Jun 02, 2015

Happy to report we had another fine day as per the forecast and to quote the girl at the desk this morning when I said it looked like being another nice day she said "I hope so, I like the weather when it's 85 - 90F, this time last year it was 102F' Ouch! We had a great day checking out some Route 66 sites and just enjoying the changing landscape from open plains  to low grassed scrubby valleys between great rocky cliffs and small rocky hills ... oh and some mountain peaks in the distance covered in snow as we started to head for Santa Fe. Apparently Denver where we arrive in a couple of days had a temperature of 30F today and snow a week or so ago so that could be interesting. Ah well, all part of the fun. Happy to say we posted off our parcels to home today. No peeking until we get there family! Oh by the way the speed limit for most of today and yesterday has been 121kmh so helps to cover the distance in a tidy fashion and mainly straight roads which is just as well as we are a bit preoccupied with the landscape. Quite a collection of photos today and for those of you who don't know Route 66 was known as the 'Mother Road of America' and despite the fact that lots of it is now blocked off and not maintained and by-passed, people have continued to enjoy it and in spite of many businesses perishing, many have soldiered on and continued the quirky and dare I say kitsch themes of decoration at times so here's a bit of a selection of some of what we saw today.



First stop Cadillac Ranch named because of the 10 cadillacs on end in this paddock a bit off the route. People are free to graffiti them which they do (discarding their cans when they finish in spite of a waste bin outside the property ... really!!) and the paint is so thick it's rippling all over but they'll probably never rust away other than where they are in the ground. Lucky we weren't here last week or the shot would have been from quite a distance given the mud still around in patches.



And we head into New Mexico.



We headed into Tucumcari and it was a feast of sights. Oh dear, typical of many we have seen, and lots of them along the streets and in front of shops. Love it.



The Blue Swallow Motel all painted up and quirky. They have garages beside their rooms and these are even painted inside and some examples are below.



For the grandchildren, this one, and the one below from the Cars movie which is based along Route 66.






And for all the Easyriders SMC Members especially those in Traralgon one depicting the original Easyriders. Ha ha.



A shot of a bygone era, the servo, and today, the wind turbine and the number of these we have seen is testimony to how windy it is through Texas and New Mexico but we have left Tornado Alley unscathed so I'm pleased about that.

I spotted this old servo which was in beautiful condition and thought it must still be trading ... and it was but not as a servo but a drive through smokes shop.



Some of the many street signs. Would love to see them all lit up at night.



Heading into Santa Rosa for lunch. Love that sky. We have enjoyed great big desert skies all day. Mmmmm.



Lunch at the Silver Moon Cafe ... is that an Inline 4 logo on the right hand side? Yes it is! Let me tell you their food would beat that at the Silver Moon anytime without even trying.



Hey Steve is this how your new trucks are being delivered? We have seen them all over the country and finally saw some stopped at the cafe where we had lunch.



And off to Santa Fe. I was starting to lose sight of the snow so thought I'd better stop and take a shot.

Our last stop for a cold drink and cool down and wander around the rows and rows of souvenirs at a huge roadhouse. This is the men's loo ... see told you things were quirky. By the way Norm took that photo in case you were wondering.



And in for the night in Santa Fe, adobe houses and buildings everywhere. We are going exploring tomorrow.

Last Night's Accommodation:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Canyon, 2901 4th Avenue, Canyon, TX, 79015
Not a bad spot. Place is showing it's age a little but reasonable size room and bathroom and well set out. Complimentary continental breakfast and wifi and free onsite parking and a short stroll across the street for dinner.