Wigwam thankyou M'am.

Day 7 Route 66, Holbrook,AZ

So we've left New Mexico behind us and moved down from the high plains into the dry dust bowl that is Arizona. A couple of stop offs along the way for some more Fred posing.

Aurelias Diner in Gallup was going to be our breakfast stop today having had it recommended by one of my twitter friends, unfortunately the diner is closed on sundays.

Next stop was at Continental Divide, a little bit of Altitude headache here (7275 ft) but a good landmark point to stop, from here water flows east to the Atlantic and west to the Pacific. A watershed moment for our trip.

Into Arizona and a diversion off to the painted desert and the petrified forest made for an interesting drive, it felt like driving on another planet. The wind blowing here was the strongest we've ever felt anywhere.

Fred holding on for bear life in the crazy Arizona wind.

Finally arrived this evening in Holbrook for a night of camping in a wigwam, OK so its a concrete wigwam with heater, tv, bathroom and shower, but its still a wigwam.

Lots of classic vintage cars and trucks parked around the place, thats our wigwam behind me.

Sat in the lounge area of the lobby blogging now, log fire roaring, margarita going down nicely. Night y'all.

Happy Mothers Day from the Mother Road

                             To my two favourite mummys on Mothering Sunday.

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.

Howdy Y'all, That was the way to Amarillo

Just call me Fred.....Big Fred.

Texas is Big, real Big. Even the journey here from Oklahoma was enormous. Just one quick lunch stop on the way at Pops' in Arcadia, OK, an amazing place that sells hundreds of different flavours of soda. We chose good ol' Round Barn Root Beer, and some good pop it was too.

Fred ouside Pops, that one big soda bottle.

Lunch stop done it was on towards Texas.

When the SatNav said ' stay on this road for the next 250 miles' we knew it was gonna be a tough drive so I settled down, watched Ol' Okey disappear in the rearview mirror and the huge skies of Texas unfold before us.

Arriving in Amarillo it felt great to chill out in the Big Texan Hotel before I get stuck into the steak dinner that I know is waiting for me just next door.

A jacuzzi bath and a fresh set of duds and I'm the rootingest tootingest bear in these parts.

Yeeehah, lets go eat some meat.

And drink some Big Texan beer

And then go sleep it all off. Night y'all.

OOOOk-lahoma where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain

Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day.

Thanks to all at the Desert Hills Motel for an authentic 66 motel experience, no frills, just a warm dry place to lay our weary heads.

A bit chilly first thing but with highs of 29 and a chance a thunder storms later we are all set for another days' adventuring on Route 66.
First things first though, refuelling at Tallys' Diner
Bears need a good breakfast otherwise I'm like a human with a sore head.

Then Its off on the road through OOOOk-lahoma City, across the praire towards Texas, a 367 mile hop towards Amarillo.

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.