drivetofive

Odometer:  8,944

Trip Mileage:  3,484

I’m getting my kicks on Route 66!  Tonight’s motel is located on the historic highway which was completed in 1926 that linked Chicago with Los Angeles.  In fact, I’ve spent much of today retracing the original path of that road.

First thing I did before rolling out of Springfield, Missouri was re-create the picture that I took of my Legend from last year when I stayed at the same motel.  This was taken on July 21, 2011 on my way to the National Acura Legend Meet (NALM) in Morristown, New Jersey.

And this was taken this morning, on my return trip from Milwaukee.

The “Sooner State” welcomed me bright and early this morning.

It wasn’t long until after entering Oklahoma that I was driving on Will Rogers Turnpike.  But wait, nothing posted on the speed limit sign!

Some far-out destinations being reached on this trip.  Cuba (Missouri) yesterday, Miami (Oklahoma) today!

Ever seen a McDonald’s restaurant that spans the entire width of the freeway?

Fuel in Tulsa, Oklahoma at QT.  A little plug for my favorite gas station & convenience store here.  The bathrooms are always clean and large, the grocery selection is great, and the cashiers work fast!  I grabbed some veggies to-go.

Today’s tolls on Interstate 44, the Turner Turnpike, cost me a total of $8.00.  I’m going to save the receipts in the ILX’s glove box for souvenirs.

Once I landed in Oklahoma City, I hopped on I-40 westbound.

You know you’re in for a boring drive when the GPS indicates your next turn is in 535 miles!

At this point I still wasn’t sure how far I wanted to go today, but I set my sights on Amarillo for starters.

Elk City, Oklahoma is home to the National Route 66 Museum.   This was the first of many pit stops today that related to the “Mother Road” as you’ll soon see.

And here we go with yet another state – and this will be the last “new” state for this adventure.

That means that since the day I got the ILX on June 12th, it’s been to the following:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• Texas
• Utah
• Wisconsin

Not a bad list for a car that barely rolled off the assembly line in Indiana two months ago!

Next pit stop was the town of Shamrock, Texas.  Shamrock is home to the “U Drop Inn,” a Route 66 relic that’s been around since 1936.  The classic art deco architecture has been preserved and the building is now home to the Chamber of Commerce and a Visitor’s Center.

Wouldn’t it be nice if fuel was 34 cents a gallon?  I love that the “This Sale” digits can’t go above $9.99.  Who could ever dream of spending more than $10 on a fill-up?  Little did we know!

Not sure why this picture ended up looking squished but it makes me look skinnier than I really am!

Next up:  Amarillo, Texas.  I felt out of place without my cowboy boots.  There’s one tradition that I have every time I pass through this town, and it has nothing to do with western food.  Fazoli’s!  I love the unlimited breadsticks.  Wish this place would open back up in Arizona…

Cadillac Ranch is visible alongside Interstate 40.  This “work of art” consists of 10 Cadillacs buried in the ground, nose first, at an angle.  They were put there in 1974.  Graffiti is actually encouraged here.  The cars have been painted various styles over the years.

I got some 90 octane in Tucumcari, New Mexico.  That means on this trip, I’ve fueled up with 90, 91, 92, AND 93 octane.

Last Route 66 destination today was the Rio Puerco Bridge.  It’s located about 20 miles west of Albuquerque and parallel to what is now Interstate 40.  Back in the day (1933, to be exact) this was part of Route 66.  The timing was just right for a few sunset pictures when visited the bridge, so here are the shots I got of the ILX.

Thought this was a pretty fun sequence.

It’s great to know that I’m getting close to home and I’m still getting to know my new car better with each mile.  The car is a blast to drive and keeps me entertained for the long miles with its extensive technology and features.  I’ve had a few people on the interstate give me long looks as I’m sure some have never seen a 2013 ILX on the road before.  The finish line for this trip awaits tomorrow!

This entry was posted on July 28, 2012 at 10:03 pm and is filed under ILX, NALM, New Mexico, Road Trip. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.