Santa Fe, New Mexico, Day 6 on the Mother Road.

Only an hours drive today from Albuquerque, some beautiful mountain views along the way

So we've arrived in Santa Fe and there is really only one subject to talk about.
Coming from Weymouth, our experience of altitude is driving up Wyke Road.

High Altitude can have strange effects on bears and humans. Santa Fe is 7000 odd feet above sea level and we can all really feel the difference. After the first couple of hours here we are all suffering from headaches, shortness of breath, lack of energy and lack of appetite. This is all normal according the welcome pack at our lovely little adobe cottage, complete with wood fireplace. Los Palomas Hotel is set out over a single story spread over a couple of blocks.

                    Our home in the High mountains of New Mexico for tonight.

                                 A couple of pics from the Plaza area of Santa Fe

So although none of us feel brilliant at the moment we took a stroll into town and took a look at some of the fascinating architecture, Native American Arts and Boutique Shops before heading back to our little Pueblo for a lie down.
Hopefully we can all adjust to the lack of oxygen up here quickly and enjoy an evening out and about in town later.

Hot Dog, Jumpin' Frog, Albequerque

Route 66 Day 5, Amarillo to Alberqueque 8700 miles across a barren desert.

Leaving Amarillo, Texas on Route 66 we quickly came across the Midway point of our journey in Adrian, TX. Unfortunately the cafe was closed til next week so I did a bit of posing for the camera and we headed off into the deserts of New Mexico.

Fred is halfway to California.

From this point on the journey was pretty deserty

Tree

Desert

Tree

Desert

Desert

Train

Desert

Tree

Desert

Desert

Mountains

Alberqueque

Our hotel for the night was chosen by Sara and is therefore alot nicer than the Motels we've lodged at over the last few nights. The most pretigious hotel in Alberqueque, the Hotel Andaluz was once a Hilton Hotel and was where Zsa Zsa Gabor married Mr Hilton in the 1940s.

Fred is getting used to huge beds

Views across the city towards the mountains. Pretty awesome.

3 states in one day. Day 3 on Route 66

Day 3 on Route 66 Lebanon, MO to Tulsa OK 263 miles

A restful night at The Munger Moss Motel, thanks to Ramona and her hospitality

Another great day on the Mother Road, Americas' Mid-West is full of friendly happy people who all seem to enjoy a bit of bear lovin'. After another fantastic breakfast at the Elm Street Eatery in Lebanon my taxi driving buddies and me set off West deep into Missouri. In Paris Springs we had the pleasure of spending some time with Gary Turner at the Gay Parita Filling Station. Gary has lived on '66 a long time and had some wonderful stories to tell. His place is crammed full of route 66 stuff which he was happy to show us. Guarding over his garage full of treasures was Earle.Earle and me got on like a house on fire.

                             Earle and Fred in the Gay Parita garage of treasure.

Gary, Sara and Fred getting friendly in Garys' office

Andy and Sara posing for Garys' website gallery

Fleetline Taxis - Part of the Missouri scenery

Fred is part of the Mother Road

We spent 45 minutes chatting with Gary, he was a fascinating guy and we loved being with him.

Further along the road Route 66 dips into Kansas for a 14 mile stretch through Galena and Baxter Springs. Here we met Melba the Mouth and Lyle. Both are characters of the Mother Road and both made us all very welcome. Melbas' Diner in Galena has a very special truck parked out front, the whole area inspired a certain animated film.

Fred and Tow- Mator getting acquainted.

Oklahoma was our 3rd state of the day and our first rain storm of the trip. Sara kept a weather eye out for twisters but no such luck. The drive-thru sign outside Carthage stayed rooted down. 

Long straight roads running for 10's of miles led us all the way into Tulsa and our stopover at the Desert Hills Motel. We are sat in Tallys' Cafe, Tulsa eating and blogging. Great food. Early night for us all. Texas tomorrow.

Is this the way to Amarillo? I certainly hope so.

Day 2 on the Mother Road

Day 2 on route 66, Springfield IL to Lebanon MO, 233 miles.

Woke this morning in Springfield IL to another covering of snow, unlike the UK though, life goes on even with a couple of inches of snow, by the time we'd chomped our way through another huge breakfast of eggs, biscuits, ( a sort of muffin/crumpet),bacon, sausage gravy and bucket loads of coffee, the roads were cleared and we were able to set off. The old 66 follows alongside the interstate for a fair way along this stretch only veering away briefly to visit quaint little farming towns along the way. Diners, gift shops and other roadside distractions try to make you pull over and part with a few dollars.

