Roadtrips

Verslag van onze reizen door Canada

Route 66 – Day 7 : Tulsa to Elk City

Today we will spend fully in Oklahoma. We drive from Tulsa to Elk City. It’s pretty hot, just like yesterday, but that is to be expected this time of year. I was warned! Strangely, today we keep missing things. It starts out with Depew. We just totally miss it. When we realize it, we’re already in the next town, and decide not to turn around (later we will turn around for other missed locations, not to worry!). In Chandler we look for McJerry’s gallery but we can’t find it. We decide to move on and proceed to drive past Warwick without realizing it.

Traffic light as seen in “Cars”
Oklahoma landscape between Tulsa and Oklahoma City
Skyliner motel sign – Stroud

This time we turn around though, and we’re glad we did! In Warwick we find the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum. It houses a large collection of motorcycles, some pretty antique. I see some Indians and although I am not a motorcycle expert, I do know these are rare. Most motorcycles in the museum look to be in very good condition too.

Seaba Motorcycle Museum, Warwick
Indian motorcycles

Just when we’re about to leave, another car pulls up. Someone gets out and – like so often happens – we made a new friend and are talking about Route 66, our trip, and roadtrips in general. And once again I realize that the Us is nothing at all like we are told it is in the media. Even in Canada, we only see a certain prepare image, through the filter applied by the media. In The Netherlands, this is even worse.

The US is a great country, and we as Western world have our freedom and wealth for a large part not despite but because of the US. And in the US live great people. The majority of people here want to do what we all want : live a happy life in a good country. This is my opinion of course, but it’s based on personal experience, not on what I have heard on the TV.

Ok, enough about my opinions, back to Route 66! Our next stop is the Round Barn in Arcadia. It’s a huge wooden structure and when the builder expressed his plans to make it, back in 1898, people said it couldn’t be done, that his plans were too big. But he did it, and when Route 66 passed his barn, it became one of the most photographed locations along the Route.

The beauty and the barn!
The roof structure
Route 66 seen from the barn
Pops station – Arcadia

We lunch at “Pops”, a new addition to Route 66, since it was built in 2007, and it’s a huge success. It certainly looks futuristic and I think it fits in well with some of the older architecture we’ve seen along the Route.

Next on the Route is Oklahoma City. We mostly drive through, but we do manage to stop for the Gold Dome buildingi and the Milk Bottle building.

Golden Dome Building – Oklahoma City
Milk Bottle Building, Oklahoma City

In the afternoon, we drive through ever more arid landscape, and near Geary we encounter the imposing Pony Bridge. This bridge was built in 1933 and is the greatest truss bridge, spanning almost 4000 feet. The trusses are called “Pony trusses”, hence the name of the bridge.

Pony Bridge

Close to Hydro we find Lucille’s Service station. It looks a bit desolate, and it is almost unbelievable that Lucille managed to live here and operate the station for 59 (!) years, till 2000, when she passed away. She bought the station with her husband in 1941 and operated it till her death. She was called the “Mother of the Mother Road”.

Lucille’s station, Hydro
Cotton Ball motel sign, Canute

After working our way through Clinton and Canute, we arrive at Elk City, where we enjoy some prime Mexican food in Lupe’s Mexican restaurant before heading to our hotel for the night for a well-earned rest! Tomorrow, we once more travel through three states (Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico) AND we’ll pass the halfway point on Route 66!

Route 66 – Day 6 : Springfield to Tulsa

After a good night’s rest it’s time for another day on the road. We don’t mind, we’re up and ready in time and head out of Springfield, MO, heading ever South-West. The first leg of the journey, from Springfield to Carthage, is described as very scenic, with rolling hills and little towns. This description is pretty accurate.

The road to Carthage

It is on this part of the trip today that we find Gary’s Gay Parita Sinclair station in Paris Springs. Gary built this out from an original stone garage building, on the remains of a burnt out gas station. Sadly, Gary passed away but volunteers keep the station open and running as a point of interest for travelers. We meet George, who is very kind and bids us a warm welcome. It’s another one of those meetings with special people who – without any gain to themselves – spend a great deal of time and energy and money to keep Route 66 alive.

