Downtown Chicago and the end of 66 !

We (well Karen) drove into downtown Chicago today, the weather was great and we managed to officially finish the Route 66 wrong way round trip !!

Since our last visit Trump towers is nearing completion and we had some fun at Millenium Park, along with window shopping in Michigan Ave where I had a play with an IPhone (very impressive !!)

The end of the road :-)

We spent quite a lot of time in St Louis this morning particularly at the riverfront and the arch. Afterwards we set off on Route 66 at the Chain of Rocks bridge from both the Missouri and Illinois ends, we also visited the famous Ted Drewe frozen custard stand. We alternated between Route 66 and the Interstate and ended up in Naperville at around 9:30pm, tired but happy. We will calculate how many miles we have covered over the past two weeks, a rough estimate at this point is around 2,800 !!! Going to have a rest for the next few days :-)

Nothing Too Exciting

We travelled through Oklahoma, Kansas and part of Missouri today.

Not the most exciting day of the trip, but it didn't rain :-)

Bit of car trouble, looks like we have a slow puncture :-(

Off to Memphis tomorrow :-)

Wet Wet Wet

Very rainy trip on the run between Amarillo and Oklahoma City, managed to take a look at a couple of the towns and museums along the way. We also met a couple of fellow Brit 66ers as soon as we arrived in Oklahoma it stopped raining !!

Show Me The Way To Amarillo

C

Today's little jaunt took us from Santa Fe to Amarillo via Santa Rosa, Adrian (1/2 way), Tucumcari.

We were concerned about the bad weather but it appears we are following it so far :-)

The Route 66 museum and the Cadillac Ranch were the main items of note today.

Once again the scenery changed from state to state and the plains coming into Texas stretch as far as the eye can see.

Fiesta !!

We have spent the day in Santa Fe old town where it is the annual festival, it has been a riot of music, colour and food
A really enjoyable and relaxing day :-)
We may however need to change our plans as there is severe weather in Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. More to follow !!

Down (New) Mexico Way !

We left Holbrook and the Wigwams behind and via the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert and Gallup amongst others we are now in Santa Fe. The Painted Desert is absolutely wonderful and one of the most unusual things we have ever seen !

The Pictures

1/ Shows the bed of the original Route 66 that has now returned to nature, you can see where it used to be by using the line of telegraph poles as a guide.

2 and 3/ Show the painted desert but don't do it justice !!

Now in Santa Fe for a couple of days.

Inside the Wigwam Village

Just a few shots of the inside of the Wigwam Motel and surroundings.

Small Town USA

Making our way from Flagstaff Arizona along Route 66 to Holbrook and the Wigwam Motel via Walnut Canyon National Monument. The Canyon was fantastic but involved a two mile walk and a climb of a few thousand feet out of the Canyon. We also passed the famous Jack Rabbit trading post and the meteor crater on the way to Winslow. Winslow still retains a lot of the old Route 66 charm. We ended the day at Holbrook and the Wigwam Motel. Tomorrow Santa Fe !!

Back on to Route 66

Todays target was to reach Flagstaff for our overnight stay, and also to dip in between the original Route 66 and the Interstate. We had a look at two of the original Route 66 towns, Seligman and Williams Arizona. Todays journey also meant we have now crossed three states and the temp ranged from 108 to 75 degrees. We also crossed the Hoover Dam, the dam has had quite substantial work carried out on it since our last visit and along with Lake Mead is an impressive sight.

The contrast between the desert of Nevada and the green of Arizona is stunning.

The Hampton Inn at Flagstaff is very nice, room very clean and tidy, free Internet and breakfast however what they didn't mention was the proximity to the railway !!

Will keep you posted on the sleeping front :-)

The beginning or end of Route 66 depending...

On which way round you are making the trip, for us its the "wrong way round" as we want to end up in Chicago.

We begin our journey at the famous Santa Monica Pier on the lovely Santa Monica State Beach.

This is the typical Californian beach scene down to the Muscle section of the beach and the Schwinn bikes. What a great day temp over 100 degrees got a bit sunburnt !

Here's the route

View Larger Map

Getting ready for the trip :-)

Only a few days to go now the intinerary is ready, just the packing now :-(

The First Post

Hi

Welcome to my Blog, which will contain intermittent ramblings and nuggets from my travels and thoughts !