510 Route 66

Day 5 Santa Fe, NM to Amarillo, TX
Saturday September 24, 2011

The gas station we stopped at on our way out of Santa Fe was also a tire place. See all their floor jacks waiting for customers.

Santa Fe is covered in this style of architure. It was like a rule to build all new building in this style because it was everywhere.

Old pre 1937 route 66 came up from Albuquerque following the desert valley between mountains and the route east went down the side of the eastern ridge.

This whole part of Route 66 follows the Santa Fe Trail. Side note Route 66 connected and incorperated many trails along the way.

The Road notice the change in terrain.

Coming into Santa Rosa NM

An old T-Bird at a restruant

An old truck stop in Santa Rosa

Old car on a stick. No advertizing for the local museum.

Wait is that-Mator? no just a look a like.

One of the still operating restruants that we have eaten at

An old building with a with other people that are doing route 66

This was stenciled on the underpass tunnel so you would know you were taking the right tunnel.

The tunnels

It looks like this rather large rock was going to come down at any minute.

Tucumcari NM was a kick!

There were lots of old motel signs

murals

and gas stations

have some mexican food?

Decided time to check the oil. Needs a quart. The car guys came out to see the car of course. They gave us a lot of info like check out all the murals on all the buildings. The one across the street was of eyes of local people.

The eyes have it.

After checking out several murals we headed out of town and found

The Blue Swallow a big name motel on Route 66. Its picture and name is on a lot of 66 info. The sign said inspection invited so we invited ourselves. How fun we met the brand new owner Kevin Mueller. He told us about restoring the motel and where a good place was to eat. After taking pictures of the garages because they were painted pretty cool murals

He told us to try Watson's BBQ its a local favorite. YES it was yummy!

My new look - bought the do rag/skull cap at the Blue Swallow. It really helps keeping my hair from being blown all crazy when the windows are open, and of course they are open because it is hot.

We made it to the half way point!

This place is fun too. The ugly crust pie is great. You have to have it. Of course what I chose was the best. Their signiture pie, it is chocolate chip cookie topped with ice cream whip cream and a cherry. The people here are fantastic. Fran the owner was the inspiration for Flo in the movie cars and Christina and her sister the waitress' were the inspiration for Tia and Mia the Miatas. Oh and it is also a good gift shop.

They have big tow trucks in Texas and isn't it interesting how they park on the freeway to fix things. We are on the frontage road Route 66 next to the interstate.