What Goes Around

When we set off on this adventure on Jan. 3, we sought the Historic Route 66 and found frustration instead (click HERE to read why).

Today, more than two months later, we get our kicks (sorry ... I couldn't resist) by happenstance.

We're cruising down I-40 in New Mexico, watching a big, beautiful sky
get even bigger, when I see, briefly, a scene so dynamic I turn to Allen and say, "Now THAT'S a picture" (see above).

So, we take the next exit to backtrack and, by golly, turn right onto Historic Route 66.

After the picture session with the cars, we reload ourselves into the Navion and don't return to I-40. Instead, we continue on down Route 66.

And we're pretty excited because we drive by the things we wanted to see on the famous road to begin with: '50s-style neon signs (darkened, of course, and broken and sad), deserted gas stations and motels (all whispering how popular they were back in the day) and lots of retro curio shops (hoping to make a dollar off tourists seeking their kicks ... oh, there I go again).

There's not much I can say about Route 66 that's not already on the Web somewhere. See more of my pictures and a map and a rundown of some of the towns we passed through (ummm if you take that link, the name of the town is BUSHland, not BRUSHland). You can read about the father of Route 66 and get a feel for the old TV show that made the road famous (and watch a few episodes).

You can even vist Del's Restaurant in Tucumcari, where we consume way too much soup and salad bar.

My biggest kick (no apology this time) isn't a click away in Cyberspace. It's meeting Bridget, our waitress, who shook the dust off the old road for me. It's the main road through town, she nods. And of course, it's hopping. It's much more vibrant than the small downtown.

It's alive and serving her well.

Bridget didn't intend to return to the town she left years ago to make
a better living in Albuquerque. But she moved back after her husband died and because her mom battles cancer and needs her help. She brought with her her 5-year-old daughter, Destiny, and they are settling in to a quieter way of life.

Destiny just started school.

So imagine that. Historic Route 66 nurtures yet another generation. By happenstance.