Gary’s Gay Parita Sinclair station, Paris Springs. MO

Directly past this station, we find a very old and small part of the pre-1940 alignment. It leads past Spencer, another gas station. Where we can again give the C70 a “Route 66 service”.

Old pre-1940 alignment near Spencer
Volvo service at Spencer 🙂

It might be fun to note at this point, that only in some places we encounter fellow Route 66 travelers. It is quite often that we travel alone on the road, or are amongst local traffic. I think it will be busier in Arizona, since many people drive only up to there from LA and back. But out here, even in July/August, it is very quiet and relaxed.

Just before Carthage, after a small side tour, we find Red Oak II, which is called “II” because it is a town moved. |Lowell Davis moved away from the town he was born in (Red Oak), and when he came back many years later he found it deserted. He couldn’t stand that and bought the whole town (what was left of it) and moved it all from Illinois to Missouri. It’s a strange thing, to see all those old buildings restored and standing together, but not really being a town. The travel guid mentions correctly that it somehow hints of desperation to cling to the past.

Red Oak II Sheriff office

In Carthage we find the famous Boots Motel. It is still in service and being restored. Every room had it’s own covered car parking spot, and for a 1960’s motel, this looked VERY much different and futuristic.

Boots Motel
Boots Motel sign

And that about concludes our Missouri Route 66 experience. We drive on into the next srate : Kansas!

Finally a state border we can take a pic at!
Just across the Kansas border, we find this sign. Can you find our names?

In Galena, the first town in Kansas, we find the “Cars on the Route” establishment, which has the inspiration for “Tow Mater” from the movie Cars. This was a must see for Jonathan!

The original Tow Mater at Cars on the Route in Galena
The C70 in Galena, Kansas

Route 66 in Kansas is not very long. In fact, it’s pretty short! So our next pictures are from Oklahoma. Where we find a most wonderful theater in Miami. It used to be a Vauedeville theater and one of the biggest and finest in this part of the country. The interior is absolutely stunning, and the outside clearly shows Spanish influences on it’s architecture. The theater was finished just before the great depression hit. But luckily it still stands and is used as it was meant to be used.

Coleman Theater, Miami
Coleman Theater, Miami

Our route continues to another famous landmark along the Route : the Blue whale in Catoosa It was built by Hugh Davis as an anniversary gift for his wife, who collected whale statues. It was built in the 1970’s and is somewhat dilapedated, but it’s still there and well known amongst Route 66 enthousiasts.

The Blue Whale in Catoosa

Our final stop for the day is just a bit further, in Tulsa. Here we find the famous “Blue dome station”, an old service station with a very distinct blue dome as roof. It was used as an office building and recently was in danger of being destroyed but it looks like it is going to be restored.

Blue Dome Station, Tulsa

We have dinner at Hank’s Hamburgers, an old diner (it exists sincce 1949. We order a Big Okie, a burger with 4 (!) layers of meat, amongst other things, which we share. And I have to be honest, it is the most fantastic burger I have had in my life. Only the burger we had South of Calgary in another old establishment in 2012 comes close. This was a WOW burger!

At Hank’s Hamburger
Big Okie, divided in half

Route 66 – Day 5 : Litchfield to Springfield

We are glad to see that today we start with a clear sky and sunlight. We’ll traverse into Missouri today, and aim to reach Springfield (not the one in Illinois, but the one in Missouri). To this end, we head South on Route 66 and encounter Mount Olive. Here we find an old service station where we manage to park the Volvo right in front for a nice picture.

Another “service”. We have to take good care of our beauty!

The next location of notice we encounter is Henry’s Rabbit Farm. This is another of these spots you find along Route 66 where people who live here are passionate about the Mother Road and actively help make traveling it a special event. Henry is a pensioned guy who operates his bunny ranch as a hobby, and with passion. He takes care of rabbits from the shelter and also his “”Rabbit” Volkwagens (in The Netherlands we know them as “Golf”).

