Missouri Route 66 - Paris Springs

Paris Springs, 2008

PARIS SPRINGS, MISSOURI. Gary Turner can't wait for you to stop by, just so he can show off his restored Sinclair gas station in Paris Springs, Missouri, which he refers to as Gay Parita. When I first showed up in 2008, Gary was busy giving a tour to a young couple from Spain, proudly pointing out the old pumps, the old cars, and all the antiques he had accumulated back in the station garage. I tagged along, with camera. These adventurous Europeans were touring Route 66 on one black motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson, and were dressed absolutely appropriately in their black outfits. I leapfrogged from site to site with them and their hog for the rest of the day, and we even tried to have a conversation when we met up behind Eisler's store in Kansas. We didn't get very far with my high school Spanish and their English travel phrases, but they were a pleasure to meet nonetheless. Here's Gary giving the kids directions, all the way to the Santa Monica Pier!