Day 3, Route 66 From Amarillo to Bosque, NM

Oct 9, 2017 Mon0Route 66



Miles:338
Start Point:Amarillo, TX
Sun Rise:7:49 AM CDT
Start Weather:            At 6:00 AM CDT the temperature was 51.4 ° with 84% humidity. The conditions were clear with a wind speed of 11.1 MPH and wind gusts of 19.6 MPH.
End Point:Madrone, NM
Sun Set:6:41 PM MDT
End Weather:            At 6:00 PM MDT the temperature was 62.5 ° with 17% humidity. The conditions were clear with a wind speed of 13.6 MPH and wind gusts of 26.2 MPH.

Showing Laurie some more Route 66 places I visited on my "40 to Phoenix" motorcycle ride back in the spring. You can read more about some of these places by reading my "40 to Phoenix" blog here.


Route 66 Midpoint, Adrian TX

View a list of places like this or a map.
theroute-66.com

Midpoint Cafe and Cars - Pixar was inspired by the Midpoint Cafe to create Flo's V8 Cafe in the animated film Cars (2006).

The characters Flo, Mia and Tia were based on Fran Houser and two of her restaurant's employees, the sisters Christina and Mary Lou Mendez.

The movie's credits acknowledges the cafe and Fran Houser.

Oct 9, 2017 Mon 7:39:03 AM CDT Altitude: 4055 ft Camera: iPhone 6sDisplay on Google Map
Mid point of Route 66, Adrian, TX.
Bobby, Laurie
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 7:40:50 AM CDT Altitude: 4042 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Mid point of Route 66, Adrian, TX.
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 7:41:55 AM CDT Altitude: 4042 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Mid point of Route 66, Adrian, TX.
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 7:42:46 AM CDT Altitude: 4044 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Mid point of Route 66, Adrian, TX.
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 7:43:13 AM CDT Altitude: 4044 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Mid point of Route 66, Adrian, TX.
Laurie
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 7:54:50 AM CDT Altitude: 4151 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map




Russell's Travel Center


A great place to eat breakfast just over the NM state line.

Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:05:21 AM CDT Altitude: 4035 ft Camera: iPhone 6sDisplay on Google Map
Russells Truck and Travel Center, NM for breakfast.
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:19:52 AM CDT Altitude: 4035 ft Camera: iPhone 6sDisplay on Google Map
Russells Truck and Travel Center, NM for breakfast.
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:20:39 AM MDT Altitude: 3865 ft Camera: iPhone 5sDisplay on Google Map
Russells Truck and Travel Center, NM for breakfast.
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:21:03 AM MDT Altitude: 3843 ft Camera: iPhone 6sDisplay on Google Map
Russells Truck and Travel Center, NM for breakfast.
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:21:16 AM MDT Altitude: 3843 ft Camera: iPhone 6sDisplay on Google Map
Russells Truck and Travel Center, NM for breakfast.
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:27:29 AM MDT Altitude: 3889 ft Camera: iPhone 6sDisplay on Google Map
Russells Truck and Travel Center, NM for breakfast.
Bobby, Laurie




Glenrio Historic District TX

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nps.gov

During the 1940s and 1950s, Glenrio sat very much alone in the open scrub desert of the high plains straddling the Texas-New Mexico border. Amarillo was 73 miles to the east and Tucumcari 41 miles west. Travelers driving Route 66 across the desert could see a world of stars at night, with Glenrio providing some of the only light pollution around with its diners, bars, western-themed motels, a dance hall, and gas stations. Glenrio was a flash of neon in the desert, an overnight Mecca, and a spot of evening cool in the days before cars had air conditioning.

Glenrio's boom times ended in 1975 when Interstate 40 bypassed the town. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Today, the Glenrio Historic District includes the old Route 66 roadbed and 17 abandoned buildings.

It's well worth the detour to get off Interstate 40 and cruise Route 66 through Glenrio. Crossing the State border in one of the country's best preserved mid-century ghost towns evokes some of the adventure motorists from decades ago felt when the traveled long stretches of two-lane blacktop through the American West.

Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:56:24 AM MDT Altitude: 3877 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Ghost town of Glenrio, TX
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:50:30 AM CDT Altitude: 3877 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Ghost town of Glenrio, TX
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:52:38 AM CDT Altitude: 3877 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Ghost town of Glenrio, TX
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:56:16 AM MDT Altitude: 3877 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Ghost town of Glenrio, TX
Laurie
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:59:06 AM MDT Altitude: 3875 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Ghost town of Glenrio, TX
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 8:59:42 AM MDT Altitude: 3875 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Ghost town of Glenrio, TX
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:00:53 AM MDT Altitude: 3875 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Ghost town of Glenrio, TX

This is the original Route 66 road bed from Glenrio, TX to Endee, NM. It was never paved and I've read that the locals made some good money pulling travelers out of the mud.

Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:07:29 AM MDT Altitude: 3812 ft Camera: iPhone 5sDisplay on Google Map
Original dirt road Route 66 from Glenrio, TX to Endee, NM
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:11:53 AM MDT Altitude: 3847 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Original dirt road Route 66 from Glenrio, TX to Endee, NM

Oops! We weigh over 11 tons.

Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:15:41 AM MDT Altitude: 3821 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Original dirt road Route 66 from Glenrio, TX to Endee, NM
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:16:42 AM MDT Altitude: 3821 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Original dirt road Route 66 from Glenrio, TX to Endee, NM
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:30:57 AM MDT Altitude: 3844 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Dirt road original Route 66, Endee, NM
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:32:51 AM MDT Altitude: 3844 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Dirt road original Route 66, Endee, NM
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:33:31 AM MDT Altitude: 3844 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Dirt road original Route 66, Endee, NM
Laurie
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:33:48 AM MDT Altitude: 3844 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Dirt road original Route 66, Endee, NM
Laurie
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:33:57 AM MDT Altitude: 3844 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Dirt road original Route 66, Endee, NM
Laurie
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 9:42:15 AM MDT Altitude: 3823 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Dirt road original Route 66, Endee, NM




Ghost Town of Cuervo NM

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legendsofamerica.com

Between 1901 and 1903, the Southern Pacific pushed through Cuervo and a town was born. Named after nearby Cuervo Hill, Cuervo is Spanish for "crow," which are abundant in the area.

Around 1910, the land surrounding Cuervo was opened to cattle ranching which created a land boom and the town began to grow. When Route 66 came through, the new highway created the additional trade of gas stations and hotels.

At its peak, Cuervo boasted two schools, two churches, two hotels and two doctors, along with numerous other businesses. In the 1930's, Cuervo reportedly had a population of almost 300. By the mid 1940's; however, it had already fallen to less than 150.

When I-40 came along, parts of Cuervo were literally buried as the superhighway cut a swath through the residential section of the town. Dependent upon those travelers of the Mother Road, the town immediately began to die. Today the area still supports around 50 people, who primarily live on the south side of I-40 and on outlying ranches.

Laurie really liked this place.

The completion of I-40 in the 70's and 80's destroyed many small towns in the American Southwest. Some towns filed lawsuits to try to get more than one exit from I-40. Multiple exits seemed to generate more traffic. The town of Cuervo was split in half by I-40 and really did die. US-60/54 in Arizona also feels like they have seen better days. There are many abandoned motels and cafe's along that route. The buildings just fade away with time. They are not demolished as no one wants to build anything in their place.

It is a little sad but nothing stops change. I wish those buildings and the road could talk, especially Route 66. For sure some people were traveling for fun but how many people were searching for a better life or trying to escape the depression of the 30's? Or as Laurie said, how many were running from something?

And think about how dark the sky was at night or what a relief it was to make it to the next town near the end of a long day. The 2 lane road and Model T's and 50's Chevys were state of the art then but wouldn't those travelers be amazed at how we travel today?

Oct 9, 2017 Mon 11:46:09 AM MDT Altitude: 4839 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Cuervo, NM, old Route 66
Laurie
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 11:47:24 AM MDT Altitude: 4839 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Cuervo, NM, old Route 66
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 11:49:11 AM MDT Altitude: 4839 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Cuervo, NM, old Route 66
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 11:50:19 AM MDT Altitude: 4839 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Cuervo, NM, old Route 66
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 11:52:09 AM MDT Altitude: 4840 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Cuervo, NM, old Route 66
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 11:53:01 AM MDT Altitude: 4840 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Cuervo, NM, old Route 66
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 11:54:44 AM MDT Altitude: 4842 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Cuervo, NM, old Route 66
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 11:55:41 AM MDT Altitude: 4842 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Cuervo, NM, old Route 66
Laurie
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 12:03:16 PM MDT Altitude: 4842 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Cuervo, NM, old Route 66




Santa Rosa, NM


Oct 9, 2017 Mon 12:39:03 PM MDT Altitude: 4589 ft Camera: iPhone 6sDisplay on Google Map
Blue Hole, Santa Rosa, NM
Bobby, Laurie
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 12:42:41 PM MDT Altitude: 4590 ft Camera: iPhone 6sDisplay on Google Map
Blue Hole, Santa Rosa, NM




US route 60 going toward Bosque, NM.


Oct 9, 2017 Mon 2:44:55 PM MDT Altitude: 6081 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Oct 9, 2017 Mon 2:45:53 PM MDT Altitude: 6081 ft Camera: X100FDisplay on Google Map
Laurie



Elevation Changes During the Day


The day started at 3,610 feet and ended at 4,728 feet. The highest altitude was 6,472 feet and the lowest altitude was 3,610 feet.




Google Map Track Log


Pick a trip from the first drop down list below.
Day 2, Little Rock to Amarillo and Route 66




TagsConfederate Statues  (32),Motorcycle  (97),National Parks  (9),Odd  (1),Route 66  (33),Unemployment  (6),Zombies  (1)