Wednesday, September 16…
Yesterday,
Kim wondered if there was a correlation between the Philips 66 gas station logo
and Route 66. According to
Wikipedia: The first Phillips 66 service station opened
November 19, 1927 at 805 E. Central in Wichita, Kansas. This station has been preserved by
the local historical society. The Phillips 66 shield logo,
created for its link to the famous highway of the same number, was introduced in 1930 in a
black and orange color scheme that would last nearly 30 years. In 1959,
Phillips introduced a revised version of the shield in red, white and black, a
color scheme still used by Phillips 66 Co. for the brand.
From the late 1930s until the 1960s, Phillips
employed registered nurses as "highway hostesses," who made periodic
and random visits to Phillips 66 stations within their regions. The women
inspected station restroom facilities to ensure they were well cleaned and
stocked. The highway hostesses also served as ambassadors for the company by
directing motorists to suitable dining and lodging facilities.
Up at 6:30 a.m….in time to see the
sunrise. Stepped outside the cabin and
the air was already pleasantly warm…cabin with A/C on actually felt cold.
The cabin has the strangest door opening set
up…pulldown handle on the outside, which lifted a bar on the inside. Sturdy and
secure, but a little confusing for someone who’s used to just turning a
doorknob. It’s my guess that it’s less for ease and more in keeping with the
old west theme. I’ve never thought about
how the settlers latched their doors….I think I might know now. J
We’re about halfway through the three weeks we allotted for this trip. We could just head up to Kansas right now and call it good….but I think I’d like to see a bit more of New Mexico. However, there are two people on this adventure and we both have input.
We’re about halfway through the three weeks we allotted for this trip. We could just head up to Kansas right now and call it good….but I think I’d like to see a bit more of New Mexico. However, there are two people on this adventure and we both have input.
84
North is also known as part of Route 66…while the landscape is beautiful, it’s
also kind of desolate. And every so
often there would be a house….out among the scrubby bushes, sometimes a nice
house, sometimes more ramshackle. But
what occurred to me is that people who live out along 84 have to have a major
commitment to solitude. Then there was a
group of houses, spread out yet together, with a sign at the outer limit of the
grouping like it was a town. No gas
station, no grocery store, no school, no post office….just some houses. Don’t know where they went for all the
necessities of life, don’t know where the kids would go to school or how they’d
get there, but I betcha these people didn’t make a lot of spontaneous trips to
town like I do.
I’ve
been making our KOA reservations online.
Plotted out our destination and route for the day and before I reserved
a tent site online at the Santa Fe KOA, I called to see what the weather has
been like. We were hoping to get back to
tenting, but still leery of the wind. I
was told that since the campground is in a canyon between mountains there is
some wind but it’s not constant, it’s more a gust now and again. But I was assured that, upon arrival, we
could upgrade to a cabin if we wanted.
Another day of fighting the wind, so when we arrived, I asked Kim if he
wanted to stay with the tent site or upgrade; he was fine with either
option. Then it was my turn to cast a
vote. Let’s see….didn’t sleep great last
night, up at the butt crack of dawn, riding in the wind and heat for 7
hours…yeah, I just didn’t have the energy to help set up a tent, so I voted
cabin. This is getting too easy….
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| Mural in Tucumcari, NM, by Doug and Sharon Quarles |
I paint because
I was born to paint. From miniatures to large expanded murals. The brush is an
extension of my hand. Murals are the most exciting form of art for me to
produce. I have completed over 30 major public and private pieces to date. My
large scale pieces show detail and true perspective that gives the viewer an
opportunity to experience a concept or idea in new visual ways.
I enjoy working with clients to better
understand how they relate to the images I am designing for them. I spent a lot
of energy trying to research my subjects so I can develop a set of images that
tells a story about the individuals or organizations that I am working with.
As I develop my artwork it is fun to talk
with individuals that are watching me work. The experience of talking to
observers and hearing their ideas and thoughts are all part of the experience
of developing a piece. I believe that my art is part performance as well as a
visual experience. The time I spend talking with observers is well spent and
helps them feel like the finished piece has a special meaning to them as well.
At the end of my life when asked what I did
with my talent, I would like to say “I used it up.”
We were taking pictures of the mural “The
Legendary Road”….covered the entire side of a grocery store. As we were taking it in, a car stopped and
two girls popped out. They seemed more
interested in getting a picture with Bernie than the gorgeous mural on the
building across the road. Asked if it
was okay take a picture of the bike….Kim said, ‘Sure…do you want to sit on it?’ As one of them was saying “That would be
great! Are you sure it’s okay?”, she was
putting her phone in my hand to take the picture. Photo op was over….we got on the bikes, did a
u-turn in the road and continued on our way.
They were watching us the whole time and I betcha that picture hit
social media before we were a mile down the road. J
Bernie’s fuel light came on in the middle of
nowhere, so Kim stopped at the first opportunity. It was just a little station with old time
pumps and it only had regular…we use premium.
But since we were in a pickle, we dealt with it. Our mistake for not gassing up in
Tucumcari. At the station, we met Derek, a young man who
is riding from New York City to San Diego….on a bicycle!! He was curious about our ride and we were
curious about his. I asked him what prompted
him to do this incredible thing…he said something about living life fully,
doing what you can to enjoy life, taking the opportunities when they
arise. Last year, he rode from New York
to Panama!! I asked what he did for
employment that he such a length of time off.
He said, first of all, he tries to minimize his need for money; he works
for a record company and has done some catering which gives some
flexibility. Before his ride to Panama,
he did quit his job. He didn’t seem to
be too concerned about that aspect of life….he’s unmarried, has only himself to
support. We talked about the wind…he had
been making over 100 miles a day before he hit the wind. We’ve been fighting it but making forward
progress nonetheless….he had to backtrack 22 miles on one stretch when the wind
became just too much for him. He figured it would take him about 5 weeks and
he’s been riding 23 days so far…doesn’t matter what the weather is, he
rides. Does have a small tent and
sleeping bag, but he only does that in a pinch; otherwise it’s hotels. Also
talked about road grime, goofy tan lines, little monkeys, and about how he's so ready for this ride to be over...figures only about 900 miles to goJ We shook hands, wished each other safe
travels and left him standing at the gas station as we continued on down Route
66.
.
Stopped in Las Vegas, NM, for a late
lunch. Pulled into a parking lot and
were faced with two local choices….Dick’s Restaurant on the left and Charlie’s
Spic and Span Bakery and Café on the right.
Four women standing in the parking lot…asked them where to get a good
meal and all four turn around and point at Charlie’s. A unanimous recommendation, can’t beat that.
We knew where we were going today so we
didn’t use Phil until we got closer to the KOA.
He directed us to a frontage road, then had us turn on a gravel road,
where we did indeed find the KOA….the back of the KOA!!! We kept going hoping to find an opening in
the fence….turned around when we saw the ‘County maintenance ends’ sign. Backtracked and found that we shouldn’t have
been on the gravel road at all…the entrance was not far down the frontage road. Bah!!
It's Wednesday...the Roger Miller Museum is open.J
Today’s mileage: 216 miles
Total mileage: 2,371 miles
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| A mural in Tucumcari, NM, painted by Doug Quarles |
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