GREETINGS FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (OK) USA
We have moved into our first new state for this trip – Oklahoma – state number 30.
And today it was more of the quirkiness of parts of Route 66.
Whilst the Interstate, I40, now deals with the day-to-day traffic needs, for the most part this section of our trip very closely follows the original Route 66 path and many of the now by-passed small towns have remnants, in varying degrees of condition, of that iconic route – colloquially know as the “Main Street of America” – from Los Angeles to Chicago.
We started off again in showery rain but the weather started to improve somewhat as we headed east. As I’ve said before, remnants of “the road” are all along the way and if we stopped at all we would need 4 months not 4 weeks. So today’s main attractions were mostly the “better kept” or just off the highway. First was the leaning tower of Britten. It is actually in a town called Groom and a guy called Ralph Britten bought it when, as a functioning water tower, it was due to be demolished. He installed it as a draw to his truck stop and information centre. The water tower still survives – unlike the truckstop !
Britten’s Water Tower
Next was a real gem in Shamrock, TX – the U Drop Inn sits right on a stretch of the old Route 66 and is a beautifully restored gas station. It too was in the movie “Cars” as Ramone’s Body Shop. And the 2 ladies who were running the shop were “mighty friendly y’all” and so happy to chat about the place. It was built in 1936 and was the only cafe for 100 miles so did a brisk business – until old Route 66 was decommissioned and it fell into disrepair. In 1999, the local bank bought the building and gave it to the city. The city then applied for a federal grant and it was restored and it is now referred to as one of the most impressive examples of Route 66 architecture. Part of it is restored as the original diner section and we got to sit in the same booth as Elvis ! (well where he once sat anyway – mind you it must have been in his early days as it was a bit of a squeeze getting in !)
U Drop Inn
One of the ladies was the splitting image of my Auntie Nancy and when we told her we were from Sydney she regaled us with details of her trip there in the late 1980’s which her husband had won in a competition. The U Drop Inn was a thoroughly enjoyable stop and if the enthusiasm of these 2 ladies is any marker, it will be around on Route 66 for a long time to come !
We then moved on to Elk City, OK and the National Route 66 Museum. Each state has their own museum however we thought best not to take sides and visit the national one. This is actually quite a big complex and it also has exhibits specific to Elk City as well.
The main museum had old photographs, old cars and old bikes from the hey-dey of the road. Amongst the buildings in the complex is “Paul Jones Drug Store” which still sells stick candy and soda pop ! Now for those that remember, picture Drucker’s Store from Green Acres. When we walked in there were 2 guys sitting in a booth in the corner playing checkers ! We ended up having quite a long conversation with these 2 and the wife of one of the guys. They were very passionate about the place and were very interested in hearing of our travels. We then had to pose for pictures in various parts of the store – complete with props ! I didn’t think we were going to get out of the place !
Put to work in the drug store !
But on we must go and we were aiming to be in Oklahoma City by mid afternoon so we could take in a few sights there. One last quick stop which was just on the interstate frontage road was in Hydro, OK – at “Lucille’s Place”. It is one of the last remaining examples of a two-story fuel station with the owner’s residence situated above the pumps on an upper floor. Lucille and her husband bought the place in 1941 just before the US entered the war. With rationing of fuel and tires the traffic declined and Lucille’s husband had to get work as a trucker to make ends meet – leaving Lucille to basically operate it on her own. After the war it boomed and then busted with the opening of the interstate and they divorced, but Lucille continued to operate the place and did so until her death in August 2000. For her assistance to motorists through some pretty tough times, she earned the nickname “Mother of the Mother Road”.
Part of the original Route 66 road
Lucille’s
So on we went to Oklahoma City and as we arrived we thought we were heading into a scene from “Twister” as the clouds got blacker and blacker and the lightening bolts flashed ahead. Then the rain bucketed down and we had to avoid large amounts of water across the road a couple of times before we reached the hotel.
The storm put paid to a few of our plans for the afternoon but we managed a quick walk around the Bricktown Canal area where we are staying. We are also across the road from the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark – home to the Oklahoma City Dodgers baseball team – on Mickey Mantle Drive.
They were due to play the Memphis Redbirds tonight and we thought we would take in the game – unfortunately the weather had other ideas as the game was cancelled.
We hope to fill in a couple of the things we missed this afternoon and have one more Route 66 stop planned for early tomorrow – then it is off north toward another new state !
But first …..
Today’s Trivia – The first ever shopping cart was invented and used in Oklahoma City at Standard Food Markets in 1937 !