7j5WuEf2I9LW_y5stAdOiH3xhrgP6Km-BLmXnXwBt4eM97-0gg4s4o6yZdbivm7rnErPEmljpMn-QnJURavmC20AZnhLuQBxnD5lxUkm_DresE/s640/100_2132+Sayer.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> At the head of the main street is the Beckham County Courthouse featured in the movie Grapes of Wrath.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z26Agpeexsb5Mshb5iNfaa868SQSgBJXrkzq5RQMUOJuZShAw2geCNBgtrw40lPhwfNyYQJoIIs-Ql4rorb055vv1zdX7K7F6B_VceLuold-xAh_JbhOXUXpeEopHhmqJGd2OUBZ58RJ/s1600/100_2113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z26Agpeexsb5Mshb5iNfaa868SQSgBJXrkzq5RQMUOJuZShAw2geCNBgtrw40lPhwfNyYQJoIIs-Ql4rorb055vv1zdX7K7F6B_VceLuold-xAh_JbhOXUXpeEopHhmqJGd2OUBZ58RJ/s640/100_2113.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Western Motel outside of town seemed to be doing OK.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrRMSJ_1tDtwGo9F3nUY7IYO9xXIfHdB2k8H0g7MuFZkBfASNPot24HJiissCtzJvYgwbXnzLbmw8vuEs3CyoGhs_oT7lBzqpYYd57oHBw5HBFubH-AJ158fUzgAb5IPpe1dnRgF5Qmaj/s1600/100_2090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrRMSJ_1tDtwGo9F3nUY7IYO9xXIfHdB2k8H0g7MuFZkBfASNPot24HJiissCtzJvYgwbXnzLbmw8vuEs3CyoGhs_oT7lBzqpYYd57oHBw5HBFubH-AJ158fUzgAb5IPpe1dnRgF5Qmaj/s640/100_2090.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Leaving Sayer we passed the town owned City Park. It’s an expansive facility with camping, golfing and everything you'd go to a park for. It includes some magnificent WPA built projects, a red stone pool house and stone walls. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Hext we got to drive some old concrete pavement with hardly a soul to be found. We stopped to take more wildflower pictures.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClMqglJxSkr_2zQzBYUIrY8PXKxwrsObO3Mx6XQVdA3fG8ONvQZkGds_BhaQ1z4qTpQoyZ3knEkGP5NNjhVE9e1WmQPArp-qu_y9jrMlz09PRzoHIlLU4lTuQ4VUAG_EliaDgPOFwdalw/s1600/100_2149+Hext.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClMqglJxSkr_2zQzBYUIrY8PXKxwrsObO3Mx6XQVdA3fG8ONvQZkGds_BhaQ1z4qTpQoyZ3knEkGP5NNjhVE9e1WmQPArp-qu_y9jrMlz09PRzoHIlLU4lTuQ4VUAG_EliaDgPOFwdalw/s640/100_2149+Hext.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The town Erik blew the doors off of the afternoon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlqyuOBFNYiIIrRYsCckCqkSRUYE23-LxscUEIPB2hi5EA81gGNYxdFx1NBW1eUXG3dxYT1qva0RShomanyN_x6g5bS6oj28h8L3EjO5hvMDXalCR-6NQ24Qig4ybUmmqZfxG3NGuStQ3/s1600/100_2161.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlqyuOBFNYiIIrRYsCckCqkSRUYE23-LxscUEIPB2hi5EA81gGNYxdFx1NBW1eUXG3dxYT1qva0RShomanyN_x6g5bS6oj28h8L3EjO5hvMDXalCR-6NQ24Qig4ybUmmqZfxG3NGuStQ3/s640/100_2161.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Driving into town we ended up parking near the “Sand Hills Hills Curiosity Shop. This place has an incredibly eclectic collection of automotive and brand signs and artifacts scattered over the building and property.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWStn5JSHWUVh7pdaeKE7gstFJHqSOqlO7_fjhTeeJEWe0gSKk7QsrIKG9dAwVasiC1eutM__uQAmCcvOMmmRw6IqjdZ22ft7PjmnD8R2v-sHlaasJRA8HzYRvipXbow4e3na01nW5SfO1/s1600/100_2165.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWStn5JSHWUVh7pdaeKE7gstFJHqSOqlO7_fjhTeeJEWe0gSKk7QsrIKG9dAwVasiC1eutM__uQAmCcvOMmmRw6IqjdZ22ft7PjmnD8R2v-sHlaasJRA8HzYRvipXbow4e3na01nW5SfO1/s640/100_2165.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivphBh2ig6_Vo-C7NM61rIHJXS6FRd9Y0pIO5T7strEOiQj1PUcAwkgKTo7jXrzn1uuTFcUPXmx-jvr9JYGscwEACgSKLy5rKUsQJzzXCGfeZ3tq85bnBtKj2Z9_V7vxoOHCEhJYxltTNA/s1600/100_2163.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivphBh2ig6_Vo-C7NM61rIHJXS6FRd9Y0pIO5T7strEOiQj1PUcAwkgKTo7jXrzn1uuTFcUPXmx-jvr9JYGscwEACgSKLy5rKUsQJzzXCGfeZ3tq85bnBtKj2Z9_V7vxoOHCEhJYxltTNA/s640/100_2163.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The owner greeted us from his home on the back street inviting us to take all of the photo’s we wanted. Latter when we returned he was near the building and offered to open it up so we could look around. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAzp_3AMNB9ecMtMOqcoBW1LYCoqG-T_0gQjxc_n8E4DClVWsb6M7mmj42mpoDCQG-0lMmC4DS6jfMvSw00S7tNz7Ostx_sQQqFasSoDQOlsOPbx5GzhWB8-FV33O9qbgkgfIrCI6LNWK/s1600/100_2199.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAzp_3AMNB9ecMtMOqcoBW1LYCoqG-T_0gQjxc_n8E4DClVWsb6M7mmj42mpoDCQG-0lMmC4DS6jfMvSw00S7tNz7Ostx_sQQqFasSoDQOlsOPbx5GzhWB8-FV33O9qbgkgfIrCI6LNWK/s640/100_2199.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ag11qDH2YOXL-X8kGswjY0W2mDYGRkoZX1iCPgQ0llRpV7XB-J7rZhFnBjlY3RD8cJM2fLIIUaAh-xnDOv9Loh23EZ0UvQu6TEPQAQpQGOMRG9vENuDjbuSXU0MpbE-a0v4Ffsg4JidB/s1600/100_2198.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ag11qDH2YOXL-X8kGswjY0W2mDYGRkoZX1iCPgQ0llRpV7XB-J7rZhFnBjlY3RD8cJM2fLIIUaAh-xnDOv9Loh23EZ0UvQu6TEPQAQpQGOMRG9vENuDjbuSXU0MpbE-a0v4Ffsg4JidB/s640/100_2198.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbf_087ZE4eO-XJXvDgEdWVLQsS7ipyhCNlEgMuKhVLTaEf6sAZGGgYhjnaDxSGqO29vy7Mosfzy5I-tsgOdoGHJyH8zYx42AMzYIq-5muRnnIFIKuGmDj-8jFEUfPuN0BYS32lQYnEFq/s1600/100_2200.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbf_087ZE4eO-XJXvDgEdWVLQsS7ipyhCNlEgMuKhVLTaEf6sAZGGgYhjnaDxSGqO29vy7Mosfzy5I-tsgOdoGHJyH8zYx42AMzYIq-5muRnnIFIKuGmDj-8jFEUfPuN0BYS32lQYnEFq/s640/100_2200.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Once inside Harley of Harley & Annabelle gave us a tour of his self-proclaimed red neck world. Then he made sure I was ready with my video camera and with his guitar played a customized version of Get Your Kicks on Route 66 just for us. See the video!</span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rIVJ6ZDcbY4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Before we left he was having us pose with iconic signs and taking our pictures. Talk about souvenirs!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyaZpVjavST0KN_mNxdeFZ-gr_jTufJFN-boFi87nKg_AlegcSUIQ5G2E46dri2grIHth_k56thXQtjwi_Rfuo5Lm-SdQuRNWsCn5PbtMdAw33AzoBO3jwaVxTYgGCZZ0_ZGAjtBDS6gL/s1600/100_2204.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyaZpVjavST0KN_mNxdeFZ-gr_jTufJFN-boFi87nKg_AlegcSUIQ5G2E46dri2grIHth_k56thXQtjwi_Rfuo5Lm-SdQuRNWsCn5PbtMdAw33AzoBO3jwaVxTYgGCZZ0_ZGAjtBDS6gL/s640/100_2204.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Afterwards he let us had out back to take pictures of his redneck palace where more stuff could be seen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In between we wandered up the street to check out this fascinating near ghost town. At least it seemed ghostly on a Sunday afternoon. This is home town to Sheb Wolley “One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple Eater” fame and Roger Miller, King of the Road and so much more.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-HkMhIANhEkCyDFBsEPbShvGElFJi-N1TmKVdIiKlf-DXS3tNFx34d2EkrS-rTfUy9-iF43vLW9IY1IZcGwIxk6VUdeB2m3N_x9OOv0M49NNurLNkeX2zw2cobD7J4U13_aO4fyhY5l4/s1600/100_2182.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-HkMhIANhEkCyDFBsEPbShvGElFJi-N1TmKVdIiKlf-DXS3tNFx34d2EkrS-rTfUy9-iF43vLW9IY1IZcGwIxk6VUdeB2m3N_x9OOv0M49NNurLNkeX2zw2cobD7J4U13_aO4fyhY5l4/s640/100_2182.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierazIJSb_bJtW9yeUQ4eZbCe0p2yRPBrKmrV46HXR_Y3gy7AnAxHmblQ8S9AY2N9WuwbGy_NsetFn4J8sY4K6NMRrizjBN9eKEFPA0wktQPPuayM2QFyxB2YqU46U-WK9Ry7ImbpUvnor/s1600/100_2189.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierazIJSb_bJtW9yeUQ4eZbCe0p2yRPBrKmrV46HXR_Y3gy7AnAxHmblQ8S9AY2N9WuwbGy_NsetFn4J8sY4K6NMRrizjBN9eKEFPA0wktQPPuayM2QFyxB2YqU46U-WK9Ry7ImbpUvnor/s640/100_2189.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We caught the Roger Miller Museum about 30 minutes before closing and got a free abbreviated tour for which they made a nice souvenir sale. I found it interesting and Lorna really got a lot out of it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuLXS4D2p1SfJW6KwnAG4nAJg4C2a43e1ljlQZsnEx1F8BLgBInQG5ZCBZgOGzwQ8qKG9D1a2HmO0N59xa4QcJ2gBlWIScvEtnfuIoChd1LlGbpZmVlyyRfkvWdpbr41e2n7u1b828tJt/s1600/100_2178.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuLXS4D2p1SfJW6KwnAG4nAJg4C2a43e1ljlQZsnEx1F8BLgBInQG5ZCBZgOGzwQ8qKG9D1a2HmO0N59xa4QcJ2gBlWIScvEtnfuIoChd1LlGbpZmVlyyRfkvWdpbr41e2n7u1b828tJt/s640/100_2178.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Walking the streets we came across some closed stores that look like they have been untouched for decades.Inventory is sitting there as a time capsule.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk3GiRpdN5OxmcRsHEruaMc-jnn25PH2nWkgplI9M-XN8CW5a4dMJHOq77ovYr_jYfFzmc15mAY2Q2WPfS9TOmvVUasmmHB72DxryNhNFcvQ9mbf0UAVAgcNmB4Mygz3yu4zwNGNnBNya/s1600/100_2176.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk3GiRpdN5OxmcRsHEruaMc-jnn25PH2nWkgplI9M-XN8CW5a4dMJHOq77ovYr_jYfFzmc15mAY2Q2WPfS9TOmvVUasmmHB72DxryNhNFcvQ9mbf0UAVAgcNmB4Mygz3yu4zwNGNnBNya/s640/100_2176.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">One shop had stuff literally mounded in heaps, talk about yard sale fodder!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The WEST WINDS, ELM, and CABANA motels were all there for photographs. I don’t think any are serving guests though some are inhabited. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvxzwzRDXGA_tJl9akqnbkclAXETMC8hGtQ1CwERkYBTUv-IByysRzmlf1ZE9b612Co3aVBTT1PUcjZNXiapAChk3FMRuheT69jTkwQ_Kf3nhfdUoPQQUaQqcufA3CYFP1yWHnIRFORAv/s1600/100_2223.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvxzwzRDXGA_tJl9akqnbkclAXETMC8hGtQ1CwERkYBTUv-IByysRzmlf1ZE9b612Co3aVBTT1PUcjZNXiapAChk3FMRuheT69jTkwQ_Kf3nhfdUoPQQUaQqcufA3CYFP1yWHnIRFORAv/s640/100_2223.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Texola we saw the 3 cent cowboy wash with all you need to do laundry, wringer style right out on the lawn.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZc21DWS6cIOpNdyHybzMlEydWTsEW38SlmTsI-wx8RD7HC9FOQwZANnNzGcUlB1T-aYWqFGAvzKq_CjFo4CbY-_eW87Uv2lywQ9NMZf_S5p9JvoJE_S4256g-Yv6zOFumkxnhmUnM8Vm/s1600/100_2228.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZc21DWS6cIOpNdyHybzMlEydWTsEW38SlmTsI-wx8RD7HC9FOQwZANnNzGcUlB1T-aYWqFGAvzKq_CjFo4CbY-_eW87Uv2lywQ9NMZf_S5p9JvoJE_S4256g-Yv6zOFumkxnhmUnM8Vm/s640/100_2228.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> We visited the Territorial Jail & Museum, a 6 X 10 freestanding cement cell with a few posters inside. It has barred doors.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGwG2QnnOtZACWlVTUxlgndCSt64ecJK9Xq2RvFlNd5vs_u6XDQg5lD3_45OIj93gtWmzuntqQt6IvkLc3jAF6UFfpRj9h2C8vftAdytv05jDgOMUU3kgcbEFQtXOlxM8JkGqQl2S2-je/s1600/100_2231.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGwG2QnnOtZACWlVTUxlgndCSt64ecJK9Xq2RvFlNd5vs_u6XDQg5lD3_45OIj93gtWmzuntqQt6IvkLc3jAF6UFfpRj9h2C8vftAdytv05jDgOMUU3kgcbEFQtXOlxM8JkGqQl2S2-je/s640/100_2231.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> There were a lot of nondescript abandoned buildings, watering holes, stores filling stations and whatever.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNkWnU1IVrHGIoFTweV4OyCqePBM2feshrGzL23nUuPgPGTUGtzWc-WqpMkF_t-lHVVmhOvv2kG6RJyZuNXAGPBnC3-PCymiVjmso7F21DSUBxQ91XRU0Ttmc6HjlZ9RLjzagL7XxjRIj/s1600/100_2236.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNkWnU1IVrHGIoFTweV4OyCqePBM2feshrGzL23nUuPgPGTUGtzWc-WqpMkF_t-lHVVmhOvv2kG6RJyZuNXAGPBnC3-PCymiVjmso7F21DSUBxQ91XRU0Ttmc6HjlZ9RLjzagL7XxjRIj/s640/100_2236.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We ended with the state line Will Rogers Highway monument.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9SILDCZ4Fsj-OIwM4omf9PaaZ3T_8Q-4mMFvP-nJZan0hE7sqxfxFg1eTFGXvDTymLXz1aEYpwxPA7KjX26VMfKOwjSx5aQYUSS1xxZvknBkLkuU-Doq0Ig7PkMAFHlBheFGY-XsNibA/s1600/100_2241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9SILDCZ4Fsj-OIwM4omf9PaaZ3T_8Q-4mMFvP-nJZan0hE7sqxfxFg1eTFGXvDTymLXz1aEYpwxPA7KjX26VMfKOwjSx5aQYUSS1xxZvknBkLkuU-Doq0Ig7PkMAFHlBheFGY-XsNibA/s400/100_2241.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When we entered Texas it was like a switch was thrown. The expanse of the land widened. The plants got stouter and began to be more desert like. The lush rolling countryside of Oklahoma was behind us. So far Texas signage for Historic route 66 is nearly nonexistent, this last day in Oklahoma relied heavily on maps too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">With that we crossed the line into Texas. We set our sights on the town of Shamrock, we wanted a reasonable evening and this town fit the bill. With a Holiday Inn Express and an iconic building nearby it was just right. One of the downsides of traveling now is all of the daylight, the equinox is coming quick. The route is famous for iconic neon signs and that means we really can’t catch the neon while touring and timing is very hard. In this case we have the building that was the model for Romone's auto painting shop in the movie CARS next door! It’s all restored and decked out in neon. Landing here for the night was pure serendipity.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We had steaks at Big Vern's here in Shamrock and settled in for the night.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Nz-IudAzhyphenhyphen4T8n7EHcyio6MdkTqmCu41LhQAKmThBVu5_sMZEERICLukqlS0Hps5vkzD8I0UWBSBZRQk70wg7ItTO05qpX_NODw3hmrKf9lbDIMklYb6bmby-6JFcGwSpSkhyphenhyphenceLAe8V/s1600/Big+Vern+Sign.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Nz-IudAzhyphenhyphen4T8n7EHcyio6MdkTqmCu41LhQAKmThBVu5_sMZEERICLukqlS0Hps5vkzD8I0UWBSBZRQk70wg7ItTO05qpX_NODw3hmrKf9lbDIMklYb6bmby-6JFcGwSpSkhyphenhyphenceLAe8V/s200/Big+Vern+Sign.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmwlxkPG3TfSLtNmyGyn-mYKxaGF2bpwKm6sC-BI-XtEfEELIznkigdeSaIVuoDCPz-DTtDaqOmcynKsOGLiF-n4_L5E9viEqjZr7iH_C1KnimAsJXDzl3UWaDQee-bsonEiUEeP4rvRD/s1600/100_2246.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmwlxkPG3TfSLtNmyGyn-mYKxaGF2bpwKm6sC-BI-XtEfEELIznkigdeSaIVuoDCPz-DTtDaqOmcynKsOGLiF-n4_L5E9viEqjZr7iH_C1KnimAsJXDzl3UWaDQee-bsonEiUEeP4rvRD/s320/100_2246.JPG" width="320" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDu2e6F2JH1BrVLtzlB6Yo0ufaSZWkaZ7Wj_xFcPZIHMYq0okX5k5jxYzwyqx_AKZZZWKhHgxf0OBDVqvyj7ZOfN3P8cK0A7l-KhvKxseEHymCs7U0Yhq_-11n_0ax85yI0i7Fm7Sw-4h/s1600/100_2248.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDu2e6F2JH1BrVLtzlB6Yo0ufaSZWkaZ7Wj_xFcPZIHMYq0okX5k5jxYzwyqx_AKZZZWKhHgxf0OBDVqvyj7ZOfN3P8cK0A7l-KhvKxseEHymCs7U0Yhq_-11n_0ax85yI0i7Fm7Sw-4h/s640/100_2248.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot from the hotel window.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Towards dusk I went out and got a few shots of the Conoco station building.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x1spHpoVg5KXwGUxTlNhOOntKt_pA7Mq-pthWDXYVPDJl9BxWXveyu_Saiaz4MEmf6uUbuUZiGLvI1yXRh22XH-0vuFz0GAm8m2WhheKh4lJLZFpLaXv3Jnf4oKIMnDwYptzJbUJkcvx/s1600/100_2261.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x1spHpoVg5KXwGUxTlNhOOntKt_pA7Mq-pthWDXYVPDJl9BxWXveyu_Saiaz4MEmf6uUbuUZiGLvI1yXRh22XH-0vuFz0GAm8m2WhheKh4lJLZFpLaXv3Jnf4oKIMnDwYptzJbUJkcvx/s640/100_2261.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Even the ATM across the street got into the act, mimicking the Conoco station's neon trim</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We’re still lagging where we want to be by a day or so and decided to be aggressive about pushing across Texas. We want good time in the desert states and California. Lorna wants to stay at the Blue Swallow Inn in New Mexico and that means hitting the right date.</span></span></div>
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Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-331459510497663082012-06-03T00:06:00.001-07:002012-08-12T14:35:25.957-07:00Oklahoma City<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Saturday June 2, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Last night and this morning we ate at the little motel
restaurant. Lorna’s steak salad was so good last night that I went for the
steal and eggs this morning. I’m not a big steak eater but this stuff was good!
They claim to have Oklahoma’s best steak and while it may be hyperbole I can’t
argue. The place was well worn but the room was clean and everything worked.
There are places on this trip where there isn’t lodging on every corner.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">For the last few days we have been rolling through the hills
of Oklahoma though in some areas it’s flat for as far as you can see. A lot of
the soil around here is red clay and it really strikes you when you see a brick
red field with crops sprouting. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRirbeVPAZAWuzAGkfOvSGpPf_Rw9Eo5WuZ9DteT0BXBOxTwBlt3VG1X0gu2Xw28UB6g9NHzv8ZTtFzjPMroPcvnrgLJfmyQqEGIfhfInNIcf03_IQ8pgTkiVspdlXErA1Le-UWT87D7d2/s1600/100_1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRirbeVPAZAWuzAGkfOvSGpPf_Rw9Eo5WuZ9DteT0BXBOxTwBlt3VG1X0gu2Xw28UB6g9NHzv8ZTtFzjPMroPcvnrgLJfmyQqEGIfhfInNIcf03_IQ8pgTkiVspdlXErA1Le-UWT87D7d2/s640/100_1765.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We’re in tornado country. Inhabited areas have pole top
warning sirens I have seen one place selling steel tornado shelters. As I write this a thunderstorm has fired up with an intense downpour and grape size hail.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNa0-1D-RNfnVkfIRRp4P8Ay5N-yHpBwGJn4GwULh9OGUdGlug-prplBwjwu9PeqjlyQ7spWfUHau7apqAVrJSVagiW5dqE4TtxDKVYy0mEtYd0wXOLkT38S7xiiWFdHI7-FKUDoM5fD5/s1600/100_1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNa0-1D-RNfnVkfIRRp4P8Ay5N-yHpBwGJn4GwULh9OGUdGlug-prplBwjwu9PeqjlyQ7spWfUHau7apqAVrJSVagiW5dqE4TtxDKVYy0mEtYd0wXOLkT38S7xiiWFdHI7-FKUDoM5fD5/s320/100_1812.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We got rolling around 9:00 AM in Chandler and stopped to see
a 1930 Phillips 66 station that is undergoing a complete restoration. The guy
has some big plans to preserve the station and add to the exhibit.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbirmeyUJgvjWssl5n6CWPb_5mnSu67PoXf_VectHxFWSIJpK93wTRl7BNr6DK9yojzge57LUbLNPyZc1VLFZ2fzIteFq7wwDhupsoSA3-SZw5L70mz0o373dojeLVKC7Ufewdrr1vAUv/s1600/100_1742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbirmeyUJgvjWssl5n6CWPb_5mnSu67PoXf_VectHxFWSIJpK93wTRl7BNr6DK9yojzge57LUbLNPyZc1VLFZ2fzIteFq7wwDhupsoSA3-SZw5L70mz0o373dojeLVKC7Ufewdrr1vAUv/s640/100_1742.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There is a
route 66 museum in town that is in the state armory, a massive stone building
from 1936, a WPA project. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jnOG02Bd7NaZQjK0372qQIIvrAZ8jD8KNGRooD4GeIot7SjH4CcGUEFoofNKgr-vWAEx58KIzkLwumXeyCFuH5ldnleuWU8ZVQ4SynAf1gAZzKdlZ0imyGawyZtmkr4I88hDMksIoCW7/s1600/100_1733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jnOG02Bd7NaZQjK0372qQIIvrAZ8jD8KNGRooD4GeIot7SjH4CcGUEFoofNKgr-vWAEx58KIzkLwumXeyCFuH5ldnleuWU8ZVQ4SynAf1gAZzKdlZ0imyGawyZtmkr4I88hDMksIoCW7/s640/100_1733.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">With office and gymnasium space I was sorry to not get inside but we
won’t miss seeing one museum, we gotta keep moving.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next we were off to the 1924 <a href="http://www.seabastation.com/">Sebea station</a> named after the original
owners.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Th9y4EhFBwZRZqkVNiLeKKpe7BJtiHoB6p4Sn0QVGSHBzoEvkBj8VaWtDesxCeSMPmuS63uEu4dvj5V0cTSJx7Sc1zwhQVsVU9JxDtQzi5zSBel4iOiNgKBYSyrbruhKsxAiJbpa4s-a/s1600/100_1745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Th9y4EhFBwZRZqkVNiLeKKpe7BJtiHoB6p4Sn0QVGSHBzoEvkBj8VaWtDesxCeSMPmuS63uEu4dvj5V0cTSJx7Sc1zwhQVsVU9JxDtQzi5zSBel4iOiNgKBYSyrbruhKsxAiJbpa4s-a/s640/100_1745.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">They started out selling the NeverNox brand of gasoline. Much of the back building
housed a connecting rod repair business which grew to be significant in since.
That enterprise was sold in 1951. Eventually the station was closed in 1996. It
has since been restored, opened as an antique shop and is now a motorcycle
museum. Jerry was nice to talk to and like most suggested a handful of “must see”
attractions down the road. Before we left he made sure we saw the remains of
his outbuilding, a 2 holer restroom with flush plumbing. It’s a handsome stone
building.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhM6v_weQzJkjOi1zlZoPi9oXT40EHcoMBrxH3V0UgPUYyjlNPu8L0UTXKhAyCgAKGJvhUxZD-8ehIUZRAt0iaKuXBURb9yLirDxFzNm2t3k0G9VoQnYFJEVyvoXqu6II5DN3Kgpo-Dqi/s1600/100_1748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhM6v_weQzJkjOi1zlZoPi9oXT40EHcoMBrxH3V0UgPUYyjlNPu8L0UTXKhAyCgAKGJvhUxZD-8ehIUZRAt0iaKuXBURb9yLirDxFzNm2t3k0G9VoQnYFJEVyvoXqu6II5DN3Kgpo-Dqi/s400/100_1748.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXeqlSSkdBNTVoNoLrJXOLzbnYLq-qoAEv8sUl9a9A8zwNOCLMVSRaGuJfyMqvnyb1I8Rgz4XctgL1iUP1m1he_fBG0vM30-X1JuoTZNCiRJrA7g9GTnbFYWIAkmbFx0h2b4HwMkpkLNJ/s1600/100_1751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXeqlSSkdBNTVoNoLrJXOLzbnYLq-qoAEv8sUl9a9A8zwNOCLMVSRaGuJfyMqvnyb1I8Rgz4XctgL1iUP1m1he_fBG0vM30-X1JuoTZNCiRJrA7g9GTnbFYWIAkmbFx0h2b4HwMkpkLNJ/s400/100_1751.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Nearly all of these museums are free, just sign the guest book and
maybe get a souvenir. Most of the people are eager to talk and sometimes it’s a
chore to break away to travel on.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Wellston we found a nice Stone building that was
originally some sort of filling station. It last operated as Pioneer Barbecue.
