We got a bit of a late start today but it was ok. We are, in fact, on vacation and on no timetable. We travel a good many mile every day but at our own leisure. We actually spent most of the day driving on the interstate, not because we were tired of being on Route 66 but because much of Route 66 no longer exists on this stretch of road and the guide book said "join I-40". So we did. Still many beautiful sites to see.
We went to see the "Cadillac Ranch" right outside of Amarillo. I was surprised that it was just right on the side of the road. I guess I thought it was way off somewhere but you could see it from the interstate. I didn't really like all the graffiti but since it is legal, everybody does it.
I just thought this was funny.
This is just one picture out of several of this site. When we were approaching it, I thought it was bushes but David said he thought it was cows. He was right. There were thousands of them. It looked so strange to see all those cows together. And yes, I know what was about to happen to them.
This was a picnic area . I felt so sorry for these sad Texans who have a picnic area like this. Where are the beautiful trees and a lovely creek? No self-respecting picnic area in Alabama would be without one.
Just look at that road. It goes on forever, as far as you can see. No hills. Hardly any trees. I've never see terrain like that before.
Right before the Texas/New Mexico border, was a little ghost town called Glenrio. We were following the road just past Glenrio when Route 66 turned into Dirt 66. We turned around and hightailed it to the interstate. Not doing that again.
I just thought this was funny.
This is just one picture out of several of this site. When we were approaching it, I thought it was bushes but David said he thought it was cows. He was right. There were thousands of them. It looked so strange to see all those cows together. And yes, I know what was about to happen to them.
This was a picnic area . I felt so sorry for these sad Texans who have a picnic area like this. Where are the beautiful trees and a lovely creek? No self-respecting picnic area in Alabama would be without one.
Just look at that road. It goes on forever, as far as you can see. No hills. Hardly any trees. I've never see terrain like that before.
Right before the Texas/New Mexico border, was a little ghost town called Glenrio. We were following the road just past Glenrio when Route 66 turned into Dirt 66. We turned around and hightailed it to the interstate. Not doing that again.
I know that you are probably getting tired of me saying "I've never seen this before." or "This is my first time to ..." but I keep saying that because it is my first time to ... Well this is my first time to go to New Mexico. All of this type of land is new to me. I was like a small child with my mouth open. "Look at that, Sparky." "Wow, what is that?" He was very patient with me and told me all about what I was seeing.
If you look closely in this picture, you can see how the trees are laying over. Many years of much wind and wide open spaces takes it's toll.
If you look closely in this picture, you can see how the trees are laying over. Many years of much wind and wide open spaces takes it's toll.
There is a small town in New Mexico called Tucumcari. It comes after a very long patch of long straight road. In this small town, I took pictures of over 20 different motels, most of them abandoned. Some of them are still in operation. I have put up some of the pictures of a few of the motel signs. Sparky said that there were so many here because it was the first place since Amarillo that had anyplace to stay. I think he's right. When traveling Route 66 back in the day, people had probably travelled all day and were ready for a place to stop. Tucumcari was a popular place.
This is a very famous Route 66 landmark. Their sign is still operational in neon while most of the signs in Tucumcari no longer work. Neon was a big thing on Route 66.
Long stretch of Route 66.
These rock formations along side the road were fascinating to me. Sorry, but I've never seen anything like that before.
This one fascinated me because the rock was red, while all the ground around it was white sand. Sparky said it had to do with the amount of iron in the dirt. Once again, I think he's right.
The two things in this picture intrigued me. The little hill jutting up out of the ground and the farm house in the foreground. The house was truly "out in the middle of nowhere".
The Pecos River
This is a very famous Route 66 landmark. Their sign is still operational in neon while most of the signs in Tucumcari no longer work. Neon was a big thing on Route 66.
Long stretch of Route 66.
These rock formations along side the road were fascinating to me. Sorry, but I've never seen anything like that before.
This one fascinated me because the rock was red, while all the ground around it was white sand. Sparky said it had to do with the amount of iron in the dirt. Once again, I think he's right.
The two things in this picture intrigued me. The little hill jutting up out of the ground and the farm house in the foreground. The house was truly "out in the middle of nowhere".
The Pecos River
I have seen horizons on the ocean before but I don't think I've ever seen a horizon on land before. In Alabama, there's always trees or hills or something to block the horizon. I found this fascinating.
An homage to my friends, Kim and Greg Cline.
Old diner.
The Rio Grande. Not so grand.
The view from Route 66 in Albuquerque.
An homage to my friends, Kim and Greg Cline.
Old diner.
This is the road leading into Albuquerque. It was completely awesome.
The Rio Grande. Not so grand.
The view from Route 66 in Albuquerque.
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