Monday, April 21st (part 2)

After leaving the Starbucks [1484 miles | 12:50 pm | Joplin, MO 64801] I am heading west on Misouri Rt. 66, which is the 1st time I see "66" being officially used. Joplin was all newer strip malls - nothing special from where I was driving. I remember this afternoon that there is a reason I avoid bright lights when the sunlight starts giving me headaches (a condition I inherited from my father's mother's side of the family, who are Translylvanian). At about 1490 miles out, I think I reach the Kansas State line (because the Garmin Nuvi shows me a huge dotted line) but since I am on the old, and mostly forgotten Route 66, there are no signs of welcome from the governor, and no fanfare. What I do notice for the first time on the trip is the Route 66 shield painted on the roadway (IL and MO did not do this). I didn't expect to spend much time in Kansas, being that 66 only runs through the state for about 13 miles. However, I made three stops here and each time, I met some of the most friendly people I have encountered on the trip thus far. First stop is in Galena KS 66739 [1492 miles | 2:00 pm]. The gift shop on their little main street was closed (a recurring theme on this trip) but shortly down the road I spotted a restored old train shed, and being a big rail fan, I had to stop. Unfortunately, the museum had very little to do about railroading, as the building itself was transplanted to the current location on Route 66 just a few years back. The Galena Mining and Historical Museum instead gave me an interesting look at the reason for the town's existence (Galena is the natural mineral form of lead sulfide, which was found in abundance here) and a window into the lives of the people that worked here. Well worth the 45 minutes. About 5 minutes out of Galena I see the Rainbow Bridge, built in 1923 and the only remaining Marsh Arch Bridge (reinforced concrete) on Route 66. It is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

At 3 pm I'm in Baxter Springs, KS at a Tudor Revival-style former Phillips 66 gas station, which was restored by the National Park Service, and recently opened as a visitors center. This building was listed on the National Register in 2003 (another 20 minutes well spent). Also got some great maps for future trips that Colleen and I will be taking together. Bonus!

By 3:30 pm, I reach the Oklahoma state line. In 15 minutes, I'm in Commerce OK 74339, boyhood home of Mickey Mantle. Another 15 minutes later and I'm listening to another country music station (trying to get some local flavor), but this time it's 98.5 from Tulsa, where I hear a very funny Toby Keith song for the first time. By 5:30 pm, I'm in Catoosa OK, where I see their restored train station (closed) and a Frisco Caboose.

[1600 miles | 6:00 pm] and I arrive in Tulsa OK, where I spend a good 1.5 hours getting lost and trying to avoid closed streets in the downtown section. I didn't get to meet up with former co-worker Amanda, nor could I find their supposed railroad museum, but I did get to see a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home (from the outside at least) and many examples of art deco architecture.

I take the freeway out of Tulsa (since I can't seem to find the local way out) and eventually get back on to the parallel historic Route 66 (which is signed OK 66 at this point). I really wanted to get to the Rock Cafe in Stroud OK 74079 before I called it a night. My girlfriend recommended the place from a food network show that she saw. I finally got there just minutes after 9 pm, which is when they supposedly closed, but it looked to me like they haven't been open for a while. It's dark, late and I am exhausted and have no clue where I am going to sleep tonight. My back is a bit tight from sleeping in the car the night before, so I definitely want to get a room somewhere. My girlfriend is sweet enough to keep me company (on the phone) for the last hour of driving, and even navigates me to a Motel 6 at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35 (the NAFTA HWY) just outside of Oklahoma City. No internet access, but for $41, what can you expect. Tomorrow (Wednesday), I will tell you about yesterday (Tuesday). Confused? Yeah, me too!