There is evidence of a former motor court out back including stone pillars
marking the entrance.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGPjpdJrExASMaC_lLH136TEhAiYUewtRP16_tttoBPE9es_Djf-7IQn5QTLwLkMZiNNoChA-Rd37dDi51wsYFqFSeAhEbFAEjKQ2A-_1kB5HYo1mS0ej4T79ai3KgwlNRXHS1wGWH7Gj/s1600/100_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGPjpdJrExASMaC_lLH136TEhAiYUewtRP16_tttoBPE9es_Djf-7IQn5QTLwLkMZiNNoChA-Rd37dDi51wsYFqFSeAhEbFAEjKQ2A-_1kB5HYo1mS0ej4T79ai3KgwlNRXHS1wGWH7Gj/s640/100_1754.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The town also had a nice single span pony truss bridge.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlvDKB0rr8qxNSyZAktV5Rph2XI2ENwx4g9SzFkk-VtOL4XEGvcjhFRMKGABXet-dF23CHV_A8GzIo_kbetyMEZzrSw2LQl54BFYjgWgrwisC02fxDJpU2dd4pO7U5wjku7S1Euyx_mhc/s1600/100_1764+Wellston.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlvDKB0rr8qxNSyZAktV5Rph2XI2ENwx4g9SzFkk-VtOL4XEGvcjhFRMKGABXet-dF23CHV_A8GzIo_kbetyMEZzrSw2LQl54BFYjgWgrwisC02fxDJpU2dd4pO7U5wjku7S1Euyx_mhc/s640/100_1764+Wellston.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Luther had a the shell of a stone Conoco filling station
believed to be built in the second decade of the twentieth century. The owner
has posted a history describing a counterfeit money operation that went on in an
attached shed until discovered. Also, in later years a body was discovered inside. It
was never known if the killing happened there or if the body was just dumped.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX5-KfIT3qjCoWryoZvNZWoCutESOXgjv2t5KOCJ7GqvtZ-CDNp3JzTyWGPexoHFDhyphenhyphenI6WDVQApT5hHOsYec6coT3zNwP7nyVj21fpyyl5CasqrAqAsb7XylBlhz2b_MjfDBqNaDEdtS5/s1600/100_1770+Conoco+Station.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX5-KfIT3qjCoWryoZvNZWoCutESOXgjv2t5KOCJ7GqvtZ-CDNp3JzTyWGPexoHFDhyphenhyphenI6WDVQApT5hHOsYec6coT3zNwP7nyVj21fpyyl5CasqrAqAsb7XylBlhz2b_MjfDBqNaDEdtS5/s640/100_1770+Conoco+Station.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Arcadia has a wealth of folk art, history and over the top
commercialism. We were told at Sebea Station to watch for a small replica of
the Blue Whale. If the gate is open then John Hargrove who owns <a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/14482">Oklahoma County 66 Auto Trim
and Mini Museum</a> is accepting guests. Luck was on our side as we entered the
open gate. John was a swell guy to chat
with. He has amassed an incredible collection of eclectic icons, memorabilia and
has it tastefully arranged indoors and out.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyzZwMGp9g-kTLfpoPo_VMOw3TZEdxNjGbb1ccXSAPiBNjrvPweqSQ-hQ7DXtV9oh_kuLzAajSrF7sbBvVFEtpJQWMWQS1qWN44VBxEvujYUs90uXMwz1m9P6iHfg9-XT-dnUS144njt8/s1600/100_1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyzZwMGp9g-kTLfpoPo_VMOw3TZEdxNjGbb1ccXSAPiBNjrvPweqSQ-hQ7DXtV9oh_kuLzAajSrF7sbBvVFEtpJQWMWQS1qWN44VBxEvujYUs90uXMwz1m9P6iHfg9-XT-dnUS144njt8/s640/100_1779.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOJzF0Oo5aJEwYMwZJcLdHH6NU6A_A5IXMuP9tk2PEs0UeWY4Svi6-aTuFFcYSu_9af5xzpP9CepEUobYZs_rvNfpR4Ls4WPlhthSiPUT7z_PPez8ko1RyQmQHNsEbPIICSrhBQwLjFc6/s1600/100_1782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOJzF0Oo5aJEwYMwZJcLdHH6NU6A_A5IXMuP9tk2PEs0UeWY4Svi6-aTuFFcYSu_9af5xzpP9CepEUobYZs_rvNfpR4Ls4WPlhthSiPUT7z_PPez8ko1RyQmQHNsEbPIICSrhBQwLjFc6/s640/100_1782.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">If he is not finding what he wants
he’s a craftsman that can create it. He’s retired and just goes where
inspiration takes him.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DQH8TJIUtLyN91tOQoZM0X2W_Fgq1vOASwmDyGQv0nggvrYw3HnXv7kSyHJ9aBlAgPAFaB8e9aT_yKsqSl4ioL7oBTRgN1Pc2oOyGqxJ-5VFD96HOG7VRQd8NTkYRm6mbxJnP8EH9P1x/s1600/100_1785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DQH8TJIUtLyN91tOQoZM0X2W_Fgq1vOASwmDyGQv0nggvrYw3HnXv7kSyHJ9aBlAgPAFaB8e9aT_yKsqSl4ioL7oBTRgN1Pc2oOyGqxJ-5VFD96HOG7VRQd8NTkYRm6mbxJnP8EH9P1x/s640/100_1785.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Part of his space includes a soda fountain, indoor
drive-in movie theater and booth seating.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ETAZfBqDpgd17SGci2rAAIu7BjdT283F-LwLrgzxYFuzwtxLmtjLymtR7D8_zcx3YBYjI9wNsmK_V13epP0UzwDc5jg-VENcrFuX9KV0kqTAcw6RLUdND-Rk_ir4VxAu2WJNUn3ojvAr/s1600/100_1791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ETAZfBqDpgd17SGci2rAAIu7BjdT283F-LwLrgzxYFuzwtxLmtjLymtR7D8_zcx3YBYjI9wNsmK_V13epP0UzwDc5jg-VENcrFuX9KV0kqTAcw6RLUdND-Rk_ir4VxAu2WJNUn3ojvAr/s640/100_1791.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">He hosts birthday and holiday parties
in his museum. There’s way more than I can begin to write about now. Before we
left he had us pose for pictures with his Roswell Aliens.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlv1M8sWTATsY6z6kTWr9QbLSymwoBeh118El2d5eZpyexjb6ocBMWq_PAo4QlRIkIXfnYM4xYDPhuxABh10nUqfVMKeBLtrRFCPf6u6rLmyHmDYyqX_kz1Om39oBNLoTQoUiMNenpLeF/s1600/100_1798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlv1M8sWTATsY6z6kTWr9QbLSymwoBeh118El2d5eZpyexjb6ocBMWq_PAo4QlRIkIXfnYM4xYDPhuxABh10nUqfVMKeBLtrRFCPf6u6rLmyHmDYyqX_kz1Om39oBNLoTQoUiMNenpLeF/s640/100_1798.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When we dropped by
John was taking it easy, he had a 6 mile foot race tonight. That’s part of how
he says in shape for 100 mile marathons!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">John made sure we went across the street to enjoy a stretch
of genuine 1928 concrete US 66. It was a nice drive down the lightly traveled,
tree lined narrow concrete roadway. One photo with a leaning telephone pole that Lorna suggested is a real keeper.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our next stop, still in Arcadia was the <a href="http://www.arcadiaroundbarn.com/Round_Barn_Website/HOME.html">Round Barn</a>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuihINF8ePS9LsuG-T5YsCxfxBRJ5PYj3cLnmzEIpTjwt1o9F37Y8bUcDLi8tPNkjamkehWEiswmAfEY7goOAQDvjcpiQb-HtcMTEvwZ4-N8n8MGsxhFHGDa3eH9-Xo1mUGLbm7iQozYG_/s1600/100_1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuihINF8ePS9LsuG-T5YsCxfxBRJ5PYj3cLnmzEIpTjwt1o9F37Y8bUcDLi8tPNkjamkehWEiswmAfEY7goOAQDvjcpiQb-HtcMTEvwZ4-N8n8MGsxhFHGDa3eH9-Xo1mUGLbm7iQozYG_/s320/100_1808.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Pictures I remember seeing suggested a big barn out in the field. In reality it
is nearly roadside up on a hill with just enough room for logistics.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXrhr01kNgp_Dr15czDVnXrfv32beiIm4l5DLo7mXkBnCPUHa0yUJS9EQsGChYH1mbkd2QCd4bvkMLOXBkKuvxZbXsoclv1L_qF90FLMpXhWv9LV0T6DVOp2b-EQF4ZLJvy13SbXNxMY6/s1600/100_1817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXrhr01kNgp_Dr15czDVnXrfv32beiIm4l5DLo7mXkBnCPUHa0yUJS9EQsGChYH1mbkd2QCd4bvkMLOXBkKuvxZbXsoclv1L_qF90FLMpXhWv9LV0T6DVOp2b-EQF4ZLJvy13SbXNxMY6/s640/100_1817.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The local people
that salvaged this structure were heroic and deserve applause. One man took charge
and the major team of retires was nicknamed “The Over the Hill Gang”. The
upstairs is available for functions and the downstairs is a gift shop and route
66 museum.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvGd4zNpMKXpNnIMrc1SXSEm7HyrzzntlOhGdCk4Q8uyVsMcKzsudcG1FDKZZ3KL8eXQqZ6eOCfaDStdWkeFn9cAxoo3BoFJDIcVdQIaackdKdKBT-1BRSNHWQ4zv-tDNIas8GUMTYIs_/s1600/100_1809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvGd4zNpMKXpNnIMrc1SXSEm7HyrzzntlOhGdCk4Q8uyVsMcKzsudcG1FDKZZ3KL8eXQqZ6eOCfaDStdWkeFn9cAxoo3BoFJDIcVdQIaackdKdKBT-1BRSNHWQ4zv-tDNIas8GUMTYIs_/s640/100_1809.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The building is stunning, inside and out. They were setting up for a
private function so I could only shoot the roof rafters from the doorway. We
left with a new T shirt and history book of the barn.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Just down the road was <a href="http://route66.com/">POPS</a>,
a modern filling station, lunch stand and drink shop built to a grand scale. The sweeping
pump canopy is like nothing I have ever seen.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Inside a lunch counter was
cranking out lunches. The centerpiece is some 400 flavors of POP (AKA soft
drinks, soda or tonic) organized mainly by flavor.</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqr-PiSDE8ZAyVxixFFLpcCgKniYRnSgCyvZ3WsxXb7QvkkOL9uToY3cmJpqQkb2ZmJmBSLHtCZl5ND4vYns1H9l9fLI4TituIMlbpvMBsuNtAQIhjuyiwISTJHCSwI6naa-dCkYVxsgp/s1600/100_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqr-PiSDE8ZAyVxixFFLpcCgKniYRnSgCyvZ3WsxXb7QvkkOL9uToY3cmJpqQkb2ZmJmBSLHtCZl5ND4vYns1H9l9fLI4TituIMlbpvMBsuNtAQIhjuyiwISTJHCSwI6naa-dCkYVxsgp/s640/100_1826.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I had a Mexican made Mango
and Lorna got grape JIC-JAC. She said it was like drinking candy. Out front is a giant 66 foot pop bottle with
straw. It’s is said to be quite a sight as a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck_XTIX0I2c">neon showpiece</a>.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Our time
in Arcadia ended with a herd of longhorn cattle grazing in a field.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ88XyAFJjIozeF5Hhquy9UU_-sFgBQwdWq5IdFqSVp5xfqxNvE16A-mfGBFHoBiwb6DAse686fMQSnhIFZirjcfjwohxoSLQRscmrBvpKV5Ktlo3IvlF9JoBROyqWjq-naEA57ajrtRZd/s1600/100_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ88XyAFJjIozeF5Hhquy9UU_-sFgBQwdWq5IdFqSVp5xfqxNvE16A-mfGBFHoBiwb6DAse686fMQSnhIFZirjcfjwohxoSLQRscmrBvpKV5Ktlo3IvlF9JoBROyqWjq-naEA57ajrtRZd/s400/100_1827.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Okalahoma City like most cities on this trip was a pain. With
many alignments and sketchy signage we got turned around a few times. In the
end we saw nearly everything when had planned for and our marriage survived.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On the outskirts we found lunch at <a href="http://www.freddysusa.com/" target="_blank">Freddy’s Frozen Custard</a>
(and burgers) etc.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA0YIkq4-8cDoUerMd-gDbJl34JQix1yvTFDeymioPnhqspDWgpe6Npt_lOd5suPTOVg2XsNfi2A0VFFuRp3CY1LCpydoaWnwCRXS_k4KlDH_wo41M75Z29zUfpVaGnyAH7sRRXAOwMRQ/s1600/100_1842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA0YIkq4-8cDoUerMd-gDbJl34JQix1yvTFDeymioPnhqspDWgpe6Npt_lOd5suPTOVg2XsNfi2A0VFFuRp3CY1LCpydoaWnwCRXS_k4KlDH_wo41M75Z29zUfpVaGnyAH7sRRXAOwMRQ/s640/100_1842.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The patties are very thin with the edges so thin they crisp up like the edges of well done shredded potato
hash brown. I had the California burger featuring Freddy sauce, different and
good! Fries were very thin shoestrings, nicely cooked and seasoned. The place was
fun with the counter calling out winners of free food like a side of onion
rings.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6W1nbe7EJicWpBrwW-B_Z6RnXiYpwMlgX5bSsiQTfgggPbqvQsVVp7EJ5g_uPUOo8nUX8lbgANjWH4Siq6QRXDufcpTy0jqLqiVgJTmGaYyTHbVHW-ApuXhyphenhyphenwT8Wy1MFlkGdT1Wxmlys/s1600/100_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6W1nbe7EJicWpBrwW-B_Z6RnXiYpwMlgX5bSsiQTfgggPbqvQsVVp7EJ5g_uPUOo8nUX8lbgANjWH4Siq6QRXDufcpTy0jqLqiVgJTmGaYyTHbVHW-ApuXhyphenhyphenwT8Wy1MFlkGdT1Wxmlys/s400/100_1845.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Lorna’s desert concrete (frozen custard with the toppings blended in) was
made with the wrong custard flavor. I latter saw one of the counter persons
scan the crowd looking for just the right person to offer the free desert too. Anyplace
else it would have been in the trash!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">No first trip to the city would be proper without visiting
the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building which was bombed in 1995. The
devastation in the neighborhood was wide spread with many buildings destroyed and lives lost
or changed forever that day. The site is run by the National Parks Service and
the ranger we met gave a nice descriptive talk on the symbols that make up the
park. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkhmEtfnm3tWXftwP3fMBlpSEJ-SSREXfjXJMcLDmBeM9saEw2B0e-d45UTk7WnWaJdgF3_k6I1CJLjdYCUGuzlvt6ZUQ1qPTNto3o4LCMn35UVL7i7UmifU0Mdt6npQbA_bciT5MSnkw/s1600/100_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkhmEtfnm3tWXftwP3fMBlpSEJ-SSREXfjXJMcLDmBeM9saEw2B0e-d45UTk7WnWaJdgF3_k6I1CJLjdYCUGuzlvt6ZUQ1qPTNto3o4LCMn35UVL7i7UmifU0Mdt6npQbA_bciT5MSnkw/s640/100_1862.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This memorial is on the site of a church that was destroyed in the blast. the inscription on the base reads, " and Jesus wept".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBWD6aODVLt2Jo1cfHEFKqWlM-BUz6h2iQjPu-zgJyGOJCjpJvQ3zirBnTwsAdi6v_chzKoDYpS3MOW447Z6aN9pDkRqnR25hPvZFsMK3Mjp7jNeC4RwLVnSvqB5F1b7Y3CMw2hkmSRk2/s1600/100_1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBWD6aODVLt2Jo1cfHEFKqWlM-BUz6h2iQjPu-zgJyGOJCjpJvQ3zirBnTwsAdi6v_chzKoDYpS3MOW447Z6aN9pDkRqnR25hPvZFsMK3Mjp7jNeC4RwLVnSvqB5F1b7Y3CMw2hkmSRk2/s640/100_1864.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">One of 2 memorial walls where people leave symbols of remembrance. Items were originally left on the makeshift fencing at the disaster site. When the permanent memorial was built the continued symbolism was not anticipated. The chain link fencing in front of the wall was added to receive tokens of remembrance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvPdcz1oWA656L1xTzTgnBfdX8T5eO-sy_6TxgKjk_EQXhSLeANMuQvx63ijFjB0dA4JzcduRvE0-DBV5XR6DwWJ0sfz9QI7o0p72C_fqjHfLYmrdeLyOwiznwKA2ZbDV3FCjtMoylOFT/s1600/100_1873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvPdcz1oWA656L1xTzTgnBfdX8T5eO-sy_6TxgKjk_EQXhSLeANMuQvx63ijFjB0dA4JzcduRvE0-DBV5XR6DwWJ0sfz9QI7o0p72C_fqjHfLYmrdeLyOwiznwKA2ZbDV3FCjtMoylOFT/s640/100_1873.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">The shallow field of water is a symbol of calming. The dark wall with the opening is repeated behind the camera. It symbolizes the transition everyone experienced in this event. One one wall the time 1 minute prior is engraved, on the other a moment after.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNlGIFC9EG652Tx4hmezjwWKisYfOj88KyuHNxcSnYkzf945kgLuLra-WPSILkDg3-O6cxzIx7b_23sPHTX-1HN6q5rUisrN_B92EKtXSlK6ejpkvVrKWLl2yjHn1laq6TaZ3VdcdhyzX/s1600/100_1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNlGIFC9EG652Tx4hmezjwWKisYfOj88KyuHNxcSnYkzf945kgLuLra-WPSILkDg3-O6cxzIx7b_23sPHTX-1HN6q5rUisrN_B92EKtXSlK6ejpkvVrKWLl2yjHn1laq6TaZ3VdcdhyzX/s640/100_1871.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">In the field of seats each life lost is represented. They are arranged by floors as well as neighboring buildings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrLQzQK0JKKY0zCkTuN_-ksmhSAvP0G6mILlOg6j7V6yfftIHuMdUvuTEmQqTdf9PYZGtkN4-mrw8BCF3vhhOq8zbxg9yo4beugIY09GVgbnFTSNSVIsT5NJdCo1oPWI3eAQxoAwhF5ps/s1600/100_1876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrLQzQK0JKKY0zCkTuN_-ksmhSAvP0G6mILlOg6j7V6yfftIHuMdUvuTEmQqTdf9PYZGtkN4-mrw8BCF3vhhOq8zbxg9yo4beugIY09GVgbnFTSNSVIsT5NJdCo1oPWI3eAQxoAwhF5ps/s640/100_1876.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long shot across the pool to the field of seats.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zbRmySzflZnTmBZanfQhN0lg7tYiqEHwxhmOsNvvQFkA0Vi79qBTdgeT7q52zUtu0fMOv1ZSKn69SwXyGgHRy2NfvnU5sQuRx5LQLCS75xpQKVlZJ5NnzoFszVZfB_KvOaCpDWHd6_V7/s1600/100_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zbRmySzflZnTmBZanfQhN0lg7tYiqEHwxhmOsNvvQFkA0Vi79qBTdgeT7q52zUtu0fMOv1ZSKn69SwXyGgHRy2NfvnU5sQuRx5LQLCS75xpQKVlZJ5NnzoFszVZfB_KvOaCpDWHd6_V7/s640/100_1881.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">The loss of young lives in the onsite daycare center was felt throughout the school systems. Youngsters from away are represented on walls of tile bearing their hand prints.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Looping back though the city we did pretty good at capturing
the many route 66 landmarks. The 1958 Gold Done is a stunning building.
Originally a bank it is now an event/cultural center.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The Will Rogers Theater
and the Tower Theater had impressive facades. The Western Trading Post and Giant
Milk Bottle.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWagyfZVPNghxeqQDkZ0H2j9ZmRzMqXCtXWNSQcMzssv2msJkJ0pkOgKspJtbtUJgHWLaGJxR48d-45yvz2EAY6bnVBNNu4UYOB1I-5eISOMXL_xTyYCTF_IhtPpTDj2hLFavjyAM_kA9O/s1600/100_1905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWagyfZVPNghxeqQDkZ0H2j9ZmRzMqXCtXWNSQcMzssv2msJkJ0pkOgKspJtbtUJgHWLaGJxR48d-45yvz2EAY6bnVBNNu4UYOB1I-5eISOMXL_xTyYCTF_IhtPpTDj2hLFavjyAM_kA9O/s320/100_1905.JPG" width="299" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTHf_enOecsKbFReCecXRxbx0N6l8a9NhAFDDCTBxiJZTEOTv3C7dxIFK6sAbcE8OvoSe5hBo_ghJlex4iHLyinCr9LCS243r_OaEemksetfuOlQ_CDrkd_4ZBO9lH95l-ZAgoS6pOaop/s1600/100_1899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTHf_enOecsKbFReCecXRxbx0N6l8a9NhAFDDCTBxiJZTEOTv3C7dxIFK6sAbcE8OvoSe5hBo_ghJlex4iHLyinCr9LCS243r_OaEemksetfuOlQ_CDrkd_4ZBO9lH95l-ZAgoS6pOaop/s320/100_1899.JPG" width="179" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We found an old brick service station that has
been elegantly re-purposed including nice murals</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPBUa4TUF1UcSpqv0MBxEzhoFUU0B4Eaj2evF2vSlZqCfJQuBvIhyphenhyphengtUkGE5xZJb_5dR5NC-VCgOvJivDhqkOhqeKLyTOzEZpEHM0ssi7ghDmKH8McMVyzzFI1l7Di40W22Px7tBR_YV6/s1600/100_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPBUa4TUF1UcSpqv0MBxEzhoFUU0B4Eaj2evF2vSlZqCfJQuBvIhyphenhyphengtUkGE5xZJb_5dR5NC-VCgOvJivDhqkOhqeKLyTOzEZpEHM0ssi7ghDmKH8McMVyzzFI1l7Di40W22Px7tBR_YV6/s640/100_1889.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Overholser Lake Bridge was impressive with 4 drive though trusses and a pony span at each end. . </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-hZ_7Xm_oES3CeRYkYjKLbeRUfCPWFSZAAsPQk4gwcuD5uhKOgL2IcJ2R3QYZl0Ks_UupBkagGwG5W5mJPu7dtl1VbVLg93le3d5dtAAkGnPhxu7x2wlZoPOfVAYw9NV1Kk3JDQrrd_r/s1600/100_1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-hZ_7Xm_oES3CeRYkYjKLbeRUfCPWFSZAAsPQk4gwcuD5uhKOgL2IcJ2R3QYZl0Ks_UupBkagGwG5W5mJPu7dtl1VbVLg93le3d5dtAAkGnPhxu7x2wlZoPOfVAYw9NV1Kk3JDQrrd_r/s640/100_1912.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Down the road the Western Motel and Yukon Flour factory had
that classic look with plenty of neon. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0jxRPdN-lVaYtM089o2YAULnbhHp-xEBsH7J1sJMtSiMVRoNz-0dStbO6OilsM6JzOcnLWKSS9DHMmsxJQjmF1tdKqbgkX4F-5S0jzIU74FNRgbvzZWGqE3Q0cTjqp3KOR9D_2nIlx_G/s1600/100_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0jxRPdN-lVaYtM089o2YAULnbhHp-xEBsH7J1sJMtSiMVRoNz-0dStbO6OilsM6JzOcnLWKSS9DHMmsxJQjmF1tdKqbgkX4F-5S0jzIU74FNRgbvzZWGqE3Q0cTjqp3KOR9D_2nIlx_G/s640/100_1915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">El Reno had lots of eye candy staring with a nice Standard Oil
sign and repurposed station. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVyWUHX0mEJlihfl8XNzxN4CpG5P6t4CuQ-S7IrlYaLHC2EzCwSKNDfB79YoQYP4mNJmy2flrVc01uAW7D57lImDV04n8fX73je9RpD6w2bRPcO3wMSluzMr6I53HE7SUthgTxXKdDJHs/s1600/100_1917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVyWUHX0mEJlihfl8XNzxN4CpG5P6t4CuQ-S7IrlYaLHC2EzCwSKNDfB79YoQYP4mNJmy2flrVc01uAW7D57lImDV04n8fX73je9RpD6w2bRPcO3wMSluzMr6I53HE7SUthgTxXKdDJHs/s320/100_1917.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Ranger Motel seemed to be keeping up with the
times.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi0rW6JWgy8y5zddPUU2RqZjvGtNgtiZC6hk2oAfP3j-sqDg6Wo085V8Wlfx1lgH_G1x-5sWen5A8BiQ7PLgLZ1Y1uGl0aWgQx2BWmLDWhV3-3FUoMMIrsI87b3EHYJuQsCq9fE-jBA9u/s1600/100_1924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi0rW6JWgy8y5zddPUU2RqZjvGtNgtiZC6hk2oAfP3j-sqDg6Wo085V8Wlfx1lgH_G1x-5sWen5A8BiQ7PLgLZ1Y1uGl0aWgQx2BWmLDWhV3-3FUoMMIrsI87b3EHYJuQsCq9fE-jBA9u/s640/100_1924.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Roberts Grill “Famous Onion Fried Hamburgers Since 1926” was one I wish
the timing had been right to try. Jobes Drive-in and the Budget in looked to be
fresh from 1960.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjufEdCtF-BXu8CsUgyV1s7Rbx_ec4w4yv-c-wxiSFT4vitywL1fwMVtqbXbrAtNfyXlh5oYiBenlXeolH53w_oYXlzWXONCPFBr6esPzhQZdZvaF8GBL384kdWvXZt_CKcOxNMWmnXWv4/s1600/100_1933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjufEdCtF-BXu8CsUgyV1s7Rbx_ec4w4yv-c-wxiSFT4vitywL1fwMVtqbXbrAtNfyXlh5oYiBenlXeolH53w_oYXlzWXONCPFBr6esPzhQZdZvaF8GBL384kdWvXZt_CKcOxNMWmnXWv4/s640/100_1933.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As we drove though town the side streets were being blocked off
and people were camping out along the street like there was a presidential
motorcade or parade coming. We learned that in a few minutes the road through
town would be closed and the many vintage cars that we had noticed here and
there would have the street to themselves to cruise back and forth through town
with the road to themselves, it’s an annual event here. Once again we needed to
move along while we could. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Fort Reno gave us miles and miles of pristine vintage route
66 concrete rolling through the countryside. We could go 4 or more minutes without
seeing another vehicle. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOj41b-S6oGIaWm-bqhUqdDEV1dB-WjIyU3kczILmZjnuyjNckVQCis48aUbMF1NKiIAvwqhZLxq86uojkagQhFXCS7Wi1ythIy1qp0h0B83dKDihxCEMVakdteC_kJq-Ms1P48-mEF8z/s1600/100_1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOj41b-S6oGIaWm-bqhUqdDEV1dB-WjIyU3kczILmZjnuyjNckVQCis48aUbMF1NKiIAvwqhZLxq86uojkagQhFXCS7Wi1ythIy1qp0h0B83dKDihxCEMVakdteC_kJq-Ms1P48-mEF8z/s640/100_1937.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Calumet had the Indian Trading Post. It featured lots of Indian
stuff like Tee Pees and big buffalo statues on the grounds and a giant Indian
that towered over the store.We didn't have the time or interest to go in, just a photo stop.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJhmhbZlnY_qFDP9Ja-8DFTNmb4H66s3yd14dSdOF0lGwpUMJIv-yO0ccBwON23dHGDe2kngxVyEPpw6Zk_t4y6oMWSRiF85Q_WexitoM2OhHFMaWjt5NHQsaeQeY7kbQx1r0pXRqAGO2/s1600/100_1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJhmhbZlnY_qFDP9Ja-8DFTNmb4H66s3yd14dSdOF0lGwpUMJIv-yO0ccBwON23dHGDe2kngxVyEPpw6Zk_t4y6oMWSRiF85Q_WexitoM2OhHFMaWjt5NHQsaeQeY7kbQx1r0pXRqAGO2/s640/100_1938.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkKZ5UY95S2pC0Gqa82FJqsaFpb5ed_fmUcwDfphfTAVkdiazbCsSt0OeeLA8XGK1o68hdERLFGxEvbHNtcO11rlhE3am6oD1-7ua7vk1HEJebWQFHUkversw89EXHo74HWo5aZk_zn88/s1600/100_1939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkKZ5UY95S2pC0Gqa82FJqsaFpb5ed_fmUcwDfphfTAVkdiazbCsSt0OeeLA8XGK1o68hdERLFGxEvbHNtcO11rlhE3am6oD1-7ua7vk1HEJebWQFHUkversw89EXHo74HWo5aZk_zn88/s400/100_1939.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYvBh766Oo_XuHhDGiAmz7X8twKFbXcIhOOToCjDe0x07vu_xWwdTXhSFzVvyXKVxX4df8S1bjTQR8Z-eWuap2tgZQh5dzGMrwK3q1lnPDjO2kCkfdxjghftxNwVDg1M4lofeURCw7wPu/s1600/100_1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYvBh766Oo_XuHhDGiAmz7X8twKFbXcIhOOToCjDe0x07vu_xWwdTXhSFzVvyXKVxX4df8S1bjTQR8Z-eWuap2tgZQh5dzGMrwK3q1lnPDjO2kCkfdxjghftxNwVDg1M4lofeURCw7wPu/s640/100_1941.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Geary Lorna got to pose with the welcome to town sign. Her
maiden name is Gary only due to a town clerk error. The family name had been
Geary.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkxIeqhWLEjqPFHBWbraKA6fBqfBr4EM7lAcGhGNj5RgxcKW5iQwAGdoNyzkauRxB510aJK5NhYCqxF4wK2KJQ0msbK0xSFnoM8d6CUEksTpKK4_NH4xSMCg4_qyTdj-phdYl0MKW7K-F/s1600/100_1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkxIeqhWLEjqPFHBWbraKA6fBqfBr4EM7lAcGhGNj5RgxcKW5iQwAGdoNyzkauRxB510aJK5NhYCqxF4wK2KJQ0msbK0xSFnoM8d6CUEksTpKK4_NH4xSMCg4_qyTdj-phdYl0MKW7K-F/s400/100_1942.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We also found the South Canadian River bridge with a whopping 38 pony
spans spanning 3944 feet. It photographed nice in the low evening sunlight.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtTXtxXNBjhLhUA2Pn3iNV3_bUKql863n1htaerVdgU1Ki2H__R7MCTthXZMGKqYPvIc0XfVT-PXLdtchIkDdUS5kxsZl1QS24B5_Ne0eDeTJsJYRGSRlQVa2-6sEeMSmzQbzXqnguA3r/s1600/100_1953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtTXtxXNBjhLhUA2Pn3iNV3_bUKql863n1htaerVdgU1Ki2H__R7MCTthXZMGKqYPvIc0XfVT-PXLdtchIkDdUS5kxsZl1QS24B5_Ne0eDeTJsJYRGSRlQVa2-6sEeMSmzQbzXqnguA3r/s640/100_1953.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Hydro we found the 1929 wood frame station with carport
fueling that had operated as Lucille’s.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vcYEPy4mSSKgSgon2qJGbiyPqi9_l7l8a5JUqykHIse5eIVduJkfXjGnAR5zlTC15lQ-vmYj_-BCQcwfHohSTog61zkGBwHs4cdgtFvV-BNxnmjnEVaAfiGZUzrO4ocvcbt88PeBKqv0/s1600/100_1955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vcYEPy4mSSKgSgon2qJGbiyPqi9_l7l8a5JUqykHIse5eIVduJkfXjGnAR5zlTC15lQ-vmYj_-BCQcwfHohSTog61zkGBwHs4cdgtFvV-BNxnmjnEVaAfiGZUzrO4ocvcbt88PeBKqv0/s640/100_1955.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The 5 unit motel at the back is barely
standing but the station still stands proud with fuel pumps in place.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0ajhmWEqfhSxVEpxn43mAMRDcmJWs-IsiMyO7CyQgv4mfX5ch5PLX0EaOz1SCJ80t7Tfd8j8MoFj6KtvIozuNCAUi-vl8llocmOAyM24W3qMu5WSOMurlnlwKWnA4BfqGfVJIhCOWpvd/s1600/100_1956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0ajhmWEqfhSxVEpxn43mAMRDcmJWs-IsiMyO7CyQgv4mfX5ch5PLX0EaOz1SCJ80t7Tfd8j8MoFj6KtvIozuNCAUi-vl8llocmOAyM24W3qMu5WSOMurlnlwKWnA4BfqGfVJIhCOWpvd/s400/100_1956.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It’s in
the National Register of Historic places and features a granite Will Rogers
Highway monument.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4CtlbpA2d0Qo2lPPObhuLiqbMVMiUeUVbiv5-ziXf62rlyLgbDJH92mLZPq7buNknvRVtMqD_ZuMF1K6M6YtRaPeTSXGRiSSrFOrdBwri_-xQ5_VTF4NHO3HbpaOKFJP-5YnuW111IdR/s1600/100_1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4CtlbpA2d0Qo2lPPObhuLiqbMVMiUeUVbiv5-ziXf62rlyLgbDJH92mLZPq7buNknvRVtMqD_ZuMF1K6M6YtRaPeTSXGRiSSrFOrdBwri_-xQ5_VTF4NHO3HbpaOKFJP-5YnuW111IdR/s400/100_1958.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It was near the end of several hours of driving over the sparsely traveled rolling cement roadway well away from any major highway.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Weatherford is where we found tonight’s room at the Holiday
Inn Express. After registering we tried the restaurant next door. Lucille’s. It’s
a big version of the Lucille’s we had just visited featuring a dinner side and
a steakhouse side.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We opted for the dinner space and had a nice meal.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When we got out the neon was ready for the camera.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We got to
our rooms just past 9:00 PM. Then for me it was downloading, backing up and blogging
into the night.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We’re back to warm weather with 99F predicted for tomorrow, Sunday.
Every day there is a risk of thunderstorms either as pop-ups of from passing
storm fronts. We ended the day about 8 towns from the Texas border. We should
be in the Lone Star State by early tomorrow afternoon. We are running behind
but may close the gap a little tomorrow. We don’t see any big city stuff for a long
while and those can really eat up some time. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tonight marks the end of the first half of our time on the
road. Based on mileage were about 200 miles short of the midpoint. That’s less
than 20 miles a day we need to make-up in the remainder of the time. That seems
doable as we head due west.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Oklahoma has the least effective RT 66 signage so far causing
us to second guess or back track more than a few times. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We’re in oil country and it’s not uncommon to see oil wells
and holding tanks scattered about in the fields. We also come cross drilling
equipment suppliers. A well would make a nice lawn ornament / souvenir. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Home is seeming very far away and we start each day wondering what what we will find out there. So far we have not been disappointed. Sometimes it's like an Easter egg hunt looking for that nugget of history. The locals continue to be wonderful about sharing their part of the country. They call this road America's Main Street and on this Saturday in June it was especially palpable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-67951409438555730142012-06-01T22:46:00.000-07:002012-07-16T05:13:31.323-07:00Will Rogers, Tulsa and Beyond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Friday June 1, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Today started with a good look at the calendar. Tomorrow,
Saturday marks the 11<sup>th</sup> of the 22 days we actually have touring, so
it is the chronological midpoint. Adrian Texas is the mileage midpoint of route
66 and is 3/4 of the way across the state. Tonight we’re at an Econo-Lodge in
Chandler, OK. We expect to be close to the Texas border by tomorrow night
putting us close to 2 days behind balancing time and mileage. We are making
some slight adjustments in shopping habits and do expect the attraction density
to drop off as we cross New Mexico and Arizona but that’s just my guess. At
this point neither of us have any major stops we have our hearts set on and
that alone will move things along. In any case the side-trips are definitely
out as we focus on the mission.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Today’s water was reasonably soft and the motel breakfast was
a tad above average. I slept like a log until the sun streaming through a curtain gap
woke me like a stick in the eye. I got up too late to see those nifty dump
trucks in the daylight.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Before leaving this morning we took time to sort and pack the
accumulation of souvenirs. The 29 pound box was dropped at the post office and
is on its way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The big event today was visiting the Will Rogers Memorial
Museum in Claremore.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS46H40o4mbsbObkQ_Gtt_AbKzzlr7l__nLShGISzbzLf2MPYL45LaQHLk_GKYfmTb3A8cyELDIdP6J1fbt8uxiqVB5GYzkiHWXsP4w9zpMyeTdmSPXFMYpVyDeXovxxlL-VTLkbFrL9VG/s1600/100_1525a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS46H40o4mbsbObkQ_Gtt_AbKzzlr7l__nLShGISzbzLf2MPYL45LaQHLk_GKYfmTb3A8cyELDIdP6J1fbt8uxiqVB5GYzkiHWXsP4w9zpMyeTdmSPXFMYpVyDeXovxxlL-VTLkbFrL9VG/s640/100_1525a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I have been fond of Will since seeing James Whitmore
perform his one man show, Will Roger’s U.S.A. I still remember seeing it air on
CBS when it aired in 1972. Latter I got a recording of the show. It’s among 2
spoken word pieces that have been very influential to me.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPCHccBUiTSrEUcUbZShkGJmk7hFmyiEU3PEkYDpFQO1qxKXxXdJkEKdFRkwqAdlGKQPrGZ3kIIqdxY-Bymp3KduOLh_MR0nQ_hOP9QL9N3CONxPdM1KrZfJlcI182MAlzjiAj8ImUZlp/s1600/100_1542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPCHccBUiTSrEUcUbZShkGJmk7hFmyiEU3PEkYDpFQO1qxKXxXdJkEKdFRkwqAdlGKQPrGZ3kIIqdxY-Bymp3KduOLh_MR0nQ_hOP9QL9N3CONxPdM1KrZfJlcI182MAlzjiAj8ImUZlp/s320/100_1542.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The museum was interesting portraying the many aspects of the
man with paintings, portraits, memorabilia as well as audio and video. We spent
close to 2 hours touring the museum, the gift shop and out on the grounds. I found
a T shirt that struck a chord and brought one with me.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvupIIC9yzzhXGYUeXvZwyy61WSal_tTrRUJG2zsd0XZIl1dhFDbuBlfQ1yhcTsJpbEDfXORxwdBS0tmLqYl7NQMGTuhCnwW2pL2Gys1h6T0_bl0GBsISa449Zx5ipKGzrU9znJVZVIF1/s1600/100_1545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvupIIC9yzzhXGYUeXvZwyy61WSal_tTrRUJG2zsd0XZIl1dhFDbuBlfQ1yhcTsJpbEDfXORxwdBS0tmLqYl7NQMGTuhCnwW2pL2Gys1h6T0_bl0GBsISa449Zx5ipKGzrU9znJVZVIF1/s640/100_1545.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After the museum we tanked up at $324.9. That’s about 40
cents less than the going rate at home when we left.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">From Claremore we traveled to Verdigris to find some bridges.
