Lots 2 See

Last night, we stayed at the Big Texan Motel in Amarillo. As you walk into the room, the first thing you see is a fly swatter. You’re in Texas after all. In some rooms, the door leading to the bathroom, no the swinging doors leading to the bathroom lead you to believe you are entering a saloon.

The Big Texan Steak House is a must see on Route 66. It is a museum in itself ;

Bonus: 3 musicians entertain the customers, the service and the food are fantastic.

In Adrian, we pass the Mid Point Café. Unbelievable that our journey is halfway completed. Unfortunately, the café is for sale because of illness in the family. The bakery however and the gift shop are still open.

Next stop is the Russell’s Truck and Travel Centre, just entering New Mexico. The vintage roadside general store is also a modern truck stop. The food is great but the free automobile museum is awesome. Mr. Russell is 79 years young, works 6 days a week and has never sold a car from his collection!

Then, the fun started on this special stretch of Route 66. No signage, lots of unpaved and rough roads for the more adventurous, lots of dead ends sometimes a cow path following the Major Interstate and , of course the railway.

Stopped at the Santa Rosa Route 66 Automobile Museum and met the owner Bozo. Roger and Jim went off to Bozo’s Garage to look for hub caps: Jim lost two so far. Bozo’s employee had just sold them and so we are still on the hunt for the hub caps.

Bozo’s wife in the meantime informed us that her husband suffered a brain aneurism 15 years ago and that it changed their lives. They decided they wanted to share their collection and enjoy all the people they knew would stop in. What a treat for us.

Eventually, we drive to the singing road. Mel informed us that  Nat-Geo actually paid for the permanent rumble strips on Route 66 between Albuquerque and Tijeras which play “America the Beautiful” when you drive over them at the 45 mile per hour speed limit. We did it, we heard it!

We finally arrive in Albuquerque. We see this Weirdo hippy standing on the corner of Central and Rio Grande flashing a sign saying: “I want to be standing on a corner in Winslow AZ!” (I.e. reference to the Eagles Take it Easy) Lo and behold, this strange hippy dude is our son, trying to surprise Roger for his birthday. Success! No one had a clue. As the hippy approached, everyone was flabbergasted when the long hair and beard came off. Awesome that he will be joining us on our journey to Williams AZ.