Henry with one of his rabbits

He also tells the story of Montana, the rabbit who ran for president in 2008. You can read more about that here : http://www.henrysroute66.com/montana.html

We stay at the Ranch for at least 45 minutes and leave with a smile on our face. This is what Route 66 is all about. Driving the road and finding all these special spots and people.

Joanthan at the Radiator Springs memorial at the Rabbit Ranch
The Rabbit Ranch
I think this was Mount Olive
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis

From here on it is unavoidable to encounter St. Louis if you drive further along Route 66. St. Louis is a bigger city, and although it has the lovely Gateway Arch, it does not come across as a nice city. We first try to find the Chain of Rocks Bridge (which we do) but we cant find the lookout point, the only way to look at the bridge would be to park the car in a shady location and walk for a mile or so, which we don’t see as a good plan. Once we are in downtown St. Louis and walk around the Arch (we don’t go up, Jonathan prefers to stay below), we get hit by nasty smells all the time. This city stinks! We move on.

The Mississippi River

Luckily, on the Western end of St. Louis, where we find Ted Dewes Frozen Custard, it does smell better so we can enjoy a delicious and famous frozen custard.

If the C70 could have consumed it, she’d have got one too!
Frozen Custard -I was squinting into the sun and taking the selfie guessing it would turn out ok, couldn’t see anything!

South of St. Louis we take another break just past Pacafic where we eat some lunch. Here we also see rocks again for the first time since we left Alberta.

Just South of Pacific

Slowly, the landscape is changing. We no longer drive on the prairies, and are entering the Ozarks. Rolling hills with loads of forest. A totally different landscape, and feeling when driving.

The road goes ever on….

We drive off and on the interstate here. At one of the stretches where we do not drive on the interstate we encounter a memorial for the Trail of tears. The man who lived here got someone knockin on the door often, but there was never anybody there when he opened the door. Eventually, a Cherokee Chief visited him and told him his house lay right on the Trail of Tears, and the knocking on his door was ghosts of the deceased natives who died on the trail and couldn’t move on because his house was in the way. So the house owner built a stairs over the roof of his house, and the knocking stopped. He got interested in the history of the Trail of tears and started working on a memorial around his house. After he passed away, the property was sold and now it stands empty.

The Trail of Tears was a forced move of thousands of Native Americans from their lands to Oklahoma, where they were forced to live in reserves. Many died on the march, hench the name “Trail of tears”.

Trail of tears memorial

The last stretch to Springfield we drive on the Interstate, but we work our way into the city to Steaks ‘n’ shakes, another classic Route 66 diner, where we have …well…..a stake and a shake!

Steak ‘n’ Shake
The sign of the Steak ‘n’ Shake
The interior

Route 66 – day 4 : Joliet to Litchfield

Today will be our very first complete day spent on Route 66. And it’s going to be a beautiful day, even though we start out in a downpour. We leave Joliet after doing some necessary stuff like shopping for drinks and lunch, grabbing some cash at an atm and filling up the car with gas. Our first stop today is the Gemini spaceman at the Launchpad Drive-in in Wilmington. The drive-in doesn’t really exist in authentic state anymore but the spaceman is still there. It is a relic of a time when these statues were used in many places as a roadway sign and advertisement.

The Gemini Spaceman in Wilmington

We drive on, past the Polka-dot Drive In, which is sadly closed, so we can only take a picture on the outside. With Jonathan included of course!

Jonathan at the Polka Dot Drive In, Braidwood IL

In Gardner, we take a quick look at the local oddities, like the 2-cell jail and the Streetcar Diner (no longer a diner, but the car is still there).

The C70 in Gardner, right behind the car is the jail

Our next stop is in Dwight, where there is a fully restored Ambler’s Texaco Gas station, one of the longest operating stations along the Route, it was open for 66 (!) years. We speak for awhile with Jerry, a volunteer who mans the station now and welcomes guests. We’re the only ones but we don’t mind. It makes for great pictures and Jerry is really nice! As a kid, he used to hang out at the station and look at the cars coming in to be serviced.