The first is a picturesque railroad through truss bridge that includes elevated
trestles at each end as it spans the valley. It spans the McClellan-Kerr
navigation system, an extensive inland waterway.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAgLDbkJlXtjhanCx7ndI0UKRw0H5HJfgPxqI5giOp1u1J6EnKFaPPOSVzqpcAP2REF35sMKym_uavJrJvHv3ISZMkonG2PPikaHmGoPYMx4spcAMCeDnVXzgRGkmQ1soiTaDqCcm0mN2/s1600/100_1554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAgLDbkJlXtjhanCx7ndI0UKRw0H5HJfgPxqI5giOp1u1J6EnKFaPPOSVzqpcAP2REF35sMKym_uavJrJvHv3ISZMkonG2PPikaHmGoPYMx4spcAMCeDnVXzgRGkmQ1soiTaDqCcm0mN2/s640/100_1554.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next down the road we went to
see the Twin Bridges each having 3 through truss pans and a pony truss span at
each end for a total of 5 spans. One from 1936 was built 24 feet wide and dates
to the opening of route 66. The second is 28 feet wide and was built in 1957
when the route was converted to the divided 4 lane configuration that this
segment continues to operate in.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmml6nLBYVMK1DBa2k3pb9jpT2aSQYOwG0ZbkRylFdp4Pr3oUT5kgiI8k2BzK84qTGapAhOUVNAO6SPx_ZV6mEb27RinoxnGAwCgS2mTnA45O2e2gAm4i6BgQKBy36jSESUbT6RtKk1G0/s1600/100_1560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmml6nLBYVMK1DBa2k3pb9jpT2aSQYOwG0ZbkRylFdp4Pr3oUT5kgiI8k2BzK84qTGapAhOUVNAO6SPx_ZV6mEb27RinoxnGAwCgS2mTnA45O2e2gAm4i6BgQKBy36jSESUbT6RtKk1G0/s640/100_1560.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When we got there we found that the 1936 span
had been replaced with a modern bridge, the concrete still snowy white. While
photographing the remaining span we noticed some bridge spans up on a hill
which seemed odd.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4Qrs3tDGh3xu1F00alqR8gXNm_R1nYCNIsIGkwu-3UoTiVGB2x22fmMakAgU7EL2o0T_h9xEvdC_6Ld4lCmch-OgNS0r-x5jmFO8wpJ5jfJ3uEE-4shrdbB1u-wKkW_yUUt_7a9wewou/s1600/100_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4Qrs3tDGh3xu1F00alqR8gXNm_R1nYCNIsIGkwu-3UoTiVGB2x22fmMakAgU7EL2o0T_h9xEvdC_6Ld4lCmch-OgNS0r-x5jmFO8wpJ5jfJ3uEE-4shrdbB1u-wKkW_yUUt_7a9wewou/s640/100_1572.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> When we got there we found that one truss span and a pony
span from the 1936 bridge had been integrated into the driveway leading to
Molly’s Landing, a local restaurant. The cement curbs and asphalt paving formed
the driveway with the bridge sections defining the space and adding some drama
to your arrival. All together it’s pretty dramatic and it’s eye catching from
down on the highway. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj139QEtWPV4KOlHsH9BZNEe5oYE-Uk3Q1uxlR6fr5CAA9m6mgc9QrLiLQA_0zS4g02_btdweQPH1XpyrCv7dY72qGP01y_0IBwpfoNj-Xzvi060OdK0Irw0ySordwbpl5P2RAW_g2TGo_y/s1600/100_1568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj139QEtWPV4KOlHsH9BZNEe5oYE-Uk3Q1uxlR6fr5CAA9m6mgc9QrLiLQA_0zS4g02_btdweQPH1XpyrCv7dY72qGP01y_0IBwpfoNj-Xzvi060OdK0Irw0ySordwbpl5P2RAW_g2TGo_y/s640/100_1568.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">One thing we have noticed is that many of the bridges are
sized to accommodate much more water than normally flows. On a given day a
significant bridge may allow for the passing of a mere brook. Even around towns
it’s not uncommon to see box culverts sometimes in tandem sitting dry just
waiting for a deluge.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The other infrastructure oddity is the use of utility paths
behind main streets. The downtowns don’t have any overhead utility wires, the
building utilities are all out back. We have noticed this in a number of towns
including Miami and Bristow. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">From there it was down to Catoosa to check out the Blue Whale
which is a chicken wire and concrete structure and acts as a fishing pier. The
chin is on shore and you walk in through the open mouth. The rest of the body
is open with railing height sides<b>.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b> </b>Originally
Hugh Davis built it as an anniversary gift for his wife. The park surrounding it
was a popular swimming hole for a while.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mYNam7B1JFZrOscs2OV2eNbYjhKQubYDBwF3gzlSRLNtsTJy6IsAzjMIFoE0-1LJaHdwwqlN1wURRILkus2iite3Hq1ejj3k2eMutLa7xokrJb7JJxEp4FMfJXE5sjy0bjMfHM2Drb_z/s1600/100_1580a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mYNam7B1JFZrOscs2OV2eNbYjhKQubYDBwF3gzlSRLNtsTJy6IsAzjMIFoE0-1LJaHdwwqlN1wURRILkus2iite3Hq1ejj3k2eMutLa7xokrJb7JJxEp4FMfJXE5sjy0bjMfHM2Drb_z/s640/100_1580a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> While there we met up with Hugh’s some
Wayne who showed us the dilapidated Noah’s Ark concession stand and some other
stands that predated the whale. He still has dreams of bringing the whole place
back to life. For now the Blue Whale has become an institution with a number of
locals assisting with the upkeep. This year he is sporting a nice fresh coat of
blue paint.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4IYvJbo1DCVXkYsabcadGNuXjL_nCtEAxyoJLmojb8Z5wnIBoFhxiHTVpfAfClNYR8d4hfhyq96YbAfmO1rqDyB5-8_irC3LcxWrCONr5xaY1XAqxNw8BwTITpByZcIudj1rPyDFeAQl/s1600/100_1584a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4IYvJbo1DCVXkYsabcadGNuXjL_nCtEAxyoJLmojb8Z5wnIBoFhxiHTVpfAfClNYR8d4hfhyq96YbAfmO1rqDyB5-8_irC3LcxWrCONr5xaY1XAqxNw8BwTITpByZcIudj1rPyDFeAQl/s640/100_1584a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Catoosa also gave us Lil Abner’s Dairyette. The place is
closed but not grossly dilapidated and could make a comeback.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">By early afternoon we made it into Tulsa, home of the
Brookshire Motel, still in operation. The Oasis Motel still offers lodging and
the nice sign is said to look really good with the neon glowing.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBmOiIlLUEari8kJ2U4661egRDG9shvBSvYe-RCBMNtRGZ7QoqORVI4Biat5HTsHVlPQdHm3hjqE1nAPMsk0ml7SAoFsIc4_W9e6ie7LAftEG2UMOw1snBL0cZZQXgM1cY6BZXyV_fVIc/s1600/100_1616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBmOiIlLUEari8kJ2U4661egRDG9shvBSvYe-RCBMNtRGZ7QoqORVI4Biat5HTsHVlPQdHm3hjqE1nAPMsk0ml7SAoFsIc4_W9e6ie7LAftEG2UMOw1snBL0cZZQXgM1cY6BZXyV_fVIc/s640/100_1616.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgforRD9ZB3pHmRl2Ema-9WNET5d2OuoWC9EnpKvqd8O9E9DQHZbWim4UxoTojgLdYrr-VBUzIvIFFS4m0QMUd8CIJFNxvrUUVzNKcLLapUqdSmYGvrdt-USEpARjvLav27fsIE19Crm3yR/s1600/100_1627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgforRD9ZB3pHmRl2Ema-9WNET5d2OuoWC9EnpKvqd8O9E9DQHZbWim4UxoTojgLdYrr-VBUzIvIFFS4m0QMUd8CIJFNxvrUUVzNKcLLapUqdSmYGvrdt-USEpARjvLav27fsIE19Crm3yR/s640/100_1627.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Desert Hills
Motel has a nice sign and fence mural. The Circle Theater looks really nice
with a huge neon sign and red and white marquis. We found a beautiful Cities
Service (became CITGO) station that has been repurposed. The white enamel with
green trim and lettering looked very clean. The remains of the Bell motel with
vertical sign included a neat long mural wall. We found signs for the Midway
Trailer Court and C.J.’s Café. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Rose Bowl is a mesh of giant dome structures that form a
large function space.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEwgIwsnWnP07A5zzv_tsN10RGh757grhRble5_APkY-WSFZR5NBmPC0t6_DQX272QdYSFmhDUkJ3JTbL_YU3aQNq6T0Dqf0kYvbDPCAKzYfiave9HZz1tus-hl1aPvR2hyphenhyphenz286eQq6nq/s1600/100_1618a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEwgIwsnWnP07A5zzv_tsN10RGh757grhRble5_APkY-WSFZR5NBmPC0t6_DQX272QdYSFmhDUkJ3JTbL_YU3aQNq6T0Dqf0kYvbDPCAKzYfiave9HZz1tus-hl1aPvR2hyphenhyphenz286eQq6nq/s640/100_1618a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Built in 1960 the
bubble gum pink building offered bowling in some of the space. Football and
more recently concerts have been played in the 2 and one half dome facility. It
has been refurbished after a 2005 interior fire. We got some good pictures as drizzle
settled in for the afternoon.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJh1x6TVFyVABzxyBI5flJiv507gEEDnifXP25gZKokeiKbH92EosdbQ24lt_Nx8HSSoQ7JZkAJ-CSYuXX8v9s2obXVyTCM9tBUJ20csQQmmWzz0nz71Hhe1XPioLeTXy33DXDYS9dFCe/s1600/100_1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJh1x6TVFyVABzxyBI5flJiv507gEEDnifXP25gZKokeiKbH92EosdbQ24lt_Nx8HSSoQ7JZkAJ-CSYuXX8v9s2obXVyTCM9tBUJ20csQQmmWzz0nz71Hhe1XPioLeTXy33DXDYS9dFCe/s640/100_1624.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We stopped at Tally’s Good Food Café in Tulsa for lunch. With
neon inside and out this place felt like it had a lot of weary traveler stories
it could tell.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Zj5ftrSX-MGmeZqnIo0sRNTQKlhNWlCOVx24dmWSe0xVgsjbaRHK40PviUKeg3tDT3hv64E-eAAU0J62lT5FG6g4Epb1wUofQxZVlH7pwCtP1IjPrK713ULnNwoWrXJnsks1TWOOmtOr/s1600/100_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Zj5ftrSX-MGmeZqnIo0sRNTQKlhNWlCOVx24dmWSe0xVgsjbaRHK40PviUKeg3tDT3hv64E-eAAU0J62lT5FG6g4Epb1wUofQxZVlH7pwCtP1IjPrK713ULnNwoWrXJnsks1TWOOmtOr/s640/100_1634.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Though it’s only 25 years old the counter stools and booths give
it that real deal feel. Lorna’s turkey club and my buffalo chicken wrap were
generous, affordable and good.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav_jeAE0b8h4HbyworRm3SPQ4EvN9iQbisHinCO35S5QeR84Qsz_UePkARdxh7B5MpD1yqTwmepM_DWuyuwnxakR6n6sfYjMzKZ8qFIi22cEtmV98p9xmhVgY_GLqG_j40mcE7acU5GxA/s1600/100_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav_jeAE0b8h4HbyworRm3SPQ4EvN9iQbisHinCO35S5QeR84Qsz_UePkARdxh7B5MpD1yqTwmepM_DWuyuwnxakR6n6sfYjMzKZ8qFIi22cEtmV98p9xmhVgY_GLqG_j40mcE7acU5GxA/s640/100_1631.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Dairy Freeze up the street is gone and the
property re-used. The auto resale company kept the giant ice cream cone on the
sign.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Cony I-Lander hot dog emporium was a real dated looking
place with good traffic. The standard dog included chili which we tried but a
bite a piece was enough. The actual hot dog seemed very nice in a steamed Cony
Island roll but the overall flavor just didn’t work for us. We came, we tried
we learned.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9ogyLyit0jOASkUcvSaMlP6r6-4iMKJxZtU7BDURyRuq4bAlDugB8tbq-TUQDsE_F9En5IgnbL6a6XT0lZDx0EK4Wgnw9lUWvPTbKQFO_I3wiUsVsnSiMiDezKxuXgISI6kn3B3AJ240/s1600/100_1642a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9ogyLyit0jOASkUcvSaMlP6r6-4iMKJxZtU7BDURyRuq4bAlDugB8tbq-TUQDsE_F9En5IgnbL6a6XT0lZDx0EK4Wgnw9lUWvPTbKQFO_I3wiUsVsnSiMiDezKxuXgISI6kn3B3AJ240/s640/100_1642a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tulsa was one of those places where we saw a lot more than we could capture. Between traffic and the rain many places like the 1920's blue dome filling station now the hub of an entire nightlife district cam home a drive by memories. Leaving the city we passed under a modern footbridge that was
decked out with a spiffy ROUTE 66 shield.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOaN41NeiFkEKE4t1olQveLHmJ7iV3LRc9FI-9LaIGjO-sj3W9mO9G88-46yNAAbSlRDvwfWHXqwPyQHnodVYio4my-U0A0q7UCJvwsm944r9cDUVBBUqYSXz-C7Y7P5HxAoyC2CNbqk0/s1600/100_1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOaN41NeiFkEKE4t1olQveLHmJ7iV3LRc9FI-9LaIGjO-sj3W9mO9G88-46yNAAbSlRDvwfWHXqwPyQHnodVYio4my-U0A0q7UCJvwsm944r9cDUVBBUqYSXz-C7Y7P5HxAoyC2CNbqk0/s400/100_1653.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We caught the sign at Ollies Station Restaurant in Red Fork.
We had no plausible reason to go inside.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sappula was our next stop where we saw the “giant” Coke
bottle and cup. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YfIT4qc0Tr2tiI0XC4Z_cZOu4qSkhtB5fkEaJ3nK3c1kn3Ht_Q916wzEjHZx5AkXY94rllweS4af3heY6yYLayrYHtwiL36DbMLylYedKxL8snfkDZWpDno8KzuAsZVUnlrcIbqp_v9m/s1600/100_1665a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YfIT4qc0Tr2tiI0XC4Z_cZOu4qSkhtB5fkEaJ3nK3c1kn3Ht_Q916wzEjHZx5AkXY94rllweS4af3heY6yYLayrYHtwiL36DbMLylYedKxL8snfkDZWpDno8KzuAsZVUnlrcIbqp_v9m/s640/100_1665a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Afterwards we found Happy
Burger, a genuine old school burger stand. Rick ran out to greet us and offered
to take pictures of us with his sign. I felt really bad that we weren’t up to a
taste but lunch had been filling. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIbwR36GVMEqN4TuNNXM4NFkq8LyZm_X4_D6KT0uakg26t7vK6SxQpgpOOEXusGpzCGRHi05c5sC2iulrEUsSJaj53mUHO-Udk2geiizIPl3Cfy0k2afTgGvau9CUmjy_fOHR2YYZK0VY/s1600/100_1668a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIbwR36GVMEqN4TuNNXM4NFkq8LyZm_X4_D6KT0uakg26t7vK6SxQpgpOOEXusGpzCGRHi05c5sC2iulrEUsSJaj53mUHO-Udk2geiizIPl3Cfy0k2afTgGvau9CUmjy_fOHR2YYZK0VY/s640/100_1668a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Kellyville we took an old alignment that brought us up to
some abandoned oil well equipment in fields. We are into oil country and road
side wells are not that uncommon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On an older alignment in Bellvue we found an old stone motel
that had a garage between every unit. The stonework was still looking very nice.
This now stood on the property of a private residence.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r2gVWoTmtYVl3IECzMh9HT60_7GEkbEeb0WPlb4T1R825TKmj9lFgn_8jgC7TB41t1qmyYZHX1XqLPW_tVNGCni35KFZRubCwjCMrjJkEd86SRCY_O8uxuEJbvczNtMt8FPfbuZ-dMJT/s1600/100_1674a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r2gVWoTmtYVl3IECzMh9HT60_7GEkbEeb0WPlb4T1R825TKmj9lFgn_8jgC7TB41t1qmyYZHX1XqLPW_tVNGCni35KFZRubCwjCMrjJkEd86SRCY_O8uxuEJbvczNtMt8FPfbuZ-dMJT/s640/100_1674a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We had hopes of making the suburbs of Oklahoma city tonight
but it was in Bristow that the plan fell apart. We found a nice old tile roof
brick station that was restored as part of Bristow Tire and Auto.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-SXxoyU6JRS2IEPeumHMJF8tfxEBjR1vtcgdZ4xCS8WTSdkp7-KjnqK4jXwquVfGSvWGg_vuwGhfNeJ82jBQK3m3iq6G-p3NKxztp79mPn_sbP9cJrecHW10Za_Z86Hags38bWNWq0xi/s1600/100_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-SXxoyU6JRS2IEPeumHMJF8tfxEBjR1vtcgdZ4xCS8WTSdkp7-KjnqK4jXwquVfGSvWGg_vuwGhfNeJ82jBQK3m3iq6G-p3NKxztp79mPn_sbP9cJrecHW10Za_Z86Hags38bWNWq0xi/s640/100_1686.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">While taking pictures Bill, a local stopped by and
we started to talk. A local claim to fame is Gene Autrey. One of his early jobs
was working a few blocks away at the newly restored train station, now museum
that now includes an exhibit about him.</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh481jOoiIq0mG5RpIKuNkz7etXfHunXU1Is8tItUSL9GklW5thrXvo-XmmXl7ToEZCfsWpdJ9_FT3zUVAjxfeUMY7NycqPgMfzrdRO-S-A5CevUFPArYo8riUqKe6yckjCBkH5SRf0JkAX/s1600/100_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh481jOoiIq0mG5RpIKuNkz7etXfHunXU1Is8tItUSL9GklW5thrXvo-XmmXl7ToEZCfsWpdJ9_FT3zUVAjxfeUMY7NycqPgMfzrdRO-S-A5CevUFPArYo8riUqKe6yckjCBkH5SRf0JkAX/s640/100_1691.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Also, If we went a few blocks we’d find
the old Roland Hotel where he cut his
teeth in broadcasting, how can you pass up such an opportunity? I learned that
Lorna couldn’t. </span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q4CJRY2xWUByZXa-RsJiasRiGLipFmpdwrtb5egYwW6Sa8jU6HpKbgUva23kCmElupGfWkGuDtelK-pYTKuc1hmU5HgibNL4Wdwg9mTLHY0B7H27sPyNQNsWdTK5C4dc31ckILsBy9vR/s1600/100_1697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q4CJRY2xWUByZXa-RsJiasRiGLipFmpdwrtb5egYwW6Sa8jU6HpKbgUva23kCmElupGfWkGuDtelK-pYTKuc1hmU5HgibNL4Wdwg9mTLHY0B7H27sPyNQNsWdTK5C4dc31ckILsBy9vR/s640/100_1697.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Finding the 2 landmarks went well and yielded some nice
pictures. Before leaving we had to meet the giant purple penguin at the Crown dealership
of Bristow. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BoO9vk2RRXimtRg2k6Bqw6Y9TlA5za6lzXj5igc55wO7Webpg5_f6oHTnW_3b8Vx_zi_uybNwUYY6A15INYrrzslb_xkxhS0k94mD5UFKJnrcOQZDhsUgfZspA_TAULRA-eI6galXmik/s1600/100_1703a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BoO9vk2RRXimtRg2k6Bqw6Y9TlA5za6lzXj5igc55wO7Webpg5_f6oHTnW_3b8Vx_zi_uybNwUYY6A15INYrrzslb_xkxhS0k94mD5UFKJnrcOQZDhsUgfZspA_TAULRA-eI6galXmik/s320/100_1703a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Depew village is up on an alternate alignment loop. Up on the
hill it is bypassed by most. This village is largely abandoned with a few
places still making a go of it. A few newer murals grace the town.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Stroud we found the Shoe Tree on an old alignment. It’s a bushy
sort of stout tree with lots of shoes tossed over branches. Sponsored by the Shoe
Tree Trading Post next door it was quite an oddity. The Skyliner and Sooner
Motels were both looking good.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Davenport we passed Gar Wolley’s, Food & Fun. It had a
decent crowd . Around the corner we located a nice welcome mural.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Finally in Chandler we spotted the Lincoln Motel looking
good. We ended up at an EconoLodge. It included "B's Restaurant" featuring the Best Steaks in Oklahoma, Lorna agreed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We’re settled in for the night, the blog is done and I should
be hitting the hay by 1:00 AM. We still have just over half the trip ahead of
us and it’s more fun every day. I don’t know if it’s us or the different people
of the regions but they are increasingly more talkative and that sharing of
information. This is really adding a lot to this experience.</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-28609354223142512242012-06-01T00:06:00.004-07:002012-09-02T07:09:02.808-07:00Grandeur and Serendipity<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thursday May 31, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We had some more heavy rain overnight but awoke to party
cloudy skies. The Hampton breakfast was probably in a dead heat to tie with the
Best Western the night before. Tonight we’re at the Comfort inn in Claremore
Oklahoma, the place Will Rogers called home. The high temperature was in the
70’s and I wore jeans for the first time since leaving Chicago. The day held
surprises beyond my wildest expectations and without a doubt when Serendipity
knocked we let her in. We got off the road a little late as we were between
significant towns and cool stuff just kept happening. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We pretty much blasted though Miami (My-am-uh) to settle down
for the night so we back tracked a few
miles and got going. We were passing near a 1929 Marathon gas station and
stopped by. It’s a work in progress, the outside is all repaired and
refinished, and the 3 red and yellow pumps really pop. The station includes a
prominent canopy the covers the filling area and it features stamped tin
ceiling. The exterior is not fully dressed out so it looks a little Spartan.
Materials and tools suggest that they are working to finish the interior. It’s
on the national register of historic places.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZBatcCfYaLYNOpF7QN-2KrsdkhBPlTMfbpp4vJqlXOoIDDuG5EsOYli-zKjdArWXAQfPc0MJFflEmPaKfLP8ZMGO3oRCoVCfmrdKQzUr4QGvdetoG3gzHo9g3yBOyycT724cCPOCd5S2/s1600/Marathon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZBatcCfYaLYNOpF7QN-2KrsdkhBPlTMfbpp4vJqlXOoIDDuG5EsOYli-zKjdArWXAQfPc0MJFflEmPaKfLP8ZMGO3oRCoVCfmrdKQzUr4QGvdetoG3gzHo9g3yBOyycT724cCPOCd5S2/s640/Marathon1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">From there we headed downtown and parked. The first stop was
visitors center where we found a free guidebook we hadn’t seen before. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next came what we hoped would be the centerpiece for the
morning, the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4099445516970814120" name="_Hlk326267080"></a><a href="http://www.colemantheatre.org/">Coleman
Theater</a>. We entered
the lobby and were greeted by Glen who would give us a tour. The theater was
built by George Coleman who made his fortune in local mining. It opened in 1929
and has been in continuous operation though it has seen some tough times and
near misses with the wrecking ball. He enjoyed theater and frequently traveled
to the big cities to enjoy vaudeville shows. Along the way he decided that he
preferred not to travel as much and tried to bring the big acts to Miami. The
booking agents would not book their acts into a small town theater. Coleman’s
response was to build a theater so grand that they would come. He contracted
the premiere theater builder of the day and requested that a grand theater be
built. It needed to be ready in a year, it was done in 360 days.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VStpjtkw4GqThCLtgDYY6i767AfwsZgLyFb6Q2gUcFmIqWbMtwxLDHs5CWVRRNyY9_wO8kdpH7n5kX2BtinYxgwlHUM_I7I7kA_SflFVAc_LBci8TJMr6Po-Q6t4bxPoL1RI-JnRzPWX/s1600/StreetShot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VStpjtkw4GqThCLtgDYY6i767AfwsZgLyFb6Q2gUcFmIqWbMtwxLDHs5CWVRRNyY9_wO8kdpH7n5kX2BtinYxgwlHUM_I7I7kA_SflFVAc_LBci8TJMr6Po-Q6t4bxPoL1RI-JnRzPWX/s640/StreetShot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It went from vaudeville to silent movies to a movie house.
When the changes in route 66 traffic dropped off and demand for a 1600 seat theater
waned it began to fall into disrepair. The roof failed the seats we shot and
the carpet was patched with duct tape. Eventually some in town saw it as a
liability and were working towards demolition. A determined
volunteer group persuaded the city to accept the building as gift from the owner and they went to work.
