I had originally planned to drive from Pensacola, FL to Amarillo, TX taking a direct route through rural Texas all the way - it was the shortest route. But I started driving, I figured that if I has to experience Route 66, I better drive another 70 miles. We started out driving west on I-30, quickly crossing over into Texas. The first photographs of TX was taken when it was dark. But the drive did include a part of rural Texas and you have to believe me when I say I saw a man riding his horse in the median area of US-82! We crossed over into Oklahoma in US-271 and took the Indian Nation Turnpike. That ride was something... 100+ miles with 3 tolls and 4 or 5 exits along the way with miles and miles of solitude. Oklahoma seems to have lots of toll roads and this one had the added privilege of being able to drive at 75 without worrying about a ticket.
We soon joined I-40W, what was erstwhile Route 66. The drive allowed us to experience several Indian Nations, a Cherokee trading post and a stop at a museum dedicated to Route 66. The Cherokee trading post was a commercial version - located right off the freeway selling amongst other things, leather goods made in China! I figure I need to drive deeper into Indian territory to not find anything made in China! May be, tomorrow or day after... let's see.
The Route 66 museum in Clinton, OK was awesome. It had several artefacts from times past - cars, restaurant settings, gas station pumps... Too bad I couldn't stay for the movie at the end of the museum - Apollo was sitting in the car and it was one of the warmer days today.
We crossed over back into Texas. I was wondering if there would be another border town named Texola and voila! There was one!
The welcome center this time was 100 miles into the state... and it was huge! We were able to see miles and miles from the rest stop on a day with remarkable visibility and blue skies.
Day 18 pics
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