Day 13 of Route 66 2015 from Albuquerque NM to Holbrook AZ

I had a wunderfull trip to Holbrook. In 2013 I drove a different route to see El Moro en did I not drove to Gallup. Now I choose the classic route 66. Although classic with also driving interstate and I am not fund of that but there is no alternative. But I drove Cubero Loop (old rte66) and the death mens curve. But let go to the start of the day.

I started the day with a sightseeing of Albuquerque. Visited the Route 66 diner, a highlight that I only saw from the outside because I was to early and they open at 11.00. And then I drove to the road runner statue outside the town.

A nice drive further to the Rio Grande Bridge were I tought what is so Grande here so see because there was a small river to see. In rain season it must be impressive but now it’s nothing compared to Dutch standards. The same I must say about the Rio Puerco Bridge. Not much river to see but it’s a nice bridge and the city had placed some statues around the 66 so I enjoyed my visit.

Then on the way to Gallup were I saw also a nearly ghost town Budville. Driving the old parts I have the impression that a lot of building are no longer in use because there is no business anymore. I visited the Continental Divide Indian Market were I bought my shirt to remember New Mexico and I was the only customer for 20 minutes and 3 people at work.  

The I came in Gallup and visited El Rancho Hotel were many famous movie stars stayed for a night.  Only the entrance is already very impressive to see. Entering the building gave me the feeling I walked into a western movie with my favorite start John Wayne. This is really a must visit when driving 66.

After Gallup I visited the Indian stores on old 66 like the Teeppe trading post. No pictures allowed inside but from the outside it’s very impressive. I bought, for my mother in law, the route 66 thimble here so one more to add to her collection. Saw Chee’s Indian store and had a Sprite there also a nice stop although I have to say every store sell the same stuff on the part of 66. Only the presentation is different.

And the most beautiful part of driving my dream route 66, the painted dessert and Petrified Forest. After paying an entrance fee off 5 dollar you can drive the road and sight-seeing of most the most amazing views.  Is a drive for around 40 km long. And after the 2 first stops I decided to let the helmet on the bag. Driving 30 mls. as top speed and let the wind play with my hair gave a wunderfull feeling and I must say the sightseeing brought back many good memories to this place.  So when driving route 66 this part of 66 may not be missed. It is to beautiful to be missed in your roadmap.

Then I drove to Holbrook a 30 km drive from the Forest over a nearly empty piece of land. I did visit shortly  Joe & Aggie’s cafe to make some pictures there. My sightseeing of Holbrook starts today. And of course today I will see 2 guns, twin arrows the meteor crater. A lot of more nice things to see like Walnut Canyon National Monument.

I will stay then 2 nights in Flagstaff and visit the Grand Canyon. My sister and her husband are ill so and had an emotional decision to make not visiting here because I cannot handle being ill on my trip. But Meiny I will see you next year in the Netherlands and at the wedding from Josh and Shannon.

Day 12 of Route 66 2015 from Tucumcari NM to Albuquerque NM

Before leaving Tucumcari I needed to do some sightseeing of the highlight of this town. Off course I saw the Blue Swallow Motel. Even drove around it to see the back side (that nothing special compared to the front side). A must see on 66. I looked to make a reservation there but was to late.

I also saw the apache motel that is not in use anymore I hope there will be a new owner soon else it will be lost in a year or 2. 

And the motel Safari were Cees stayed a night. Also a nice logo on the street. And of course I visited the Teepee Curios were Willem now is making his model from. Spoke the new owner because it was closed in 2013. Gar & Heide Engman bought the place. German names but we spoke English.  Good that this highlight is saved. And a nice shop too but that you can see in the pictures.

Then I drove to Santa Rossa over I-40 and some old parts off Route 66 to see the car museum again. And my Swiss friends were already there making pictures and of course on from me and the car too. This museum is a must see for classis car lovers entrée fee only 5 dollars. They had changed the cars since 2013 but not all, the Mercedes and Datsun are still there. And they have a generation line of Ford Mustangs now standing. And yes the Fina logo is still on the wall. For my Total friend ( previous TotalFinaElf) a nice few.

After the visit I did some sightseeing of Santa Rossa saw the blue hole and eat something in the restaurant and fueled the bike because I know it’s a long ride over the US84 ( Rte66 before 37) with no gas station. 

And now I know again why we Europeans want to drive the road. It is lonely and have a lot of mountain views to see. And the end is a gas station and there I met a truck driver with a Peterbilt from 2003. His Cat-engine had done 1,4 miljoen miles and he was happy with it. No epa10 shit like DEF en Particle filters needed he said. Ok work needs to stop here.

The drives continued to Madrid were many artists are selling their work. To road is a beauty to drive with many mountains and many curves. Cees drove here too and it was like the bike did know the way back.

