Day 9: OOOOOOO-Oklahoma!

The girls are burning up the road...literally! Although it is only 72 degrees out there right now, it is going to be over 100 very soon! Hot Grannies burning up the asphalt!

Thanks for the posts from Thain (Wombat), Durelle, and all our friends/family in Indy! You all have made this trip even more fun. Mike sent us a message yesterday telling us that our blog is top of the list on page 4 if you Google Search Route 66 blogs. We now have a new goal to be on page 1! Between the heat and the tire adventure yesterday, we were running out of steam. This particular Fairfield just appeared to us as we were making our way into Oklahoma City. It's a wonderful facility (see Hazel's post), and just what we needed to re-charge.

It has been interesting to see how the Mother Road changes from state to state. Illinois, by far, has embraced it's Route 66 heritage more than any other state. More restored, or at least functioning diners, drive-ins, attractions, than any other state. The farther west we go, the less there is to see. Including the brown/white "Historic Route 66" road signs. If anybody from the various Route 66 Associations is reading this, I can't tell you how important those signs are to us. Especially when 66 runs through your downtown areas! We have gotten turned around more in cities and towns than anywhere else!

There's a little town named Depew in OK that is just a few blocks long, but they have painted some cute murals on the buildings. We decided to stop and get a picture of the boys since they haven't been out of the car much lately. Not the best picture of Flat Dad, but it was about 104 in the shade! Then on to Stroud where we stopped at the Rock Cafe for a bite to eat. Hazel was delighted to see fried okra on the menu (explains a lot about her, doesn't it), and I got some kind of schnitzel and spaetzel. Truly didn't expect to see this traditional German meal on a menu in this tiny, little town, but it was very good! We were asked to sign the guest book, and those crazy Italians (the Milano ones, not the Roma ones we ran into at Ruby Tuesday's) are still ahead of us.

If the different tourism bureaus would look at these guest books, I'm sure they would be surprised to see who is traveling through their states! Perhaps it would encourage them to throw some money at this wonderful road. The Italians, Spanish, Japanese, etc., etc. seem to love our little slice of history. It just needs some sprucing up in some places. There are sections that are in such disrepair that Baby just looks at us and says "if you want to see that part, you can just get out and walk!"

Shortly after dinner, we found Pop's! This place is fun, and packed! Row after row from floor to ceiling nothing but bottles of (mostly) soda. There are soda's that I have never heard of....or want to again. It is a combination convenience store, gas station, gift shop, restaurant. In asking, we found out that they just opened on Monday, 8/6!

Like I said, our energy level was getting low and we needed some rest! We happened upon Arcadia Lake. It is a beautiful place; birds, bees, boats, water, and quiet! I knew Dad would appreciate this spot more than the others so took the opportunity to get a picture with him.

Well, blogger is having problems uploading pictures right now, and we want to get out on the road before the heat catches up with us. We just might be able to put the top down for a time. Our one goal today is to get into Oklahoma City to see the Oklahoma City National Memorial...and maybe some cowboys! Hazel REALLY wants to see cowboys. She drools when she talks about cowboys. It's kind of Pavlovian actually.

Love you all, old and new friends.

~Penny