This effort began about 23 years ago and today it is very much a finish
product.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdmDHKGhRZAO88Q8ql8DDPhRTRSwAEwIlgJ4VNOsAjdDpJ6KJCZ8D3EVbAwBAeIcYyEHplq6RqbOITG3d0x87l-hWGPhCPxGzzEPSFCLeb2IZ1umBCDsjLsbqUqdc_tW25Y3Bke6ZbQ0p/s1600/100_1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdmDHKGhRZAO88Q8ql8DDPhRTRSwAEwIlgJ4VNOsAjdDpJ6KJCZ8D3EVbAwBAeIcYyEHplq6RqbOITG3d0x87l-hWGPhCPxGzzEPSFCLeb2IZ1umBCDsjLsbqUqdc_tW25Y3Bke6ZbQ0p/s640/100_1281.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I wish that I had a tape recorder running as Glen told the
story, he had such passion He told it all based on what he described as
miracles. I probably don’t have them all in order but I’ll try to capture how
it went. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The carpet was shot and they didn’t really know what to
replace it with to get back to the original. They did find a black and white
photograph but they lacked color. Latter as demolition continued a few square
feet were found under some balcony carpet. Eventually they were able to
commission a special run of the pattern. One feature was the Coleman crest of
arms. They did alter it to include a pick and axe to recognize the local
miners.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bEOZO0BpSNJDBbqaZ5kJ-3ZjvBIvh6EWqDmQ-h78fuY9cbBl_pER6bgLaqpw9Vgbb5VUGQ5GrUr6HTicMZ8fGI8VNrYr-5agMRIouC5UP-Zif09C1WhARpEK-0FjtfxrEznPC3TGWzPX/s1600/Carpet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bEOZO0BpSNJDBbqaZ5kJ-3ZjvBIvh6EWqDmQ-h78fuY9cbBl_pER6bgLaqpw9Vgbb5VUGQ5GrUr6HTicMZ8fGI8VNrYr-5agMRIouC5UP-Zif09C1WhARpEK-0FjtfxrEznPC3TGWzPX/s320/Carpet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The theater was built with a massive crystal chandelier with
translucent pannels that diffused multicolor lights. The light was design to be
used as part of the theatrical lighting and was controlled with the stage
lights. The chandelier was gone One day somebody recognized the frame as they
were cleaning out a barn. All of the crystal and panels were missing and the
wiring had deteriorated. In an old file cabinet they found the original specifications
of the Italian company that built it. They contacted the company only to find
out that the panel molds had been scrapped years ago. Some time latter a woman
from away stopped by and recognized the design and provided the name of a US
company that had supplied the panels. Sure enough they did have the mold and
exact replacements could be obtained and new glass was cast. While cleaning up
in the theater attic they found the crystals boxed away. A local electrician
traveled to another theater with a similar light to study the wiring and he
refurbish the Coleman chandelier. His grandfather had originally hung it and
his dad maintained it for years. The chandelier is designed to be lowered to
the theater floor for maintenance. It was a gala event the first time it was
elevated to the top of the theater and publicly re-lit.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG1R4jv85w0f40twIBuX1nb7I2zReJjN2zPre2TpK1ASnddnzf9z8CuOB6lvWe6bQPj8Xb-bHcAdEDw4y-cTQdIWIPMcclPkBCT61gK3nymiLKuIvNPya0XgxtBtBXaQgPOget1uxejFT/s1600/Chandelier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG1R4jv85w0f40twIBuX1nb7I2zReJjN2zPre2TpK1ASnddnzf9z8CuOB6lvWe6bQPj8Xb-bHcAdEDw4y-cTQdIWIPMcclPkBCT61gK3nymiLKuIvNPya0XgxtBtBXaQgPOget1uxejFT/s640/Chandelier.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The seats were shot. More documents were found and the
original US builder located, still in business. They were able to build the
seats and even the molds for the ornate end panels were found. They did make
the seats 2 inches wider than the originals as theater goers have grown in
size. The cost was monumental so the seats were sold to resident. People from
all over the region ponied up to make it a success. Some have the typical name plaques,
others are are personal like first date, first kiss, Will you marry me and Yes!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xW5Ht5YY6lzfU4M3KRxvUMnYYrsQAzOWUw768iq3XkIH-5JJuL4loMyBHAPIhGhwtI3I9-BloE5_3hj7vRFHcBWPbOwUa24L0OQZKyiRBF4CQV7dyKmArM2JaV3DjUxNP0NsN-_22xJ8/s1600/Seats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xW5Ht5YY6lzfU4M3KRxvUMnYYrsQAzOWUw768iq3XkIH-5JJuL4loMyBHAPIhGhwtI3I9-BloE5_3hj7vRFHcBWPbOwUa24L0OQZKyiRBF4CQV7dyKmArM2JaV3DjUxNP0NsN-_22xJ8/s400/Seats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The massive Wurlitzer theater organ was gone. Eventually it
was found stored away in a barn. It was available for $100,000. and fund
raising began. Another offer was made for $400,000. But the seller honored the
interest of the Coleman Theater wanting it restored to its original venue. Glen
played a few notes and then let it play a prerecorded song, the sound was
amazing, I have always wanted to hear one of these. When refurbished the
connection between the console and pipes was made electrical. As such the
signals can be recorded and any performance can be recreated. I bought a CD recorded in the theater and
look forward to cranking it up at home.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBPviOF_S3j-8iqjKfvxadAiGE0WX0uPlgHyn_p0XkLSeYZweQeNRYg3Y-fhIVH6pScdFvDkNjFJi8vJQ1bSjffI8vHhnQvfPKBAbzMr7uIm65BiuUpxEsJA_-2XTnoGNdLzB_IeEgDZU/s1600/100_1268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBPviOF_S3j-8iqjKfvxadAiGE0WX0uPlgHyn_p0XkLSeYZweQeNRYg3Y-fhIVH6pScdFvDkNjFJi8vJQ1bSjffI8vHhnQvfPKBAbzMr7uIm65BiuUpxEsJA_-2XTnoGNdLzB_IeEgDZU/s640/100_1268.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> While on stage Glen snapped a photo of
us standing in front of an original stage backdrop.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFU3c1HofqfhjAwBR4c8URY3Br89bmnF2flCdUnkBIlYn2c6V6xPtqCEQ4BtmWCfqwPvHnVbLjx2ZENGuUDIPNFN8deHRSC6bixuN8D4hGMhfNf6OjDx9f76r5WaXdhTcCE810lTMpedhv/s1600/100_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFU3c1HofqfhjAwBR4c8URY3Br89bmnF2flCdUnkBIlYn2c6V6xPtqCEQ4BtmWCfqwPvHnVbLjx2ZENGuUDIPNFN8deHRSC6bixuN8D4hGMhfNf6OjDx9f76r5WaXdhTcCE810lTMpedhv/s320/100_1257.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I have to say that hearing the sound that can come from what
is in effect a machine puts the machines I work with in perspective. I have at
times wondered what it would be like to create equipment that an artist can
make music with or amusements like a Tilta-A Whirl or Scrambler that give joy generations
latter. It’s sort of sad to think that your work’s value is tied to a product
life cycle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I think there were a few more details where the restoration
of seemingly lost details of the theater became reality like all of the stained
glass lighting panels that were found scattered in barns, attics and yard sales. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We got to tour the dressing rooms used by Bob Hope, Bing
Crosby, John Wayne, the 3 Stooges, Blackstone the magician and many many more
celebrities. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On the opposite side of the stage is a massive original
switch panel used to control all of the lighting. It’s all original and tack
sharp.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOb7M8yCdCTSYfYWhkpy9KDe3lB9nGNea6OE1YGYhA9oVf13aGfqQiQN_UX8FNYDl1JZRe7ny_PuyRjcosXFvsbPXPTtYsTKYIDNA7p8u3QiutcDKrCPLiwGNyuQBtgpHUOGKsn7KYVvQ/s1600/100_1266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOb7M8yCdCTSYfYWhkpy9KDe3lB9nGNea6OE1YGYhA9oVf13aGfqQiQN_UX8FNYDl1JZRe7ny_PuyRjcosXFvsbPXPTtYsTKYIDNA7p8u3QiutcDKrCPLiwGNyuQBtgpHUOGKsn7KYVvQ/s640/100_1266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Nearby is rope and counterweight system to control all of the curtains and props. A broad
array of ropes and counter weights are arranged to make the stage function. The
theater was the first building around to have air conditioning, actually called
refrigerated air. In the Dust Bowl period if you had a dime you could go to the
Coleman to see a movie and cool off.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHAqlYaoMpGLxmcI9DulbhJvGQsSarIjUUMF9Bgy6XSC1c8VI8Mt32TLaB_opJ-c3dgaC6evN2shQNO-MYXdwf95ufQvTrB6JPBkmG_n5A8lIucdDtSMEPixDYOW1Gaeb7UvCCwpQ6mjw/s1600/100_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHAqlYaoMpGLxmcI9DulbhJvGQsSarIjUUMF9Bgy6XSC1c8VI8Mt32TLaB_opJ-c3dgaC6evN2shQNO-MYXdwf95ufQvTrB6JPBkmG_n5A8lIucdDtSMEPixDYOW1Gaeb7UvCCwpQ6mjw/s640/100_1265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Glen left us to explore the place taking pictures. When done
downstairs we went to the balcony and took shots from there. There isn’t a bad
seat in the house. The balcony seating is equal to the main floor. The back
wall of the balcony extends farther back.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-E78FJTUXe9NOw2ieseu-VWOLmeJHUBSSfMnXpQ_RY0kpfSMlFN0gi8lK8cRKSCyb9hBGanXjbFOOQqO37_2zg_NrP1FvAem949jMvBruRIXWeqdBrN8WJXBkEBrUpSAszLv-0nkGsXHI/s1600/100_1289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-E78FJTUXe9NOw2ieseu-VWOLmeJHUBSSfMnXpQ_RY0kpfSMlFN0gi8lK8cRKSCyb9hBGanXjbFOOQqO37_2zg_NrP1FvAem949jMvBruRIXWeqdBrN8WJXBkEBrUpSAszLv-0nkGsXHI/s640/100_1289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We were also encouraged to explore the ballroom. This space
had not been finished originally. The volunteers have done it all creating an
elegant function space on the second floor with it’s own entrance lobby.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFj2Sda901oMhaf8IvT3DgyQRMlCDJCRu99LrXyyCx5iW3B0HutVjr9a67_TM3Tuv0GNHOgFO5D7De6951oXQ-e-mootdpnn3yowdhNXhNidPbj16s0dpqFXazBqVobx_YMcbcetN9YcrG/s1600/100_1296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFj2Sda901oMhaf8IvT3DgyQRMlCDJCRu99LrXyyCx5iW3B0HutVjr9a67_TM3Tuv0GNHOgFO5D7De6951oXQ-e-mootdpnn3yowdhNXhNidPbj16s0dpqFXazBqVobx_YMcbcetN9YcrG/s640/100_1296.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After that we worked our way to the lobby taking pictures and
finally getting some souvenirs. The theater and story behind it were beyond my
wildest dreams. Pretty cool for a little town like Miami, Oklahoma.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1c8M282jUuMQKZ2a5kLv9dSu1BkDQ1WqKQP32XSDBPbXvjQ4qZGtZtYXRfhG9SBTAHjQGAj5FAAO8wlODYFLjCrh_otfxvivrdiByqql1Y898E50LF4DT5vq5nOS51sJH8VPbLKDDzDe9/s1600/100_1284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1c8M282jUuMQKZ2a5kLv9dSu1BkDQ1WqKQP32XSDBPbXvjQ4qZGtZtYXRfhG9SBTAHjQGAj5FAAO8wlODYFLjCrh_otfxvivrdiByqql1Y898E50LF4DT5vq5nOS51sJH8VPbLKDDzDe9/s640/100_1284.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We walked the main street some more and Lorna checked out a
second hand store, buying more pressed glass. I got a few more interesting pictures.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7t26OhYvVBKaDR6ekO3j2B3SQ0PlGof__ZHwa-FEfXXolDj_yH6e2s32PcMNjUXwGdZ0tsRjJQiJY2POtZEl4SUXTWZgF_yM__y2iWdMqWEKlGy5A9ZTRWVBgsG38AeM_xTdTZxnSXQE/s1600/100_1320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7t26OhYvVBKaDR6ekO3j2B3SQ0PlGof__ZHwa-FEfXXolDj_yH6e2s32PcMNjUXwGdZ0tsRjJQiJY2POtZEl4SUXTWZgF_yM__y2iWdMqWEKlGy5A9ZTRWVBgsG38AeM_xTdTZxnSXQE/s400/100_1320.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">For lunch we went to Waylans, The Ku Ku. With it’s 1965 neon sign it’s a route 66
institution. Built to look like a Ku Ku clock complete with the bird out to
chirp it’s the sole survivor of an 200 restaurant chain. It’s a burger stand
with the onion petals being most memorable.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MjAS5o24Ls9kEZ6j8CwpzOqEji4YrxIutZxGrB68r-1hUqYsDpzaoOOTjnaCjizwfm58do6PnOZH0zufs_KSOFSyj2oMG9f1WADVVv_Y77inyhWFR_mDXmPvy8aUVlDmGCu44wFlngMK/s1600/KuKu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MjAS5o24Ls9kEZ6j8CwpzOqEji4YrxIutZxGrB68r-1hUqYsDpzaoOOTjnaCjizwfm58do6PnOZH0zufs_KSOFSyj2oMG9f1WADVVv_Y77inyhWFR_mDXmPvy8aUVlDmGCu44wFlngMK/s640/KuKu.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQEhW5MzpUDXJVhA4gZ7aZZPHa2sNhgv7Gm38cX8rOww9yXU90e0klol_RBCJMKWvHDlM5whA32A-D2EfSnlWBlW1eY8rko8QGWNeo12ehcDYoHgjB_aPax6ayLSfN542yFn02P9JVLFX/s1600/100_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQEhW5MzpUDXJVhA4gZ7aZZPHa2sNhgv7Gm38cX8rOww9yXU90e0klol_RBCJMKWvHDlM5whA32A-D2EfSnlWBlW1eY8rko8QGWNeo12ehcDYoHgjB_aPax6ayLSfN542yFn02P9JVLFX/s400/100_1333.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Glen from the Coleman Theatre mentioned that if you look at
the marathon station’s side walls you can see the image of the marathon runner.
We went back and there it as, almost like a watermark.We also noticed that the bricks have a glazed ceramic like surface.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrM7GJHjZrD3Nkhz0hPlIggoxPw6K5XH2a8gqlMCcr_B7FQ1CDyGIhCtJcWrjML1Pwu2fxk3J-PhL9Z4LxswCXYkw1JU0wnioYqxmYA6DI8Phc87JOiaAUh5LpCuK2OGP6uNm46IeQqOZ/s1600/100_1323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrM7GJHjZrD3Nkhz0hPlIggoxPw6K5XH2a8gqlMCcr_B7FQ1CDyGIhCtJcWrjML1Pwu2fxk3J-PhL9Z4LxswCXYkw1JU0wnioYqxmYA6DI8Phc87JOiaAUh5LpCuK2OGP6uNm46IeQqOZ/s640/100_1323.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After lunch we went to the outskirts of town to find sections
of the original 9 foot wide roadway. The
builders only got ½ of the requested money so they only built half the road as
the legend goes. It’s wide enough for one vehicle and wide shoulders let
vehicles get past each other. It was known as the sidewalk Highway and was
replaced by a future alignment. In other areas it was expanded.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb53bGjRzEebACVGOEDU4v2reQdWBDQZmJassZB8RK529XeDUX-rTi0rHhNPo2wOVMgXACuccU9vSn1Woyuim9aEX22T1nIXLLTZMYxOO6X3wgmAqKyLR9MGbI7CsPHtB7niA1YB-xNT2x/s1600/100_1348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb53bGjRzEebACVGOEDU4v2reQdWBDQZmJassZB8RK529XeDUX-rTi0rHhNPo2wOVMgXACuccU9vSn1Woyuim9aEX22T1nIXLLTZMYxOO6X3wgmAqKyLR9MGbI7CsPHtB7niA1YB-xNT2x/s640/100_1348.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlbjiwS2R2I0xOK0o47yBtiUo3aVVu9zQtxu6M4dpze0BKJL0wAtUHA2HZM-UEeyDHAeiloHiiZPSoRbUUkXS8XhiY-ZiSXaPRBfEMSLxxeoMLRm6iriWc_RG-CSeFc2BP5UmxxFE-lIc/s1600/9foot66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlbjiwS2R2I0xOK0o47yBtiUo3aVVu9zQtxu6M4dpze0BKJL0wAtUHA2HZM-UEeyDHAeiloHiiZPSoRbUUkXS8XhiY-ZiSXaPRBfEMSLxxeoMLRm6iriWc_RG-CSeFc2BP5UmxxFE-lIc/s640/9foot66.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The town of Afton is where we went to visit the Buffalo
Ranch. Originally a roadside attraction it is now a truck stop & convenience
store. As part of the reconstruction they did build a new buffalo pen with 6-8
animals grazing.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzXMJpNHHZ9YjglrgGB3LZJPqNLAXm8cOOD1AkAqwCGuE3Pf5pFaGVjuEV4BjFzZ9ww7CkoHdh3kanvoSu_mKm55BruJxB8Ck6ca8YzeYm8uh3EDiWmiCKCG_TnfqyzVl8kM3M58epNRk/s1600/buffalo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzXMJpNHHZ9YjglrgGB3LZJPqNLAXm8cOOD1AkAqwCGuE3Pf5pFaGVjuEV4BjFzZ9ww7CkoHdh3kanvoSu_mKm55BruJxB8Ck6ca8YzeYm8uh3EDiWmiCKCG_TnfqyzVl8kM3M58epNRk/s640/buffalo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGE5CYprwMfkE1pVKik_zNnXlWzGqBYX7DmC03yhpzUSWXIvjTU5a-M_pewzg7iYeQ5BaqVEUeuAFN4eMybZxpsffOaDu-v1P6dPWuWBDi5y5KZ5Wgcpkem6DfEhr4mQUbclmD1YPKp-5/s1600/buffalo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGE5CYprwMfkE1pVKik_zNnXlWzGqBYX7DmC03yhpzUSWXIvjTU5a-M_pewzg7iYeQ5BaqVEUeuAFN4eMybZxpsffOaDu-v1P6dPWuWBDi5y5KZ5Wgcpkem6DfEhr4mQUbclmD1YPKp-5/s640/buffalo1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> While on that corner I got pictures of the Route 66 Motel and
Lorna check out a resale store, no pressed glass this time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In what I guess is down town Afton we found the remains of the
Palmer Hotel and the Rest Haven Motel. In the neighborhood was the Eagle DX Service
Station and Packard museum. The restored filling station and car building façade
make it all look like a vintage dealership. The 1917 motor home was especially
nice. It’s undergoing restoration and ready looks great nice. I really liked blue and
white 1955. The galvanized Quonset hut with spray foam insulation is an interesting idea. Phil was informative and nice to talk with. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NQAFwLtm3_N8EVqB7LkuhtDs8tzbSGEpdrVI_TBqlnRePb-EeXPpiUfKPRN9RY2xKB0ofvoIeYw5LLqHLTA1A5d4FRHcmZot-UEwAfiQ6SE-qijX0LQWJ5gXZhAJ45no10uMh4c1SLfU/s1600/100_1374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NQAFwLtm3_N8EVqB7LkuhtDs8tzbSGEpdrVI_TBqlnRePb-EeXPpiUfKPRN9RY2xKB0ofvoIeYw5LLqHLTA1A5d4FRHcmZot-UEwAfiQ6SE-qijX0LQWJ5gXZhAJ45no10uMh4c1SLfU/s640/100_1374.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Leaving Afton we found the remains of the Gray Rock Station
and Avon Motel. Latter we came upon a WalMart and got some packing supplies. It’s
getting time to start shipping souvenir purchases home while we have room in
the Jeep. By the way, did I mention that the Jeep Liberty we got is a virgin? It
was brand new when we got it but over 1000 miles now.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Vinita we found the McDougal Filling station. Presently it’s
a perfectly restored stone building but it is not equipped or signed.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhR2ltcP62ocaO64fTNR3Vgxw2m6vfMwdDFryjd8Ze5evKKvYHN7ze0qLAGxDpzhLWsk0IB5h4VF6X-DD84FmCH4is7mSj0KlmkcTSQJh9769vyePebeZ6Nd68CpLC_TI7vCXUxPTO47z/s1600/100_1406+McDougal+Filling+Station.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhR2ltcP62ocaO64fTNR3Vgxw2m6vfMwdDFryjd8Ze5evKKvYHN7ze0qLAGxDpzhLWsk0IB5h4VF6X-DD84FmCH4is7mSj0KlmkcTSQJh9769vyePebeZ6Nd68CpLC_TI7vCXUxPTO47z/s640/100_1406+McDougal+Filling+Station.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The
little Cabin Creek Bridge has been bypassed but remains open to pedestrian
traffic. Finished in 1935 it is of the
Parker Pony Truss design. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2fwSVU-xmcSaiz7okPWX0WlUBUcIEccBpt_YksmxLE-QVp7iokIW2B7nXXDLwBMHQFHUP6edlEXS6_66NaGk5dfoSsIqFakrYxjYcIox9n39aH7dGes0M-E7Mz-bruYHq-SHpnkIs6sa/s1600/100_1409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2fwSVU-xmcSaiz7okPWX0WlUBUcIEccBpt_YksmxLE-QVp7iokIW2B7nXXDLwBMHQFHUP6edlEXS6_66NaGk5dfoSsIqFakrYxjYcIox9n39aH7dGes0M-E7Mz-bruYHq-SHpnkIs6sa/s640/100_1409.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Up the road in Vinita we found Clantons Café. They have been
serving locals and motorists since 1927. We stopped for a slice of pie late in
the afternoon knowing dinner would be late. They had a signed poster from Guy Fieri
after the did a Diners, Drive-ins and Dives segment. The place was small town
perfect in every way. The pies, chocolate cream for me and lemon meringue for
Lorna went down well and at $2.49 a
slice seemed like a bargain.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss-PsZ5rILAtnaU1L94k4ffhA82Ljyz-9JtyvUKS0HgauSfvB013xP6JhmlXISvScUBKZx_SVaxg8Mu2X-GHPIO3vycGr4pUhogEgCijv-ygYTTC9XX11dnRYCl1wsNAt7SMPpchWJMRA/s1600/clantons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss-PsZ5rILAtnaU1L94k4ffhA82Ljyz-9JtyvUKS0HgauSfvB013xP6JhmlXISvScUBKZx_SVaxg8Mu2X-GHPIO3vycGr4pUhogEgCijv-ygYTTC9XX11dnRYCl1wsNAt7SMPpchWJMRA/s640/clantons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Leaving town we checked out a nice mural of a railway scene,
The Route 66 Inn at Vinita, the Hi-Way Café sign and the Western Motel. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Chelsea was the next stop and it was a corker. We started at
the 1926 Pryor Creek bridge, 19 feet wide, 123 feet long and it’s a modified
Pratt though truss design. It is the last remaining example.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mlN9jOc8DdM9Ib3hvKrC46-OsBxO2CW4jWPJEYB-_G-ecKsbXKk-0td4Yj9CWAN08jThOc0BooD_ZSqVfWAnK-vegdAQO6tpGbkyjaQYyxN8hc94HdHkpaE22pyhuUBh_1g9Oamv3b2t/s1600/100_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mlN9jOc8DdM9Ib3hvKrC46-OsBxO2CW4jWPJEYB-_G-ecKsbXKk-0td4Yj9CWAN08jThOc0BooD_ZSqVfWAnK-vegdAQO6tpGbkyjaQYyxN8hc94HdHkpaE22pyhuUBh_1g9Oamv3b2t/s640/100_1442.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7IV6l2lke-d2BXgLoG0UCXhwurTr_01m3jNHWgbi0fGBy_YBNgX9A26PxuqhqzBTEr6-F24nA2HpAV8f-f1G6ybyrmlDcFRQVThqPG-rQxuhgXjGY9dLyiZU4fr84XykNJ0s49ViCguA/s1600/100_1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7IV6l2lke-d2BXgLoG0UCXhwurTr_01m3jNHWgbi0fGBy_YBNgX9A26PxuqhqzBTEr6-F24nA2HpAV8f-f1G6ybyrmlDcFRQVThqPG-rQxuhgXjGY9dLyiZU4fr84XykNJ0s49ViCguA/s640/100_1439.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> After getting a picture
of us standing on the bridge and getting all of the bridge shots Lorna noticed
something in the creek below. Nearly a dozen turtles of various sizes (6-12
inch) were paddling around down there. We watched, snapped some pictures and
shot some video. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mawql-h-yDg&feature=plcp" target="_blank">See the video.</a></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHMzaTLrK0k6OpHBOawF-1wtQJD15cgCwfuDwvI7O_V-wf49eLjXw84IeJxGEfkuR39CfOxqe8kr5v9yiIoAT2PatpRB5S3MRCsPVk_oU-_-etUjZVeLp-4g-GM6cVAhR2ycBSHmuGBp9/s1600/100_1438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHMzaTLrK0k6OpHBOawF-1wtQJD15cgCwfuDwvI7O_V-wf49eLjXw84IeJxGEfkuR39CfOxqe8kr5v9yiIoAT2PatpRB5S3MRCsPVk_oU-_-etUjZVeLp-4g-GM6cVAhR2ycBSHmuGBp9/s640/100_1438.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Down the road we found the Chelsea Motel closed but perhaps
being partly used as a residence. The sign was still standing tall. Here in
Oklahoma we’re not seeing the same giant signs trying to be seen miles in
advance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Ruben’s Route 55 Barbecue was an eclectic place covered in
murals and elsewhere the white block walls were signed by visitors. A bronking bull and cowboy were up front. A suit
of armor and rhino watch the door to the antique mall. Barbecue is served from
a trailer out back.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJuIseXHV56MsXk2JL_h7Hni8SVgptuF0OhFUit5rrzHHDLW2-BxNWeWNrf3E2h3Gi2UCOa-9rpV1gyv7njwqujTHMginOkVnttbMxovmFJrpMI2hm1GG_vs5eCuR-A0L09L3csOwHZRR/s1600/100_1453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJuIseXHV56MsXk2JL_h7Hni8SVgptuF0OhFUit5rrzHHDLW2-BxNWeWNrf3E2h3Gi2UCOa-9rpV1gyv7njwqujTHMginOkVnttbMxovmFJrpMI2hm1GG_vs5eCuR-A0L09L3csOwHZRR/s640/100_1453.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_shHJICD-0Y1lwJ2dLA8qLt6_EFL32rsNuH9i6aIh4nISOOytgwMJaxw9x1aOjlBcjOTm5G16SD6VDSU0ljgd7GoTiwQMO1flplVGSnbS4URSzEFfaIs684GOrOdYzk53mupE1M60OuR/s1600/100_1452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_shHJICD-0Y1lwJ2dLA8qLt6_EFL32rsNuH9i6aIh4nISOOytgwMJaxw9x1aOjlBcjOTm5G16SD6VDSU0ljgd7GoTiwQMO1flplVGSnbS4URSzEFfaIs684GOrOdYzk53mupE1M60OuR/s640/100_1452.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Chelsea village is a place on hard times with many semi
demolished buildings I took pictures of the Chelsea Inn and Café (closed) sign, some murals and a street paved
in red brick.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PwWEGJN-jkKeTjs14d64EKV_qPLq2a2loKd4WQGvMR53fMOr4t3aA3-8OoC7bkiOg0cBRG3CYC1ayJoA21fFuhyDcY59-XtbhWoNL4We6cl7bE37QjxylUwVHOue2Vcm6ReAP0D5dFOm/s1600/100_1460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PwWEGJN-jkKeTjs14d64EKV_qPLq2a2loKd4WQGvMR53fMOr4t3aA3-8OoC7bkiOg0cBRG3CYC1ayJoA21fFuhyDcY59-XtbhWoNL4We6cl7bE37QjxylUwVHOue2Vcm6ReAP0D5dFOm/s640/100_1460.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYyDCTpB2QcDJfKeDLM5bBKQEBH8i6Id-j-_nIyzcxL1PAPcqMSBEFsb2YMWX42UpQch71oQ-V2mkqLXbMdTaeePbMz4UMnoLH8YmVL3Wm1f-kOepoQIeQtrM0-iZyVcLlSIKnAiF_SAn/s1600/100_1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYyDCTpB2QcDJfKeDLM5bBKQEBH8i6Id-j-_nIyzcxL1PAPcqMSBEFsb2YMWX42UpQch71oQ-V2mkqLXbMdTaeePbMz4UMnoLH8YmVL3Wm1f-kOepoQIeQtrM0-iZyVcLlSIKnAiF_SAn/s640/100_1461.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAIz-dB5FJ-dGgtTtGnuzWLSlZqFYxvbkwxP99FfbRcZXyKfxNGIjloUOmJBpZumFA4DuJS4RW2F5jmWTNW7cx2hJ4l8wo7rNLN-8UzFjQvRFN6E7Ixgv5i9qCYg4VAr7cpNPY_CmLeoi/s1600/100_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAIz-dB5FJ-dGgtTtGnuzWLSlZqFYxvbkwxP99FfbRcZXyKfxNGIjloUOmJBpZumFA4DuJS4RW2F5jmWTNW7cx2hJ4l8wo7rNLN-8UzFjQvRFN6E7Ixgv5i9qCYg4VAr7cpNPY_CmLeoi/s640/100_1462.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Lorna checked out a resale store and found a few pieces of
pressed glass. Leaving the village we went looking for a 1913 Sears Roebuck catalog house. We found the
intersection but could not agree which of the 4 homes was the one of interest. We heard a train going by and looked up to see
it was the Barnum & Bailey circus train, we got a few snapshots as it
rolled by.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF79yN_1EzHMv5ubFYjMkJ9sGkNr41yIBShvwA0xTUsruxA8MgoF0lM7cAtrFOAa1niTpHfkzZ9QNR0gysVgo2QUmp_aMC_s-Gxn7_Y35WDycCelBd9VloUmtbRTdhJROEh0gGH0BSyRe/s1600/100_1466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF79yN_1EzHMv5ubFYjMkJ9sGkNr41yIBShvwA0xTUsruxA8MgoF0lM7cAtrFOAa1niTpHfkzZ9QNR0gysVgo2QUmp_aMC_s-Gxn7_Y35WDycCelBd9VloUmtbRTdhJROEh0gGH0BSyRe/s640/100_1466.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As we made our break for the open road Lorna noticed something.
We went to look and it was a pedestrian tunnel that ran under route 66. Apparently
the town had development on each side of the busy highway. We couldn’t resist
crossing back and forth and getting the pictures. The tunnel was lit though daylight alone did
well at that hour. The concrete stairwells are pretty obvious and it’s on the
corner were the Chelsea Pharmacy is.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSdxqsdY8Cc0WcftiKh-SS_D2p5XEh0uNU0ojEhZU9owXXH9KbRJwltgszTfCTKxWmZ-zxCNXTcddYZi4woRNkwWgGgmV9rDTr4abCFfl-kmKmdnShaYCuMxXtCFjuOGsJLJ6V5HyFcM7/s1600/100_1470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSdxqsdY8Cc0WcftiKh-SS_D2p5XEh0uNU0ojEhZU9owXXH9KbRJwltgszTfCTKxWmZ-zxCNXTcddYZi4woRNkwWgGgmV9rDTr4abCFfl-kmKmdnShaYCuMxXtCFjuOGsJLJ6V5HyFcM7/s640/100_1470.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRqeW_an7bnqJ6Zf4zwmA_-9cyRAIePq3vjGEi1XHnu4jZ_hYCT9zR3neZ1BzmJYtjJmqePzI1JsQceVPFA0-9063ldrEAt9wRkQfVsgWO-XFkNcu5XqIb2Imxm2e4uJBmoZZSWJZtCkj/s1600/100_1472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRqeW_an7bnqJ6Zf4zwmA_-9cyRAIePq3vjGEi1XHnu4jZ_hYCT9zR3neZ1BzmJYtjJmqePzI1JsQceVPFA0-9063ldrEAt9wRkQfVsgWO-XFkNcu5XqIb2Imxm2e4uJBmoZZSWJZtCkj/s640/100_1472.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Heading up the road to Foyil we saw a freight train standing
still on a siding and latter another train rolling along. The moving train was
that same circus train and it was going our way. We sped up the highway to get
ahead of it, I pulled over where we had a clear view of the track and got the
camera propped on the hood and rolling just as the train rolled up in front of
us. 30 seconds later it was gone. That was just awesome! See the video!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/_L2sE9yC8p0/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_L2sE9yC8p0&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_L2sE9yC8p0&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next we found the Top Hat Dairy Bar. Sign and building were intact
but closed.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_diNr6ooALuFjyu7UikpDRKf7Mxk9SzAHEdyVgcSYeknFrK5710T8_lRKkvrwnHDqN-n6CHQV1496nMpdmZ0sPc2aND9jdAIADm0danU628j1YURjo6ZzlGHAcUyU2uE8Sw1mdHBVXK2/s1600/Tophat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_diNr6ooALuFjyu7UikpDRKf7Mxk9SzAHEdyVgcSYeknFrK5710T8_lRKkvrwnHDqN-n6CHQV1496nMpdmZ0sPc2aND9jdAIADm0danU628j1YURjo6ZzlGHAcUyU2uE8Sw1mdHBVXK2/s640/Tophat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Then it was up to Totem Pole Park home of the world’s tallest
(concrete) totem pole at 90 feet. The park is loaded with carved and colorfully
painted pieces of Indian symbolism. It
was the work of Ed Galloway from 1937 to 1948. After his death in 1962 the park
had fallen into disrepair. Local organizations have adopted the park, restored
it and continue to maintain these works of art.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Rwx_a296TfT6uCtV4PeOjB2t_W9IAgsIZRpm7SwIBlb-JK0TScjLX1IgtXEFKPVynhkcA4Rfvhk45c8lYZ3ZTFCsAgV-doTymI4nP3uL91o-LnDPfSqsxFPXx3gsnXRyfIEspagix3OF/s1600/100_1490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Rwx_a296TfT6uCtV4PeOjB2t_W9IAgsIZRpm7SwIBlb-JK0TScjLX1IgtXEFKPVynhkcA4Rfvhk45c8lYZ3ZTFCsAgV-doTymI4nP3uL91o-LnDPfSqsxFPXx3gsnXRyfIEspagix3OF/s400/100_1490.JPG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDPQKkFHxDZg-1HhLZU9dE8Krf-WCY2P-DLbHoTHY7ojowcv9VIWruZl4u6MmxuOasMnwpFEKqlQig9E9UEf2SCspKx1800WehqtbRDdV2DCh_GxMoBbRyqS7UpsGcyB0Ir_Xzi38kIli/s1600/100_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDPQKkFHxDZg-1HhLZU9dE8Krf-WCY2P-DLbHoTHY7ojowcv9VIWruZl4u6MmxuOasMnwpFEKqlQig9E9UEf2SCspKx1800WehqtbRDdV2DCh_GxMoBbRyqS7UpsGcyB0Ir_Xzi38kIli/s400/100_1487.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dbTFxKyMoktRd__NYvhaCOuQP7XZxjpkvbVEWzBKaZWNqN6OXx5fBa7AEiIHveNbeUJ0_ZPrlfkfs2mlZW3qakgRBTv__LGynAcRbzeU7nxbA-Qug2qcqECuG-WepyejhNPBO9flOt2g/s1600/100_1492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dbTFxKyMoktRd__NYvhaCOuQP7XZxjpkvbVEWzBKaZWNqN6OXx5fBa7AEiIHveNbeUJ0_ZPrlfkfs2mlZW3qakgRBTv__LGynAcRbzeU7nxbA-Qug2qcqECuG-WepyejhNPBO9flOt2g/s640/100_1492.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1FNnFvITLh6Ye7J8m0thVp71IKgSkpO38dOkLLv1zQa6EEMpQT8eW0xMQuMkHOTqpjgos33RHe41x2kfmUEALfzbAareSoRw5J01UlSY293f3qASwvSJrf5QlE8BniaenSwCDpy0u8A_/s1600/100_1496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1FNnFvITLh6Ye7J8m0thVp71IKgSkpO38dOkLLv1zQa6EEMpQT8eW0xMQuMkHOTqpjgos33RHe41x2kfmUEALfzbAareSoRw5J01UlSY293f3qASwvSJrf5QlE8BniaenSwCDpy0u8A_/s640/100_1496.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Foyil’s hometown hero is Andy Payne. In 1928 he won a
footrace from Los Angeles to New York City to help fund the construction of
route 66. We found a stone monument on a traffic island and a statue down the road in the Andy
Payne Park.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJfsQJKt-BAReHKagMEWtu3jie25APMMJv0I_hfJINstiST-zpArkb3Kt4F_5puzT3KS_vzPhOdj9fGB0qsGOz8mrPfNdXvb6E5mSCaEAl9cmoa572qiWaL8xGd8f6h9a4tp5IE9ar8ZI/s1600/AndyMonument.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJfsQJKt-BAReHKagMEWtu3jie25APMMJv0I_hfJINstiST-zpArkb3Kt4F_5puzT3KS_vzPhOdj9fGB0qsGOz8mrPfNdXvb6E5mSCaEAl9cmoa572qiWaL8xGd8f6h9a4tp5IE9ar8ZI/s400/AndyMonument.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbwdlQpqdiQF8RTs8a0-WGZXZ1vEAVvNCNsqMKQCxg46G01R-oCPF2VEUkunCggj6Y0eP-Hg5QKDGCsKXnDLMjJijpbjh6gMdfil2To2YYr6ZWAqpgKAho5fisXnz_PHy2ogtcxA2Yg4_/s1600/Andy+Statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbwdlQpqdiQF8RTs8a0-WGZXZ1vEAVvNCNsqMKQCxg46G01R-oCPF2VEUkunCggj6Y0eP-Hg5QKDGCsKXnDLMjJijpbjh6gMdfil2To2YYr6ZWAqpgKAho5fisXnz_PHy2ogtcxA2Yg4_/s640/Andy+Statue.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It was a great story to end
the day’s sightseeing with. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Before long
we rolled into Claremore Oklahoma to find our room for the night. The motel had coupons for the Barbecue place
next door so with 8:00 PM coming fast that was real handy. The meal was good
enough but not spectacular. We settled in for the night to sort pictures and
blog. Lorna did some laundry and sorted souvenirs that I will pack in the
morning. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">She came back from doing laundry telling me I have to see the
trucks outside. A delivery drew from Michigan was rolling in with a fleet of about
8 white new heavy load dump trucks they are delivering. These things had the
usual double rear axle. Ahead of those were 3 more STEERING axles that could be
raised when not needed. On the back is a big beefy frame which spans the
tailgate that carries another axle up above the tailgate that can be lowered
behind the truck to increase carrying capacity. They were built on Kenworth chassis.