The visit to Madrid was nice. I saw even a bottle tree ranch on the way to Albuquerque. Entering the city over the old route 66 that went over in a wide street with 4 lanes where drivers adapted the drive still to city style. Always in a hurry

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So what do I today? Going to Gallup NM that I did not do in 2013 were I went to El Moro. The entering the home state of my sister were I will see the Petrified Forest again. Think I will end in Holbrooke today.  

picture will follow asap

Day 11 of Route 66 2015 from Amerillo T to Tucumcari NM

Amarillo is the city of the Peterbilt dealer that helped me in 2013 and my hotel was near to them so I decided to make a visit to the dealer. And I came in the then manager already recognized me by clothing and face. And we had a nice chat about the past. He even could remember that he had a great deal when I helped them to solve an engine problem and they helped me to make a fitting for the TomTom on the BMW. After a hour I left to Palo Duro Canyon.

But first I had to see some more from Amarillo so I rode the 6^th street were old 66 is a highlight. Visited Bob Lile shopped, called him but he was working as a driver guide so no visit of his shop. But 6^th street has many artists to visit. I drove further to panhandle art gallery were the status are still in the garden.

They are so real looking that you could talk to them said a woman I already met at the Canyon and saw also later in Russels Museum. And I agree the children have a natural expression so good that I can see why they are happy.

Then further to the combine city outside Amarillo. Same problem as in 2013 some road works made the road longer. But I found it off course. Many route 66 travels do not see this point. I put it in my GPS files  to share the files so more people can see this.

Then I drove to the canyon Palo Dura a further away side trip but a must see when you are in Texas.  It costs you 5 dollar entry fee but that is worth it. So nice to see and so different from the grant canyon in Arizona. But look at the pictures I made they tell the story I cannot describe.

After this visit back to Amerillo to eat and drink and to see Amerillos other highlight the Caddilic ranch and his gift shop. Again the giant was gone for repairs. Seems to me that he is afraid for me because he was also gone in 2013.

Driving further a choice has to be made in going I-40 a driving a lot of miles in the wilderness of Texas. I-40 is old route 66 and has a frontage road. But after the Mid-Point there is no frontage road anymore and the you drive 100 miles extra to go to Glenrio. Because of that I choose after mid-point the interstate.

Mid-Point café was closed. But I saw the bend door gas station that is in restauration. They only need more funding but it can be looking good. In fact is already better dan 2 year ago. At  Mid-Point I met a group from Switserland, 7 bikers men and woman who also are driving 66. The missed some highlight and I tolded them about Russels Truck stop. And there I saw them again.

Russels truck stop and car museum and gasstation / dinner is a must stop when you drive route 66. For me it is a symbol of the 60ties so pure in how it was built. I spoke with the son of the founder and he told me that every 4 month the cars change and that they had 106 cars. Even the car he had as a boy and were in he asked his wife to marry him was in the museum. But look at the pictures it is to beautiful that I have no more words for it. And next time stop there and say hello for me.

So after that is was already 19.00 I drove to Tucumcari over the I-40. 

And today I go to see this city with Tee Pee Curios and the  Blue Swallow Motel. And the via Santa Fee and Madrid to Albuquerque.

Day 10 of Route 66 2015 from Clinton OK to Amerillo TX

           

It was a long ride today with a beautiful start at my museum in Clinton. I still have the entry sticker from 2013 in my wallet. So call me sentimental I am so what.

Clinton museum is a must stop for every Route 66 fan. At the museum a group of around 30 bikers came when I left. All from the UK. I met them 3 times more and I am so glad that I am not in such a big group.

Ok back to what did I see and do. After Clinton I drove to Elk to visit the big national museum of 66. It is like a small city they build there. Really a must see too. Of course I saw the Beckham County Courthouse Sayre, Oklahoma. A typical USA building for me with all the beauty and glamour needed to be worth visiting.

Then I drove the U-Drop Inn Café, Shamrock the caffee was moved to a bigger place compared to 2013. And yes it is like route 66 Veldhoven in the Netherlands. Typical USA still from the 60ties. Also outsite a beauty. When you don’t stop here why the drive even 66. Go inside enoy the free coffee and buy something so the place can stay open.

Then I had to visit the Devil's Rope Museum where is a part reserved for 66 and the rest is for cowboy time and stuf from 1800. More like how the west was won. See many kinds of barbed wire here. But I did not stay long. It was over 100F inside and that is not funny to be there.

The biggest surprise for my was the visit at Harley  who owns the Sandhills Curiosity Shop. He is a real fun guy. He is a friend of Silke so I said hello for her. And he was very glad I did Silke.

