New Mexico

The first town I came to that had all kinds of Rt. 66 things to see was Tucumcari (two-come-carry).  The name means "to lie in wait", as in an ambush.  Miles before arriving in Tucumcari, there are numerous signs advertising "Tucumcari Tonite"!, luring visitors into the city.  Some of the sights...

In the 1940's this was a gas station.

Also built in the 1940's, from surplus WWII cabins, a popular stop for 66 travelors.

When highways  were built to replace Rt. 66, sometimes they were built along the side of the old road, sometimes right on top of 66, and sometimes 66 weaves from side to side, because the highways were built to be straighter.  A current 66 traveler often has to cross back and forth over the highway by the exits.  In New Mexico, there were many tunnels under the highway, sometimes just barely wide enough for one vehicle to get through, like this one.

Lots of flowers growing right over the road.

In Santa Rosa, the remains of the Club Cafe. 

West of Santa Rosa, you have to decide if you'll drive north to Santa Fe, I think the original alignment, or straight through Albuquerque, a newer, straighter alignment.  Because the first time I drove Rt. 66, I chose to go through Santa Fe, this time I decided on the straighter route via Albuquerque.

My Payson friends, if you read this, thanks for the rest and recuperation.

More to come...