Milepost 1654: “Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow”

We parted company with RT 66 today in Oklahoma City. RT 66 went North and we continued East on the I-40.

Today we attempted to visit a museum, but, as luck would have it, it was closed. Pushing on, we discovered Ft Reno. Currently under restoration, it was first a cavalry outpost, then an equestrian training center for WWI and WWII, then, a German POW camp! It now houses a museum, chapel, several other closed buildings, and the USDA. (The USDA is studying cattle grazing….) Website: www.fortreno.org

 

The Museum                       Soldiers’ Barracks

The Chapel

Later in the day, Anne attended Mass at the National Shrine of the Divine Infant of Prague – In Prague, Oklahoma, of course! For anyone interested, here is their website: www.shrineofinfantjesus.com

After Mass we drove nearly to Arkansas before rolling to a stop for the night. Didn’t stay. The creatures of the forest made such a loud hum, it reminded us of some horror story…! So, we moved on down the road away from the “singing bugs…” and other creatures of the night.

Milepost 1420: Anne finds POW camp, John finds Territorial Jail

Since RT 66 parallels the I-40 for most of Texas and Oklahoma, we traveled on the I-40 and took off-ramps to find adventure.

Today we found “Bug City,” a twist on “Cadillac Ranch,” where VW bugs are up-ended instead of Cadillac's. We also saw a Giant Cross surrounded by the Stations of the Cross in Texas. It is said that this is the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere.      

“Bug City”                          Giant Cross

When we were in the McLean, a lovely old town, we visited the McLean/Alanreed Museum. It was a very worthwhile stop. There was a German POW camp located just outside of town and its story was told in the museum.

Mclean, TX

Once in Oklahoma, we stopped for the Territorial Jail in Texola. Not much room in there!

Milepost 1215: Off the Edge

Today was a workday. We drove 316 miles, running right off my regional map! Tonight we stopped at the Amarillo KOA, did laundry and took care of “other necessities.” We were rewarded with a small thundershower tonight.

Update on Uncle Vic, Aunt Helen and Aunt Alice: They reached Lynn’s house near Dallas TX a couple of days ago and will continue to Florida tomorrow morning. They stopped at Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon and are truly enjoying themselves.

Sunset tonight:

Milepost 889: Sleeping at “Rt 66 Casino”

After twisting and turning on Rt 66 in New Mexico and parts of Arizona, I have almost no idea where we are, just that this was the most likely place to get a good night’s sleep. KOA is at least 50 miles away, it’s 7 p.m., and we’re tired and hungry. ‘Nuf said.

Today we stopped at F Troop’s Ft. Courage (or a facsimile of it) in Houck, AZ.

 

Then, as we continued on, we saw lots of red cliffs in New Mexico, went “over” the Continental Divide. Here I am!

We also tried to visit a state park near Gallup, and saw some wild horses by the side of the road.

I think we’re about 50 miles from Albuquerque, off the I-40. There were some bad patches on the 66, and we hoped to get a little better time on the I-40, which follows 66 pretty closely most of the way.

Milepost 714: Anne Found A Big Hole!

We didn’t travel very far today, but it was a full day!

Our first stop was at Meteor Crater, AZ. I’d always thought of it as a tourist trap, but, Susan had assured me earlier that it is a worthwhile stop. Yes, it is definitely worthwhile! We were there about 4 hours, including lunch! Here is a picture of us at the rim.

Our next stop on Route 66 was Winslow, AZ, who gained fame from the Eagle’s song, “Take It Easy.” We “stood on the corner,” relaxed, and took photos of downtown. Here is a picture of the famous corner.

Continuing on the I-40 and Old Route 66, we spent the night at a new (and as yet unused) truck stop near Chambers, AZ.

Milepost 549: Getting our Kicks on ‘66

Picture taken at scenic stop on Hwy 93 in Arizona

After a hot, fitful sleep hidden among other RV’s in a parking lot, we arose at sunrise, fuelled, at breakfast, then left Henderson at 6 a.m. That’s a real record for us!

After talking with Aunt Helen yesterday, it was decided that maybe we don’t really need to follow the Aunties and Uncle Vic… But, John still wants Florida to be the “first stop.” Anne was not anxious to spend another overheated night in the motorhome, and we hadn’t planned on some of the Auntie’s planned stops,(Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, and Cousins Lynn & Gary), basically because we knew we couldn’t keep up with them anyway… SO, a compromise was made. “We will stay on the I-40 to Tennessee, then take the I-75 south to Florida.”

When we got to the I-40, there was a lot of traffic and construction in Kingman, AZ, so, after a short nap to make up for lost sleep, we decided to use Old Route 66 across half of Arizona and pick it up again at the other end of Arizona. We had gone that far on it before and planned to do more “later,” so, “later” has become NOW. It intersects the I-75, and is a much more leisurely, pleasant drive.

Our only stops today were to have lunch at a lovely turnout along the highway (Haven’t done that since I was a kid!) and the Hackberry General Store. The General Store is a kind of outside museum whose main business is selling trinkets and being an original Route 66 building.

Here is the Hackberry General Store (in Hackberry, AZ, of course!)

We spent the night in Flagstaff.

Milepost 293: Henderson, NV

We left Anaheim bright and early the morning of August 4. Uncle Vic drove Aunt Helen and Aunt Alice in his silver van, and we were in the motorhome as planned. Since we left a few minutes behind them and stuck to a constant 55-60mph, we expected to reach Gary’s house an hour or so later than they would.

However, it was not to be. Traffic was great heading out of California on the I-15 until we were almost at Baker, when WHAM! Traffic came to a jarring halt. It turns out there was a “recent” accident up ahead and the occupants of the silver van had to be airlifted out, which completely closed down the freeway for the whole operation. We waited for DAYS… People left their cars to go watch.

Maybe half an hour or so later, the helicopters left and traffic started to move slowly again. I called to check on The Aunties and Uncle Vic. They were fine and nearly to the Nevada line. They,too, had been stopped, but were close enough to the front of the mess that they were waived through before the helicopters and fire trucks came.

We arrived at cousin Gary’s around 2. Cousin Will (his brother) joined us for a short visit, too, then we went to a buffet for “Linner.” We really enjoyed seeing everyone and reminiscing… Uncle Vic and the Aunties stayed the night at Gary’s, and we moved on to “stealth camp,” not wanting to leave the motorhome parked overnight in front of his house.

Here is a photo Gary’s wife, Diane, took of the group.