I went out to get pictures, bizarre!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOdRvi2gNV_QI_VZe_Uc61d_VXxFLT8P00Wmp3twdPaPcDtR_M6AP1eDd6QFEdujkcep5QBM8ia5j2ab7XEsyRDluy-MIk-cqv5_AVLglTJsUdr-juW4iZ4SMRt0MTuwC0n2gmLRkH02y/s1600/Truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOdRvi2gNV_QI_VZe_Uc61d_VXxFLT8P00Wmp3twdPaPcDtR_M6AP1eDd6QFEdujkcep5QBM8ia5j2ab7XEsyRDluy-MIk-cqv5_AVLglTJsUdr-juW4iZ4SMRt0MTuwC0n2gmLRkH02y/s640/Truck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Oklahoma has been very interesting. We have not needed to use any interstate highway, so far 66 is intact. The terrain ranges from flat wide open spaces going as far as I can see to wooded hilly region Fields of cattle are common in some areas. We're seeing grain, corn and hay in the fields. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The people are great and for the most part go out of their way to tell the region's story.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Will Rogers was born in Oologah but called Claremore his home,
tonight we shall do the same.</span></span></div>
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Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-7190885037262251082012-05-30T23:22:00.000-07:002012-07-02T19:15:17.552-07:00Kansas and So Much More<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Wednesday May 30, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This morning’s hotel breakfast was probably the best so far.
When 2 eat well with the price of the room it ends up being a pretty nice
value. Assuming one wants a decent morning meal the least expensive places
become marginal deals. Add in the amenities and condition of the better places
and they win, hands down. Lodging has been running $65 - $90 per night and with
one exception sent us on our way fed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We started out by visiting Precious Moments.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLcZ5w9J9DGRrp1pB5VBU9pYltfcCvAZostd2OfHu0I-tiaJbX2FhkAjxpEMmSlEd-P16Bo7P9lebp2TvOFiuDH_CSUe9EtgNjAwUG3FbFZ6qzEsTFuxzfNYU-4JUrWew78dnAzm_39Gu/s1600/Precious2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLcZ5w9J9DGRrp1pB5VBU9pYltfcCvAZostd2OfHu0I-tiaJbX2FhkAjxpEMmSlEd-P16Bo7P9lebp2TvOFiuDH_CSUe9EtgNjAwUG3FbFZ6qzEsTFuxzfNYU-4JUrWew78dnAzm_39Gu/s640/Precious2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">They are setup
to be a shopper’s destination with tours and plenty to see. Our stop was a
quick one and we were on our way.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00vS2FG6C7vMyzP3zWtlgCePCg5IkmOui-V4x6b6A5bs1IP1owR7-L8B-qTNZXP9X211aWS64xg0vxYUM5CW-3kZOWMaYZHu68lSVzG-KuB4Yi7GQwn3KnSNrw641ftZSu2PL-Er_qCUZ/s1600/Precious1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00vS2FG6C7vMyzP3zWtlgCePCg5IkmOui-V4x6b6A5bs1IP1owR7-L8B-qTNZXP9X211aWS64xg0vxYUM5CW-3kZOWMaYZHu68lSVzG-KuB4Yi7GQwn3KnSNrw641ftZSu2PL-Er_qCUZ/s640/Precious1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The photo count has passed 1500 and I’m now putting more
effort into indexing them as I go. Meanwhile I’m also backtracking with state
and town folders. I am usually able to get an establishing shot but many times
there is no signage to capture, of course the dates and times are in the
properties. I have to say that doing this stuff every night is almost fun as
being out on the road all day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On the way across town on 66 we drove though the Carthage
Municipal Park. The expansive park on rolling land with ample shade trees was
largely built in the 1930’s as part of “The New Deal”. The entry gate stone
work shows July 5, 1937 as the dedication day. There were many stone building
scattered on the grounds including a roller skating rink. Stone post picnic
pavilions and an outdoor pool with a palatial stone cabana building.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyByimeMlzZ6MdG_kHXdkAeCRHIusxz5mY-mvjFgqFqwt2pO3BPoYeXh3dBQ4jldsyWspsF-lESBwTuQ_am0FQlwud7gUkVe23jvtt9bPLs3LrKkY7J5pvtA986QAsEcPyZFwXlotm0fCy/s1600/CarthageCabana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyByimeMlzZ6MdG_kHXdkAeCRHIusxz5mY-mvjFgqFqwt2pO3BPoYeXh3dBQ4jldsyWspsF-lESBwTuQ_am0FQlwud7gUkVe23jvtt9bPLs3LrKkY7J5pvtA986QAsEcPyZFwXlotm0fCy/s640/CarthageCabana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Still in Carthage our next route 66 stop is the Route 66
Drive-in Theater.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzdNfxECYU_u8lI15nQSzBQsDT0_OrZwnUcVNS_EKVKqBJX7mlAJYza-JY01eJ7AMhjNDSX3tK-Jne0p6JkhT8ctQ831X89JSiJrhFO7SEGBjzwEgMEghjLzFqdIcUfBKvVhI39WqSczi/s1600/Drive-in+Screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzdNfxECYU_u8lI15nQSzBQsDT0_OrZwnUcVNS_EKVKqBJX7mlAJYza-JY01eJ7AMhjNDSX3tK-Jne0p6JkhT8ctQ831X89JSiJrhFO7SEGBjzwEgMEghjLzFqdIcUfBKvVhI39WqSczi/s640/Drive-in+Screen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> This place was brought back from being a dump and is tack
sharp. The marquis / sign, screen, glass block art deco ticket booth and the
crushed stone parking area were immaculate. We ran into the owner and
complemented him mentioning Drive-ins are all but gone back home. He confirmed
they are a dying breed. Bring the family, Adults, $7, age 12 and under $3, free
in a car seat. We propped the camera and got a few self-pictures to commemorate
our visit.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtuRN-AKwCzumXfRnZ0Om3YPdjK616c6q0mxPd6nZH9Vp-5mkob7iZ2aIWob-ZNlLnFXkCsJwRdA4K7-Lj6NQGfZbRNcoSQPD4N7K8FSEsINF0iWEvw7uAtk1LgSzF0tyOW-rPLtVGH3W/s1600/Drive-in+Pose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtuRN-AKwCzumXfRnZ0Om3YPdjK616c6q0mxPd6nZH9Vp-5mkob7iZ2aIWob-ZNlLnFXkCsJwRdA4K7-Lj6NQGfZbRNcoSQPD4N7K8FSEsINF0iWEvw7uAtk1LgSzF0tyOW-rPLtVGH3W/s640/Drive-in+Pose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We left Carthage on a nice run of route 66 rolling though the
Missouri countryside. Very rarely do we drive more than 20 minutes between
destinations or points of interest so the driving never really gets to be
tedious. The endpoint this time is was Carterville. Route 66 runs right down the
main street and very little of the area is active. Most buildings are boarded up
or derelict.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXkh_gBqoPmpu5hQ5ZlCWIGNsdW01HGyYADIWUOuuDhyJooLTiHvCltsVNcC2mXfFAQ1VknWIiXmhPzdfjxcuV2rdi6kbGAnqbZJlDEDTXxILLxEQS8wdJRWuyZrmh1s38pA9FCfvlUNn/s1600/100_1009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXkh_gBqoPmpu5hQ5ZlCWIGNsdW01HGyYADIWUOuuDhyJooLTiHvCltsVNcC2mXfFAQ1VknWIiXmhPzdfjxcuV2rdi6kbGAnqbZJlDEDTXxILLxEQS8wdJRWuyZrmh1s38pA9FCfvlUNn/s640/100_1009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On the stretch we stopped at was the “RT 66 Ice Cream Parlor and
Superman Museum”. It’s the tidiest building in sight but is only open late
afternoon / evenings , closed Mondays. Other than a tap room that’s it.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2dvmuwFRHnjP_tf3Hgv_XRbzidb2Kfl-3lfRD2-71Do9R-o9SLB3ZHiPXtSgPDfO_WvvpXRp22vKZBp9Lvl2GKGyoUOB35RHMJadgSBgqazuNVDMy9OdcWUuQY5hnLA-4-LlXI8NUCDY/s1600/100_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2dvmuwFRHnjP_tf3Hgv_XRbzidb2Kfl-3lfRD2-71Do9R-o9SLB3ZHiPXtSgPDfO_WvvpXRp22vKZBp9Lvl2GKGyoUOB35RHMJadgSBgqazuNVDMy9OdcWUuQY5hnLA-4-LlXI8NUCDY/s400/100_1008.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Speaking with folks there is a gasoline station and a few other scattered
businesses. They do have a semi restored trolley car under a nice shed fronting the
main street.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Around the bend in Webb City we stopped into the Chamber of
Commerce, a gleaming former gas station just in time to learn that the lady in
charge would be closing to go to a ribbon cutting at the park. We chatted long
enough to learn where to go and what to do. There is a nice old RT 66 theater getting a
facelift and the main street looked much more vibrant than in the neighboring
town. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl-iURPsWncjcRxU6CPvVJ0tm5kzULRVKabgTtKHtKmRrv-JEdfS82l376YaM6DMe1ifCbKytuPzvp5LSAKSudoydCHf8Xk62AGlCCvsXjtHZf_nrWNHj4a_69ZAFJ9iKisV6Cz1NQsDJ/s1600/WebMain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl-iURPsWncjcRxU6CPvVJ0tm5kzULRVKabgTtKHtKmRrv-JEdfS82l376YaM6DMe1ifCbKytuPzvp5LSAKSudoydCHf8Xk62AGlCCvsXjtHZf_nrWNHj4a_69ZAFJ9iKisV6Cz1NQsDJ/s640/WebMain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The town water tower is lettered “Proudly We Hail” flanked by
American flags.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDvmfOA6j5E2iGKThLS8jEZDlQn8dJoaDF_G90ea3gRH3lGqUd_Td6rOM6EVr9KytO4SEai7ZGGKhQE7AARjachOM4GBzO4SdnnprXhVOnRmiPwewHyx8Rj5bJ8-7ss0Os_ePCGigGNJs/s1600/WebbWater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDvmfOA6j5E2iGKThLS8jEZDlQn8dJoaDF_G90ea3gRH3lGqUd_Td6rOM6EVr9KytO4SEai7ZGGKhQE7AARjachOM4GBzO4SdnnprXhVOnRmiPwewHyx8Rj5bJ8-7ss0Os_ePCGigGNJs/s640/WebbWater.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> We got a good shot of the tower as well as the giant Hands in
Prayer, World in Peace “statue”. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjc_V2KhW0urfzT_FRvZM3bjP51wypIBG_jstpHJ0c4AHuoTDRA6zKWWuwJqIBcmSo0PkP94VsNXOSn2brwO1bFF9xz6HvdUZGj5EGNS4fdL2-iLWKroL8zSSxBp5MwUPfXnax5xDzGpP/s1600/WebbHands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjc_V2KhW0urfzT_FRvZM3bjP51wypIBG_jstpHJ0c4AHuoTDRA6zKWWuwJqIBcmSo0PkP94VsNXOSn2brwO1bFF9xz6HvdUZGj5EGNS4fdL2-iLWKroL8zSSxBp5MwUPfXnax5xDzGpP/s640/WebbHands.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> From
there we went to the park in time to witness and photograph the ribbon cutting
of the station building to go with their car #60 of the Empire County Line
Trolley. They have some track running from the stataion but I don’t know how
much. I think she mentioned running the car but there is no overhead wire so
they must have repowered the car.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJhZY9VDugBw7cueU_O0gtleIjrl3ocKdxRSoNVFjZOJIjyf0xz0Ei3q3fl5K6lt0KK2ubZkVbfmSWdem2suIx7NZXI1dZ1DsY35R3V-S8iYasLwyg-XeEFnu8nzrY1joE-FqUJDyb7Cl/s1600/100_1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJhZY9VDugBw7cueU_O0gtleIjrl3ocKdxRSoNVFjZOJIjyf0xz0Ei3q3fl5K6lt0KK2ubZkVbfmSWdem2suIx7NZXI1dZ1DsY35R3V-S8iYasLwyg-XeEFnu8nzrY1joE-FqUJDyb7Cl/s640/100_1038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Also in the park is “The Kneeling Miner”
monument, created in bronze it immortalizes the hard work of the miner.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-znaLUjg7qHa1P9Mva727Ih2HFZ1tyfDXv4sHVgMBfXXhYe07cjSlHG8njHXyhBdUeForXtjGbAGZbLJJaqkawHMtDaLvYKrscm1NQr2Sb7cf4_bQEpF12L1KoouEahsK81s3wiakHNpa/s1600/100_1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-znaLUjg7qHa1P9Mva727Ih2HFZ1tyfDXv4sHVgMBfXXhYe07cjSlHG8njHXyhBdUeForXtjGbAGZbLJJaqkawHMtDaLvYKrscm1NQr2Sb7cf4_bQEpF12L1KoouEahsK81s3wiakHNpa/s640/100_1027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This
town and Carterville were largely built on mining lead and zinc. This went into
decline after WWII. Web City has managed to build an industrial base but the
effects of the reduced RT 66 traffic can still be seen. Probably to their benefit
I-44 does not run directly along the mother road here so local traffic does
remain on local streets.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The next stop was Joplin, MO. This is the most significant
city we have seen in a while. We spotted one big lot where hundreds of relief
housing units had been set-up after the 2011 tornado strike. It seemed to be a
ghost village hopefully meaning folks made it back to traditional housing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery did catch our eye. In this
region headstones are rare. Generally graves are marked with the flush to the
ground foot stones. As John back in Graystone Heights mentioned yesterday the
tradition in these parts is to mark graves with silk flowers lasting well
beyond Memorial Day. It was quite a sign to see the rolling fields of colorful,
often silk flowers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> We found Babe’s
Drive-in, a hamburger joint home of the Chubby Cheese (a double cheeseburger)
we settled for singles and sampled the onion rings and fries, all pretty good.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWSJV7GXQxqisC-aqfqa13N94E0ENH1-3si3uWszWIBrbLvUbSv8AtSJAvLIMKQ4PYGB1YTqPbuSyhwoiAueYvKh4lS0BUK68SxYt_tTZg38oLOGbYEN0sspZlzRw5fdJD1UMDelMs1VX/s1600/Babe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWSJV7GXQxqisC-aqfqa13N94E0ENH1-3si3uWszWIBrbLvUbSv8AtSJAvLIMKQ4PYGB1YTqPbuSyhwoiAueYvKh4lS0BUK68SxYt_tTZg38oLOGbYEN0sspZlzRw5fdJD1UMDelMs1VX/s640/Babe1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The patties were nice fresh meat and the buns were uncommonly large in
diameter without being tall and thick. There was plenty of neon, inside and out
and a crew that worked like a well-oiled machine.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtydE-gCqr7veWzpc8u_akQGGb3NDeKWaTWAMGs2gA_VLb3_1F2j8ygq-rv3J-jWOmVKt8Biz0QCNFbO2Q4JTHBvDfg8xesyOAvLA3JvDAQezOuv771EqcEM27W1bVZ3z71zvPIPURBCQ/s1600/Babe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtydE-gCqr7veWzpc8u_akQGGb3NDeKWaTWAMGs2gA_VLb3_1F2j8ygq-rv3J-jWOmVKt8Biz0QCNFbO2Q4JTHBvDfg8xesyOAvLA3JvDAQezOuv771EqcEM27W1bVZ3z71zvPIPURBCQ/s640/Babe2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Around town we found a number
of attractions gone or repurposed and some other interesting sites that don’t
warrant mention. After lunch it was time to drive on to Kansas.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lppfkNV-zEhBI9sef9iL8199JY4mdpYSoQ8dolWYUQF1RQ-J48kfjYnVK2NkVcbhDM0loGYjgBSQy8alFGUMgrqTq0P-5QoFLfAoiP0_iXCFwpr_GEgxJaOS5R-vRdMXivrQKiFC4uyc/s1600/Welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lppfkNV-zEhBI9sef9iL8199JY4mdpYSoQ8dolWYUQF1RQ-J48kfjYnVK2NkVcbhDM0loGYjgBSQy8alFGUMgrqTq0P-5QoFLfAoiP0_iXCFwpr_GEgxJaOS5R-vRdMXivrQKiFC4uyc/s400/Welcome.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Kansas can only claim 13 miles of route 66 but the good news
is that the interstate is nowhere near it. After crossing a very small creek
bridge we left Missouri behind, the road became smaller and more rustic. The RT
66 shields are painted in both lanes frequently in most areas. The route 66
signing was very consistent through the state.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDweN0lDsHowXRxkkZ_K-chmIzq4hGmOBU2tncJok1xjklphyVqxWxTRoRYPkUHZcm3ggd0Dx2M5EDiP-YjzjXO-rTg9G4sbViz7zsNp_Il_Vax9wifLpT3AmVBS5H6BMR47TyEJComFot/s1600/100_1114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDweN0lDsHowXRxkkZ_K-chmIzq4hGmOBU2tncJok1xjklphyVqxWxTRoRYPkUHZcm3ggd0Dx2M5EDiP-YjzjXO-rTg9G4sbViz7zsNp_Il_Vax9wifLpT3AmVBS5H6BMR47TyEJComFot/s400/100_1114.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Galena is the first place you roll into. After crossing a 215
foot 1923 viaduct that spans railroad track and lowlands you head to the
village.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJK-fmftLwRymXH5guIZf7eyyq3jrfIAhyphenhyphengZ8HGvZDBGqYL7VMIPTBENsQkgruzeISHSua4BJ2qLR6SNnTBmpZx_XrReIZ1q5PkXxHq593g25J9nd9g1zohFlgSwhh6JZVUA-GhztxaEo/s1600/Viaduct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJK-fmftLwRymXH5guIZf7eyyq3jrfIAhyphenhyphengZ8HGvZDBGqYL7VMIPTBENsQkgruzeISHSua4BJ2qLR6SNnTBmpZx_XrReIZ1q5PkXxHq593g25J9nd9g1zohFlgSwhh6JZVUA-GhztxaEo/s640/Viaduct.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The land here is been worked hard with mining and what looked like a
rubbish landfill, frankly the first views of the route here are not too
attractive. As you round the corner to North Main Street you come to <a href="http://www.kansastravel.org/4womenontheroute.htm">4 Women on the Route</a>
a restored Kan-O-Tex gas station.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75BaT0VHw7B-cb6xaQFsAyvVWRs6sXGZn0p0lUpKCozD_bqDy7ie0SdVY8gBsTgu4eE2Tga1NcuDIqrK4uRhapyKCYmg3MfJFg8hR7ZPOQUPaQUJTS5DSm5eL_ausf0GI3lWmu02eJrF6/s1600/100_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75BaT0VHw7B-cb6xaQFsAyvVWRs6sXGZn0p0lUpKCozD_bqDy7ie0SdVY8gBsTgu4eE2Tga1NcuDIqrK4uRhapyKCYmg3MfJFg8hR7ZPOQUPaQUJTS5DSm5eL_ausf0GI3lWmu02eJrF6/s640/100_1090.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There’s the usual gas pumps, oil cans and
fuel station accouterments but the story gets better. We walked in and Melba
Rigg the self-proclaimed spokeswoman, A.KA. “the Mouth” and person on duty
launched into the story of what has been going on. Starting with the
restoration we soon learned that the rusty old tow truck out front was the
inspiration for Tow Matter in the movie Cars. Not only that but the building
inspired one in Radiator Springs. Some local fading painted wall signs led to
similar features in the” Cars” movies. She tells all of this as she flips
through a scrap book documenting the whole saga and was real peach to spend
time with. After getting some souvenirs and gifts and posing for pictures in
“the truck”, they call him Tow Tater to avoid copyright conflicts we were off
to explore the town. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETzhKrWzExdyVoVK6FHCEyOZ7pX3f7QzDPDV4V1YK-bQn3drEeCFFHPzUuksfsH2uSL12EvWbODxJMbYGm-3QfqrtHWwJN_55Yq5n-7CvO52MDynOTbzPDOrc_b3gO7njyJ0HZm7uDp0i/s1600/100_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETzhKrWzExdyVoVK6FHCEyOZ7pX3f7QzDPDV4V1YK-bQn3drEeCFFHPzUuksfsH2uSL12EvWbODxJMbYGm-3QfqrtHWwJN_55Yq5n-7CvO52MDynOTbzPDOrc_b3gO7njyJ0HZm7uDp0i/s640/100_1087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A building across the street led to some murals in the movie Cars.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpTdSPAd61k4jvezDfHEdFykDIwPutBWNMrCxJTiSV4TN-J7z4lWs-g3sTqnc7IhZDKeqio2otH1Mg3Fs3wUNX-Tee5d4ZprA0ydkdJobKRLEgL_tfttABpDhRCU9uyekWCE6KtWJC_5V/s1600/100_1096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpTdSPAd61k4jvezDfHEdFykDIwPutBWNMrCxJTiSV4TN-J7z4lWs-g3sTqnc7IhZDKeqio2otH1Mg3Fs3wUNX-Tee5d4ZprA0ydkdJobKRLEgL_tfttABpDhRCU9uyekWCE6KtWJC_5V/s640/100_1096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It so happened that the town is setting up for Galena days
this weekend. A carnival is setting up and people are hard at work finishing the
new rest room building in the recently add Howard “Pappy” Litch Park on a main
street block. The place had a nice small town feel and we got pictures of some
nice vintage brick wall painted signs. We located a commemorative monument of
the Will Rogers Highway that detailed the local mining history. It was nice to
get out and walk the sunny main street for a while.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiOw19rIVEuDLtyutaEWmOtHJpeWbn7EVlM570AtMCfV5OZN0vPK4nwHUqabQ5s5HBmXuSZybfjm6hCInN2-sh852Z0iGGQPJdp9k1RXvzZds5jsly2aFwpF1D1A628YqkEfGgMYS0yw5/s1600/100_1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiOw19rIVEuDLtyutaEWmOtHJpeWbn7EVlM570AtMCfV5OZN0vPK4nwHUqabQ5s5HBmXuSZybfjm6hCInN2-sh852Z0iGGQPJdp9k1RXvzZds5jsly2aFwpF1D1A628YqkEfGgMYS0yw5/s640/100_1104.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Around the bend we found the Galena Museum where Wilma, John
and Father Gary spent almost an hour sharing local history with us. Most of it
related to mining but from ores, to rocks, to equipment, to an amazing set of mine
paintings it was time well spent. They had a lot of other exhibits about life
as it once was and even a big cigarette lighter collection. It has been so
noticed by travelers that folks are sending lighters hoping they are exhibit
worthy. It was late in the day and I think they even stayed past the planned
closing but they were incredibly gracious and wonderful to spend time with.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DUvZF0_B0HYUJW39H_8XtIUoOMN3dAE51Y22-lSPEQ5MUfHnWpGX8OBBsR4AEufOwisjZg3XVYyTt9bOWjz_HYDlMhUv_zBIcQ6zUpjMTz4U7FFDglEJ_UsI-T6H3511oPMH0yW3XSNt/s1600/GalenaMuseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DUvZF0_B0HYUJW39H_8XtIUoOMN3dAE51Y22-lSPEQ5MUfHnWpGX8OBBsR4AEufOwisjZg3XVYyTt9bOWjz_HYDlMhUv_zBIcQ6zUpjMTz4U7FFDglEJ_UsI-T6H3511oPMH0yW3XSNt/s400/GalenaMuseum.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> They too reiterated that the international visitors are a major part of the
traffic. Some groups even have cars or motorcycles flown over so they can
experience the route with their own wheels. Many places have guest books to
sign and I have been noticing the foreign traffic first hand.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_q-dXu9ttXo9ySo-PE4V5JdzGIibBBM_8SHTgenIIiRZVYVZXEbu7UT7DlzmbwtAVKP-HDB-cexsDMmktxB2dk-OP9XPvvEyn6TQsIwcVtq36pWgRBOMucas5ULW40v0Y0_hsozZOXoN/s1600/100_1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_q-dXu9ttXo9ySo-PE4V5JdzGIibBBM_8SHTgenIIiRZVYVZXEbu7UT7DlzmbwtAVKP-HDB-cexsDMmktxB2dk-OP9XPvvEyn6TQsIwcVtq36pWgRBOMucas5ULW40v0Y0_hsozZOXoN/s400/100_1130.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Riverton had the 1923 Marsh Arch (named after the designer)
bridge waiting for us.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrMyqoyIhFLXMUYscfU2L2AnXlAfbk7QO9HDCJ1HI7b7TcXYOI9-xajCi9mI0UidL8Bc4LN_99iCrtPa5BQ0mHiiYlQ3ER5ABXJkhi1wEY1nm7jucAQxQj2syNhobcBvluilaotlKj20I/s1600/100_1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrMyqoyIhFLXMUYscfU2L2AnXlAfbk7QO9HDCJ1HI7b7TcXYOI9-xajCi9mI0UidL8Bc4LN_99iCrtPa5BQ0mHiiYlQ3ER5ABXJkhi1wEY1nm7jucAQxQj2syNhobcBvluilaotlKj20I/s640/100_1138.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> It’s on a little side loop from 66 and operates as a 1
way passage for light vehicles. Of 3 built on Kansas 66 this is the lone
survivor. It is now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Baxter Springs was the last town in our trek through Kansas. I
got a collection of GPS coordinates that are indexed and show up as route 66
shields on the map. As we entered town a cluster of 3 appeared and took us down
a small residential street. They seemed to line up with 3 small homes that were
of identical design. We can’t figure out if they were Sears Roebuck Kit homes
or perhaps old rental cabins though they seem large for that use. They and the
neighborhood were a little rundown and neighbors were out watching so we didn’t
stop to explore. I did ask one local who was out walking and he knew nothing
about them. They at 37.033955,-94.738254 facing east. Other merchants had
nothing to add.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lNVWS54gRz-KFNu6uBQsB652UYpdBWhy_J6s14XodaWk1Yb7bjJbodB2A8rwX9av4pmqBXFoJ74heFf0OU-sLXAv04sI2vPloRbk7-ql1kbfE6LmUG4poFDdR4SzNOHf7Uc6VRbIRatw/s1600/BaxterWelcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lNVWS54gRz-KFNu6uBQsB652UYpdBWhy_J6s14XodaWk1Yb7bjJbodB2A8rwX9av4pmqBXFoJ74heFf0OU-sLXAv04sI2vPloRbk7-ql1kbfE6LmUG4poFDdR4SzNOHf7Uc6VRbIRatw/s400/BaxterWelcome.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We visited the local RT 66 information center in a restored
cottage style Phillips 66 gasoline station and got some pamphlets to have as Kansas
souvenirs and material about upcoming Oklahoma.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RsBI84dJI1lkEaQCKQslIkiktBuufGGoqmGss0wk0TaxJS3yJTt3uf2z3hW6y2wNukY99vvsIGxAYL9iSxmXczDhJB1a9gH38q0E5ZzeHPXl-2Asytxl8gk7VwRHWCZsRdkhz3BPOggI/s1600/100_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RsBI84dJI1lkEaQCKQslIkiktBuufGGoqmGss0wk0TaxJS3yJTt3uf2z3hW6y2wNukY99vvsIGxAYL9iSxmXczDhJB1a9gH38q0E5ZzeHPXl-2Asytxl8gk7VwRHWCZsRdkhz3BPOggI/s640/100_1155.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We walked the main street up
and back checking things out. Unfortunately many of the RT 66 places like the Soda
Fountain, a grand creation close around 3 PM.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpCliWazKbZO4PQtx1q965F1FdkEHTv82qBAudUeKZsvNUj8l5L9f2h4XYrOA0cKOcfT7fDYwwOcY5hBY5qHaqInM0PP4Yg6nLukZvK8la7pzcRVbateaGmh-Ga5cew2ET7cD8vQJG1DF/s1600/100_1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpCliWazKbZO4PQtx1q965F1FdkEHTv82qBAudUeKZsvNUj8l5L9f2h4XYrOA0cKOcfT7fDYwwOcY5hBY5qHaqInM0PP4Yg6nLukZvK8la7pzcRVbateaGmh-Ga5cew2ET7cD8vQJG1DF/s640/100_1165.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> As we crossed over to begin the
return walk we did find we stopped in at “ SACS 66” antique and collectible
resale shop that Steve and Cathy run in their retirement. I was able to get a
Kansas RT 66 T shirt after (tie died) all and Lorna snagged a few souvenir
items too. They got a picture of us for their visitors webpage and snapped a
few with our camera too. I need to go LIKE them on Facebook. They were really nice to be with and took time
to warn us about the Quapaw Indian speed traps when we cross over into
Oklahoma.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Walking back we passed the Café on the Route. This is in a former
bank that had been robbed by Jesse James. And with that we drove off having
spent the afternoon on the 13 Kansas miles.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We passed through Quapaw without incident and got to Commerce,
the home of Mickey Mantle. Here we found a commemorative monument of the Will
Rogers Highway that detailed the local lead and zinc mining history. Yes this
sounds familiar but it was a very different monument with the history of a
different town.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Up the road we came to an interesting intersection. On one
corner was a restored Conoco gas station that was embedded into the side of a
large commercial building. It was like half of the station was in the big
building. It was Green with red trim. While we were there the fire department, consisting
of about 5 trucks rolled out as volunteers arrived. I don’t think I saw one
truck I’d call a modern engine in the fleet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Then as I walked down the Main Street to get some pictures of
buildings and the local water tower Charlie Dubois the owner of the Dairy King,
burger and soft serve stand came out to chat with Lorna as he was leaving for
the day. He talked about the travelers he meets and the times that Bonnie and
Clyde spent in town including the shooting of 2 lawmen, one fatally. He pointed
out where we could find Mucky Mantle’s boyhood home where he learned to play
the game of baseball. Out behind the ice cream shop, up on blocks is the home
Mickey wed his first bride in! Can you believe this stuff?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QLHWgSHyPVAhfH2vh0j69QLpNgWFIzi3rnh7c7aA12oJQ90tB2iuPE7LGYJqfHNCIKvIWC0Nre_0-EaahaaItDItufF2iZFu0_iMCf95zjjXYEBDKZ_AKP5j0mCC4Ja1bn0LBuf1PdIv/s1600/100_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QLHWgSHyPVAhfH2vh0j69QLpNgWFIzi3rnh7c7aA12oJQ90tB2iuPE7LGYJqfHNCIKvIWC0Nre_0-EaahaaItDItufF2iZFu0_iMCf95zjjXYEBDKZ_AKP5j0mCC4Ja1bn0LBuf1PdIv/s400/100_1222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> He then went back in
and got an old picture showing what his stand looked like back when the
building was a Marathon gas station. It was built in 1927. It’s looking better
than ever with a giant ice cream cone, red and white paint and lots of neon
lighting.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">One problem with making this trip now, with the longest day’s
of the year is that we pretty much need to be settled down for the night by the
time the neon lighting will have impact so we miss most of it. It also
continues to be true that we need to make choices and stay focused on route 66.
