Santa Rosa, NM 2023
Tag: Route 66
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2026 Road Trip Home – Day 3
Much of Route 66 in Texas has been built over by interstate highway 40 (I-40). Hubs and I managed to find a few sections of the original Mother Road, and chose to drive on them as much as possible, just to be able to say we did. It had a wonderful stepping back in time feel to it. My feature photo is of one such segment.
Yesterday was full of fun and interesting stops to check out many well-known attractions along the Texas section of Historic Route 66.
Our first sighting on Good Friday was The Groom Cross 
A small town with a big spirit 
The Leaning Tower of Britten has an interesting history 
No matter where you look along 66, you’re time traveling 
McLean, TX Museum was an amazing find 
Hubs checking farming implements from days gone by 
Another iconic Rte 66 stop 
The Devils Rope Museum is massive inside 
Cute mock up of a 40’s Diner 
This guy had a long trip 
Juxtaposition in Shamrock, TX 
Shamrock, TX is the first Texas town along Rte 66 when coming from the East 
The iconic Conoco Tower Station and U Drop In Cafe 
A tribute garden to Bill Mack, who was born in Shamrock 
Outside the U Drop In Cafe 
Look who I found inside the cafe! 
Memories 
One must keep a watchful eye because the roadside history is continuous Hubs and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of our last day (for now) celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. The anniversary lasts all year (the actual 100th birthday is in November), so we have plans for exploration of other sections later this year.
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2026 Road Trip Home – Day 2
Yesterday was all about bucket list hits.
Along the way from San Angelo, TX to Amarillo, TX we saw some varied and beautiful scenery and enjoyed a couple of breaks from driving to check out attractions.
The weather has been more than cooperative with sunshine, warmth, and clear blue skies.
Breakfast and road snacks from our hotel 
Near Sterling City, TX 
Red Soil at Ackerly, TX. The white specks are debris from the cotton harvest Our first stop was Lubbock, TX – birthplace of Buddy Holly.
After touring Clear Lake, Iowa on our way south this past fall, which I posted about here , we were interested in visiting Buddy Holly’s hometown.
Lubbock Texas has streets named after their favourite son.
There’s also the Buddy Holly Center which is a museum tribute to his life, and includes an art gallery inside an old attached train station.
Across the street, is The Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza which includes the West Texas Walk of Fame – with inductees from the area named in plaques along a curved wall. Among the many inductees were Tanya Tucker, Merle Haggard, Roy Orbison, and Dan Blocker.
We also toured the house of JI Allison, the first drummer for Buddy Holly’s band, The Crickets. In his bedroom was a piano and a drum kit and this is where “That’ll Be the Day” and “Peggy Sue” were written.
I was in Rock n Roll heaven here.
Entrance to the Buddy Holly Center 
Me with the famous glasses 
This courtyard can be rented out 
Inside the entrance 
Lots of reading involved 
Doorway to the Art Gallery 
Three large sections for exhibits 
Original doors to the old train station 
Hubs was most interested in the history of the train station 
JI Allison’s home 
JI’s room in the home 
Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza 
Front of the old train station 
Dedication Plaque From Lubbock, we made the 121 mile (194 km) drive to Amarillo, TX where we checked out our first stop on historic Route 66.
2026 is the hundredth anniversary of “The Mother Road”, so over the course of this year we plan to see as much of it as we can.
First stop: Cadillac Ranch
There’s spray paint everywhere 
Even on the pavement alongside the entrance 
Spray painted locks on the fence 
This truck pulls the souvenir trailer 
Every souvenir you could want is in here 
The famous interactive art installation, created in 1974 
I took my turn at spray painting 
Hubs did some tagging too 
The Second
Amendment Cowboy with a neon sign (one of many on Rte 66)
A diner and gift shop behind the cowboy For those of you wondering about fuel prices:
This is per US Gallon (3.75 liters) We saw it as low as $2.99 and as high as $3.99 Yesterday was a ten hour day, worth every enjoyable second.
Radically Retired 