After a restful stay at the Hampton Inn in Edmond Oklahoma, we were ready for some more “Kicks on Route 66”. My sister suggested we drive to Oklahoma City and visit the state capital building. So glad we did. The outside of the building is undergoing renovations, but we were able to go inside. Next stop of course was the Milk Bottle. The small triangular shaped building was constucted in 1930 and the large milk bottle was added in 1948. This small triangular building was a grocery store, and for the life of me I do not know how they got anything in that tiny building!
We traveled app. 30 miles farther on Route 66 to arrive in El Reno Oklahoma, where we saw the hertige express Trolley. This is the only rail-based trolley in Oklahoma and it even has air conditioning! It seats 48 people and the 1924 Brill Motor Car is fully restored. From El Reno we continued to make our way to Clinton Oklahoma where once again checked into a Hampton Inn for the night. Day 5 was our shortest day in miles. If it is one thing I learned on this trip, is that you can not non-stop 24/7 drive/go sightseeing and hit all the hot spots. You sometimes have to just lay back and take it easy. So we checked in late afternoon, did some bargin shopping at the one of the last Kmarts and enjoyed a delicious meal at Montana Mike´s. Which was conviently located next to our hotel, which was a good thing because it was once again pouring cats and dogs.
An absolute must stop on anyone´s Route 66 Journey is the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City. The museum is comprised of so many different buildings, that it really is a city in itsself. You can find everything there, from a doctor´s office to the little red school house. And for those of you who enjoy some culture in the evening, there is an opera house!
One of the many highlights of day six was the crossing into our 4th state: TEXAS the Lone Star State! You all have heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa? But did you know that when you travel the Route 66 you find the Leaning Tower of Texas? The Leaning Water Tower can be found in Groom Texas.
Lunch of course was enjoyed at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo. Now, if you are up for the task you can sit down in the middle of the restraunt and enjoy a 72 oz steak with sides. If you happen to finish the 72 oz steak within an hour(and they do time you) you walk out with a full belly and a full billfold, as the steak is then for free! BUT, if you can not finish it within the given hour, you are out 72 Dollars. Yikes! Both were certainly not an option for us. I keep using the word “highlight,” instead of repeating myself I should just rename this trip “THE HIGHLIGHTS”, because I have to tell, just about everything was a highlight for me(okay getting gas at the gas station or paying a gazillion dollars for groceries) were not highlights, but everything else sure was. After lunch at the Big Texan we continued on our way and stopped at the Palo Duro State Park. OMG.. not even the thunderstorm could ruin our time there, in fact the storm added something magical. I think I will let the pictures speak for themselves.