There’s so much to see and do that we could stay out here for a very long time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Afterwards we navigated down some back streets to see Mickey Mantle’s
boyhood home. A nice plaque on the porch of the white bungalow commemorates the
location and tells the story of how he learned the game there in Commerce.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Across
town while driving 66 we stopped to see the stature near the high school field honoring
Mickey.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">All day long we had been seeing these Braums places. Unsure
what they were we stopped and checked it out. We found a “burger joint, ice
cream counter and fresh food (lots of produce) market all in one shot. We got a
quick dinner and headed off to snag a room for the night. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwTwz3VtuC5xODmara-tEhUqEKEHtxknPzF7ZhCQOw-JeHKv-n5oWkgGorZn9X69d35lQt5krY9hiVXgSJuJC27oY5zJBJlPL2woSBXo8J4zQYjD6_8GALTaPLEkZKRIP_npdGBRDqba0/s1600/Braums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwTwz3VtuC5xODmara-tEhUqEKEHtxknPzF7ZhCQOw-JeHKv-n5oWkgGorZn9X69d35lQt5krY9hiVXgSJuJC27oY5zJBJlPL2woSBXo8J4zQYjD6_8GALTaPLEkZKRIP_npdGBRDqba0/s320/Braums.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tonight we are in the
town of Miami, Oklahoma staying at the Hampton Inn. The deal is typical and the
room is above average. Even the corridors smell refreshingly clean, not musty,
smoky stale like too many places seem to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Well that’s our story for today, tomorrow we will get out and
see what there is to see in Miami and see what the road holds for us. We were
nearly 4 days getting across Missouri and as we get the hang of this we find ourselves
spending more time talking with the locals. We need to watch our calendar but
the side trips are pretty much aborted at this point. That’s OK, they are in a
close enough region to make for a nice trip in the future. This adventure is
about exploring the Mother Road.</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-62813735796399457462012-05-29T22:12:00.000-07:002012-06-30T19:52:35.466-07:00The Locals Shine Bright<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tuesday May 29, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We started our day in Marshfield and slept well despite the
big overnight thunderstorm. It was almost 8:00 AM when we said, "what time is it?"
Quick showers and it was off to the breakfast room. Speaking of showers, one
thing I am noticing is the differences in water hardness. Today the water was
pretty decent. At other locations the water is so hard you can’t tell if the
soap has rinsed away. We hit the road under clear blue skies with the
temperature climbing to the 90’s. As hot as it’s been it’s been comfortable
enough. We stopped at a Walgreens to pick up some odds and ends. I ended this
day missing the chance to say, ”last night I slept at a Holiday Inn”.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next to the hotel there is a closed “American Drive-In”
restaurant. It was neat with dining room murals I was able to shoot though the
windows. I’m getting a knack for shielding the ambient light to limit window
reflections. An interesting thing is that the place has no service counter. You
either had carhop service out under the carport or you phoned you order in from
your booth and were served and cashed out at your table. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIapm56U4zdHBkoDrd-TmU97WDT2mRlvndh-g-0osDJFL8jm4bJ0b0gBhM-LfTs9EiJ9PpVuik6vXkeTn802wrys0y395_PG6PVVVFjkgL57k4gkrKHZuMIUuKBOw7WKBXzgyBv7R7Pv-i/s1600/100_0767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIapm56U4zdHBkoDrd-TmU97WDT2mRlvndh-g-0osDJFL8jm4bJ0b0gBhM-LfTs9EiJ9PpVuik6vXkeTn802wrys0y395_PG6PVVVFjkgL57k4gkrKHZuMIUuKBOw7WKBXzgyBv7R7Pv-i/s640/100_0767.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As we continued our tour we recognized this as a retired Sonic Drive-in restaurant. In these states Sonic is very prevalent. Frequently we would see them in very small towns where the golden arches were nowhere to be seen. We also came across several other retired last generation properties with a bright new Sonic just down the street.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Before long we were winding along a rural section of route
66. One thing I have started to notice as we move south is cement silos. Where
most in the north have been steel they tend to be cement cylinders standing
near bars down here. Hay is a big crop in these parts with lots and lots of
round bales in the fields. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Strafford I pulled off to get a shot of an American Motel
billboard. Rooms were $29.95 and up. It was also a good place to try capturing
what Lorna calls the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Communities in these
parts are often 10 miles or so apart. In most cases there is only one best
where to get from point A to point B. Route 66 and the railway often run in
parallel and in many cases the modern interstate is just a grassy strip away. If 66 is in between the tracks and interstate
we have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">A little latter Lorna noticed a big bird on a barn roof. We
turned around and the big black red headed hawk of a bird was perched on the
peak drying his wings, still as a statue. I was able to snap some pictures of
him and a friend getting wide and close-up shots. About the time we were
thinking he was an ornament he pulled his wings in.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sprinfields's Holiday Drive-in theater was demolished in 2005 but the
sign and marquee remain at the roadside. The parcel appears to remain
undeveloped.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Springfield had a lot of cool stuff. We found the abandoned Lurvey's Motor Court, a
collection of stone cabins next door to the Holiday Drive-in. A cabbie taking a nap perked up to explain
that it had been a resort at one time with cabins extending to the land where
the drive-in had been built. Down across the field you can spot the building
that had been the office. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Cement construction was common (resists termites?)
but it’s not much to look at. These and many many buildings are covered with
local flat beige, brown, reddish stones with mortar joints. One term for the
treatment is Ozark Giraffe. The result is a durable, attractive building. We see
many that have burned or all of the wood has rotted away with rarely a crack in
the masonry. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Another example across town is the still operating Rancho Court, still in operation. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Around town we spotted quite a few vintage motels and cabins.
One thing many have gone to is weekly and monthly rentals, no short stays. It’s
probably a market these lower tier facilities can compete in and get a decent
cash flow. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Right in the middle of a built- up shopping district a segment of 66 has been left alone as it rounds a bend in a parking lot! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The road from Springfield heading to Carthage is mainly ghost
towns. When I-40 opened up these communities dried up and in some cases no longer
even exist as governed localities.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Driving down 66 (266) on the outskirts
of Springfield in</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">
</span><span class="pp-place-title"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Bois D'Arc</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">just
east of state road T is an old Texaco sign and 2 pumps. Nothing else remains of
the station. They are 3 digit pumps that probably never say fuel get past 99.9
cents. They are from a day when Keotane and Skeltane were Texaco trade names
for fuels.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Heartonville, a ghost town we
spotted the stone structure of the 1936 D.L. Morris Garage. Somehow the picture
escaped me, Ill need to dig into the back-ups. It’s only marking is a route 66
shield on the front wall.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpFk9ZTgc06tyvd4waDmSkEqMXjP5KOVLi4eBven-JT7II0MNmPEMoX35ITGuOWbGWD_B0jBRMdS7_yAEA_vKtWXCixvgTe9LPYxHHvymE7d2X3dH-u6tR1H9kKmJYFD-LmEgwSYtNMM_/s1600/100_0885+Morris+Garage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpFk9ZTgc06tyvd4waDmSkEqMXjP5KOVLi4eBven-JT7II0MNmPEMoX35ITGuOWbGWD_B0jBRMdS7_yAEA_vKtWXCixvgTe9LPYxHHvymE7d2X3dH-u6tR1H9kKmJYFD-LmEgwSYtNMM_/s640/100_0885+Morris+Garage.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Plano another ghost town had signs of
life at 1 intersection. A stone TYDOL gasoline station has been converted to a
home. It looks to be inhabited.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Diagonally across the intersection is large castle like stone building (roof gone)
that was formerly a casket factory and
at times a mortuary. Ivy covers a lot of the building and a large tree has
grown inside. An 80 something year old man we spoke with latter said he played
in the old structure as a kid.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Graystone Heights we came upon the remains of Modern
Cabins.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfrzLLBIQwj3McQV4ZCYYNMwQUnRhq4C2MCuDxhr045s01fCy8mLNKYD4Daf9Sll8XewHyjKWrFLBoL5RmsrWU3lGiRMuAOLvfXKV6PD-hQl_mRxaAHADCz5Darn1UnSzOqUuE-hmY902/s1600/ModernCabins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfrzLLBIQwj3McQV4ZCYYNMwQUnRhq4C2MCuDxhr045s01fCy8mLNKYD4Daf9Sll8XewHyjKWrFLBoL5RmsrWU3lGiRMuAOLvfXKV6PD-hQl_mRxaAHADCz5Darn1UnSzOqUuE-hmY902/s640/ModernCabins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> They were built in 1935 of stone construction. A silk flower company
now operates from the property. the cabins deteriorating with the years.
The owner took us into the office building that they still use. He pointed out
the thick 8-12 inch walls built to make it a tornado refuge. A nice sign gives
a lot of the history. It closed down in the early 1960’s when I-44 drew the
traffic from the road. John the owner took time to pull out some books and show
us what it looked like in its heyday. He also made sure we watched for his
friend's Sinclair station down the road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Before we could get to the Sinclair station we got to
Halltown where we stopped in at the Whitehall Mercantile. An imposing 1900 building
on the main drag (if you can call it that) specializing in used collectibles and merchandise of interest.
Lorna got Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy marbles and some pressed glass
pieces for her collection. A </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">hand written receipt on an old fashioned sales pad was prepared. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sooner or later we need to start shipping stuff
home. We got to chat with Jerry White
and his grandson. Jerry had founded the business with his wife Thelma.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> He gave
us a round slab of red cedar to bring home and sand when we wanted to smell something fresh, really nice guy! He said that traffic has really dropped off
after 911. He told us there are more tourists on the road from overseas,
Europe, Australia that the US. We got the same story down the road. The folks
along this stretch of road are a delight to chat with and they seem happy to
have people taking an interest.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x9edhGC_dTMptJYbtRynmtu86Db5y95fTx46Y9Jw7KfcDdlvFn2YzdCzdEV8K7GgbxC9oiMVsRxEcz_DtRs3cA0w9TJXixsCHf2sRptXVWLa77m8b9iIDrJS4nH1q9MBTsZQ1A_1MJpn/s1600/Whitehall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x9edhGC_dTMptJYbtRynmtu86Db5y95fTx46Y9Jw7KfcDdlvFn2YzdCzdEV8K7GgbxC9oiMVsRxEcz_DtRs3cA0w9TJXixsCHf2sRptXVWLa77m8b9iIDrJS4nH1q9MBTsZQ1A_1MJpn/s640/Whitehall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Paris Springs or Gay Parita was our next stop. Here we
visited Gary Turner at his recreated Sinclair station.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp98HpD_stUCBgjSAgxg2BviZL_b62-6-sjgSWrDm8AS39CoMt_SaGWjxAFMge2gZWUlOHl_tvlMQpmrZFjvaoePDFYkTjLNpFuiCZiF5KRAgurnhVhxvNM3gHBUI2AP39lhy7vNKSkcU/s1600/100_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp98HpD_stUCBgjSAgxg2BviZL_b62-6-sjgSWrDm8AS39CoMt_SaGWjxAFMge2gZWUlOHl_tvlMQpmrZFjvaoePDFYkTjLNpFuiCZiF5KRAgurnhVhxvNM3gHBUI2AP39lhy7vNKSkcU/s640/100_0851.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I bet we were there for well
over an hour. A flatbed wrecker had
arrived with a black 1951 Nash Statesman Super that may be converted to look
like a police car in with his other vintage vehicles. We went back and forth on
where to put it he was fun to hang with. His wife was a real nice woman too.
His garage is a nice old stone building from the 1920’s but the filling station
had burnt when he arrived so he built a replica and went from there.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> When we
went to the garage he handed me 2 ice cold ROUTE 66 sodas. He said to save one
to pour over ice cream tonight with my sweetie and to share the other for now
with his complements. He has all sorts of vehicles, gas station paraphernalia,
pumps signs and eye catching stuff. While we were there he sat down in in gas station office and sketched a map of some "must see" destinations down the road. Form the shelf behind him he passed a steady stream of business cards and brochures that were ours to take. Before we left he pulled out a route 66
flag and offered to take pictures of Lorna and me holding it as souvenirs, what
a guy! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Spencer (another ghost town) big things are happening.
Francis Ryan and his wife of Kansas bought the remains of this rambling stone
walled 1920’s enterprise. Things varied over the years but it held a store,
filling station / garage, cafe, barber shop, feed store.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> They have been at it
for a few years and it’s starting to really look like something. The building
is secure and period furniture and equipment is filling in. It is their weekend
project!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Just as we entered Carthage we got to a real oddity
recommended by Gary Turner. He said that we have to visit Red Oak II. He said
we’d see a sign for Red Oak on the highway but not to go there because it’s
gone! Further down the highway we’d see another sign and to follow that. As it
turns out a local artist, Lowell Davis hated to see his hometown of Red Oak change
with time and he wanted his family together on his 10 acre Carthage corn field.
Back in the 1980’s he set about moving the town, one building at a time into a
lovely rustic community. He called the place Red Oak II Missoura.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The property
is peppered with his folk art making it an interesting hour’s stroll. Along the
way he rescued other rout 66 buildings that became available. We got a book
detailing the community, visits are on an honor system donation basis. There
are some people residing in the homes. Most buildings are common commercial
buildings that are open to the public. We saw no other guests during our visit.
Pretty cool place, lots of photos!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Before going into Carthage for dinner we located the
Crapduster.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This is a manure spreader equipped with wings and all of the other
features needed to make a plane including a pilot. It’s perched up on a post by
the highway. Lowell Davis created this masterpiece in 1997. Go Missoura Kid!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This sent us to Carthage for “lunch” at about 6:00 PM. To be
honest we snuck frozen custard in Springfield back near noon planning a “late
lunch”. We stopped at the Pancake Hut and had a nice enough meal. Unfortunately
the Chicago Coin Band Box is permanently on the blink.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> After dinner we toured
the downtown where many stores are clustered around a massive stone county
courthouse. Where route 66 enters town it’s a little rundown and the downtown
was uncommonly quiet for such a place at 7:00 PM on a Tuesday. As we drove on
we found the city to have some amazing old homes and vibrant modern business
district on the far side of town.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We settled into the Precious Moments Best Western, it’s the
creators home town here in Carthage. Lorna did some Laundry and I got an early
start on the blog. We’ve been just over 3 days in Missouri now but the state
line is “in sight” and Kansas has a very short segment in the journey. I expect
to next write from Oklahoma. The people have been engaging and very willing to
share their stories. Writing this blog forces me to make sense of it all and
that adds a whole other dimension to the trip. This is fun!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-20060819503429977022012-05-28T22:33:00.002-07:002012-06-29T04:09:30.610-07:00Ozarks, Barbecue and Archaeology<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Monday May 28, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The day started with a visit to the Wagon Wheel Motel office.
We got to hear the owner talking about the adventure restoring the place had
been. It had been a nice stay in a special place but it was time to move on.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Shelly’s Café was suggested but it was closed for the
holiday. We ended up doing breakfast at Hardee’s, a Burger King sort of chain.
If I’m not forgetting anything it’s the first such joint of the trip. We’ve been
doing pretty good at enjoying the local fare. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">With that we were off and rolling. The day was spent rolling
though the Ozarks, nice rolling hill country. Wooded and sparsely farmed it was
in stark contrast to most of Illinois. It was a nice travel day with mostly
blue skies. There was a storm front around but we only had a few cloudy spells.
It was hot and breezy. More often than not the interstate was nowhere to be
seen and that added to the experience. Today we had no big stops, just a lot of
hit and run sightseeing including a few loops onto older alignments or the
route.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As we left town the GPS flagged us to a back street where we
found Friscos Public House. Listed as a historic place in the town it may date
back to the heyday of route 66. In any case it had some nice murals along the
sidewalk.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The next stop was about 4 miles out of town in Fanning at the
66 Outpost. Their claim to fame is the world’s largest rocking chair, over 42
feet tall! Like many route 66 stops the idea is to have something so audacious
that people just have to say “look at that!” and then hope they stop to
patronize. "In the day" traffic was heavy and the goal was to catch as much of
the passing cash as possible. With that much traffic and competition
one-upmanship was inevitable. This continues even with newcomers to the road.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The also had a nice mural outside. The
riding mower was clever, a bicycle outfitted with a reel type push mower for
the front wheel. After getting a bag of ice and a few souvenirs we were off
again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Down the road in St. James we found an old DERBY filling
station. It was an uncommon brand with signs intact. The station was cluttered
with some old vehicles and rubbish bit it was worth a few quick pictures. As we
crossed town the main road opened up being a divided street. The sidewalk was
smack dab down the center with grass and trees bordering each side of the
sidewalk. The edges of the street are also tree lines making for a pretty and
shaded roadway. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Rolla was the next stop. Here we found the Mule Trading Post
featuring a giant Hillbilly. His arms are made to swing back and forth but they
were still today. They have a very tall highway sign the spells out MULE
TRADING with each letter being a box on the sign frame. Some are missing, one
hanging from the frame making you guess like playing a game of Wheel of
Fortune. Can I have a vowel Vanna?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">They have a neon mule sign with the neck
extending from a US Highway shield. There is a barn down back with a mule sign,
probably an old petting zoo to draw families. There were a few Corvairs hanging
around out front. Lorna made sure I got pictures of those. Other than that it
was a basic gift/souvenir shop.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Still in Rolla we found the Totem Pole Antiques and
Fireworks. They claim to be the oldest business on Missouri route 66 dating
back to 1933. This building looked like a converted Shell gasoline station with
a sign that went up into the sky with many panels hawking its wares. The place
had a lot of old gasoline pumps, and other antiquities hanging around in
addition to the requisite souvenir items. Tourist trap alert.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Farther into Rolla we found the sign to Zeno’s steak house.
From what I can find they recently closed and operated a motel, Zeno’s Studio
Motel. They had been in business since 1957.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On the outskirts of Rolla were the remains of “Pingas”, a
golden stucco building. They had offered an eclectic mix of Hand Made Leather
Goods, Indian Jeweler, Salsa, BBQ Beef Chili, Pozole, Tamales’s and Green Chili
Soup. It’s getting overgrown but even now in Google street view it looks like
it had been in recent operation. You can tell that vegetation can grow fast
down here!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We left Rolla and traveled a lovely stretch of traditional 2
lane route 66. 1 lane each way with no shoulders, the way roads used to be. It
does give a certain intimacy with the surroundings. Often we have been going
for long stretches on the mother road
with no sign of another vehicle in either direction. This was through nice rolling
curving terrain.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On an old alignment in Newberg we found <a href="http://www.route66motels.com/vernelles/vernellesmotel.html">Vernellel’s
Motel</a> still in operation. It began when 66 was a 2 lane road right at the
doorstep, got moved back when it became a divided 4 lane roadway. Since then 66
got reduced to 2 lanes, realigned and ultimately the traffic went to the
interstate. Today Vernelle’s is operating in the shadow of it’s own billboard
from the day when the Mother Road was at it’s doorstep. It’s a decent, simple
property that harkens back to another time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Just down a way we spotted John’s Modern Cabins. Built in the
1930’s and operating into the 1960’s sometime. The cabins are now caving in and
severely decayed. At least one outhouse is still standing and perhaps usable.
One of the more sound cabins has the sign for John’s Modern Cabins perched on
the roof. The sign is weathered, surrounded with tree limbs that have grown in
and still has some neon tube glass. With a little focusing you can still read
the sign.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Looking around I spotted some metal fence posts lined up in front of
the property, one with a small wooden sign. Further scouting found another matching sign that fit. It appears
they had a Burma Shave style sign series. They read, “WHILE YOU ARE HERE” and
PHOTOGRAPH THESE”, so we did. A US ROUTE 66 shield remains painted on the
pavement out front. Down the road a bit we spotted a cabin in a yard up on
blocks that may have been rescued from John’s.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We're using a lot of books and GPS tools to find these places and they aren't always obvious. It's fun to pick these places apart to see what's there behind the brush and clutter. Sometimes it's almost like archaeology so see a place go from nondescript to telling a rich story. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Heading down to the dead end of the road in the shadows of I-44
we found the few homes forming Arlington. Formerly home to the Stony Dell Resort
community on route 66. Progress left it at the end of a long dead end and it is
now considered a ghost town. When we passed by it seemed everyone was out
sweeping, painting and gardening. all 6 of them. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFou_Het7FSy7dAuNW2AviTdsa38dod9-1iK22a_thgKt1eSGwDf-uCHPR2XjLXpBE_SuKtEwKl3uKUha_BPGuVbz8lUwNUY2iPf6_7Q4tJYop696sldfUGgFTNapWLOFotLFUXEJlTzgI/s1600/Arlington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFou_Het7FSy7dAuNW2AviTdsa38dod9-1iK22a_thgKt1eSGwDf-uCHPR2XjLXpBE_SuKtEwKl3uKUha_BPGuVbz8lUwNUY2iPf6_7Q4tJYop696sldfUGgFTNapWLOFotLFUXEJlTzgI/s640/Arlington.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Back out and down I-44 we located another old alignment that
included a few points of interest. First was the site commemorating the “Trail
of Tears”.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR2TZgviDeFlelHWx5e5nZOurvShNBgsIOynLZCA68u-3h3CvYastkb0C6RCeFwhhXGWUlIDxVzlwsNmJzpdLDXNHBDP0KBi3zx7YhGB4f8z2pxBd-RJybAwiNn-b_3eASJ4mSpRS8Yrs/s1600/TrailEntry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR2TZgviDeFlelHWx5e5nZOurvShNBgsIOynLZCA68u-3h3CvYastkb0C6RCeFwhhXGWUlIDxVzlwsNmJzpdLDXNHBDP0KBi3zx7YhGB4f8z2pxBd-RJybAwiNn-b_3eASJ4mSpRS8Yrs/s640/TrailEntry.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This relates to the forced migration of the Cherokee Indians. The
site is no longer maintained but stone archways, monuments and symbolic statues
remain though some are damaged or being overgrown. Enough is apparent to tell
the story.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdrkK32pTrgYba4QGHKsv-9nMxnBw_5f6P32M8R6KCGSMBkxesLs8jzu0AH45oLFB4rdvPgjdzCIiGDtuvcP9OYb0SpvvS3ieu7HjsR5ngRdY5na7UOjhw6kkSIhPJs3gS2Nnr2FJwER-/s1600/TrailMan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdrkK32pTrgYba4QGHKsv-9nMxnBw_5f6P32M8R6KCGSMBkxesLs8jzu0AH45oLFB4rdvPgjdzCIiGDtuvcP9OYb0SpvvS3ieu7HjsR5ngRdY5na7UOjhw6kkSIhPJs3gS2Nnr2FJwER-/s640/TrailMan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">An Indian and Buffalo are visible up on the hill above but a private
residence is uncomfortably close to the trail the leads there. I got pictures from afar. The Trail is
gated to keep vehicles out but is not posted.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Farther down we came to the remains of the Stony Dell Resort
that was once the pride of Arlington. One building is standing with a weathered
sign for gas, food, bait and handmade gifts. Many other road side structures
are collapsed.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGHrXns1j0RbCVkmnxCbqhBPqBIW5Bz7Ar5onvaQPFCkqSMy9qmDCtTjuv2wmFTRaJ_8CvBElne3d-DzcgID8mRhOsd6S1RBgxzDHvML5P8AGLsj6pFAO6bt7DrJ68mKo61J_2HEYrZbf/s1600/StonyBuilding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGHrXns1j0RbCVkmnxCbqhBPqBIW5Bz7Ar5onvaQPFCkqSMy9qmDCtTjuv2wmFTRaJ_8CvBElne3d-DzcgID8mRhOsd6S1RBgxzDHvML5P8AGLsj6pFAO6bt7DrJ68mKo61J_2HEYrZbf/s640/StonyBuilding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> A stone entry archway is standing and I could spot other
overgrown stone-work.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUG2Cx89QE8CcsEOqM0wF8mzChJnYyAz477C0UWkYoM4Q-ksMBqDdENm5cA-K9qW2Xhp-i3XIII-M4vLYiO-Zuzwt5ugt7idgq18EdKCSnC6yd3gE4Q5ptAc2j2TojAiZPzteCGbuoQmk/s1600/StonyArch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUG2Cx89QE8CcsEOqM0wF8mzChJnYyAz477C0UWkYoM4Q-ksMBqDdENm5cA-K9qW2Xhp-i3XIII-M4vLYiO-Zuzwt5ugt7idgq18EdKCSnC6yd3gE4Q5ptAc2j2TojAiZPzteCGbuoQmk/s640/StonyArch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sections of roadside split rail fencing and some cabins in
varying states of decay remain. The remains of a large HOME COOKING sign can be
spotted.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next in Clementine we came to beautiful 4 lane section of
route 66 left in it’s 1944-45 constructed state. 2 lanes in each direction, no
shoulders and a grass median strip perhaps 5-6 feet wide. The edges of the
pavement rise up like slight curbs and water runs down the roadway until it
reaches run-off aprons.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Along this roadway is hooker cut, at the time it was the deepest road cut at 90 feet. The rock walls are covered with kudzu.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgDJZTZr_ejqTEfaoMOV6AGU9gcnSU_wX6HOUkHxo37iEEPyVPiyT9aaDURTop5ZC-l3HL8MTV02GOiAiFJeJbmTCthjITKC5ebc3iJoWTTmTz2tAn6fk74qHhUpmxBRJzsmcvbjy3qTX/s1600/HokkersCut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgDJZTZr_ejqTEfaoMOV6AGU9gcnSU_wX6HOUkHxo37iEEPyVPiyT9aaDURTop5ZC-l3HL8MTV02GOiAiFJeJbmTCthjITKC5ebc3iJoWTTmTz2tAn6fk74qHhUpmxBRJzsmcvbjy3qTX/s640/HokkersCut.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next we came to a section of the road called Devil’s Elbow.
