A Grapes of Wrath - Shamrock TX to Chandler OK October 15, 2019

A Grapes of Wrath - Shamrock TX to Chandler OK October 15, 2019 

We were up well before sunrise and got things together and got on the road nice and early.  Our first stop was Erick, OK, which is the hometown of Roger Miller and Sheb Wooley. Roger Miller is well known for songs like “King of the Road” and “Dang Me” and the Classic “You Can’t Roller-skate in a Buffalo Herd”. Sheb Wooley was known for the hit “Purple People Eater”. I bet you are singing one of those songs right now. Sheb was also an actor and had an extended role Rawhide.

The guide books talked about a Roger Miller Museum and search as we might, we could not find it. The guide books said it was at 101 South Sheb Wooley Blvd on the South East Corner. Well 102 South Sheb Wooley Blvd is on the South East Corner. On the South West corner is the 100th Meridian Museum, which was closed and only open by appointment. This museum presents information about the disputed boundary between Oklahoma and the Republic of Texas.

In Sayre, OK we stopped at the Post Office where there is a mural commemorating the Oklahoma Land Rush.  Also the Beckham County Court House on the town square made a cameo appearance in the “Grapes of Wrath”. 

Further down the road in Elk City  we find the National Route 66 Museum. This is a great little complex and well worth a visit. 

Seems like every town has a Rt66 Museum.
Outside of Bridgeport, we found the Pony Bridge. This bridge  is the longest truss bridge on Rt. 66. Pony Bridge is a nickname as there are 38 pony trusses spanning a length of 4000 feet. Here on the West end of this bridge a scene from “The Grapes of Wrath” was shot.

The road surface in this area is some of the roughest we have encountered thus far.

Soon we see a giant soda pop bottle on the horizon and we know we are close to Pop’s. Located in Arcadia, this new Rt 66 attraction is the home of a 66 foot tall soda bottle. Inside the store is a cafe and a store where you can find just about any flavor of soda one can imagine as well as some you don’t want to image, such as Mustard and Sweet Corn.  Yes we bought a six pack of various flavors. Can’t wait to try the Elderberry Soda. 

Just down the road we find the Round Barn. Washington Irving camped in this area in 1832. The Round Barn was built in 1898 and is considered a world famous Rt 66 attraction. The lower level of the barn contains a gift shop as well as a treasure trove in information about barns in America. The upper level can be rented out for any sort of event one can imagine. 

We continue to follow Rt 66 through Chandler to our campground where we have settled in for the night. We will be staying in, as the camper needs a cleaning and the weather is threatening rain showers.

So as Charles Kuralt would say "I have miles and miles ahead of me, tales to listen to, time to spend.  Up ahead, the road is bending; wonder what's around the bend."






 

Reflection of the 2019 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Reflection of the 2019 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Here are some random thoughts -

Lynn says do your research on the Fiesta, get a good idea of what to expect.

If not familiar with Southwest foods, give them a try. Hatch green chilies are great. Like most events, prices are adjusted accordingly upward.

To think this event started in 1972 with 13 Hot Air Balloons and has grown to become this amazing event.

362 Days till next years AIBF as of this writing.

So much to say, I doubt if I can cover it all.

I guess first is one can not truly explain this event, one must see it in person to get the full experience.

Random Tip #1 - Start planning now for next years visit in 2020 for the 49th AIBF.

Random Tip #2 - Plan your visit for as many days as you can, as weather can cancel some events.

Random Tip #3 - Weather can vary so plan for warm to cold.

This year I was part of the Official Photo Team and even though I was very very busy, It was fun. Big thanks to Lynn for supporting my crazy schedule. Also Thanks to Mary for being my Ground support Crew.

During this event there are over 4500 ballon flights during the AIBF. That is a whole bunch.

The weekend events include Glows and Fireworks thus one should plan on very early mornings and late evenings. Arriving as EARLY as possible is the key to Fiesta.

Random Tip #4 - If you want to do a Balloon Flight, make this reservation ASAP as they sell out quickly.

Random Tip #5 - If you want to camp in your RV and want one of the premium locations, be on line to make you reservation the second they are available. It is amazing how quick they sell out. Check the AIBF website for booking information.

A special opportunity for those of us staying the full 9 days in the Presidents Compound is we are able to reserve for next year for a nominal fee.  This will save us from playing the online reservation game. This offer had to be committed to before the end of this years AIBF. 

