Route 66 Day 19 Oct 27, 2019

Woke up cold in Elk City, and excited to get the day started.  It soon dawned on me that it was Sunday and I wasn't even sure the area I wanted to visit would be open.  A quick google search and I learned that all the Museums in the Museum Complex were open from 2pm-5pm on Sundays.  That would give me many many hours to burn in Elk City and I wasn't interested.  Didn't matter, most of what was cool about that area were the outdoor exhibits, so I decided to just head over and walk about the block and check it out.  It was super cold.  I parked next to a bunch of German men in rented Harley Davidsons and we all wandered about the block.  It was too cold for motorcycles, I felt bad for them.  I spent close to an hour wandering the area and taking pictures (probably less than that it was cold and windy and I walked fast).  Satisfied my curiosity and continued on my way.  Knocked off some more POI on my list.  Erick OK was by far the most depressing.  The place was full of homes that appeared lived in, but the diner was closed, the bar was closed, the hotels were closed...I wasn't sure anything was open at all.  The town looked on the brink of death.  Stopped by the Sandhill Curiosity Shop, and had a nice convo with the creepy owner Harley of Route 66 fame.  He took my photo while holding an old Oklahoma Route 66 sign.  He said it was the first one ever hung, but I'm not sure I believe him.

 Soon after I was out of Oklahoma and into Texas.




The first town I entered was Shamrock Texas.  It has a number of famous Route 66 stops and I took loads of photos.  It was still Sunday and hardly anything was open, however I did catch a matinee at the Texas Theater, built in 1936 and my movie, popcorn, diet coke and candy cost me $10.50.  As much as I like those recliner seats at my local theater, I really like old school pricing.  Exiting the town, I jumped on a wrong road and went about 10 miles before I noticed my GPS was freaking out.  Had to turn around and head back.  Irked at the waste of gas, but I did get to see a group of wild turkeys, so I wasn't too irked.  

I made good time across Texas and ended up in Groom Texas before I called it quits.  Lots of old gas stations and motels along the way.  Jericho Ruins (an old ghost town) was interesting and in Groom I got to see the famous Leaning Tower of Texas and the famous large cross that stands 190 feet high.  I had researched sleeping places but I had messed up thinking Groom had a Walmart, but they didn't and the closest Walmart was over 30 miles away.  Instead, I turned around and headed back to a rest area on I-40 that was a nice Rest Area and very Route 66 themed.  It was cold.



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