Named for a bend in the nearby river it is also the town’s name. This stretch of
road is a diversion from the straight roadway. Here the local market sells
tobacco, souvenirs and is the local post office, 65457. The sale of tobacco is
prominent in Missouri with tobacco on many signs and smoke shops common.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCanhw2wly6o_YqfGK-G1kUF0nLjBjwyAIQksUxabmLFzQEbTymRpjLGmRnrViLA4lL-ZF6DnMg2rPPC60pJ9fNqrKIpVeMNiwXqAKZ-YKwrWtqBEvSYRCtudeYvUUru-VuUJMyGpB_GQR/s1600/DevilsPO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCanhw2wly6o_YqfGK-G1kUF0nLjBjwyAIQksUxabmLFzQEbTymRpjLGmRnrViLA4lL-ZF6DnMg2rPPC60pJ9fNqrKIpVeMNiwXqAKZ-YKwrWtqBEvSYRCtudeYvUUru-VuUJMyGpB_GQR/s640/DevilsPO.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The road makes its
way up to a high ridge with a view of the Devil’s Elbow in the Piney River
below. There is a marked scenic turnout and a stone wall with plantings
maintained by the Planters of Pulaski County Garden Club.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSatTeoN0vdQ2X_9GgrcXxQgY_CdFzt-nGHa0msMjuDF3WKLlJk6jxBn3ulRxuXI0tsqorOpet17_sxispy2PRJIrpDLpB9tHl0zq8dDV0ceeWc94EV1E43Bn44-o_Ak-bErKeOZLTa-G3/s1600/DevilsWall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSatTeoN0vdQ2X_9GgrcXxQgY_CdFzt-nGHa0msMjuDF3WKLlJk6jxBn3ulRxuXI0tsqorOpet17_sxispy2PRJIrpDLpB9tHl0zq8dDV0ceeWc94EV1E43Bn44-o_Ak-bErKeOZLTa-G3/s640/DevilsWall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">A very long steel and
wood railroad trestle can be seen spanning the river and flood plain below.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFT-YXcrqFrzG-ceoIvHquc8YJsL01L0rQNyo0mwVRVEpnnwG1b2O2UZ4AzOkY-UNoG1aXokHLgvldQvFTX_lKwc8XS4YhTFFGQt10FNOs2o33RZmaP4cRdn_VETA3o0YV_nsjxIOtQ9xl/s1600/DevilsView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFT-YXcrqFrzG-ceoIvHquc8YJsL01L0rQNyo0mwVRVEpnnwG1b2O2UZ4AzOkY-UNoG1aXokHLgvldQvFTX_lKwc8XS4YhTFFGQt10FNOs2o33RZmaP4cRdn_VETA3o0YV_nsjxIOtQ9xl/s640/DevilsView.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The Hardees breakfast was a while ago and before 1:00 we
found SWEETWATER BAR-B-QUE, “a Taste of the Ozarks” in St. Robert. My Ham and turkey were delicious and fork
tender. Lorna’s Ribs were good too with a nice bark of rub on the backs. Lorna
liked the Hillbilly Beans and I enjoyed the Missouri potato salad, it had a
subtle kick. We threw more food than we could eat. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJd3xGLrqD0AL6aSAHyQAPrgGm5l1htpuPAqIg84YirZuehinxPEMbSri9PPfjXraWsCLdShxpbSbyl79scsTqSB6pfgtXmZQK2KTNDsnENUafIghtWSpDHEBkZC1SfP9hxtf906c92yTt/s1600/SweetwaterBBQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJd3xGLrqD0AL6aSAHyQAPrgGm5l1htpuPAqIg84YirZuehinxPEMbSri9PPfjXraWsCLdShxpbSbyl79scsTqSB6pfgtXmZQK2KTNDsnENUafIghtWSpDHEBkZC1SfP9hxtf906c92yTt/s400/SweetwaterBBQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Much of the afternoon we were striking gold with old motel
properties in and out of the towns. Some were operating and others were either
abandoned or repurposed. If I cover them all I’ll never end! A few were pretty
cool and need to be mentioned. We got lots of nice photo’s Would you like to
stay at the Humble House Inn? All rooms are $19.95 for up to 4 people!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Waynesville we spotted the boulder projecting from the
hill to look like a frogs head.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Down the road a giant bowling pin (ten pin
style) shares the sky with a sign for the ADULT SUPERSTORE.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO45OSA_Kbb3tqdZXrudWREa1bytoRt57CMsA2dV2YuSXIjt9tsH9wT_Y0DFwNjRNScP9zO1hdUvOMI5KiCcXFi_vfTP8o5VhuzegpJMi_u-utkiGm-DoWb0j-YuZtHgfcjz5rtkmX1KFn/s1600/WayneBowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO45OSA_Kbb3tqdZXrudWREa1bytoRt57CMsA2dV2YuSXIjt9tsH9wT_Y0DFwNjRNScP9zO1hdUvOMI5KiCcXFi_vfTP8o5VhuzegpJMi_u-utkiGm-DoWb0j-YuZtHgfcjz5rtkmX1KFn/s320/WayneBowl.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The remains
including a huge sign in the sky for the Whitmore Farms restaurant down in
Buckhorn can be spotted from the same place on the hill. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx3ja3hVK1AeHZfrBCWzAwVOhQe9LrXiUWV-NmJVFcgszCJt6B404bjV9LW6EABtzxicrgeHuaSIYgXcSVvgjdi0D7mSTueS5k_gw1E2GPm1xJYQUREPPGSkGJNpJpMHFK_raOGjkfetS/s1600/Witmore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx3ja3hVK1AeHZfrBCWzAwVOhQe9LrXiUWV-NmJVFcgszCJt6B404bjV9LW6EABtzxicrgeHuaSIYgXcSVvgjdi0D7mSTueS5k_gw1E2GPm1xJYQUREPPGSkGJNpJpMHFK_raOGjkfetS/s640/Witmore.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Back into the woods of Buckhorn we located the Pleasant Grove
Cabins. There remain 3 or 4 field stone cabins in states of decay. The property
is abandoned.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf5W3tH66FC0F-YiwHUZLIAujteOrBu72g_EWKrfxevvgHORjx6hp-DEGYX8OWUbQv7sqSt4Ye-up3us4SKkrcYsVbi0r4SMk2xC2-76G5aRxUp42dBDsxWEYxKBuVJBKgZM2qieMVB3U/s1600/PleasantCabins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf5W3tH66FC0F-YiwHUZLIAujteOrBu72g_EWKrfxevvgHORjx6hp-DEGYX8OWUbQv7sqSt4Ye-up3us4SKkrcYsVbi0r4SMk2xC2-76G5aRxUp42dBDsxWEYxKBuVJBKgZM2qieMVB3U/s640/PleasantCabins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Off to the left side is a large stone fireplace where generations
of guests probably enjoyed summer evenings and smores. A unique hoop shaped
sign or lantern frame remains up front but is being overgrown.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Hazel Green we crossed the Gasconade river on a
magnificent 1923 bridge including 3 thru-truss spans and a pony truss. At the
base is a public access area where locals were swimming, boating, fishing and
sunbathing. Driving around it’s not uncommon to see fishermen working the
streams in waders. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Lebanon gave is the <a href="http://www.mungermoss.com/index.html">Munger Moss Motor Court</a>. This
would have been another nice one to stay at but the time of day just wasn’t
working out. The font office has a 2 lane welcome port and the rooms ramble
back around the property. This place has been restored and under management
that goes back 30 years. Latter I was down the road photographing a restaurant
and a lady came out of a convenience store to make sure I got Munger Moss at
night! She lives near there and say’s the neon is awesome. Like many of these
places there is a huge MOTEL sign perched in the sky so travelers can find the
place.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAToe3NASHUV3-EsP1N148fEf0vUY7jHhqRxZYbS9tNg1z9Be22lhgyqtUWegj9e4SM71Qki4gaKuFmPwZZcy1HBMH4ikNZPepg-SBr7FDKSSVYCdI5hI7xd5LSsOZht5dYlwiD6ZTzkx/s1600/MungerMoss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAToe3NASHUV3-EsP1N148fEf0vUY7jHhqRxZYbS9tNg1z9Be22lhgyqtUWegj9e4SM71Qki4gaKuFmPwZZcy1HBMH4ikNZPepg-SBr7FDKSSVYCdI5hI7xd5LSsOZht5dYlwiD6ZTzkx/s640/MungerMoss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Across the street the Forest Manor Motel operates but looks much more
dated.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In downtown Lebanon we found the Bell restaurant. This huge
rambling place featured BBQ Ribs, Steak
and Seafood. I can just picture the station wagons packing the parking lot.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSdugZ6zsR5pRSX15z0hrNwMOGxwJOTAVdpWEFXsYZM-OZJsuazWuQVhDYkxpxqxfPxDzvt9CcFRS8vkQAWX2TN9w_AxXpv90Q7w6bhg9s0xl8SytOjC39VxOX5w1W26RImCAaSkZbv2G/s1600/BellOutside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSdugZ6zsR5pRSX15z0hrNwMOGxwJOTAVdpWEFXsYZM-OZJsuazWuQVhDYkxpxqxfPxDzvt9CcFRS8vkQAWX2TN9w_AxXpv90Q7w6bhg9s0xl8SytOjC39VxOX5w1W26RImCAaSkZbv2G/s640/BellOutside.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I
wiped some grime from the windows and got some pictures without flash. The long
fountain counter looks like a time capsule with salt, pepper, cups and ashtrays
waiting. There are dozens of orange stools with tufted back rests.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH0SH199nKHldyQQwYwniPQCdcxQWwExerPxquEYnhHG4jpg71k6ifNpc355k1aNo2KarE_Ooqz0s4o1cMwbHAWbh6vnEoOnFVwXHb4AGYMXT7e_ZFPX-SkGIughas-oYqLf5ktPorI72/s1600/BellInside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH0SH199nKHldyQQwYwniPQCdcxQWwExerPxquEYnhHG4jpg71k6ifNpc355k1aNo2KarE_Ooqz0s4o1cMwbHAWbh6vnEoOnFVwXHb4AGYMXT7e_ZFPX-SkGIughas-oYqLf5ktPorI72/s640/BellInside.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It closed
early in 2011 but was a campaign stop for Barack Obama in 2008. It was built
in 1964 and looks very “60’s”. Just so
there’s no confusion there are 3, count em, three big RESTAURANT signs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Past Lebanon is a pair of Meramec Cavern painted bars for
northbound travelers on the adjacent interstate. Only 115 miles! I guess we
have made some progress on this trip.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSId3qFbPrx95TXIihCfy8ybgxkmlXjbkJYwtLkpxyC0eqNNbO64DmnM6xWqDfYC8hrrWkTrVIvsVqgfDbyod9LSfSPmh_8aiQXEZ5YwtQByDk1K6AJZfUsIlYtjww48CAr1FEmwfTOVCm/s1600/MeramecSigns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSId3qFbPrx95TXIihCfy8ybgxkmlXjbkJYwtLkpxyC0eqNNbO64DmnM6xWqDfYC8hrrWkTrVIvsVqgfDbyod9LSfSPmh_8aiQXEZ5YwtQByDk1K6AJZfUsIlYtjww48CAr1FEmwfTOVCm/s640/MeramecSigns.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We stopped at the Candy Factory where I bought a chocolate cover
Twinkie just for the heck of it. We also shopped next door at the World’s
Largest Gift Shop. I got a T Shirt, Lorna some of her Start of David Pressed
Glass. Buy UPS stock! They had Lucy’s 1940 Cadillac on display.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> In Philipsburg we noticed a long tall flagstone wall along
the road. A metal Pepsi sign was on the wall and farther down over a door was a
Gymnasium sign. A couple was sitting across the street and I approached them to
ask about the original structure. It used to be the local high school but
latter was a store, hence the mixed signs. This guy had owned it and some added
on steel building for years. He used to do trucking up to Maine! A fire
consumed the building leaving the stone wall.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgP9i4-zs3KXRVB7kXE26DD4EUv54kSJ4Ta1VqliyZJBem7yml9W3HrQos0HTYzpm5EPrckaC9_ywsa-8s6OP27B-mlhy1JpUI-ozxd1gXov9n28PoVr9vSEXkbM40NLMnD_dzMerh7OT/s1600/Gymnasium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgP9i4-zs3KXRVB7kXE26DD4EUv54kSJ4Ta1VqliyZJBem7yml9W3HrQos0HTYzpm5EPrckaC9_ywsa-8s6OP27B-mlhy1JpUI-ozxd1gXov9n28PoVr9vSEXkbM40NLMnD_dzMerh7OT/s640/Gymnasium.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We’re spending the night in Marshfield Holiday Inn Express.
After a week of road food we got a light meal at Subway, some fruit at the
market and dined in our room while pictures downloaded from the camera. The
chocolate covered Twinkie went down good </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-78138969057126121622012-05-27T21:34:00.000-07:002012-07-15T15:38:18.396-07:00A Double Shot of Bourbon<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We awoke in St. Clair, MO and started our day. The hotel
breakfast was a light one but it served the purposes and matched the room rate.
The room was very nice with a view of the interstate and St. Clair’s
solution to having enough water for the showers.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvV2Xn_9XDgd7HWfHixkLZx1o4C42MoX42_R6rQC_wwh3tHv_cMKZU5ErnsMUZrPh5BihUivsuQ1zliUu1sPteQy84OLQhQWxb9t9pB9NAzmZU3E399omb8qAAnE8MJ48FBNcYGdKAGsH/s1600/StClairTowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvV2Xn_9XDgd7HWfHixkLZx1o4C42MoX42_R6rQC_wwh3tHv_cMKZU5ErnsMUZrPh5BihUivsuQ1zliUu1sPteQy84OLQhQWxb9t9pB9NAzmZU3E399omb8qAAnE8MJ48FBNcYGdKAGsH/s640/StClairTowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The first stop of the day was a tour of Meremec Caverns in
Stanton MO. It’s a few miles off of the road but it has been drawing travelers
for decades. We started to see billboards for this place well up in Illinois
and as you get closer the intensity builds. You can just about picture the road
weary kids in the backseat clamoring to stop. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHYuZveqRSEo9twIzicdo4omeVuYrTzUf2PeT5Z_kgYFNBYcUtYqgIi4tN7fdDwvZz1n6E-dX-4bDcZYZUcqphaqDq2ptgrGhcu6Y8zRUbnZ9yXk3nKujbY5RZ1hptyhFIJPEnozazQEL/s1600/100_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHYuZveqRSEo9twIzicdo4omeVuYrTzUf2PeT5Z_kgYFNBYcUtYqgIi4tN7fdDwvZz1n6E-dX-4bDcZYZUcqphaqDq2ptgrGhcu6Y8zRUbnZ9yXk3nKujbY5RZ1hptyhFIJPEnozazQEL/s640/100_0276.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The walking tour though the
caverns ran almost an hour and a half and was pretty cool.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJN-c-4dI0PUAB29USTD_nt16h5tkgPK-8l1Tjzspyg0pL5cqFzD8jL_fuCD2jYIGUra0zm5Sbr93S6g9Zg-nEY2yvCgyeybOy292horV6iCGoK2vpHwQMN1O0bLsyY5sY53qkoQvcVlc/s1600/100_0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJN-c-4dI0PUAB29USTD_nt16h5tkgPK-8l1Tjzspyg0pL5cqFzD8jL_fuCD2jYIGUra0zm5Sbr93S6g9Zg-nEY2yvCgyeybOy292horV6iCGoK2vpHwQMN1O0bLsyY5sY53qkoQvcVlc/s640/100_0317.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It ended in a
chamber called the Theater where a wall is draped in stalactites. God Bless
America by Kate Smith (At one time she had performed it there live) was played
as a light show illuminated the formations, it was pretty neat.</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UkbpJIpwY2iYVQ3Ia988cvhkgk1WCkSTHAzft9f0BJDXzFPCYO59md1FZ1pe2wv6TaTXVvpJNtAyD7mwHeHx2cwae4okfQ7wCGxQOGgSRWOP7wmgeWozNlbrN4az8dtvIxMz1_Mtg8d7/s1600/100_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UkbpJIpwY2iYVQ3Ia988cvhkgk1WCkSTHAzft9f0BJDXzFPCYO59md1FZ1pe2wv6TaTXVvpJNtAyD7mwHeHx2cwae4okfQ7wCGxQOGgSRWOP7wmgeWozNlbrN4az8dtvIxMz1_Mtg8d7/s640/100_0331.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The cool cave was a nice respite from the 90F+ day outdoors. They had one of those paper roll
,player pianos that I enjoy. I made my 25 cents worth of music to liven the
place up, kids flocked to this thing. With
arrival, waiting, the tour, gift shop and a light lunch it was about a 3 hour
stop.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On our way out the next stop was the the Reptile Ranch a
supposed roadside attraction of animals and
oddities. We went in, looked around and it didn’t pass the sniff test.
That was enough to say "let’s move on". I’m now reading that it had closed at
some point and someone has apparently taken another swing at making it work. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Right where the road to the caverns meets route 66 is the Jesse James Wax Museum.
It turns out the the founder of Meremec Caverns had what I’ll call an obsession
with Jesse. On the tour they showed us a chamber where Jesse supposedly stayed
to avoid the law.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The museum starts with a movie that lays out this guys belief
that he located Jesse, alive and well at a ripe old age. He has video with an
elderly Jesse and even interviews Jesse’s equally old cook. The wax museum did
have some nice vignette displays that bring the story to life. For $7 it was
good fun and we even got the book that tells the whole story in full detail.
Roadside fun!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dMhmZlAiTjzd_ooayhYVURVNVAAjCjnn1J-y7yDEVvH0fpAVfdL1UXfj7oYFT7RaOhXq3AINSNGz3QzHQZmR1OwdqnURNNH-qnyBrrtVe3gmbPFI5lWf9HiG-ggGM04bERkT3-QEzX56/s1600/JesseToy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dMhmZlAiTjzd_ooayhYVURVNVAAjCjnn1J-y7yDEVvH0fpAVfdL1UXfj7oYFT7RaOhXq3AINSNGz3QzHQZmR1OwdqnURNNH-qnyBrrtVe3gmbPFI5lWf9HiG-ggGM04bERkT3-QEzX56/s640/JesseToy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next door is a presently closed (For Sale) antique toy
museum. Also within eye shot were two old motels. One, the Stanton Motel was
occupied and may have had paying guests. The other property signed only as
MOTEL was dormant. The $26.95 and up banner lashed to the front suggested it
had been open in the near past. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Bourbon was our next stop. Noteworthy are the town water
towers emblazoned with the town name suggesting liquor in mass quantity. I was
able to get a picture that included 2 towers in legible alignment, a double
shot of bourbon.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FSF8LHmY0mxq0LH2lpJU5AKyD8FAWtj7nyiDuZrcLelfOn_lbJwpwHXHBoUuITj_TFgGFmsci9y6SloQ7cGj6inL3RGYI7m1Cu2yL9-WFeDwOXY1lPJ5_-KokisOrLx3tYGGE8t1z8fe/s1600/bourbon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FSF8LHmY0mxq0LH2lpJU5AKyD8FAWtj7nyiDuZrcLelfOn_lbJwpwHXHBoUuITj_TFgGFmsci9y6SloQ7cGj6inL3RGYI7m1Cu2yL9-WFeDwOXY1lPJ5_-KokisOrLx3tYGGE8t1z8fe/s640/bourbon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Down the road was the Circle Inn Malt shop restaurant. As I
was roaming around taking pictures a local woman came out and struck up a
conversation, we talked Maine, Missouri, the restaurant and other stuff.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithQUbgyHx9TLUBf8Ia6hWJBw0CzjZvqEAKrpmS2gUtfhAM0JAfSTg-9gnFY1fCpzBgLSO-uXe0W4_WzP-VR7_9gw-EpbS0ixZZapoOLT-b3ONrdUCnwEBwYzY7PXK1VgjQ0YhN7EK2IZ1/s1600/CircleN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithQUbgyHx9TLUBf8Ia6hWJBw0CzjZvqEAKrpmS2gUtfhAM0JAfSTg-9gnFY1fCpzBgLSO-uXe0W4_WzP-VR7_9gw-EpbS0ixZZapoOLT-b3ONrdUCnwEBwYzY7PXK1VgjQ0YhN7EK2IZ1/s640/CircleN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We were
still due for desert so we went in for malts, I had peanut butter, Lorna
cherry. They were pretty good with a real malt taste and texture. They had some
nice route 66 murals in one dining room that were worth capturing. Down the road further we found the (Route 66) Road House
restaurant, steaks, pasta and BBQ Ribs. The place was dormant but signs
suggested recent operation and that it may have a future at some point.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We finally stumbled on a WalMart and got a decent cooler
and more camera batteries. Some simple things
are not as plentiful as I’d expect, maybe were just traveling in the slow
lane. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After 4:30PM we rolled into Cuba where there the downtown is
home to <a href="http://cubamomurals.com/murals.html">12 historical murals</a>.
On the way in we first found the Wagon Wheel Motel, a classic route 66 motel.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRegC4bmasgYwsGkIZiXFYcl1elZQkRGVVLWLQSF5sxjsOsykpt8QhOLPiX0QOwxaTCtDyBR4Ro-dcXgkDBC6Aw-J64ZD2wsH190v6nLAtuaSJOp_NuPdlht7RllzBHGCB2Wtlm-tlopp/s1600/WagonWheel+Office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRegC4bmasgYwsGkIZiXFYcl1elZQkRGVVLWLQSF5sxjsOsykpt8QhOLPiX0QOwxaTCtDyBR4Ro-dcXgkDBC6Aw-J64ZD2wsH190v6nLAtuaSJOp_NuPdlht7RllzBHGCB2Wtlm-tlopp/s640/WagonWheel+Office.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The stone building contain 6 or so rooms each and are on a nice property. I was
snapping pictures and Lorna went in to chat with the office/gift shop lady. By
the time I wandered in the history lesson was in progress. Apparently the
original proprietor was retiring and the place had become run down. Some woman
purchased it and set to restore the place. It’s been very nicely done with
clean tasteful modern touches without losing the vintage charm. The buildings
were renovated in succession so they could remain in operation. It is the
longest continually operating lodging establishment on route 66 and she didn’t
want to lose that distinction. After buying a history book of the place and a
few trinkets we left. Once outside we decided to see if we could stay the night.
We wanted to start getting off the road earlier to allow earlier starts, the murals
were just up the street and the Missouri Hick BBQ restaurant next door seemed
like a happening place. We snagged a room and called it home.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Bb28H9TocTr4PWeIhm6Yo76uhfXjjHwDnHr21sed7N6igrrtWqs9X8o2SUIUgg9YsNUsfoznt9l5qYXQkxcpT_k5Jomiwd6TdZTjbubIWGnsM5nvBrGyWyug4JlwxJslbyLDTK8yro0e/s1600/WagonwheelUnit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Bb28H9TocTr4PWeIhm6Yo76uhfXjjHwDnHr21sed7N6igrrtWqs9X8o2SUIUgg9YsNUsfoznt9l5qYXQkxcpT_k5Jomiwd6TdZTjbubIWGnsM5nvBrGyWyug4JlwxJslbyLDTK8yro0e/s640/WagonwheelUnit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> We headed into town
and spent close to 2 hours walking and snapping photos of the murals and other interesting stuff. Being Sunday
of a holiday afternoon the place was pretty quiet wit hardly anything open. Thank
God for digital photography. One mural depicting the towns actual 6 Gold Star
Sons from WW2 was especially poignant. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLECHyBq3wpANRSs0Ll9KEVnlCOrR9_hJvlZeXPqFZbChbNea5f7GZTqCc9YRV1pN5BNEu_QAdjgMOUBtK-_GnUppjOEiZNDzpQvZNhyj3Mb7UR1xCJF4ugbGxtjxKCok7yStWcvwyZpPr/s1600/CubaMural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLECHyBq3wpANRSs0Ll9KEVnlCOrR9_hJvlZeXPqFZbChbNea5f7GZTqCc9YRV1pN5BNEu_QAdjgMOUBtK-_GnUppjOEiZNDzpQvZNhyj3Mb7UR1xCJF4ugbGxtjxKCok7yStWcvwyZpPr/s640/CubaMural.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next stop was the Misssouri Hick BBQ next door. We each had a
combo platter of St. Louis style ribs and BBQ smoked turkey. The ribs were
sender and meaty, not fatty and all. The turkey was flavorful and juicy, not
even wanting BBQ sauce. Each table had six different barbecue sauces in squeeze
bottles. The variety was fun to play around with.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Gs9rUtoqBNISUEtWV9AGmnNNMFl4k-VIPWRegykTfje-dQHLN4qKMH3zakQGrYq2S2Ev3hVOxre7wwfEq_PLNG5BU2OlLWZxKnoOWrWnwsd8qsErp0aQRT0Q6Krev7oUp7g5HnajoP3t/s1600/HickDining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Gs9rUtoqBNISUEtWV9AGmnNNMFl4k-VIPWRegykTfje-dQHLN4qKMH3zakQGrYq2S2Ev3hVOxre7wwfEq_PLNG5BU2OlLWZxKnoOWrWnwsd8qsErp0aQRT0Q6Krev7oUp7g5HnajoP3t/s640/HickDining.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">He wait staff was scrambling
and the dining room and take-out were doing a good business. The pace as decorated with lots of vintage stuff but it was bright and tasteful, it didn't feel like you were eating in a flea market.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbYlVbRpHvERoagFsOsMrO63d7ZhRED3TAUHB-Xfv5WooiCmy0QoGJMiF34-9gWpQJWGevl-RUtG-mpyNLAuM3HRm0eNlX9lU6gFZWYdXwdk4uaZpgNCsTXhvHd41HhKbiy8b-S4uZc_q/s1600/HickLoft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbYlVbRpHvERoagFsOsMrO63d7ZhRED3TAUHB-Xfv5WooiCmy0QoGJMiF34-9gWpQJWGevl-RUtG-mpyNLAuM3HRm0eNlX9lU6gFZWYdXwdk4uaZpgNCsTXhvHd41HhKbiy8b-S4uZc_q/s640/HickLoft.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thumbs up!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLKzghTjLFr7rgpxGxJMaoV4WLfdRW3lysk3rWv3ViItYccmHYn59mT23ZerGz_J4WWShcQkpIriKBysYfqSdlvxQaCE9Qy5BjTBJu36KyLm2VDdLE2C20apeZS7vjX_rmNzSc0Mzavvb/s1600/HickMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLKzghTjLFr7rgpxGxJMaoV4WLfdRW3lysk3rWv3ViItYccmHYn59mT23ZerGz_J4WWShcQkpIriKBysYfqSdlvxQaCE9Qy5BjTBJu36KyLm2VDdLE2C20apeZS7vjX_rmNzSc0Mzavvb/s640/HickMap.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Afterwards we settled into our room. At dusk I looked out to
the road to see that the neon sign was functional and it was. After dark I
drove out to the shoulder of the roadway to use the hood as a camera rest and
messed around with some still and video shots. I got some that are at least
good enough to remember the place by.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">With that it was time to blog and call it a night. Smoking is
not as banned down here as it is back home. Restaurants sometimes have smoking
sections and the place will have that forgotten odor. The Motel and at least
the downstairs of the BBQ joint were smoke free. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%;">:) We have at least another day to go in MO. It's hard to say how the holiday will impact things. It would be fun to catch a Midwest small town Memorial Day observance.</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-15096180596609851482012-05-26T23:15:00.002-07:002012-09-07T18:32:21.755-07:00Transitions<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It’s day 6 of the trip we’re really getting into the swing of
this. Today brought a number of transitions to the trip. The endless cornfields
at times became amber waves of grain. The flat fields became rolling hills,
straight roads found some curves and wooded land became the common terrain. At
2:15 this afternoon we crossed the line in to Missouri ending the tour of
Illinois in 3-1/2 days apart from the Chicago time.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Speaking of Chicago reminds me of the Beach Boys concert and
what we stumbled on. After a few days of local radio we decided to try the
Sirius XM satellite radio in the Jeep. We
started with period correct 50’s pop music. After a while we went to 60’s pop
where we found them having an Endless Summer Beach Boys weekend. They are
playing the live recording done for them by the BB at the onset of the tour. I
can really hear how the band has tightened up over the months but it still
serves to relive the live performances. The rest of the weekend is about 50%
Beach Boys music. They are playing a mix of the big hits and obscurities. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Living in New England we are accustomed to the strata in the
rocks being in any orientation due to glacial disruption. Here where rock has
been cut away the layers are level. Where we have much granite limestone is
common here.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Road kill of deer is quite common, I think we spotted 3 so
far. Let it suffice to say that cleanup is not prompt. We also hit a stretch of
the St.Luis beltway with a speed limit of 60 MPH, a speed limit I don’t ever
remember seeing. Okay, I’m easy to amuse.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">With the trivia essay complete it’s time to capture the day’s
sights and tastes. I can’t wait to add pictures to this blog but just the text
is keeping me up pretty late. So far the photos and a few videos amount to
nearly 600 files and 6 gigabyes.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After a Super-8 continental breakfast it was off to Henry’s
Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, IL. The outside featured mix of rabbit, route 66 and automotive
artifacts. A bunch of VW Rabbit chassis were cut in half and planted in the ground
bumpers up, like rows of corn. Now I know where those cars come from.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EKby7GiqhkjI-3TTF84EjTSn8m2zkwCwXUgGCLFtKmdHP-Z9fRQ6RQtqGSyHRExdiIO2k0GwEElu4nE0saX8_89iYyI1Ov3KCh9gqOXA8J4HWXtX9aH1efvnB63IkLKuWZXYSBkrcfYe/s1600/Rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EKby7GiqhkjI-3TTF84EjTSn8m2zkwCwXUgGCLFtKmdHP-Z9fRQ6RQtqGSyHRExdiIO2k0GwEElu4nE0saX8_89iYyI1Ov3KCh9gqOXA8J4HWXtX9aH1efvnB63IkLKuWZXYSBkrcfYe/s640/Rabbit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There
were old gas pumps and signs from restaurants and motels of the past. I can
just picture an older couple stopping in and seeing the sign from a place they
visited a generation ago with their family or on a honeymoon. Oh yea, there is a
building with cages of BIG rabbits. Lorna took a peek in the door and decided
not to raise havoc with our allergies. Other guest were inside checking out the
bunny’s and snapping up souvenirs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our next stop was in Mt. Olive at the Soulsby Shell station.
This was a classic roadside filling station that has been restored and housed
vintage exhibits and a few souvenir items. It was built in 1926 and operated by
the family until 1991.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The town now maintains the property as a route 66 attraction.
They sold shell gasoline for the run of the station. The white building with
red any yellow trim really pops and the vintage pumps and signage round it
out. Unlike many stops there are no additional items exhibited outdoors so it has
more of real operational look to it. They had Some really swell T-shirts so we
left the money in the donation jar and brought 1 home. The place was unattended at the time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Across town we visited the cemetery monument of Mother Mary
Jones. She was very involved with the labor movement, including the Virden uprising we learned about yesterday.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The
granite monument spire includes a cameo of Mother Mary and she is flanked by two
statues of miners</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> A
display case off to the side included mementos and some relevant graffiti.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Collinsville greeted us with a nice water tower. I plan to add
a water tower a day to this blog when I do the pictures. They are an art form
down here. Wait till I write about what I can see from our motel door! The attraction
that brought us to town is another water tower in the form of a giant Ketchup
bottle. Built by the G.S. Suppiger Co. with the Brook’s brand it’s quite a sight.
The company is now gone but local volunteers now maintain this piece of
history. It’s in photo perfect pristine condition at this time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">By now were past 1:00 PM and getting hungry. Down the road
the next attraction was the Hen House Restaurant. It’s one of 5 remaining from
a chain of 42. The food ranged from delicious to ordinary to unappealing. Some
of this is personal tastes, neither one of is care for canned green beans
sautete’d in bacon drippings. It was a cozy place with noteworthy poppy seed
sally dressing and chicken fried steak. Service was good, the price great and
the food did stick to our ribs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next door was the remains of the BelAir drive in theater. All
that remains is the sigh, on the marquee is a lone “S”. The land is for sale as the BelAir
industrial estates. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Across town was the Greenway Motel. It’s a nice looking
property with a significant roadside neon sign and L shaped motel building. If
the timing had been different it may have been a candidate for a night’s stay.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Up the street the 1926 Luna Cafe was also flagged and a
period site. The building has been updated but the signage evokes a prior age.
Like most days we continue to spot buildings or signs that were probably from
some heyday business. Some have been re purposed and others are in decay. This
was the end of Illinois for us and with a crossing of the Mississippi River we were
in Missouri.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Being Saturday afternoon of a holiday weekend resources were
uncertain. The MO visitors welcome station got high marks as did the RT66 State
Park. We made these the first priority. The attendant at the welcome station
was a gem with lots of information on the route in the state and beyond, he too
had made this journey! We left with maps that had his highlight marks all over
them. Getting to the State park visitor center (highly recommended to us) today
meant skipping past St.Louis by a few miles. The young man on duty wasn’t a
font of information but did manage to sell us a really good guide book for the
whole trip that we didn’t have. They had a nice route 66 exhibit of signage and
artifacts. The states are slowly gearing up to maximize this route 66 fascination.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Armed with all this new information we decided to get a lock
on a room in St.Louis and spend the evening working the town. We got a steady
message that the town was booked for the night and we decided to shift gears.
Thanks to our AAA guidebooks and cell phone we got a room booked west of the
city and set about exploring the St. Louis route 66 essentials. We could have
spent days here but that’s not the objective.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On our way east we visited the Giant Farmer statue in front
of the Sappington Farmers Marker
supermarket in St. Louis. Wearing blue coveralls and a red plaid shirt with his son by his
side he waves to all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The next stop was a route 66 icon, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/08/24/160010690/summer-nights-frozen-custard-in-st-louis" target="_blank">Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Stand</a>. Frozen custard. As I understand it is a soft serve ice cream with egg in
the mix.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I had a Dutchman Concrete, vanilla with caramel sauce and pecans,
small. There are sundaes and concretes and we learned that a concrete has had the toppings mixed into the custard, sort of like a DQ Blizzard but not quite as pulverized. The term concrete was found at future stops too. The stuff was delicious and silky smooth. Not firm
or icy like common soft serve can be, it was really really good. A strategy
that seems to be working is to always order small sizes and if it’s not really
good, leave some behind. None was left behind here. Sometimes the story just
tells itself and this place came through in spades. A bus pulled up and an
entire wedding party piled out for a photo shoot and custard, it must have
meant a lot to someone! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Another thing I have been doing at these iconic places
is to ask someone that looks like a local if the place lives up to the legend.
In this case the gal said “it’s the best, she grew up on it and still drives
an hour to come get a treat”. Before she left she stopped by to confirm our
satisfaction, she was right. Another T shirt is coming home.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Over the hill was another route 66 institution, the Donut Drive-in.
While I shot some pictures Lorna got a few donuts to go, glazed cake style.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">She
said the smell in there was amazing, one sniff in the Jeep with the 2 bagged donuts
made me a believer. I’ll know more in the
morning. Open until 11:59 PM on Friday and Saturday nights they must
have a munchies following. At about 6:00 PM the cases were well stocked. On the
way back a “Ship it on the Frisco” lettered railroad overpass was worth
stopping to take a few shots of.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Heading west to our motel we were traveling thorough Pacific
and found the Cedar Inn Restaurant. The
cedar log chinked building dates back to the early 1930’s and had many
celebrity guests over the decades. The place opened and closed a few times in
the latter years, most recently opened in 1987, today it is closed but looks
sound. The building signage is intact. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Up the road we noticed many railway bulk cars lined up on the
siding. Soon we saw massive “caves”in the rock wall faces along the road. Huge
cavernous chambers were carved in the hillside. Perhaps 50+ feet tall they went
in to the edge of daylight. You could walk right in off the roadway! It turns out
this is the site of a U.S. Silica mine supplying the glass industry, hence the
rail cars. We left with a few small samples of the powdery rock.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Farther up the road in Pacifica we found a massive roadside
sign for the Diamond Restaurant and Gardenway Motel.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Despite some deterioration
it’s still a grand sight and the western side took a good picture in the
evening light. A smaller sight across the intersection catches the eye of
nearby motorists. Up the road we found the Motel still in operation. It’s well
worn but still hosting guests.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Villa Ridge we found the Sunset Motel. This property had
closed but went under restoration and appeared to be open, the vacancy sigh was
lit. The V shaped building seems to form a common lawn area facing the road
with access doors from the units. The drive-up entrances are on the back side. Plenty of neon would be glowing shortly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">And with that we were soon at our motel. A nice tidy unit at
the .Budget Lodging Motel in St. Clair. After a quick, light meal down the
street we settled in for blogging and rest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Writing this blog keeps my busy for an amazing 2-4 hours per
night. This include setting up to download and back up the digital photos. So far it has been pure joy, to sit back and process
the days experiences, reviewing 100+ pictures a day, checking details in books
and on the web and translating all of that into this journal. The inexcusable act would be to reach the end
of this journey without a record of how we got there. </span></span></div>
Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-26885854972089599632012-05-26T05:16:00.000-07:002012-06-24T12:59:39.077-07:00Wandering an old Alignment<br />
Friday May 25, 2012<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The day started in Springfield, IL with a visit to the
Abraham Lincoln, Presidential Museum. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">School trip season is in full swing
though many schools are already shutting down for the summer. Even though it’s
not a route 66 attraction it seemed like a good thing to do while we were here.
