Route 66 Gallup, New Mexico to Amarillo, Texas: June 3, 2019 Day 13 Flying Home

A sad day for the Shelley Brothers.

Partly, because our big yearly ride together is over due to forecasted thunderstorms and tornados.

But mostly because this annual "Brother Time" has come to an end.

Our taxi delivers us to the airport in Amarillo.

We just happen to share the same flight from Amarillo to Dallas. A very short up and down flight.

With gratefulness for our time together mixed with great sadness that it is now over, I watch Mark board his flight for Phoenix, Arizona. 

My flight for Detroit leaves in about three hours. 

From Detroit airport, I take a shuttle bus service across the border into Ontario, Canada, to the city of London, where my car waits for me. I have another 2.5 hour drive home from there late tonight.

UPDATE AS OF DECEMBER 27, 2020

North America began experiencing the Global Covid-19 Pandemic in March, 2020. 

The Shelley Brothers, and their families, like essentially the entire world population, experienced a new reality and a new "slow down the Virus and stay as mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy as possible" lifestyle.

The United States and Canadian governments mutually agreed to close it long shared border to all but essential commercial and emergency traffic with hopes of at least partially controlling the spread of Covid-19 to larger populations.

All forms of travel and transportation involved significant health risks.

Needless to say, we did not ride Route 66 in 2020.

We have hopes for 2021. But we must wait and see how the Pandemic develops.

 

Route 66 Gallup, New Mexico to Amarillo, Texas: Aborting Trip and Packing Up for Flights Home June 2, 2019 Day 12

NM-TX ROUTE 66 ADVENTURE

"One Last Ride"

Day 12--4 miles 😁

Today, with some sadness, we made final preparations to leave Route 66 (for this segment) and head back to our respective homes in Arizona and Ontario.

Sun Adventure Sports in Amarillo was kind enough to set aside 2 bike boxes for us.  Just across the street from our motel is the Rock Island Rail Trail--a dedicated recreation path through the city, which took us close to the bike shop.  We disassembled and boxed up our bikes, and finalized our travel plans.

Tomorrow morning Kent and I will fly together to Dallas, where he'll then catch a plane to Detroit, while I head to Phoenix.  It's such an awesome experience having almost two weeks of 24/7 uninterrupted "brother time." 👬

We're tentatively planning to pick up our route here in late September or early October of 2020. Looking at weather patterns, we might be able to avoid both the heat and the storms at that time of year.

We appreciated the Multi-Use Trails, once railroad right of ways, through Amarillo to get our bikes to the bike shop for shipping home.

Mark partially disassembles his bike for its boxed shipment back to Prescott, Arizona.

Route 66 Gallup, New Mexico to Amarillo, Texas: Adrian to Amarillo, Texas June 1, 2019 Day 11

Day 11 June 1 Route 66: Adrian to Amarillo, Texas 

Shelley Brothers Cycling Adventures Facebook Page Post:

With the strategy of navigating higher volumes of seasonal rainfall/thunderstorms, we hit the road at 7:30 am hoping to make the distance between Adrian and Amarillo in between storms. We were successful. With a mostly downhill geography and favourable tailwinds we made the trip of 45 miles (72 km) in 4 hours at 11 mph (almost 18 kph). At the conclusion of this day we rode a total of 533 miles (858 km) during the past 11 days. 

Watch the photos tell the story.....and be sure to read the Weather Update at the end of this blog and what it meant for our trip and plans for this segment of Route 66. 

Today will be a game changer for this Shelley Brothers Cycling Adventure.

Phillips 66 were common gasoline stations throughout the Southwest USA even in my childhood in the late 1950s. 

As a child, I never made the obvious connection between the 66 in Phillips, and Route 66. Kids just don't think that way, I guess.

Another abandoned "Guest House" along the Route. 

It has been at least 40 years since Route 66 was officially decommissioned by the Federal Government, yet so many of these historic buildings are still standing. 

