Finally some sun.

The day the rain stopped.

Is there even a season besides rain in this part of the world? It wasn’t just raining in Tulsa this morning—it was downright torrential. To make matters worse, Zeus seemed to be having a meltdown, launching lightning bolts like he was playing a game of cosmic dodgeball.

The downpour was so intense that I didn’t even hit the road until 11 am. The Weather Channel gave me hope, though, predicting things would clear up further west. So, off I went, with optimism in my back pocket.

In Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Route 66 branches off into the Old Road 66 (remember those road signs from earlier?). The iron bridge is a cool throwback to another time—probably seen plenty of trucks getting stuck in the past, which explains the ominous warning bar.

Further down the road, I stumbled across what was probably once the local passion pit (or "drive-in" as they’re known in most places, but in Quebec, we had more colorful terms). I briefly entertained the idea of sticking around to see if their evening movie lineup was worth it... but then thought better of it. Guess I’ll never know what cinematic gems they were showing tonight.

 

Must have been a lot of drivers who were too tall for the bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Was going to wait to see what was playing that evening, but changed my mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Came across a graveyard near Bristow, not sure why the headstone was weighted down.  Wonder if it helps to help keep the bodies in the ground.  Your guess. 

Why are the markers weighted down?

Stroud, Oklahoma, was a place frozen in time—several wall murals from a long-gone era painted across the town, alongside a scattering of abandoned businesses. The thing that struck me as I moved from town to town, though, was the incredible width of the main streets. They were wide enough to land a plane on, yet completely empty of traffic and people. It’s like they were built for a bustling town that never showed up. Quite the eerie contrast to what once was.

 

No one stops anymore

Well kept but empty

In Warwick Gerry Tims is a co-owner of the Seaba Station.  A unique collection of motorcycles.  Including the bikes used in Captain America.   

Gerry Tims co-owner

Captain American Bikes

Seaba Station, Warwick, OK

Leaving Warwick, I stumbled upon another gem from the good old days of Route 66. It was one of those places that still had character, but it was clear the lawn hadn’t seen a mower in a while, and the weeds were having a field day. The porch was in desperate need of repairs, but—plot twist—there was a satellite TV dish perched on the roof. Some people sure have interesting priorities, huh? Maybe the view of the road’s not as important as the view of their favorite shows.

Just love the TV satellite dish out back

I’m in Clinton, Oklahoma right now, and for the first time in a while, the sun’s actually shining as I rolled into town. Tomorrow, I’ll be crossing into Texas, but not before I make my way through the Route 66 towns between here and the state line. Who knows what treasures I'll find along the way!

More to come...