The museum is not at all what I expected there being none of the classic museum
type exhibits. The central hall is surrounded by 4 Lincoln exhibit spaces and a
rotating exhibit room. We began with a walk through exhibit of the young
Lincoln’s life prior to the White House. It was a series or rooms and
vignettes, self-guided with limited descriptive plaques. From there we went to
see a presentation of the Ghosts of the museum. This was an innovative show
with one live actor. The audience is seated on simple wooden benches that span
the auditorium for the 12 minute show. The stage is behind a wall of glass and
is a broad library space. All of the sounds and voices are prerecorded with the
actor miming. Some holographic projections are used to make other story
elements come alive. It was engaging and patriotic with a run time of about 12
minutes. Next was a walk through of rooms and vignettes featuring the
presidential years, including the assassination. The first room was a TV studio
control room where contemporary election night coverage was enacted by Tim
Russert. It was a good way to
communicate many details. The last feature was a movie in a more classic theater room. Multiple screens were used on 3 faces of the room to tell the
story including a projected host. It was a Sensurround presentation titled
“Lincolns eyes” and it told the story of the war and Lincolns time in the White house. Smoke, smell and jolting vibrations added realism. With a trip though the gift shop it was a 3
hour excursion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next stop was down the road, still in Springfield at the Cozy
Drive in, “Home of the Famous Hot Dog on a Stick. The corn breading was just
thick enough with a rich corn flavor and a nice significant crust. The hand cut
shoestring fries were also good. The place was doing a brisk business in busy
town. The place was full of memorabilia and I sprung for a T Shirt.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Across town we then visited Shea’s filling station museum.
$3.00 per head bought a personally guided tour from one of the family members.
4 generations work the place including the 90+ year old grandfather. We had the
place to ourselves for about an hour passing another arriving couple as we
left. Some days they arrive by the busloads. The family has been there running
service stations on route 66 since 1966. In addition to the main station they
had a small tin station that had been moved to the site. The place is filled
with memorabilia beyond description, signs, uniforms, product, pumps, tools,
souvenir items and family history. He must have shown us dozens of examples of
the operation being featured in travel guides found around the world. American
pickers came to shoot a segment but a snowstorm caused them to scratch the
shoot They promise to return. The grandfather even autographed postcards for
us, real nice folk. The place isn’t fancy, but it’s a roadside institution.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The afternoon was growing late and it was time for desert. We
stopped at Steak & Shake for milkshakes. Little did we know it was happy
hour (2-4 PM) with shakes ½ price, what a deal. Across the street was another
giant Paul Bunyan, this time holding an American flag.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">From here we left the primary route and traveled the 1926-30
alignment of the road. Over the years segments were changed as things evolved
and this road has not officially been Route 66 since 1930. Our first stop was in
Auburn, a 1.4 mile section of the roadway in its red brick form. We put the
camera timer to work and got a picture of us on the red brick road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Down the road in Virden we visited the monument of the Virden
Mine Battle of 1898. The battle is still considered a landmark event in
American labor history. The massive plaque and bricks commemorating those lost
and involved. Sit in the central lawn park. Once again the village was clustered around a
big grassy park and a hardware store was especially photo worthy. The veterans
were selling memorial day poppy’s as a toll as we entered town. The park has a
nice veterans statue up on an uncommon white 4 legged pedestal that you can
walk under.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I think this is where some alternate route markings threw us
a curve ball. Many of these roads are
small and remote so anything is plausible. In this case we were way out in the
farm fields. At one point at a crossroads with corn fields running almost as
far as one can see on all four corners. Finally Lorna though of sending the GPS
to our next destination and it led us back to civilization.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As we moved to the next stop the GPS flagged an upcoming
attraction. Nestled behind a present day filling station in Farmersville we
found Art’s Motel & Restaurant. The place is shut down and resting in the
shadows of highway billboards. It had been refurbished and reopened in 2006 but
apparently did not make it. It’s down on the sparsely traveled Mother Road on
the fringe of Farmersville, a virtual ghost town.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Waggoner we visited Our Lady of the Highway. Since 1959
this small shrine to Mary has put a religious spin on highway safety. As you
drive south from the shrine you can say your Hail Mary one phrase at a time as
you read from the roadside signs in the Burma Shave style. This site like many
is in the Route 66 Hall of Fame. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Carlinville had the Macoupin County “Million Dollar”
courthouse. The reported price in 1870 is a scandal that lives to this day. The
massive Renaissance Revival limestone structure is the largest courthouse in
the nation. Age has taken its toll on the exterior staircases so they are all
closed. A modern side entrance is used to access the building.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Visible across
the street is the 1870 county jail, built in Gothic Revival style. Cannon balls
are embedded in the walls to help prevent jailbreaks. The town center looks
like a big roundabout on the GPS. As we approach, a square grassy center lawn
space is surrounded by a massive red
brick square tarmac that is rimmed with the village shops. Traffic enters on
the 4 sides and encircles the lawn. There are no markings, you just wing it.
The farming community character was evident when we stopped for gasoline. In
one direction was the main street with the courthouse dome in the background.
When I turned around the grain elevator was the dominant feature.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Buffalo Bill Rangers Ranch” in Gillespie had been a roadside attraction
featuring buffalo. Apparently it is no more since “In Memory of” has been added
to the sign. There is still a pen with a few buffalo grazing apparently
maintained by the present property owners. Across town we found dinner before finding a room at the Super 8 in Staunton. A nice clean room, with continental breakfast for $58. !</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The farm fields have been consistently active. Meanwhile the
villages continue to be quite depressed, some were literal ghost towns. My
guess is that modern farming machinery is enabling the farming to take place
with many fewer workers. No workers, no local economy and the village collapses.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We thought we’d be in St. Louis tonight but Illinois has had
many stories to tell. We should wrap it up and be in Missouri in time for late
lunch. We continue to locate more maps and guides. No single resource has it
all so we’re juggling lots of information to chart the course. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In addition to the stops mentioned there have been many
buildings that were certainly part of the route 66 story. With the route now
established as a National Scenic Byway perhaps others will be restored to their
classic configuration and join in the telling of this story. </span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-16455666560999104142012-05-24T21:32:00.001-07:002012-06-24T10:40:49.617-07:00Deep in the Land of Lincoln<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The day began in Dwight, IL at a local 50's themed diner sort
of place. Last evening we realized there was more to see in Dwight so it was back
to the village.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">For a little village it has some grand buildings. The former
Keeley institute now the Fox Developmental Center has multiple columned facades
and with multiple buildings it covers a good part of the block. In the room
above the main lobby are 5 stained windows depicting the 5 senses. Stained
glass panels also adorn the ceiling. The room and much of the interior that we
could see was trimmed in green marble columns. Another centerpiece is the
restored and operating railway station. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViUiIzxyetU767ykn3L-2cyRAhs1-ZyCpwAKZrwAKpH3T-XMeWUK8PbjYMcuv7roS9cK2WugmPCNCd9hC0OzuvNxf2W9geMSlbtcx7Kfs0REO1upXuLAJfndeuIsk1ZE21fnISRNNI9WW/s1600/Dwight+Stained+Glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViUiIzxyetU767ykn3L-2cyRAhs1-ZyCpwAKZrwAKpH3T-XMeWUK8PbjYMcuv7roS9cK2WugmPCNCd9hC0OzuvNxf2W9geMSlbtcx7Kfs0REO1upXuLAJfndeuIsk1ZE21fnISRNNI9WW/s640/Dwight+Stained+Glass.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We circled back to the restored filling station to get a
recording of the 3 minute audio presentation that played when you press a button. We
first heard this voice in Gardner. The speaker has a warm pleasant voice that
makes you want to drown yourself in a tub of Country-time Lemonade. Despite the
odd metaphor this is a positive statement. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As we drove south we could see a wind farm to the east with
at least one hundred and perhaps hundreds of wind mills. To get some pictures I
crossed the railroad track on foot and there was nothing in sight down the long
straight away. Before I knew it the crossing was clanging and an Amtrak train
came ripping through, it was flying!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our next stop was Odell home of a restored 1932 Standard Oil
filling station. The white and blue paint really popped in the morning light.
Inside were a lot of related antiquities and a gift shop. </span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Another interesting find
was waiting back up the street at the Catholic Church. The route 66 traffic was
often bumper to bumper and moving fast. For the safety of children and all
citizens a tunnel was constructed to cross under the street. A stairway running
parallel to the street went down then walkers turned to cross the street to
exit up similar staircase. It has all been filled in however the staircases
remain and one has been partially excavated to illustrate this piece of
history. Another one is said to have existed farther up the street.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">One thing we are noticing is that many villages have wide grass spaces between street and
sidewalks. Broad common green spaces up the center on “Main Street” are also
common. Sadly many downtown's seem to be nearly ghost towns with 1/3 occupied, 1/3
for rent and 1/3 derelict. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Today we spent the lion’s share of the day driving on route
66 as a 2 lane road, no shoulders. Lanes were of moderate width and pavement
old but comfortable enough at 50 MPH. Major
crosswinds from the east were blowing. Much of the time we had 2 retired lanes
visible across a median ditch. In a lot of areas we were parallel with railway track
and/or an interstate highway. Sometimes the panoramic views of trailer trucks
on the highways gave a real sense of commerce on the move. We are also seeing a
real pattern of grain elevators and community silos, they mark nearly any
significant location.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It’s early to say for sure but we both came to the
realization that we may want to sacrifice some of the side trips (Grand Canyon,
Hoover Dam, Vegas, etc.) so we can do justice to route 66. It’s early to say
for sure. We are really getting connected to the legend of the road and enjoy
wandering a few blocks past the through road. Also we have already found a
number of locations exceeding the expectations that our research set.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Late morning brought us to Pontiac, IL, home of an Illinois route
66 museum. We could have spent a full
day in this town. The downstairs of the old town hall has been re-purposed and
includes a huge display of memorabilia. Most of it organized town by town from
north to south. It was fun to revisit the places we just toured and to get a
glimpse down the road. Then the docent just had to get us up on the story of
Bob Waldmire. Bob made it his life’s work to chronicle the Mother Road in sketch
and paintings. He traveled the road in a converted school bus and towing a VW micro-bus.
Both are on display and she gave us a tour of the bus. She wasn’t done with us
yet, pretty amazing for her 2<sup>nd</sup> day on the job!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next she told us
about the WALLDOGS. They are an association of independent sign artist that
converge on a community for a weekend. They painted something like 23 colorful
vintage murals all around town. Just follow the red footsteps. We walked the town snapping pictures of murals. Additional
murals have been added by local artists. We also visited the WALLDOGS
gallery/museum that was established. Just
as Joliet had the gas pumps around town here they were small decorated kiddie
cars on the sidewalks. After lunch we went back to the museum to tour the 1940’s
exhibit and a galley of route 66 iconic photos.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our next stop was Memory Lane in Lexington. This is a 1 mile
section of the original road that is lined with vintage signs to be enjoyed as a
walking tour. It was a nice walk but unfortunately few signs remain. They do
still maintain the road with mowed shoulders and open it up for special route
66 events. It was a nice walk.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The next stop was Funks Grove where we saw a nice church,
transplanted train station (I think) and the remains of the Funks Grove Country
Store.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Atlanta, IL was next down the road. We expected this to be a
drive by…. Lorna got a kick out of the Laundromat
/ 50 cent bookstore. Somehow we missed the giant Paul Bunyan statue as we drove
in. Here he holds a hot dog in a bun! The town also had a number of new and
vintage wall murals. The town library with a free standing clock tower were
nice stone structures.</span></span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">They even have a route 66 park. A mural proclaims it to
be the midpoint of Ill route 66. The grain elevators down the street reminds
you where you are. The final delight was the yellow mushroom top water tower,
complete with a smiley face! Not bad for a drive through town!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The town of Lincoln sported the world’s largest covered wagon
and Honest Abe is the driver!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Pig Hip restaurant, a legend and dinner plan was not to
be found. When I checked tonight it had burned down years ago.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Williamsville is where we found dinner. Bella Trattoria was the
happening place. One guy was running the whole front of the house, hours 5-9. The
stone baked meaty pizza was satisfying. The Main street like many others was a
mixed bag but looked rich in history. They had a real nice center green a few
blocks in. It’s fronted by a big arch leading to a cannon and veterans park. The
Farmers Coop grain elevators were expansive. There was a Route 66 used car dealership
with no cars but lots of eclectic stuff. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">From there it was time to find a room. The Frontier Inn was supposed
to be the quintessential route 66 motel. It was looking like a run down hodge
podge. We moved on to Springfield and snagged a room at the Ramada.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It has been another great day. I can say that I have
transitioned from feeling like this is just a long weekend to being on
vacation. Unlike some recent vacations where we visited familiar favorite
places this is all virgin territory and the experience is entirely fresh. In
case you haven’t figured it out, I’m writing this blog as a personal keepsake as
much as to share the adventure. Tomorrow will begin with the Lincoln
Presidential Museum then other attractions here in Springfield and down the
road.</span></span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-41333383853856857212012-05-23T21:06:00.002-07:002012-06-24T09:47:13.403-07:00Goodbye Windy City, Hello RT66<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">After being out for the show and up blogging we slept in a
little today but By 10:30 or so we had checked out and headed off to get the real
journey underway. Between the two of us juggling maps, guidebooks and the GPS
we quickly learned that we’d need to stay on our toes. The GPS routes that I
downloaded do not behave entirely as expected but it will take some more
attention to fully understand them. Meanwhile we have plenty of good resources
and it’s working well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">After 1 misstep that got us needlessly on the interstate we
navigated our way back to the Mother Road and did well for the rest of the day.
We did manage to catch the BEGIN sign of route 66 in Chicago, that was one I
was really happy to nail. One cool moment as we drove away from the city was
when I looked in the rearview mirror and saw a panoramic view of the Chicago
skyline.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">It wasn’t long before we saw unique city signs acknowledging Route
66 such as in Berwin. Breakfast was late but as 1:00 PM approached we were
finding our appetites. Lorna realized that we were closing in on Dell Rhea Chicken
Basket a Route 66 Roadside Attraction since 1966. It’s on a small section of
remaining roadway that has essentially become a city street. Getting there meant
getting off the interstate and on afterwards. As expected some segments no
longer exist and sometimes you need to go a few exits to jump the gaps. We took
the lunch buffet and sampled what was offered including the fried chicken. The
breading was significant and very tasty. The breast I had was juicy and flavorful.
The Italian meatloaf was also noteworthy. The place has been featured on Diners,
Drive-ins and Dives. Business was brisk for being after the noon hour. The restaurant
had a very vintage style, inside and out, Route 66 décor was evident.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> One curiosity that
began building almost immediately was wondering how many others were making the
same journey. I did hear some chatter that certainly suggested that we were not
alone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Joliet was the next stop. As we entered town there is a park
that includes some informative signs and the Rich and Creamy ice cream stand.
It sports a rooftop ice cream cone emblazoned with the town slogan, “Joliet
Kicks on Route 66”. There were interpretive signs and the our first vintage gas
pump. Just as we have had local lighthouse and bear trails they have these vintage
fuel pumps. We stopped at the Visitors Center and got more guide pamphlets.
Then we hit the Rialto Square Theater which has become a concert / performing arts
type of theater. Kathy Griffin was there Sunday, Trace Adkins comes in July.
The outside is a grand stone structure. The last stop was the Old Joliet
Prison, complete with one of those gas pumps. The prison is an intricate stone
structure with high walls, observation turrets all prisoner quarried of local
limestone. The facility has been closed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">We headed down the road into Wilmington we reached the
Launching Pad Restaurant, home of the Gemini Giant, a tall (20+”) green metal
astronaut holding a small rocket. The restaurant is for sale and nobody was
there as after 4:00. Some of these towns seemed painfully quiet and they seem
to have been hit hard by the economy. A small sign asked that after stopping
for pictures to please come inside to help support the giant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">In Braidwood we did stop for a snack at the Polka Dot
Drive-in, established 1956. The building had a small traditional carport awning
in the front and was surrounded with iconic statues. Marylin, Fabian, Elvis,
Betty Boop, the Blues Brothers, you get the picture. They served a mix of drive
in food and ice cream. The place was tidy and doing a steady business. I
sampled the “World Famous Chili Cheese
Fries”. I think Lorna made the better choice with her frappe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">This was all fine and good but the first place that got my
heart was Gardner. Route 66 diverts from the long straight away and meanders
thought this little village. The land is flat, the kids playing on the
playgrounds and it really had that Middle America small town feel. Driving into
the village we came upon our first Route 66 shield painted down on the
pavement. The 2 room jail, a vintage rail dining car and a tribute to a local
minister that helped avert nuclear catastrophe were some of the stories the
village held. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Back on the straight and narrow of 66 we traveled south
realizing that rooms were not on every corner. The next town, Dwight held
promise. We rolled into town and snagged a room at the Classic Inn, a well worn
but clean motel. After 2 nights in Chicago it will help balance the lodging
budget. After unloading it was time to go find dinner with a few suggestions
from the desk clerk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">A sign for a historic windmill caught our eye and soon the windmill
did too. After meandering through the neighborhood we were there. A few photos’
, read the descriptive signs and off we
went. We circled up to the main village but nothing there caught our eye. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">As we circled out of the village looking for food we stumbled
on the restored Ambler-Decker Texaco station, now a landmark stop. Built in
1933 it was the longest operating fuel station on Route 66. Complete with a
porta-a-pottie and picnic tables, it was a welcoming attraction. Inside are a
number of vintage items on display but we won’t be around when they open.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">And there, across the intersection was dinner, The Old Route
66 Family Restaurant. A simple, home style BLT hit the spot and it was back to
our room to catch up on things.</span><br />
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</div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-10117003331728399492012-05-22T23:37:00.002-07:002012-06-24T07:27:15.925-07:00Fun Fun Fun<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">A<span style="font-size: small;"> morning with no alarm clock, what a treat. The hotel
breakfast room was plenty good, including those make ‘em yourself waffles.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">With that it was off to the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum
of Natural History</a>. They have the biggest most complete T-Rex in the business.
She’s named Sue and Lorna wanted to meet her. They actually have a massive “evolution”
exhibit that we must have been an hour walking and reading through and it had slew
of prehistoric critters. We also got to see a 3D movie about Sue, “Waking the
T.Rex”. Then we saw special </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">exhibits on <span class="field-content">Genghis Khan and
The Underground Adventure. All told we were there for about 5 hours.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="field-content"><span style="line-height: 115%;">From there it was off to the Willis
Tower (formerly Sears Tower) SkyDeck to see the big view from the 103<sup>rd</sup>
floor. It’s odd walking near Lake Michigan with a good breeze and realizing
there isn’t salt in the air. It was about a 2 mile walk along the lake front
then to Grant Park and taking in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham_Fountain">Buckingham Fountain</a>.
We hit it right and got there while it was shooting high. Route has Grant park
as an origin so it’s of significance.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="field-content"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On the way we noticed a big honking
building with some very ornate roof ornaments. It ended up being the Chicago
Public Library. We decided to check it out (no pun intended) and got to ride
the escalators and see an insane amount of marble. The magnitude of these
public spaces is really grand.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="field-content"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We got to the Willis tower and the
light crowd made it all a breeze. They meter the traffic to the SkyDeck, posted
at 300 Max. They get their money’s worth out of the elevator trip packing
people like sardines in a can. The overview of the city was cool and we got
some pictures. Some of the architecture was actually neat to see from that
vantage point. Some teachers that bring classes every year said it was the best
visibility they ever saw so we did OK.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="field-content"><span style="line-height: 115%;">From there we needed to get to
dinner and drop off the camera before the concert. We decided to log some more miles
walking and armed with our map headed home. Walking along we spotted out first “Illinois
Historic Route 66” sign” that was worth a photo. Time was slipping away and the
likelihood of a nice sit down meal was fading fast. If it wasn’t going to be leisurely
then it need to at least be interesting. I had been hearing about “Italian Beef”
and after noticing a few such places there was <a href="http://www.alsbeef.com/">Al’s,
Chicago’s #1 Italian Beef since 1938</a>. It must have been the one at </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%;">169 W.
Ontario. We each had the signature sandwich with the 4 inch version being
plenty. The finely shaved beef was mouthwatering tender, well spiced and juicy.
The fries were also darned good. They were the kind with the peel.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We walked on after that but finally snagged a cab as
insurance against time or a wrong turn. </span><span class="field-content"><span style="line-height: 115%;">By then we
had logged most of that 2 mile hike. I think the cabbie took the long way so I wouldn’t
feel like a dork for getting a cab so close to the destination. It was a fun
ride as always. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">After a
quick turnaround at the hotel the doorman flagged a cab and it was off to the
evening show.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After going to the Beach Boy’s 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary
concert 9 days ago and toughly enjoying it the coincidence that they were
playing tonight, 6 blocks away was irresistible. A few minutes on stub hub
landed a pair of nice balcony aisle seats near center stage. (section BALC3R Row J, Seats 304 & 306). The show
was at the majestic <a href="http://www.thechicagotheatre.com/">Chicago Theatre</a>
which by itself was worth the price of admission. Forgive the smart phone pictures but they have this thing about cameras at concerts. :) This was shot after the concert at the bottom of the balcony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When the cab dropped us off about 45 minutes before show time
the initial crowd had dispersed and we breezed right in. This was my first time
with stub hub and while I had heard good things you just never know. 2 beeps
from the scanner and in we were. Sigh.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The seats were exactly as expected and we got to feast our
eyes on the eye candy this place is festooned with. We got to compare notes
with a few other fans that have been following Brian Wilson over the years. His
work consistently means so much to so many people. From what I could see it was
a full house on the second night of a 2 night stand.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When the usher came to us asking to see our tickets my first
thought was that I had been taken on Stub Hub. Quite the contrary, I sat in row
I rather than J and just need to move up a seat, whew.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">If you do a little people watching you can often spot which
half of the couple is the real fan and who is along for the ride. In our case I’m
the fan but Lorna has really come around. A few neighbors were disturbingly
chatty but were generally drowned out and settled down as the night went on. It’s
also clear that Kokomo, done for the movie Cocktails is known to a different
generation. When that comes up a whole different crowd perks up to sing along.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The show was very much like what we saw at Mohegan though I
swear they may have added 1 or 2 more obscure numbers. I’ll need to check the
set list when it gets posted. With about 44 songs in the show it’s a tough call
from memory.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thinking back over the years to memorable concert experiences
one stands out from the Peter Paul and Mary 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary concert
at the Civic Center in Portland. At one point while singing Puff the Magic
Dragon they stopped singing and let the audience carry the vocals. The sound of
some 6000 people singing with the innocence of youth was breathtaking. It’s on
the live recording of the tour but being there brings it to a whole other
level. Tonight approached zenith when the audience began to eclipse the
amplified Beach Boy’s singing Wouldn’t It Be Nice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Latter in the show Dennis and Carl Wilson were remembered as
the live band accompanied them as video and vocals played. Dennis did “Forever”
and Carl did “God Only Knows”. A standing ovation followed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">California Girls caught me off guard when the mention of the “midwest
farmers daughter” got a rise from the crowd. At home it’s the “east coast girls”
that gets a response.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Brian was in the best form I have seen him in so far. He
carried all of his vocals and remained engaged throughout the whole show. At
time he was animated gesturing to the crowd and band. When he got up from the
piano for the encore and went to playing bass guitar he was nearly dancing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I have to mention the band. In addition to the 5 actual Beach
Boy’s 10 other musicians shared the stage. The band is largely Brian’s touring
band that has worked with him for over a decade. They are an incredible group
of multi-instumentalists and angelic singers. They have brought Brian’s solo
tours and recordings to life. (Pet Sounds, Smile, Lucky Old Sun, Gershwin &
Disney) Sir Paul McCartney calls them the best touring band in the world! Reading
the history of these musicians including the founders of the Wondermints they
love and respect the work of Brian Wilson. Of special note is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Foskett">Jeffrey Foskett</a>. Jeff
shares the front of the stage with the Beach Boy’s adjacent to Brain. Has the talent
of being able to perfectly emulate the soaring falsetto of a young Brian
Wilson. He has been playing this part for many years and acts as an extension
of Brian, filling in when needed and letting Brian be the star. Every fan in
the know understands what this man means to the show and for all intents and
purposes he is the 6<sup>th</sup> Beach Boy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I have said this before and it bears repeating. They play on
the Bangor waterfront on June 22 and if you are so inclined, be there!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Just when you figured that all of the hits had been played
the encore ended with “Fun, Fun, Fun”. The night ended with the audience once
again eclipsing the bad with the falsetto wailing that defies the written word.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">And with that we took our time leaving the theater as the
roadies began their nights work. We hailed a cab with “Fun Fun Fun” still
ringing in our ears. And that’s just what this adventure is about.</span></span></div>
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</div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-43416287065023356662012-05-22T05:39:00.000-07:002012-06-28T17:14:29.638-07:00And Away we go to ChiTown<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Well it’s Tuesday morning and I have some catching up to do.
Sunday was a busy day battening down the hatches at home, making our list and
checking it twice and of course packing. That went well into the night that
ended all too soon when the alarm went off to get ready to head out. It’s a
good thing I don’t need to fly the plane. Lorna’s folks were over at daybreak
and got us to the airport, THANKS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Air travel was about as good as it gets with flights and baggage
all being where they needed to be right on time. During our Charlotte layover I
rediscovered Carolina Pit Barbecue good stuff! I found this place a few years
ago when a chain of cancelled and redirected flights put me and a coworker in
Charlotte at about 10PM with no dinner. The food was just as good without the acute hunger and fatigue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">We were on the ground in Chicago early in the afternoon and
headed over to get the rental car. We snagged a Jeep Liberty from the Emerald
Aisle. It’s big enough, better on fuel than the behemoth I was considering and
high enough see the sights. Maybe we can kick up some desert dunes?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">With the GPS plastered to the windshield we naively headed
for <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chifd-fairfield-inn-and-suites-chicago-downtown/">the
hotel.</a> It seemed that a number of desired highway ramps were closed for
repair or accidents. The GPS figured I was numb and wanted to go around the
block a few times. Did I mention that short night’s sleep? After breaking the
cycle a few times only to be thwarted by another closed ramp I drove out far enough
that it chose a different and more cooperative route to the hotel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The streets of Chicago are surprisingly tree lined. Enough so that it's easy to miss a smallish hotel on the first pass. What's one more trip around the block. :) Dealing with an in-town hotel with no onsite parking was
something new to me. We pull into one of several spots up front and an attendant
helps unload the bags and a valet drives off with my vehicle. There’s something
about not having a vehicle at hand that leaves me feeling a little lost and
helpless. We checked in, collected the box of maps and tour guide books we sent
in advance to avoid baggage weight and headed up to our room to settle in.
Those maps would have been handy when playing ramp roulette. Note to self,
bring the local maps next time! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">It was getting to be late in the afternoon and we knew we
wouldn’t be up for a big evening. We hiked down to <a href="http://www.navypier.com/">Navy Pier</a> on the shore of Lake Michigan. It
was relatively quiet being a Monday evening in May but there was plenty to see.
It was Lorna’s first time there. One surprise was an endless gallery of stained
glass windows. All framed, shielded and back-lit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">After a day of air travel it
felt good to just do some walking and sightseeing. We had a light dinner at <a href="http://www.harrycaraystavern.com/navy-pier/">Harry Caray’s</a> and headed
back. We found a 7-Eleven near the hotel for a few refreshments and headed in
for the night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">After writing a version of this post that got eaten by the “back”
button, dozing on some TV we crashed for the night. We’re on vacation!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">No time to mess with pictures this morning but some will
follow.</span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099445516970814120.post-44362572230895703122012-05-18T20:27:00.002-07:002012-05-19T13:32:13.942-07:00Introduction<div style="text-align: center;">
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The time was approaching for some serious time off and as an extension of our 25th anniversary we decided to make this a vacation to remember.<br />
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Over the last year or so we considered a good many options and along the way a few magazine features and a love for nostalgia gave this idea wings. Early in 2012 we set to work planning this trip, collecting references, reading books, scouring websites and even watching the movie "Cars". Each step of the way the fascination grew and the research became an extension of the journey.<br />
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The plan: To fly from home in Maine to Chicago, Illinois the eastern terminus of Route 66, rent a car and over 25 days tour to the western end in Santa Monica, California then fly home.<br />
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I'm sure that in a few all too short weeks I will have a new perspective of this trip but for now the history, evolution and rebirth of this byway are intriguing. The roads that came to be known as Route 66 were made part of the US Highway system in 1927. The road already had a long history of travelers, hardship and hope as people flocked to southern California. Long roads, brutal deserts and treacherous mountain passes ended more than one traveler's journey prematurely. Driven by the migration to California and inspired by the American love of auto travel this route evolved to serve the traveler. Service stations, motor courts, restaurants and an endless array of attractions each hoping to skim some business from the endless parade were built.<br />
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Over the years Route 66 became known as America's Main street, the Mother Road, The Great Diagonal Way and even the Will Rogers Highway. It was immortalized by a 1960's television show of the same name and a hit song, The route was not immune to the march of progress and in 1985 after section after section were bypassed by modern alternative routes the federal government decommissioned Route 66.<br />
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But the Mother Road still had spirit and the entrepreneurs a will to survive. Just 2 years latter in 1987 several states had formed official Historic Route 66 agencies to preserve the road and it's attractions as a living history museum. Today over 25 years latter many rundown establishments have been lovingly restored by communities and owners, each looking to share a piece of a bygone era and of course conduct some commerce along the way. Some sections of the retired roadway are no longer passable, some have become pedestrian attractions though the woods and farm fields that have enveloped them. Some towns are firmly rooted in the past and the mystique so thick it borders on time travel.<br />
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Our goal, after a few days in Chicago is to hit the road and see what this route has to offer. We'll see parts of the nation we have never visited and see many new sights for sure. We only need to average headway of about 100 miles a day so we expect to have plenty of time to get to know the communities as we find lodging on a daily basis. We hope to come back with a mother lode of memories, pictures and experiences. When we travel we often find the most memorable moments happen out of the blue. We have a saying that, "If you hear Serendipity knocking to let her in".<br />
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It's time to pack a few changes of clothes and see what Serendipity and Route 66 have waiting for us.<br />
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WiFi permitting we hope to make daily updates to this blog.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcIJOJMw_-4B-7LfXKl7X3Gn9CaEYuId_KsFYlPfR5vvhtCEz7_yrNOkLEeq5RPucmBYP5D0f9cY2wu0sJg06nbWvqoyCDA6hBXnqsgg0ZZO-QSFkNJAm1vyaofo1W-B3_QXCymCz9swG/s1600/Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624305962322648625noreply@blogger.com0