Day 6 Tuesday, Sept 9 Wind

Though Texas is a BIG state, it hosts the second shortest section of Route 66, with 178 miles. Of that, only about 150 miles remain...many dirt roads that are drivable but not motorcycle friendly. For a visual of Texas and the panhandle...check out my waffle! (Courtesy of the Best Western Motel!)

Shortly after leaving our hotel in Amarillo, Tx we found ourselves at Cadillac Ranch. Commissioned by a Texas Millionaire, the "art" was installed in 1974. There are 10 luxury (once) Cadillacs installed nose first...covered with layer upon layer of spray painted graffiti.

We made a few stops at small towns along Route 66. Vega is home to a restored 1020s Magnolia Gas Station, among other things. All along the way, at every place we've stopped, the local people have been so happy to share their stories! 

The "town" of Adrian is billed as Route 66's geographical midpoint. So thankful to have made it this far...we are really feeling in the groove now!

It was cool when we left this morning, but the sun warmed things up quickly. I think it got up into the low 90s, but we would never have known it the way the wind was blowing! Guess that's why the final stretch of the Texas panhandle was covered with wind turbines! Not sure if it is accurate, but I was told they stop spinning when the wind gets too brisk. They were still turning as we went through, but sometimes I felt like my head was going to blow off!   

It wasn't unusual to see the old windmills right along with the new ones everywhere we looked in this area.

Right over the New Mexico border we stopped near Glenrio to see an antique car museum. Les found his dream car there...plus a few more! 

It seems that with each state we've gone through, finding and traveling along the old "Mother Road" becomes more and more challenging. There were many places in New Mexico where the road has been lost or has become impassable. Some sections of the road are on private property now..with huge 1000+ acre ranches claiming both sides of I-40. We had no choice but to travel the interstate highway for many,many miles. Windy as it was, I hated sharing the road with those big semis! 

We were back on Route 66 for the town of Tucumcari, NM. This town, unlike so many of the others in the area that are now ghost towns, still seems alive and well with blazing neon signs from years gone by. The Blue Swallow Motel (1930) is still in business, as is The Motel Safari and TeePee Curios.  

Traveling on to Santa Fe went quickly, since there was no usable Route 66 for motorcycles and the towns were mostly deserted. I am really looking forward to exploring Santa Fe tomorrow. It's so lovely here, we have decided to stay at least another day...and even then I know a week wouldn't be enough! I'm not sure what the occasion is but there are fireworks in the sky here tonight...what a welcome!