Ambler’s Texaco Gas station in Dwight
Jonathan in front of the gas station in Dwight

The next stop is Pontiac. And that name might ring a bell. Indeed. The car brand. So it makes sense that there IS a Pontiac museum. Its really nice, and free. There’s even a pontiac station wagon from the 60’s from Calgary, with original plate, on display!

Pontiac car museum – Pontiac

This little town is very…I don’t know how to describe it. Imagine Back to the Future, the little town of the first movie. It is very much like that. Square with the town hall in the center. Shops around it. It is a typical, idyllic, classic American town. It gives a small peek in how the US looked and felt like in the 60’s.

Street in Pontiac

Since we pass through it anyway, we stop quickly at the Chenoa Pharmacy in …well…Chenoa. It is open since 1889 (!) and is still located in the original building where you can see the original wooden chests with the white knobs, as well as the original ceiling and counters in the back.

Chenoa Pharmacy

Next up is Lexington, where we have lunch while sitting ON the original Route 66 pavement. A special experience!

Lunch on Route 66
Main Street in Atlanta, IL

We drive through many more small places but the next real stop is in Atlanta. The above pic shows the C70 in Main Street, with Route 66 sign on the road. It is here that Jonathan faces a very difficult choice : which license plates to buy? He found about 20 he likes, but that’s simply too much. Eventually we settle on 3, which makes the total 5 plates bought so far (he bought 2 in the Pontiac museum too).

Jonathan and the license plates

The picture below is taken at a gas station we encountered which isn’t in any of the guides we have with us. It is in Elkhart or Sherman, I forgot the precise location. But we could drive the C70 in front of it which makes for a fun sight!

Servicing the C70 Route 66 style!

And that brings us to Springfield IL, a bigger city which we traverse until we encounter the Cozy Dog Drive in on the South side. It is the perfect place for an early dinner. This establishment is run by the Waldmire family. One of the Waldmires, Bob, traveled along Route 66 and drew murals and post cards and is the inspiration for the Cars character Fillmore.

The Cozy Dog sign
At the Cozy Dog, enjoying dinner

And that about concludes this day! We push on towards Litchfield, because initially we had hoped to go to an old Drive in theater there but it only is open on Friday and Saturday. Our alterntive, the famous Ariston cafe, is closed on Mondays. Luckily, Jonathan has his plates…..

Totally Zen

Route 66 – Day 3 : Chicago

Today we head out from Eay Claire with destination : Chicago. We’ll make our first few miles on the Motherroad today and we’re excited about that! The morning is the same old : miles and miles of Interstate 94 and later on 90. But on these interstates we make splendid progress and we find ourselves in the vicinity of Chicago around 2pm. It takes us another full hour and some searching to find a parking garage right underneath Milennium park. Having parked the car safely (we hope), we first walk around the Millennium park a bit, specifically to the Cloud Gate sculpture.

Chicago Skyline

This is a truly remarkable piece of art and it’s great to have seen it with our own eyes. We wander on and look at the famous rail system above the streets, known from many movies and novels.

Cloud Gate (or the Bean) in Chicago Millennium Park
Selfie at the Cloud Gate
A hot day in the Millennium park
The famous “Loop” railway

And then it is time for our main goal : the start of Route 66! We find the locations but really any signs or other special items. Except for a type of hotdog stand with the R66 logo.

|Grant Park fountain

A bit disappointed we head back to the car, and after some turning left and right manage to come right to the same point, the start of Route 66. And lo and behold! This time we see a (small) sign on the OTHER side of the road as from where it was supposed to be, marking this as the start of Route 66. I manage to take a (maybe unclear) picture with my phone. It is actually strange and a bit sad that the start of this iconic road is so…. unmarked. Just a very small sign on a street corner. But maybe, if I think some more about it, that is perfect. Route 66 is special, in every way, this included. Not many people will venture all the way to the start with their car anyway, I guess.

The official start of Route 66, taken from the car
Jonathan driving in Chicago Downtown

Jonathan is driving, straight from the very center of town, on Route 66. With a smile he sits behind the wheel and we soon leave downtown Chicago behind us. We travel along Adams Street and then Ogden Avenue. Initially we had planned to go by train to the starting point from the outskirts of town, and we would have missed all of this, so we are very happy that we took the car! We even find the famous “Castle” carwash building, and can take a very nice picture with the car in front! Rumor has it that Al Capone himself hid here when he was on the run for the police.

