Travel with Fotocourses

Day 10 – Route 66

Today we set off from Flagstaff and travelled around 2 miles to the Galaxy Diner for breakfast. After photos we headed west to Williams (a favourite spot from last years USA trip), Seligman and on to Hackberry – one of the best stops on route 66 for photos. We then stopped at a small Diner around 15 miles outside of Kingman to check out a stop from last year were Andrea and John had dollar bills on the ceiling. We added our names to the walls and set off for our nights stop at the El Trovatore – a themed hotel which has only been open for a couple of years. The owners can’t do enough for us and are so helpful. It seems a real find.

Pictures today by John Lane.

Day 9 – Route 66

Pictures by Isaac of days 8 & 9.

Day 9 – Route 66

Only 91 miles to cover today so a relaxed day with a stop at Wilmslow to stand on the corner. The Eagles tribute has been well done with murals, a flat bed Ford and gift shop. After brunch at a local diner just across the road it was off to the Meteor Crater for views of the hole. We arriver in Flagstaff and had a short visit to the old town with dinner at the Lumber Yard. Derek and the girls tucked into the guest ales while John decided to take it easy and just have a 1/3 lb hot dog!

Day 8 – Route 66.

What a day today. Started badly with forgetting wallet – luckily realised within a few hundred yards of hotel then a trip around Albequerque to find the iconic Route 66 Diner for breakfast only to find it wasn’t open until 11.00. Things then got better as we headed west to Gallup and the painted dessert and petrified forest surviving dust storms as we travelled. We arrived at sunset at the Wigwam Motel and stayed in our wigwams for the night. They were basic but great beds and hot showers. A real touch of the genuine route 66 accommodation. Pictured below is Andrea dressed to impress during a dust storm and the Wigwam Motel with one of the wigwams.

Day 7 – Route 66

Today we have the drive to Santa Fe. Most of us were around to see the sunrise over the Blue Swallow Motel – a real find thanks to Maria. We had a superb breakfast at the kicks on 66 diner then spent time photographing the motels in Tucamari. Then it was off on the drive across the desert to Santa Fe on the pre 1937 route. We arrived in good time to have a relaxing late afternoon in Santa Fe.

Check out Maria’s short video of the road taken on Super 8 app.

http://youtu.be/lS_xQWXOFMQ

Route 66 – Day 6

Today was our longest day in terms of distance to cover with 360 odd miles across 3 States. We started early and headed out of Oaklahoma City with our first stop at Hydro with a hreakfast at Lucilles Diner. Other highlights included spray painting at the Bug ranch and Cadillac ranch and reaching the official half way point at Adrian. Tonight we are staying at the Blue Swallow Motel – a classic 1930’s motel which will be be hard to beat.

Todays great pictures today are provided by Andrea Perrot and show me drumming up a bit of free publicity at the Bug Ranch and the group at the midpoint.

Route 66 – Day 5

Today we met Gary, a real character of route 66 at the Gay Parita. His garage is a unique collection of the essence of route 66 – A hillbilly with a red hair obsession. Maria was definitely Garys favourite and her pictures at the end of the blog capture him perfectly.

We had a lot of miles to cover today and took in Carthage and a request to visit the Boots Motel and recreate a photo taken 83 years ago. Andrea’s research led her to the local newspaper which managed to track us down and will be writing about Andrea’s photo and our route 66 trip.

Other highlights included the Blue Whale at Catoosa and the Pop filling station with over 500 different flavours of soda.

Photos by Maria Feast.

Route 66 – Day 4

Our 4th day on the road requires us to travel from Collinsville to Springfield MI a distance of over 200 miles. We leave the hotel and find the worlds largest ketchup bottle then travel through St Louis with its huge arch to the Mermerac Caverns which contain miles of caves and the hideout of the James brothers. Then its on to Cuba and the worlds largest rocking chair. After a late lunch we hit Lebanon and the Munger Moss Motel. We are staying at the Best Western Rail Haven which is a classic Route 66 motel. Authentic rooms with a period feel which boasts a stay by Elvis in 1956.

Todays great pictures are supplyed by John Lane and show one of the rock formations at Mermerac Caverns and the classic sign outside the Munger Moss Motel.

Day 3 Route 66

After a snowy start we headed off to sample the delights of Springfield IL. First stop the Shea Gas Station then a guided tour of Abraham Lincolns home with its 3 toilets in one room – you can see why TV took off in the USA!

After a short stop to photograph the last muffler man we then headed of to Litchfield and the Ariston Cafe for lunch in this classic 50’s dinner. Another 66 museum was followed by the largest collection of american classic cars for sale I have seen. Hundreds of cars at unbelievably low prices in huge sheds gathering dust. Then on to the Rabbit Ranch with its memorabilia and rabbits both furry and mechanical! A large collection of VW golfs ( rabbits in the US).

Last stop was the Chain of Rocks Bridge crossing the Mississippi before reaching our hotel at Collinsville.

Find attached some stunning pictures by Isaac Christian taken in the last couple of days. From the night view of Chicago to the official start sign and the snowy night scene from last night. We seem to be moving away from the snow with a sunny day forecast for day 4.

Start of day 3 – Route 66.

Had a great day yesterday with the starting at Chicago. Breakfast at Lou Mitchells then a long drive to the start which should have taken 10 minutes but took a lot longer – 2 sat navs and 2 mobiles and the collective genius of the group. Then it was out of the city heading towards Springfield IL. Highlights for me were the Gemini Giant and Pontiac with its murals and a guide by the mayor Bob of the bus.

Woke up this morning to snow so today will be interesting.