Hunter woke two hours before the alarm this morning, and we couldn’t leave Carthage until 9:00 when the visitor center opened, so we stopped to have breakfast. Hunter has Hamburger Steak and Eggs…I feel like I don’t even know him.
We hit the Visitor Center to get the stamp for our Route 66 Passport which I haven’t previously mentioned, I ordered it prior to leaving and when we get to a place with a stamp we stop. Unfortunately, lots of places are closed when we arrive because of time of day or day of the week. But we are getting them whenever we can!
So anyway, we arrive at 8:45 to find that the center had been open since 8:00…oh well.
We then stopped in Joplin, hit a mural park, and found Bonnie and Clyde’s hideout!
Crossing over into Kansas was completely cool…
Route 66 only winds for 12 miles in Kansas but what a 12 miles! Lots of Cars references. Yesterday, George at Gay Parita had told me to stop at Motörhead Curios and talk to his buddy, so we did…for 45 minutes. Aaron was from California and had been stationed at the Shinnecock Coast Guard base in ‘93. We had lots to discuss. He is in the process of renovating and even though I think it already looks amazing, it’s going to be ridiculous when he’s done!
Once in Oklahoma (yes…I sang “where the winds go sweeping down the plains” at the top of my bloody lungs), we took some dirt backroads and had some excitement with a semi…we are fine, but population control ditches are real, y’all! We didn’t go in, but it was close. Stay on your side of the road, you big enormous truck especially when you have made a cloud of dirt and I can’t see where I’m going..
We went through an underground tunnel which had lots of murals, to a totem pole park, saw the Blue Whale of Catoosa, and found Route 66 Neon Park (which was super difficult to park and get to).
Finally we drove around Tulsa a bit before settling in for the night. Tulsa and onward tomorrow…
Made it to Joplin, MO!Joplin Mural ParkBonnie & Clyde’s Hideout Now an Air B&BState Line between Missouri and Kansas…best one yet!Picture a guy over my right shoulder mowing his lawn and laughing at us Galena Rest PlaceCute faux Cars Cars on the Route…wasn’t openInspiration for Tow Matar 1951, International“In Galena, Kansas, we found a lonely old tow truck that most folks would pass …”A few years ago Aaron decided to go to the Route 66 festival but no one wanted to go, so he took his classic Chevy and drove.He got out of the car at this rundown service station to take a selfie. When he looked at the picture, he saw for sale sign over his shoulder in the window & thought hmmm. He discussed the purchase with everybody on the trip. The car agreed with him, and now he and his family own this amazing shop!He found a dead Hudson Hornet & restored him to true Doc StatusAll Kansas License Plates and the helmets overhead at the lights!Aaron!Galena Mining CompanyBaxter Springs Heritage Center & MuseumTwo guys pulling a huge boat were super impressed with our adventure and took our pic.A bit of off roading.The winds really DO go sweeping down the plains!The clouds do this cool thing when you crest a hill where the meet the road. I’m having a hard time describing it, but it’s breathtaking.Allen’s Conoco Fillin’ Station in Commerce was built circa 1929.Historic Route 66 Ribbon RoadMiami, OklahomaColeman Theater in MiamiNowhere on Route 66Rest HavenAvon CourtOld Service StationDiamond RioHi-Way CafeChelsea Motor InnChelsea MotelChelseaChelseaBuilt in the 1930s to facilitate safe pedestrian crossing of Route 66.In 2016, Chelsea gave the pedestrian underpass a cleaningArtist Kenneth Hollingshead created a muralThe mural pays tribute to historical elements of Chelsea649 miles down 1501 miles to goEd Galloway’s Totem Pole ParkFolk art masterpiece consists of 11 elaborately decorated concrete tee pee towers and one ornate building on 14 acres.The totems were cool, but these fiddles were stunning.Blue Whale of CatoosaAccording to this sign I now have more mileage to go at 1505 milesBuilt as a surprise anniversary gift Tulsa, OklahomaRoute 66 Neon Park Will Rogers Motor CourtRoute 66 Neon Park Oil Capital MotelRoute 66 Neon Park Tulsa Auto CourtBuilt in 1925, now the surrounding area is know as The Blue Dome District with restaurants and bars. The Golden Driller is a 75-foot-tall, 43,500- pound statue of an oil worker
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