Last stop in OK was the water hole 2 were I had a nice talk with to owner while have a Sprite to drink. It was a hot day again. Also this place is a must stop I think. My UK friend pasted by. Did not know what to see here I think. The paintings are very nice. The tiger I like the most.

Of course I saw the Phillips 66 Gas station still impressive to see. But many other buildings need to be restored too in this town. When entering Texas I knew a lot is I-40 byway driving. And sometime you have to drive 50 or more miles when you do not want to drive interstate 40 extra so I decided to do some interstate today. Also because I wanted to eat in the Big Texan. So I looked again at the schedule and drove to the bug ranch, the leaning water tower with Britten on it.  And then drove to the Big Texan were I arrived at 18.30.  Made some quick pictures and then booked a hotel.

In the evening I met my German friends, Family Gleuel from Hamburg who I met in Pontiac, at the Big Texan and we decide to eat together. They a both on a Harley driving 66 and have fun too. And no we did not go for the 72 ounce steak. I did a 21 ounce and that is big too.

Well what will I do today, see the combine ranch and then go to Palo Duro Canyon state park. I never was there and pictures in the route 66 group made me go there. And then on the way to  Tucumcari.

Day 9 of Route 66 2015 from Chandler OK to Clinton OK

 pictures will follow asap         

Well I had a long day driving over old route 66 tracks came late in Clinton with my bike. But let me start with my morning visit to Jerry McClanahan, famous artist and writer of the EZS66 guide.  I never met him in person. Now I did. For me Jerry is famous. I have his books and like them very much. Jerry showed me around and showed me his work he is doing now. And it will be looking good I can tell you now. Bought from Jerry him a book of Jim Ross where he wrote the entry and he signed it for me there. Thanks Jerry for your hospitality.

The day started with a drive to Sheba Station a motorcycle museum. It still looked the same and the still had the Honda XL100 and 175 like I own the 250 version of it. And the still had the Hercules rotor engine bike. And no, the engine not running yet. They do not know how so I asked the card of the manager and will contact Neckarsulm NSU museum. The will have the manual for sure that get the engine running again.

Then I continued my way to the round barn and Pops in Arcadia. The round barn I saw in 2013 but now went in to. And there I met some Facebook friend driving route 66 with a Ford Mustang. So I put the Honda next to the car and made a picture for Cees who is a mustang freak. The round barn is a nice place to stop with friendly people and I had the tour. Even went upstrair to see how this barn was made. Technical a nice piece of work considering that is nearly 100 year old. Pops is a must see at a gasstation a big bottle look alike of 66 feet in height.

On the way to OK city I visited the  National Cowboy and Western Heritage museum also a good place to stop and learn about American history.

Then I went in to OK city were I saw the impressive The Oklahoma City National Memorial, the milk bottle on the roof but also some other highlight like  Ann's Chicken Fry House and because of that d-tour I saw more nice thing of OK city then in 2013.

And yes I went over some nice old bridges todoy like the old Route 66 bridge in Oklahoma City at Lake Overholser and the Pony bridge were I even mad some picture during driving over it. 

Had also a visit to the ghost town called Bridgeport looks like a old town to me were people used to live before the interstate came. I made a nice picture of an old post office there and from a Peterbilt they are dismantling but stoped a while ago. The truck looked to me not older the 7 years and I saw some people living at the end of the streets in that town.

Because of the point I visited now the road I drove over were old route 66 I did not see in 2013. So something new added to my GPS files brought me on new parts of 66. Thanks to the Facebook group Route66 picture where I am active in finding places and putting this places with address and GPS location back in to the group.

The end of the day was a real highlight to visit, Lucille's Famous Route 66 Gas Station and a little further Lucille's Roadhouse Restaurant. The old gas station looked so much better then in 2013. Restored and gashouse rebuild so for me it was great to see this. And yes there were sponsors who are now advertising there but I have no problem with that. They did it and that what’s counting.

Well what will I see today, first my favorit stop in Clinton the Clinton Route66 Museum, the Roger Miller Museum and I hope to stay in Shamrock Texas this evening. I also hope less hot weather because the last two days where over 100F 35C. And in the Netherlands it is now 16C.

Day 8 of Route 66 2015 from Miami Ok to Chandler OK

Well because it was Sunday many things were or open late or closed. But for me it was a special day. 

I saved a little girls life at the blue whale in Catoose. She fell in the water when her mum did not watch. The wagon started rolling. As soon a mum and I saw what happened we started running.She pulled her out of the water and I started first aid with vital functions first.

So make her breed way free en mouth clean. Thereafter we cleaned the girls with fresh water. I must say a scary moment that what I realized later when driving again.  After this I wanted to buy the Catoose blue whale shirt. The woman who served me did not want any payment. She said I owned it by helping the kid first.

