Inspiration Song of the day:
Feelin’ Alright (Mad Dogs, Joe Cocker)
Seems I’ve got to have a change of scene
Every night, I have the strangest dreams

Not a single coffee shop opened at 4am, so The Hurry One, took the first shift behind the wheel and let Sassyfras drive by herself.  Two charge stops in, we found a coffee shop in Vernon touting The Best coffee, it was, and ‘Feelin Alright’ set the vibe for the day.

Between Keller Texas and Amarillo, the terrain changes from trees and vegetation to tumbleweed, the wind kicks up to 40 knots, wind farms and oil rigs share land together as they should, and funnel clouds form to our West.  One time only, Sloth pressed the Hurry button, and we time traveled to Amarillo.

Our first Route 66 stop was at Cadillac Ranch.  8 Caddies jammed into the ground by a backhoe years back, spray painted by those who visit and we couldn’t help but to imagine the conversation, the origins of Cadillac Ranch.

“hey Slim, there might be a tornado comin’ our way”

“yeah”

“ya wanna stuff that fleet of Caddie’s in the ground so they don’t blow away”

“ok”

“paint ’em too? Keep em from gettin’ all dinged up?”

“yep”

…and there it is, our version of the birth of Cadillac Ranch.

Continuing west we weaved between I40 and Historic Route 66, and took some time at Tucumcari, New Mexico — enjoying the murals, the Route 66 Monument and tributes along Main Street to all things Route 66. 

Our Santa Fe destination for the day was calling, and we took a 100 mile route out of Tucumcari into a remote terrain where the High Plains meet the Rocky Mountain Foothills, mesa’s are replaced by mountains, elevation climbs to 6500′, air cools to 60 degrees, and that electric car in auto drive knew every switchback along the way.

Reaching Santa Fe – once part of the original Route 66, then rerouted 10 years later — we feasted on decadent farm-to-table vegetables at The Vinegrette — delighted that the Historians wised up and re-included Santa Fe in it’s 100year Route 66 celebration.

Photo Journal

Peace, luv, out
Jane -n- Jill