Am I shrinking or is furniture getting bigger?

Not far out of Springfield we stumbled across a classic cars sales place, several huge barns were filled with every type of classic American car you could think off.     Model T's, studebakers, cadilacs, lincolns. All for sale, all rust free. 100s and 100s of fantasticly stunning cars. 

The long straight roads of Illinios made way for trees, hills and rivers as we made our way into Missouri. The majestic Mississippi River provides the state border and a visit to the now obsolete Chain of Rocks bridge across the river is a Route 66 must-see.

Mississippi Fred

Night 2 sees us resting at the Munger Moss Motel, Lebanon MO. A proper 1940s route 66 motel, run by Ramona and Fred. Cosy rooms and a parking bay for the car right outside.

Tomorrow Oklahoma,  Tulsa to be precise. And we're only 24 hours away. I think I know a song about that.

Chillin out in Springfield after day 1 on route 66

Freds' Best Bear Bits Day 1 on Route 66

Chicago to Springfield IL.

Setting off from Adams Street in Downtown Chicago, 2300 miles to go.

A huge breakfast at Lou Mtichells' Diner set me up for the day.

Am I a time travelling bear? Is this the 1930's? 

A deserted gas station outside Dwight IL. The shop and workshop were full of authentic items from the time.

Small bear complex. Am I a tiny bear or is he a massive man carrying a space rocket?Fred meeting the Gemini Giant muffler man outside The Launch Pad Diner, Wilmington IL.

 The Route 66 Hotel and Conference Centre, Springfield IL is our first nights' stopover. A route 66 museum, bar and diner kept us in the mood for more Mother Road experiences on day 2. Goodbye Illinois, hello Missouri. The journey isnt about the destination, its about the direction. Go West young bear.

Freds friendly advice for the people of New York

So I've been in New York nearly a week now and feel like I'm almost a local here. Before I leave this place though I feel it is my duty to pass on a few thoughts to you lovely people that I think will help this place run just that little bit smoother.

1. Manhatten is busy, it cant be helped, there are alot of people trying to move around on an island thats not much bigger than Portland. The traffic is bad. Be patient guys, you'll get there in the end. LEANING ON YOUR HORN WILL NOT MAKE THAT RED LIGHT GREEN, Chill out.
2. Everyone in Manhatten needs a job, bills to pay, I understand that. Some people earn fortunes sat at their desk 100 floors above the madness. Others are less fortunate and have to try and earn money from the millions of tourists that come here. Here's some Fred advice if your a 4ft tall Asian lady in Times Square. DONT DRESS UP AS CHEWBACCA AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO GIVE YOU MONEY FOR PHOTOS, you look ridiculous, save up and get a Minion suit. Far more profitable.
3. Garbage collectors and delivery guys of Manhatten. Thats a very demanding job you have in a hostile enviroment, I understand that. But please, if you must empty the bins at 4am PLEASE DO IT QUIETLY.
4. Bus Tour operators of Manhatten. Your buses are a great way of seeing the city, I have enjoyed your tours myself this week but please think of a way of identifying who already has tickets, after the first 25 times explaining to your ticket agents that I already have a ticket my patience was wearing thin.

Having said these things New York is a fantastic place with fantastic people and I have had a freakin' awesome time, but today I must leave and move on to Chicago. City of Pizzas, Coffee and .... Wind.
Route 66 begins in Chicago and to be honest I cant wait.

2 Weeks til NYC

Just a fortnight til me and my two taxi driver buddies start our route 66 adventure. 2300 miles of historic America ahead of us.

Here I am, the coolest Bear in Weymouth.

My Fleetline outfit has finally arrived! I'm feeling great, looking great and I just can't wait to hit the road with my Route 66 buddies next month. 5 weeks from now we'll be on our way to the Big Apple. I'm a very excited bear.

LA Dodgers v San Francisco Giants April 6th Tickets Booked

Baseball? What's all the fuss about? I must admit it's all a bit of a mystery but we're gonna go give it a watch. We've both experienced a local derrrby in Man Chester town but that was EPL Soccerball, a whole different ball game. Two Taxi drivers from Weymouth are bound to have an opinion by the end of the game. So Dodgers Stadium it is then. It's nothing like rounders right?