Kicks on Route 66
Trip Start
Jun 14, 2009
1
4
23
Trip End
Jul 31, 2009
Gallup, New Mexico
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The winds in New Mexico and Arizona this afternoon were pretty strong. Several times we saw dust devils twirling through the landscape. We could also see in the distance places that looked to be getting some rain out of the clouds those winds were blowing through. In the very early afternoon, we stopped at a place where those rains get separated East and West. Just past Thoreau is where I-40 crosses the Continental Divide at 7,379 feet above sea level.
Shortly after this we were in Gallup, New Mexico driving down part of Historic Route 66 parallel to I-40. Lunch today was pb and j and fruit off the hood of the Mazda - a delectable combination of Kroger brand peanut butter and Kroger brand strawberry preserves on Kroger brand wheat bread. In between oranges and sandwiches Jim took pictures of some wonderful murals around the city parking lot. Then we wandered a few blocks through a couple of shops specializing in Native American jewelry, pottery, rugs and leatherwork. One of the pictures on this page is of the ring Steph purchased (turquoise, of course).
After lunch we crossed into Arizona, still taking I-40 West with short jaunts off the interstate to visit Historic Route 66. One of our jaunts was into Winslow to "stand on the corner." It would seem that Winslow's only claim to fame is this one line from The Eagles' "Take It Easy," which of course we listened to in the car as we neared the town. There were two stores, presumably owned by the same people, called "Standin' On A Corner" filled with Route 66 paraphenalia. We pondered just how much the employees of these stores might now loathe all The Eagles' music, since that is what played exclusively while we were there.
The pop culture imagery of the Main Street of America are persistent in our national memory. Traveling west today, mostly on what either was the Mother Road or what has officially replaced it, we were constantly reminded of its presence and influence.
