Day 3 became a pivatol day on our trip.
The top photo is a stretch of Route 66 in Shamrock TX, one of the first towns in Texas from Oklahoma. The bottom photo is also Route 66 in Adrian which is one of the last towns before entering New Mexico. No traffic in either. This was the same story in each of the small towns we passed through. The towns were the same in abandon buildings, dilapidated structures beyond repair, and just junk. I am not sure what their fate will be because I don’t see how any city service could be financially supported. After awhile there was just so much of this I wanted to see. It diminished any nostalgia I had. I discussed this with the owner of the Blue Swallow over coffee this morning. He agreed, in fact he told me he had placed the Blue Swallow up for sale. There was just not enough interest in traveling Route 66 anymore to support either the businesses or the town. He recommended that we get off 66 between Tucumcari and Albuquerque and take the route up to Las Vegas NM, down to Santa Fe, then into Albuquerque. He explained this route was more scenic and less traveled. We could pick up 66 again in Albuquerque and then its off and on with IH40. I told my grandson that there was a change of plans and we were taking a different route this morning. He said good because he was getting depressed with what we were seeing. He had not said anything because he thought it was something I wanted to do.
So, we put down the top of the car and took off.
These are photos on NM 104 to Santa Fe. Open roads for miles with no traffic. The morning temp was in the low 70s and not a cloud in the sky. Great drive.
We pulled off to take in the view and this wash out was below.
Some photos from Santa Fe. Very interesting place, really nice but really expensive. I thought Fredericksburg was expensive but Santa Fe makes Fredericksburg look like the Dollar Store, below Walmart.
Continental Divide. We got off IH40 and took 66 when possible. Did not take many pictures, same story and they all look alike after awhile. Sad.
Photos don’t do justice to the red rock outcrops outside of Gallup. Spending the night at the old El Rancho motel. Dates back to the 1940’s, looks and feels like it too.
Tomorrow – Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. Next to last stretch to Kingman.
The Boomer and the iGen On 66 