Tuesday October 9
With the fog lingering around the valleys and with a nip in the air we all boarded for another day following Route 66. After leaving Branson behind we ensured that everyone sang happy birthday to Graham and presented him with a harmonica. We also passed around the words to Route 66 to our fellow travelling companions. It wasn’t too long when the ipod and speakers were fired up and the bus singing along to the Rolling Stones Route 66.
A bit of fog around.
Let's get this show on the road!
On the road again......
The bus headed south west travelling out of Missouri and then briefly through the South East corner Kansas.
A quick break.
Typical Kansas and Oklahoma countryside
A morning coffee stop at a Route 66 icon store provided an opportunity to stretch the legs before driving on a short distance to one of the old bridges on the original highway and an opportunity for a photo shoot. Although difficult for the bus (which was too heavy to actually cross the bridge) we backed up and hit the main road once again. As with a great deal of the old Route 66 we only get a rare opportunity to drive on it because of the vehicle size and state of the road, so these moments are a chance to take in the essence of the era.
The old Route 66 road, Kansas
Lots of freeway today to make a mile.
The drive through Kansas was very brief before moving onto the state of Oklahoma with a lunch break in Claremore and then a visit to the Will Rogers museum. “Will who?” I hear you say? A bit before our time but an American movie and radio star first beginning his career in silent movies before moving on to “talkies” and writing newspaper articles.
We are welcomed at the Will Rogers museum.
The enterance to the Will Rogers Museum
Leaving the museum the road took us to the Blue Whale, a Route 66 icon which in years gone by was a popular swimming, fishing and picnicking place. It was constructed between 1970 and 1972 as an addition to an amusement complex opened in the mid-60s and closed in 1988. The Blue Whale was originally presented to Mrs. Zelta Davis as a 34th wedding anniversary present and soon became a popular picnic spot.
At the Blue Whale... Route 66
Who would that be at the Blue Whale?
A couple of times on the trip now both Anne and Judy have been asked by fellow travelers, who do not know us, if they are sisters. They aren’t of course but people are being told that Anne has a different mother and Judy has a different father.
The day finished in Oklahoma City in time for happy hour after covering 325 miles (523 kms). The countryside was very much like the South-East coast of New South Wales with green rolling hills and cattle farms. Another big day with everyone glad to be off of the bus and I hope enjoyed his birthday.
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