The C70 in front of the Castle Car wash building
A real motel. Car in front of the room.

After that, it’s on to Joliet (these names might sound familiar if you’ve seen the Blues Brothers movie. I think we drive past the prison where Jake or Elwood was released (I think I recognize it, should have taken a picture but oh well, will watch the movie again :-). We sleep in Joliet today, and tomorrow will be our very first day on Route 66. Looking forward to that!

Route 66 – Day 1 & 2 : to Eau Claire, WI

Route 66 – Day 1 & 2 : to Eau Claire, WI

It’s been a long while since I wrote anything but we have a good reason to send in another update. Jonathan and I have started out on a very special road trip. To celebrate his graduation for High School, we aim to fulfill an old dream (ever since he saw “Cars – the movie” as a kid) of Jonathan : To drive Route 66. And not only that, we’ll drive it in our imported, 17 year old Volvo C70.

These first 2 days – to be honest – have been rather boring. But that’s ok, we’re not ON route 66 yet. We are driving towards the start of the road, in Chicago. This means we have now driven about 2150km through Central Canada and the US. From Alberta through South Saskatchewan, North Dakota, Minnesota and now Wisconsin. Not the most beautiful drive, but it’s necessary, and also best to do this at the start.

It made me think of the words “Magnificient Desolation”, spoken about the moon by I think Buzz Aldrin, but in a lesser way those apply to the plains too.

Tomorrow we’ll head for Chicago and the start of Route 66, and the real work will start!

Leaving for the big trip! Jonathan drives the first shift.
Jonathan’s fav place in the car  Here just after we left home, on HW1 West of Calgary
You have to be prepared if your car does not show miles on the meter…. 
(Apologies for it being on it’s side. WordPress uploads it this way and won’t save it when I try to rotate it and it’s too late to find out why 
Our view for most of Friday and Saturday morning
You don’t see official “Rest place’s” often here. Minnesota had a few. This one reminded me of the ones in Germany and France

PS, this is Jakko’s writing, but due to issues with the Internet he asked me to post it!

Over vissen, walvissen, kwallen en vuurwerk

Vandaag is onze eerste volle dag in Vancouver. Kim moet natuurlijk op tijd op om naar de clinic te gaan, en we ontbijten samen al om 7 uur. Kim is snel weg en wij wachten tot halverwege de ochtend voordat we ons naar downtown wagen. Dat gaat eerst met de bus en dan met de skytrain. De hele reis duurt zo’n drie kwartier, maar we zien wel een groot deel van Greater Vancouver aan het raam voorbij glijden.

Vancouver downtown ligt op een soort schiereiland met aan de noordzijde Vancouver Harbour en aan de zuidkant English Bay en False Creek. Wij rijden naar de punt van dat schiereiland en stappen midden in downtown Vancouver uit. Ik wil perse eerst even naar een tweedehands boekhandel, gewoon om te kijken. Dat loont de moeite want het is een paradijs voor boekenliefhebbers. Ze hebben er de boeken in bergen op de grond liggen! Ik mocht er geen foto’s nemen maar ik vond wel een foto op de internets : dit dus!

Daarna lopen we langs het Waterfront waar je uitkijkt op het moderne concertgebouw en congrescentrum en waar allemaal grote flats staan met dure appartementen (nagekeken, je bent er zo 2000 dollar per maand kwijt voor een condo met 1 slaapkamer).

Coal Harbour

Coal Harbour

Coal Harbour

Coal Harbour

Coal Harbour

Coal Harbour

We slenteren langs de bootjes, restaurants en best wel veel andere mensen en eten een broodje terwijl we van het uitzicht genieten. Daarna lopen we Stanley Park in, op weg naar het Vancouver Aquarium. Daar is het ontzettend druk dus we gaan eerst maar eens in Stanley Park zitten en wat lezen en luieren.

