We left at 9:00 AM and headed down the Interstate for a few miles and got off to see Fort Reno. After we got off, we didn’t see any signs, just a long road. Finally we saw a sign for a visitor center and pulled in. Something looked wrong. Jim was saying that there were some very interesting buildings in the complex, but it looked like a prison not a fort. It was a prison, a Federal Prison. And it was open (despite the government shutdown). A guard was looking at us curiously so we turned around quickly. I wanted to take a picture of the interesting buildings, but decided against that. This wasn't a museum.
After entertaining the thought that the Fort we were looking for was cleverly disguised as a prison, we saw a small sign off to the right for the real Fort Reno. Unfortunately, the Fort (also run by the Federal Gov.) was closed. We couldn’t even see the fort from the gate.
Back on the Interstate, we discovered that we were following the Chisholm Trail and Old Route 66. We pulled off in Elk City (pop. 11693; elev. 1912 feet). This city was originally a rest stop for cattlemen driving their herds from Texas to Kansas. They discovered oil in 1948. It was depleted in the 60’s. The city is on the “Historic Route 66” and home of the “National Route 66 Museum.” We were afraid that this would be another Federal shutdown location, until we saw the huge Route 66 sign in front of the museum. Jim said, “No way is this being run by the Feds.”
There were 5 museums in the compound and a number of old replicated buildings. In the Farm and Ranch Museum they had one of the first vehicles that Studebaker made, a covered wagon, and in the Route 66 Museum, they had a Studebaker auto the last year they were made. We wandered through lots of interesting memorabilia. We learned that Route 66 connected Chicago to Los Angeles and for 40 years was one of the best known routes for commerce and leisure travel.
Jim wondered if Route 66 was so famous because of the TV show he watched when he was young. I said that the route was probably the equivalent of the Chisholm Trail, just next generation. That maybe in the future we would have an I-5 museum in Vancouver. He said, “Not unless they make a TV show about it.”
We hit Texas (again) at 12:06. And once again were being told to “Drive Friendly the Texas Way.” The speed limit increased to 75mph and once again “feeder” roads appeared parallel to the highway. Then we passed a sign saying that the information center exit was in 100 miles. Only in Texas... Jim said that that is probably a "short" distance to them.
We passed Shamrock (pop.1910; elev. 2342 feet). Shamrock was incorporated in 1911, but was originally established as a post office at the home of an Irish sheep rancher. It is the location of the U-Drop Inn, a Route 66 landmark.
As we approached Groom, we saw a huge cross towering over the highway. It is the "Cross or our Lord Jesus Christ" and is 190 feet tall and weighs 2.5 million pounds.
We soon arrived in Amarillo (pop. 190,695; elev. 3,672 feet). We noted that we are gaining elevation, but gradually. No Mountain passes so far (unless you count the Oklahoma "mountains." Amarillo was established in 1887 and renamed at that time. Amarillo means “yellow” in Spanish and according to the AAA tour guide, many citizens painted their houses yellow to celebrate. We looked and looked for some yellow houses, but did not spot any. "Yellow" referred to the color of the earth in this area. Didn’t see that either, although it was different from the red dirt of Oklahoma.
After Amarillo, Jim said, “I’m bored.” The road was straight, the country flat and not a tree in sight. It reminded me of Western Kansas. Then suddenly as we got close to New Mexico (mile 15 or so) the countryside changed and we had mesas and high dessert hills. We entered New Mexico (“The Land of Enchantment”) and switched to Mountain Time at 2:39 ---> 1:39.
We passed through Tucumcari (pop. 5363; elev 4086 feet). Tucumcari takes its name from Tucumcari “Mountain” (4,999 ft) which was used as a lookout point (“tucumcari”) by the Indians. An alternative story is that the name is derived from a Romeo and Juliet tale about a love affair between an Apache warrior named “Tucum” and the daughter of an Apache Chief named “Kari”. However the name originated, Tucumcari was known as the first New Mexico stop on Route 66.
We stopped for the night at another Route 66 stop, Santa Rosa (pop. 2,280; elev. 4,620 feet). It is a nostalgic small town with at least 3 Route 66-style diners and a number of motels. You can drive along a stretch of the old Route 66. They have a car museum and a restored City Hall built from red-stone blocks.
On to Arizona tomorrow. We are really enjoying the LOW humidity and warm, sunny weather.
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