Route 66 & Quanah

Yesterday we left Albuquerque New Mexico and headed east. Checking out Route 66 stuff on the way. In Tucumcari we stopped to see the Blue Swallow Motel (Bluebird wanted to check it out). When we got there the door to the lobby was locked, but just then a lady was driving out the driveway and she stopped to let us in to look at the fun stuff in the shop. I got a t-shirt.

It looks great, almost like the old days.

James Dean sitting on the car.

See the garages.

The inside of each of them were painted.

I like the neon swallow; I bet it looks great at night. 

Then on to Texas

On to the Cadillac Ranch. The guy who did this meant it as art. Looking at it made me think of the petroglyphs we've been looking at lately. This is kinda like a modern petroglyphs. Especially with things like: a peace sign, a heart, a date, etc.

From the street, right off the freeway.

 Crazy paint

Too bad I didn't get this up last night.

There were a couple of birthdays yesterday.

Ray carved our code (143 = I love you) It's from the days of pagers.

Kinda like those petroglyphs, only those involved know what they mean.

Check out this boot billboard. Fun.

Saw this old picture after dinner (before all the paint).

Later we had a steak dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. It was really easy because they have a limo that will pick you up. Luckily we are feeling better and the steak was yummy.

The place for steak in Amarillo

Here's the limo. (I didn't say it was a new one.)

This morning we took the 5th-wheel to the RV shop so they could replace a part that helps the slides go in and out, then headed out of town.

Clouds rolling in

My father-in-law's name was Quanah (and his nick name was Red). He was named after Quanah Parker the Commanche chief. We decided to check out this Texas town.

Quanah Texas

Red's!

This museum was closed

I had to take a picture of this old Coke sign painted on this empty building. I have a thing for Coke stuff.

We made it to Wichita Falls, Texas. It's supposed to rain tonight, but hasn't yet. Maybe it will be like rain in California - it will rain while we sleep.

Tomorrow Bridgeport - Debbie's house!

Painted Desert, Pertified Forest and Petroglyphs

Yesterday morning we left the KOA in Holbrook Arizona and headed east to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. Ray had me drive the rig which wasn't too bad, but then there was road construction and the one lane got very narrow. It felt like a slow motion slalom, but I survived. I hate those cement barriers. The plan is to have me drive more often than I have in the past. I'm very good at my role of navigator so when I drive I feel like a tour guide.

The Painted Desert was beautiful and the weather was wonderful. Just a few puffy clouds and not too cold except when the wind kicked up. Here's some of the sights.

Because we crossed where the old Route 66 used to be they had a little tribute to it. It was close to Interstate 40 and the only marker was the row of telephone poles that lined the route.

 These are the poles to the east.

Ray saw a photo op so I posed.

I think this car has been here since the beginning of Route 66. 

Ravens kept hanging around. I know some Native Americans think they are special. I thought that maybe I should look up the symbolic meaning of a raven. I also wondered if they were posing for me kinda like the Brown Pelicans did in Florida. Then I saw someone feeding one and realized they only hang around to get a handout. Silly me!

In the first part of the Petrified Forest there were ruins and petroglyphs. Here are a few. 

I think that's the stork bringing a baby. How old is that story?

Is that a cross?

Notice this guy's ears.

Kinda looks like someone we know doesn't he?

Finally made it to the petrified stuff. Not so much left. So many people were taking the rocks that they made it a national park to protect it.

We decided to drive all the way to Albuquerque to spend the night and stay two days. It would be like having a day off (from driving). Somehow we missed a time change so we ended up checking in to the KOA in the dark; not our favorite thing to do.

Today we had breakfast at the Waffle House; yes grits! Then to Old Town to check out the shops. After lunch at the Church St. Cafe we went to the Petroglyph State Park. Yeah, more petroglyphs, plus a hike.

 A Plane? A bird?

The guy with the ears again. This time with a hat? Or is that his hair?

Was he a leader? He kinda looks like our leader.

Bullseye with arrow?

Bird? 

Dancing? 

Look what we found in the rocks.

Look how close the petroglyphs are to houses.



We had a great day even with the loss of an hour. A little exercise and a little sunshine; and I got a new watch!
Tomorrow we lose another hour.







Weather and Rt. 66

It's been cold and we were concerned about passing Flagstaff because it was snowing there overnight. So we decided to just kinda take our time this morning so that we would get there after the bad weather. We had breakdfast on Route 66 in Needles, then headed east. When we stopped in Kingman to see the Route 66 Museum.

Across the street was Mr. D's Route 66 Diner 

Here's Mr. D in front of Mr. D's

Here's more sights on Rt. 66

   

  

      

Here's me in front of the rabbit at the Jackrabbit Trading Post. Somewhere there's a picture of me sitting on the old rabbit that was here when I was very little. It looked more like the one in the picture above. (I didn't climb up to sit on this one.)

Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona...

 The girl in the flatbed Ford is on the mural behind Ray.

No chance for a nice sunset tonight. Looking back to the west the sun didn't have a chance.

We did go through a couple of rain clouds, but nothing too bad for too long. Mostly we just drove across Arizona, but tomorrow we plan to get out of the truck a bit more.

We're ready for a hike.