Day 4 (6th Feb 2001)

Resuming trip at Vega

Chilly morning, wet ground and overcast skies.

This popular site was created by a San-Fransico artist and architect collect in 1974. Ten classic Cadillacs, covered by grafitti (or grafitti-like art design; I cannot really tell), were buried nose-down in the field.

The site is free and one can approach the Cadillacs from the frontage road via a muddy path. However, we were in no mood to wade through wet mud and climb over fences in the chilly winds. So just some distant photos. Maybe a closer look next time.

Amarillo

Amarillo is the biggest city (one can say, the only city) in the Texas panhandle. This is Emily at a car wash, and CK at a gas station. Gas: 5.9 G x $1.44 / G = $8.52

Groom

This gloomy town has two interesting sights worthwhile of taking our camera out: the giant stainless steel cross (largest in the Western hemisphere) as well as the leaning watertower. And as you can see in the pictures, the skies were finally clearing.

Alanreed

This is Emily outside the Devil's Rope Museum in McLean near Alanreed. (Devil's rope = barbed wire.) Unfortunately, we could not find the more well-known McLean landmark -- the famous rattlesnake road sign.

Shamrock

Leaving Texas
Entering Oklahoma (crossing the 100th meridian)

Erick

Emily on a street corner in Erick. Gas: 3.9 G x $1.37 / G = $5.40

Elk City

After stopping for lunch, we went across the Route for the National Route 66 Museum and the Old Town Museum.

Leaving Elk City

Hydro

Hydro was put on the map by Lucille Hamons, author of the book "Mother of the Mother Road", and her service station that has opened its doors to Route 66 travelers since 1941. As time goes by, the little store had became a shrine to the old road. However, we regret to report that Lucille has passed away in August 2000, and the store (temporary) closed.

Yukon

Yukon marked the western boundary of the Oklahoma metro area.

Bethany

Entering Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Downtown

CK near the First Prebyterian Church in Oklahoma City.

Leaving Oklahoma City

After Oklahoma City, we said goodbye to I-40 as Route 66 turned Northeast (parallel to I-44), threaded through a chain of small towns (No more ghost towns -- these town are in good shape!) like Edmont, Aracdia and Chandler towards Tulsa. This segment of the route is very well-maintained and clearly marked.

Chandler

Gas:5.0 G x $ 1.4 / G = $6.93

Sapulpa

Entering Tulsa

Tulsa is an big university city. Route 66 goes through Tulsa as an elevated highway (it merged with I-44). As a result, we saw a lot of neon-lights, but not much deatils.

Leaving Tulsa

Claremont

Originally we planned to spent the night at Miami, which is more than an hour from Tulsa. So we decided to call it a day at Claremont instead. We stayed at the Days Inn for around $60.