New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma - Quiet Times

May 4

May 4 New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma - Quiet Times

Tuesday was a short day mileage-wise anyway. There wasn't much notable and Route 66 has mostly disappeared. Probably the most important thing to happen was crossing the continental divide which, for those who have forgotten grade seven geography, is the point where water flows east or west from depending upon which side you are on.

Continental Divide markers and a fly ride. - J. Bailey photo

There was a great twisting section of 66 along here where the road was lined with red mesas. There was also a cop hiding along thar stretcg too that was so excited to see a red sports car that he started to pull out before he read his radar only to find the drivers was under the limit. Haha!

Mesa walls in the only stretch off 66 with views like this. - J. Bailey photo

After this there was a long stretch of boring interstate to drive before coming to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Not a ton to see there, old parts of 66 have been modernized, not a surprise I guess it ran through the main part of the town. There is a small section of the old city preserved and turned into a bit of a tourist trap. There are buildings from the late 1700s and early 1800s. The church below dates from 1793. Built with adobe-style construction it was mostly original, according to the locals otger than some cosmetic refurbishing and necessary reinforcements. It was quite remarkable inside too.

San Filipe de Neri church, Albuquerque - J. Bailey photo

After another run on the highway I came to Amarillo, which if you pronounce it with an "Oh" sound instead of an "Ah" sound you're not from around them parts. This was pointed out to me by the hotel staffer who still had really big bangs from 1987, maybe she's a trendsetter.

Anyway, not too much to see in Texas, this is the narrow top section of the state and you don't really see much but pastures and windmills. Plenty of long views though.

Texas expanse and lots of it. - J. Bailey photo

Finally today there was again lots of highway driving until Oklahoma City after that was the the longest leg of 66 remaining today and still definitely very much used by locals not just tourists. Lots of little towns most of them with mostly boarded up main streets - and a Walmart on the outskirts or one in the next town ten minutes away. Still cool to see the old hotels, restaurants, and gas stations built to serve the once busy transcontinental travellers. Here's a typical view. A little more Oklahoma to go and on to Missouri.