 What more did I see. Of course over the interstate the  Will Rogers museum where I met a truck driver who drove a Peterbilt with our DAF MX engine in it. He was very happy with performance an fuel consumption and low noise. Oeps was this work again or is work also a hobby. In my case yes sometimes it is.

Then I drove true Tulsa and saw the new Route 66 sign Tulsa has since a half year I think. Correct me when I am wrong. Saw also the old route 66 bridge and statues next to it. A wonderful must see on 66 I think.

Then I needed to fuel up the bike. Did that and a cop came driving by. He would like to know what bike I drive. Well I told him we call it a Honda Pan European but Americans call it a Honda ST1300. He drove a Harley off course. And yes he made my picture at his police car. Like in 2013 but then I missed a stop sign. Now he was curious about me because of the bike and the clothing I wear.

I also saw several old bridges on the sideways of 66. Ken en the old bridge site gave me the gps locations so now I saw 4 instead of 1. Pictures and there sign are attached.

I ended in the Rock cafe in Stroud were I had to drink a lot. It was now 100F (35C) and hot. So I decided to call it a day and book a hotel. So now I am in the Lincoln Motel on route 66.

Today the first visit will be the writer of many route 66 books Jerry McClanahan, EZ66 route book is one of them.

Think I end in Shamrock like in 2103 because also Sheba station in now open and in my route 66 today. And I want to see the classic bikes back.

Day 7 of Route 66 2015 from Springfield MO to Miami Ok

Well a busy day I had on Saterday. A long drive too. But I met nice people every were I came.

Let us start with a visit to de PFI boot shop were you can buy real cowboy boots but many more. My daughter Sanne would love to shop here. Think it would be hard to get her going away. From boots to clothing everything she needs. I bought two shawls to have a fresh one because it every  over 90F so hot and I sweat a lot. Drink a lot of water and sprite too.

Thereafter I did the sightseeing of Springfield and I know were to sleep next time. My favorite hotel Best Western Route 66. Nice in Route 66 style and the signing around the building and de cars and gas station is a must see for visitors. And of course I saw the mural of Buds tires and wheels. Very nice too.

Then I went on the Route 66 to Kansas. First thing to see was the White Hall Mercantile were you can buy old stuff. The I drove to Gary Station with pain in my hart. I knew already from facebook how it would look like. I made the pictures and with this blog a picture form 2013 to compare. 

Gary was special for me. I came in 2013 at his station he talked with me and he said during the talk “So you are driving your dream Route 66”. I will never forget that. Because it says exactly what my emotion about route 66 is. I really hope it will be restored and thief’s will return the stolen items.

After the visit I drover further to Red Oak II. I was not there in 2013 but it look like I came into American History. Lots of picture made and now shared. 

When I asked a builder who was working there he told me a men went to Paris made a lot of money there can back an restored his home town. And more I see too. This is a small site trip on 66 but a must see for all 66 lovers.red.

Off course I was on the Oak Street Bridge, visited the Bonnie and Clyde Hideout and then came in Kansas. At cars on the Route were I met Melba. We had a good talk about why visit Route 66 and that Gelana did a lot to restore things. The ghost house is as an example for it. It was closed but on the outside I could already see a lot of work was done. I had to say hello to Willem and Monique for her.

 
I did that of course via the check in function of Facebook. Made some nice pictures here too also from Willems work.

Then I continued to the Galena Mining and Historical Museum and the Rainbow Arch Bridge were I made the picture of the bike in front. The museum was already closed. That happens on Saterday and Sundays they close early.  Saw in Baxter Springs the Angels on the Route and did not stay on the same hotel as in 2013. Decided to drive further to Miami  and to see the Service Station and Allens Filling Station and Diary King Ice Salon. All closed already but the outsite is a nice visit too. 

Had to make some picture there too. Put it on facebook as a check in knowing Willem would put is model pictures at it and he did. Willem nice work you did there in the model!

Entering Miami I already knew where to eat later in the evening. On the route 66 highlight called KuKu drive-in restaurant. It was so nice to see inside and outside this building and good service too. I met a guy who told me he own the cars on the route. Nice couple to talk with. He is in chemicals like Diesel Exhaustgas Fluid. Had a good talk with them about Route 66 and that is one of the common things to talk over.

Well what to do today on Sunday. I know a lot of highlight will be closed. My route 66 museum  Vintage Iron Motorcycle will open at noon. But I already saw a lot changed. The Evel Knievel stuff is gone. I still have the sticker from 2013 inside my wallet. Saw that every day. I will look at it and rember it how it was. I think I can make it to Oklahoma today. Cees, Ken Turmel and I cannot meet. His has another appointment in Joplin.