Texas Route 66 - Shamrock

SHAMROCK, TEXAS. A giant scoreboard of Shamrock businesses that could not survive the coming of the interstate.

"Dean was happy again. All he needed was a wheel in his hand and four on the road." Sal Paradise in "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Erick

ERICK, OKLAHOMA. It's neon sign busted and fading, the old West Winds Motel, a motor court built in 1948 on Route 66, is now a private residence. The motel's name and the painted bucking bronco alerted guests that they were now entering the American West.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Erick

ERICK, OKLAHOMA. The "office" sign still hangs at the West Winds Motel, though the property is now used as a private residence.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Erick

ERICK, OKLAHOMA. Decaying sign for the West Winds Motel, now sitting out on the lawn by the former motel office.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Erick

ERICK, OKLAHOMA. A four legged resident of Erick watches as the traffic on Route 66 goes by. And for the mailman.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Erick

ERICK, OKLAHOMA. The streets of Erick are wide and friendly, so take a dusty walk through an old western town.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Erick

 Harley and Annabelle, the Mediocre Music Makers in 2007

ERICK, OKLAHOMA. Nobody works harder on Route 66 than Harley and Annabelle Russell, at the Sandhills Curiosity shop in dusty Erick. During my first visit, in 2007, they entertained a solo visitor with small talk and a cold drink, followed by a couple of enthusiastic songs as they turned into the Mediocre Music Makers. There were hugs all around as I left, and the couple posed for a picture out front. On a subsequent visit, in 2010, I watched as the two dedicated 66ers lugged heavy stuff around inside the shop, setting things up for an expected busload of 66 fans. A little later that day, I almost collided with Annabelle as she hustled around town gathering supplies for her guests. Two quality people in the nuttiest of settings. Just pure 66.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Erick

ERICK, OKLAHOMA. The sign out on the street said OPEN, but the Sandhills Curiosity shop was all locked up on a Sunday morning. Despite some serious health issues for Annabelle, I've heard that the Russells have been entertaining Route 66 visitors this past summer, so I pray the couple were not dealing with anything serious that day, just sleeping in or at church.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Erick

ERICK, OKLAHOMA. The Sandhills Curiosity shop in Erick, Oklahoma, is another MUST see on your trip, as intense a Route 66 experience as it gets, inside and out. A performance by the Mediocre Music Makers, Harley and Annabelle Russell, who run the shop, will be one of the highlights of your trip. Otherwise, not much else will be happening in Erick, known as the hometown of country music singers Sheb Wooley and Roger Miller.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Sayre

SAYRE, OKLAHOMA. The Stovall Theater opened as movie house in 1955, and it operated until a fire closed it down some twenty years ago. It is now being restored as a community theater.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Sayre

SAYRE, OKLAHOMA. Lots of highways for such a small town. Someone in Sayre needs to nail a 66 shield up there, as "Business Loop 40" just doesn't do it for me.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Sayre

SAYRE, OKLAHOMA. The First National Bank on Main Street, and a traffic light just for me. I enjoyed my hike through Sayre's historic downtown district, but it was absolutely deserted on a Sunday morning.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Sayre

SAYRE, OKLAHOMA. A preview of Southwestern sights to come on Route 66 at the Western Motel in Sayre. The cactus and desert neon sign is one of my favorites.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Elk City

ELK CITY, OKLAHOMA. Outside the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City. That's one big shield.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Canute

CANUTE, OKLAHOMA. Looking today more like a private residence, the Washita Motel can be positively identified only by looking closely at that faded sign.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Canute

CANUTE, OKLAHOMA. The Cotton Boll Motel in Canute was opened in 1960 by two former cotton farmers, Woodrow and Viola Penick. Their new business was successful until the interstate bypassed the town in the 1970's, and they sold the motel in 1979. The new owners turned the motel into a private residence, but the old neon sign is still there.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Clinton

CLINTON, OKLAHOMA. The Glancy Motor Hotel. I don't know when the motel was built, but it sure looks like it is right out of the 1950's.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Weatherford

WEATHERFORD, OKLAHOMA. Windmills on Route 66. Would have been an odd site back in the heyday of 66, a period of abundant energy and cheap gas.

Oklahoma Route 66 - Weatherford

WEATHERFORD, OKLAHOMA. Heading west out of Weatherford, one is immediately tempted to visit the Cherokee Trading Post in nearby Clinton. A billboard behind a wire fence is so Route 66.