Stanley Park

Stanley Park

Wanneer we een uur later terug gaan is het een stuk rustiger en kunnen we direct bij de “express kiosk” kaartjes kopen en daarna zo langs de rijen wachtenden naar binnen lopen *grijns*. Ik snap nooit waarom mensen niet even om zich heen kijken, en meteen in de rij gaan staan om bij de gewone ticket booth een kaartje te kopen als het ook veel makkelijker kan.

Het aquarium is mooi en we lopen er van de een naar de andere bijzondere vertegenwoordiger van aquatisch fauna en flora op onze planeet. Hieronder maar gewoon een paar foto’s.

Zeepaardje

Zeepaardje

Koraalduivel (hier bekend als Lion Fish)

Koraalduivel (hier bekend als Lion Fish)

Kwallen

Kwallen

Nog meer kwal

Nog meer kwal

Beluga Whale (hier ondersteboven zwemmend)

Beluga Whale (hier ondersteboven zwemmend)

Aan de ene kant moest ik denken aan het gedoe om het Dolfinarium in Harderwijk, met de protesten dat het niet goed is om dolfijnen etc in gevangenschap te houden, maar aan de andere kant werd tijdens een presentatie met dolfijnen uitgelegd dat de meeste dolfijnen (en waarschijnlijk ook die Beluga hierboven) naar het aquarium gebracht zijn nadat ze in netten verstrikt raakten of op het strand gevonden zijn en anders gestorven waren. Nu worden ze ingezet voor onderzoek, bijvoorbeeld om zendertjes te testen die dan weer op wilde dieren gebruikt kunnen worden voor verder onderzoek en bescherming.

Nadat we het aquarium uitkomen is het tijd om een rendez-vous met Kim af te spreken. Dat willen we doen in de buurt van English Bay Beach, aan de andere kant van Stanley Park. We lopen erheen en springen in de auto als Kim langskomt maar daarna zitten we in de problemen. We zijn terecht gekomen in de aanloop naar een vuurwerk show in het kader van “The Celebration of Light”

We kunnen de auto nergens kwijt en komen uiteindelijk maar weer aan de andere kant van de stad uit, zodat we met zijn allen nog een keer langs Coal Harbour lopen. Hoewel het vuurwerk spectaculair belooft te zijn begint het pas om 10 uur, en moeten we er heen lopen en daarna weer terug en dan nog de stad uit zien te komen, met een voorspelde verkeerschaos omdat er veel, heel veel mensen op af komen. En Kim moet zondag om half acht weer in de auto zitten, dus met tegenzin gaan we op tijd naar huis en sluiten onze eerste dag hier af.

Tot morgen vancouver!

Tot morgen vancouver!

Roadtrip!

Een snelle post want we hebben veel te doen! Gisteren hebben we een stukje gereden, naar de eerste (en meteen laatste) echt grote stad ten westen van Calgary – Vancouver. Een schamele 950km rijden maar wel door een prachtig en wonderschoon berglandschap. Hier wat foto’s genomen tijdens de tocht.

De Rockies in het vroege ochtendlicht

De Rockies in het vroege ochtendlicht

In Banff park was het nog mistig.....

In Banff park was het nog mistig…..

Vlakbij Lake Louise

Vlakbij Lake Louise

Even pauzeren, net over de grens met British Columbia. Uncharted territory voor ons!

Even pauzeren, net over de grens met British Columbia. Uncharted territory voor ons!

(Volgens mij) in Glacier National Park

(Volgens mij) in Glacier National Park

We passeren een tijdzone grens (ook voor het eerst dat we dat in de auto doen, en komen langs de mooiste vergezichten. Er is nog ZOVEEL te zien en bewonderen hier, ik word er zenuwachtig van want de tijd tikt!

Maar goed, eerst maar eens in Vancouver rondneuzen. We logeren in een fantastisch huis (naar NL maatstaven toch wel een klein paleisje maar hier gewoon een ietwat groter huis) en bij hele aardige mensen. Vandaag staan het Vancouver Aquarium en Stanley Park op het programma, en gaan Kim en de kids voor het eerst in hun leven de Pacific aanschouwen.