June 13, 2016 … back on our way Westward on I-40 from Norman, OK, heading to our next stop at Elk City, OK. This part of the highway has a “stitched” look which I’ve never seen before.
Turning toward Amarillo — that’s TEXAS!! We’re really truly going West!!
Stopped at a Blue Beacon Car Wash …. and boy do we need it! But OMG …. we gotta get this monster rig in THERE? I’m glad I’m not driving.
On again towards Texas …. the world is definitely looking flat. And such a big sky!!
And windmills!!
A statue seen in passing – the title says “BINDING CONTRACT”
Arriving at Elk City on the famous Route 66 which runs approximately parallel to I-40 all the way across the country.
Our home for the night seen through the driver’s window
Next morning, we visited the Elk City Route 66 museum where we saw vintage cars, bikes, etc.
(Eddie, the motorcycle pictures are for you)
Early Harley-Davidson 1940 Indian “Chief”
Me driving a 1917 Fire Truck
An early version of Tyrtle (well not quite) … you could crawl in through the side door to find a good-size mattress, while food, icebox and stove was cleverly organized in the back.
There was a little tour of Route 66 scenes, and we were informed that the gasoline called Phillips 66 was named by the Phillips brothers of Phillips Petroleum Company. They were testing the gasoline on Route 66 and the car went 66 mph (fast for 1927). So they figured Phillips 66 would be a catchy name …. and it stuck.
Other life-size dioramas from the Route 66 exhibits.
The two pictures below depict the truck used in the Hollywood movie made of John Steinbeck’s 1939 book, The Grapes of Wrath. If you have forgot the story, you can check it out here on Wikipedia. There is a sign saying the truck was “donated by the Joad family” which is odd because the Joads are a fictional family in the novel.