Yes we have our reservation locked in for next year. Our plan is to arrive October 1, 2020 and stay through October 11, 2020. Let us know if you want to join us.

One thing is how friendly and open the pilots and chase crews are to your questions. You may end up helping a crew if you are willing. There is a location at AIBF where you can sign up to be on a chase crew. This experience will give you great insight as to what it takes to get a hot air balloon into the air.

If camping, we tend to over pack on food, as we really did not have time to do as much cooking as we thought. Keep meals simple and fast as you can get very busy taking it all in. 

If you have a Canon Camera you can get it cleaned and checked out for free at the Canon Tent. This would be about a $70 service. You are allowed two pieces of camera equipment a day.

Speaking of photography make sure you have an extra media card or two as you will take a lot of pictures. I asked at the Canon Tent if they sold media cards and they said no one at Fiesta was selling them, so be prepared.

Random Tip #6 - Bring lawn chairs as you can take them into the launch area and they are nice for the campgrounds.



So till next year,

The winds have welcomed you with softness.
The sun has blessed you with its warm hands.
We have flown so high and so well that God
has joined you in laughter and set you gently
back into the loving arms of mother Earth.

I will be posting many more photos on https://soggymoosephoto.smugmug.com/ after we get home and I get caught up. 

Some Big Stuff and Neon Between Tucumcari and Shamrock

Tucumcari to Shamrock TX on Route 66

We sorta slept in and had French Toast for breakfast. The Boys were fed and walked and we were on the road at 9:00am.

We have been trying to find stretches of the original Rt. 66 and a good bit of the time we are simply paralleling I-40.

Our first stop was in Adrian, TX, where one finds the Mid-Way point of Rt.66. There is a gift shop and cafe there but they were closed. I did talk to the cafe owner and Monday is the only day she can get to the bank to make a deposit. There was a group of French tourists who wanted to buy t-shirts so she open the store for them. Here it is 1139 miles to the east or west for the ends of Rt. 66 so “When you are here, you are half way there”. 

The next stop was in Vega, TX, where there is a restored 1920’s Magnolia Gas Station. 

Next up was a stop at the Cadillac Ranch an outdoor piece of artwork. While not on or never was on Route 66, it is an icon which should not be missed. It seems the thing to do is bring a can of spray paint and paint away. Now the luxury barges are covered in a thick layers of paint, just one of those road side attractions one should see. Sadly it is a bit littered up, and the artist wishes it was more protected. As a side, it is not in its original location but was moved in 1977 to the South Frontage Road. 

In the parking lot was an old school bus set up as a coffee/milkshake food truck. We enjoyed a fresh strawberry milk shake. 

We bypassed the hustle of Amarillo to make life easier while pulling our trailer.

We next drove past the “Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ” built in 1995 and is billed as the “Largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere”  at 190 feet tall. It is rather hard to miss. 

In Groom, TX one can find the Leaning Water Tower which was actually built this way simply to be a gimmick to bring people in to the truck stop. We viewed it from afar. 

If you are traveling East bound on I-40, a must stop is the “Donley County Texas Route 66 Safety Rest Area”. Here you find an art deco style building both inside and out, to honor Old Route 66. Inside are many exhibits on Route 66 history and a handy tornado shelter. The playground had a Route 66 History Walk where the black side walk has a center stripe and along the way are several informative plaques.

We did not stop in McLean, TX known as “Uplift City” as there was once a ladies undergarment factory, which now houses the Devils Rope/Old Route 66 Museum. Devils Rope is an old name for barbwire. During WWII there was a German POW camp in McLean.

The day was getting long and we make our way towards Shamrock Texas and the Big Texas Route 66 RV Park. This park in currently under renovation so the rate is $24 for the night and we still have hookups.

Shamrock, Texas is the home to U-Drop Inn/Tower Conoco. This Art Deco masterpiece inspired Ramons Repair Shop in the movie Cars. 

We went into Shamrock and filled up Diesel Truck before taking some evening Neon Photos of the U-Drop Inn. When we got back to the campground we bought a few bottles of Route 66 soda, and had a nice chat with the campground owners. The Route 66 soda is delivered to them by the distributor personally all the way from Oklahoma City. These owners have only had this campground for a year and are in the process of renovation and I see nothing but good in the future for this campground. So keep Texas Route 66 RV Park on your radar for a future stay.