Route 66: New Mexico

Road trippin The Mother Road, from Oklahoma, to Texas, and into New Mexico...

Sunset, Glenrio NM
The abandoned town of Glenrio not only straddles the state line, but also the Central and Mountain time zones! With the -1 hour change, sunset comes early at 4:48pm!

Roadrunner Lodge, Tucumcari NM
This motor lodge is all about the classic vibe. And the Snazzy Sixties room takes it up a notch with old time radio, RC Cola, Moon Pies, and...

Magic Fingers, Tucumcari NM
Part of the lore of these old timey places, it's real! A few bucks worth of quarters gently massages away the road weariness.

Tee Pee Curios, Tucumcari NM
More kitsch. Look closely. See it? Apparently the sign company got paid on delivery in 1960 and refused to fix it.

La Cita, Tucumcari NM
If you're not eating your Mexican food in a giant sombrero, are you even eating Mexican food at all?

Signpost, Tucumcari NM
While most of the small towns along Route 66 have either modernized or faded away, Tucumcari remains exactly as it was. Even the name seems retro. Must stop.

Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa NM
Celebrity sighting! Tow Mater means Radiator Springs can't be too far away.

Clines Corners NM
Is it a town? Is it an intersection? Is it gas station? Ya have to stop to find out.

Alien Zoltar, Clines Corners NM
Fitting that out in the New Mexico desert, the soothsayer is an alien.
ADVICE: "Lately, you have failed to acknowledge the gift that is already here today. You are constantly thinking "life will get better when...". Wake up! Stop wishing your life away. Yesterday you couldn't wait for today. It is here. Embrace today and live the life that you have always dreamed of."

155 miles driven on Route 66 thru New Mexico ✓

505 miles driven time travelled on Main Street USA ✔

BONUS: Of course, my journey didn't end in the middle of the desert. But this is where I left Route 66 and headed north to Angel Fire. I did make one more stop though. Growing up in the 80s, I know the movie Red Dawn well, and couldn't help but snap a photo to commemorate it.

Calumet Says Howdy Mural, Las Vegas NM
Welcome to Calumet, CO. Birthplace of the Wolverine rebellion against Russian invaders in 1984.
WOLVERINES!

Route 66: Texas

Road trippin The Mother Road, from Oklahoma into Texas...

U Drop Inn, Shamrock TX
Opened in 1936, this "Taj Mahal of Texas" is designed to catch the eye of weary travelers crossing into Texas.

Water Tower, Groom TX
Another of the Route's intentionally quirky stops, this tower is all that remains of Britten's truck stop.

Signposts, Groom TX
Driving Route 66 today actually includes alot of time spent on I-40 which parallels and often overlaps it. Where this is the case, Google maps will show the freeway as I-40 and it's frontage road as Route 66.

Slug Bug Ranch, Amarillo TX
This one tripped me up a bit because I'd been here before, but it's not how I remembered it. Turns out, the Big Texan bought the Bugs and moved em from Conway to this spot since my last visit in 2018.

Texas 66 Mural, Vega TX
There are murals, and there are murals. Vega got it's money's worth. It literally can't be missed.

Bent Door Cafe, Adrian TX
Opened in 1947(ish). Closed in 1972. Did that door ever really work? 🤷

Phillips 66, Adrian TX
Yes, the name is derived from the famous Route, and the shield logo in the shape of a highway sign was unveiled in 1930.

Route 66 Midpoint, Adrian TX
Another repeat for me (2019).
1139 miles to Malibu CA ←→ 1139 miles to Chicago IL

177 miles driven on Route 66 thru Texas ✓

On to New Mexico...

Route 66: Oklahoma

For the third time in as many years (2022, 2023), Hornucopia took the family half way across the country. And just like before, I had two options: follow the party bus, or go my own way. Anyone not dead inside can see that's really only one good option, so... ADVENTURE! ✊

And a perfect time to tackle a bit of The Mother Road...

505 miles thru Oklahoma, Texas & New Mexico

Renegade fueled up... 3 days 'til Christmas... Let's go!

Round Barn, Arcadia OK
Built in 1898, made round so the tornados would go around it. Sounds crazy, but I guess it worked!

Pops 66, Arcadia OK
Not an original, this place is relatively new but with full retro vibes for those in a 50's Americana state of mind.

Signpost, Edmond OK
2nd & Broadway in my hometown!

Broadway Mural, Edmond OK
Turns out, I grew up on Route 66 and didn't even know it.

Blue Hippo, Edmond OK
But I do remember this guy. One of the many quirky sights along the Route.

Cherokee Trading Post, Calumet OK
Trinkets! Okie stuff! Switchblade combs, tomahawks, all the kitsch you could ask for and more.

Lucille's Service Station, Hydro OK
Built and operated by Lucille Hamons, "the Mother of the Mother Road", from 1927 to 1999.

National Route 66 Museum, Elk City OK
Established in 1926, Route 66 connected Chicago, IL to Malibu, CA using state roads and native American paths between small towns.

Tumbleweed Grill, Texola OK
You've heard of Texoma, but did you know about Texola? Last stop in Oklahoma, right on the border.

173 miles driven on Route 66 thru Oklahoma ✓

On to Texas and New Mexico...

Let's Swoosh Again (Like We Did Two Christmasses Ago)

As I said a couple years ago, there's just some things kids gotta learn.

Snow Skiing ✅

First time was just getting their feet wet. Second time is to make sure it sticks. And in that regard, mission accomplished. 💯

Hornucopia Christmas 2024 side project (or maybe it's the main deal): Angel Fire, New Mexico

Hello again, SkiMe. 👋

2 second timers, 2 two years older than last timers

Naomi picked up right where she left off, and in much better spirits this time!
We have a skier - hooray!

Danielle was her usual semi-adventurous self, taking to the side trails and even a few small jumps to get her thrills.

Jenny, always in control, and always the warmest. And new this year, a skiing picnic basket!

And for me, nothing really changes, fortunately. Like riding a bike, but only on the 🟢 & 🟦 these days. (I feel like I could still ◆, but why work that hard?)

The ⛷️ torch is passed.

Another fun Hornucopia adventure in the books.

J&J ski retirement? Maybe...
Torch passing now complete, Jenny & I said our goodbyes to this activity. For us, skiing is a like it, but not love it thing. I can't say we'd never do it again, but... we're good for another 20 years, or never.

So long snowy mountain. ✌️

White Christmas (2024)

Not often a white Christmas comes to Texas. So if the snow won't come to us, we'll go to the snow!

Hornucopia Christmas 2024

Angel Fire, NM