Yet more buildings pointing to a vigorous past economy along Route 66.

Still standing. Barely.

We are literally dodging thunderstorms as we pedal our way to Amarillo. 

Very amazing we didn't get soaked several times today!

I'm not certain how active these grain silos are today. But at one time they filled many railway cars heading to major population centers.

A lone and lone home on old Route 66.

This building isn't all that old. Probably built just before the Interstate siphoned off the best potential years of service it could have offered.

Which one is the bigger chicken, I wonder?

A burger, fries, and ice cream stand, now turned into a home.

Many of these old gas stations have been converted into family dwellings.

A now defunct but once rather large gas station, restaurant, and "motor court" (motel).

It's not clear as to whether Ricky's Towing is still pulling its weigh in these part any longer.

Wind turbines are major energy producers in Texas.

With strong, consistent winds, and lots of open space for placement, these windmills are popping up in many places throughout the Lone Star State.

Have you ever  seen a floor like this? 

We had a great lunch in the cool and quiet dining room of Joe's Pizza and Pasta in Bushland, just on the outskirts of Amarillo. 

Welcome to Cadillac Ranch. 

A most unique "art" exhibit on the outskirts of Amarillo.

Someone "planted" these Cadillacs.

Did they really expect them to grow?

This is a piece of "art" that will never be "finished," because all visitors are encouraged to bring their own spray paint and add their special signature to the project. 

Due to the frequent rains, the vehicles are getting a good watering.

This is the Second Amendment Cowboy. 

He says, "Ya'll hang on to your firearms. It's your Constitutional right to bear arms."

Mural on side of a building.

Yep. Haven't got lost yet, it seems.

Meet Mr 66. He's blue as the sky and has his own landscape tatoo.

Definitely not lost.

We arrive at the city limits. 

We had to wait in the Taco Bell next to the motel for an hour or so while our room was being prepared.

Not a hardship. We love their Nachos and air conditioning.

For supper, we walked down the street to Arby's Roast Beef Sandwiches restuarant. 

Near the end of our meal, the skies released their water.

Neither of us can recall seeing just a rain and thunderstorm. 

Rivers of water rushed down the streets and sidewalks.

Weather warnings were broadcast.

Read the Update at the end of this blog to understand the weather related situation we were in, and what options we had to consider.

UPDATE, JUNE 1 (Posted on Shelley Brothers Cycling Adventures)

A massive thunderstorm hit Amarillo this evening.  We don't ever remember the sky getting so black so quickly and dumping so much water in such a short time.  Streets were immediately flooded and many emergency vehicles were out.  It was kind if scary.

This storm band stretches from Albuquerque to Oklahoma City, and is forecast to last at least the next 4 days.  Our "safe" window for riding each day is very narrow, and we dare not get caught in one of these dangerous storms.

So...we made the hard decision to end our trip this time here in the Texas Panhandle.  It is a bit dissapointing, but definitely think it is the wisest decision.  We got 11 good riding days in, covering almost 600 miles...so we still consider it a successful trip.  The rest of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri on Route 66 still await us!

We'll use tomorrow to figure logistics regarding our bikes and equipment, and fly out of Amarillo (Mark to Phoenix and Kent to Detroit) on Monday.

Route 66 Gallup, New Mexico to Amarillo, Texas: May 31, 2019 Day 10 Tucumcari, New Mexico to Adrian, Texas

NM-TX-OK ROUTE 66 ADVENTURE

"High Plains Drifters."  "Welcome to Texas."

Day 10

From Shelley Brother Cycling Adventures Facebook Page:

So...last night, just before heading off to dreamland, Kent discovered his front tire was flat.  Fortunately, Brandon had brought us a pump earlier.  Flat Score:  Kent-2, Mark-2.

Tried to get off a bit earlier this morning, since today was the longest riding day of the trip (65 miles/105 km).  The weather finally decided to cooperate: very slight tailwind, warmer temps (up to the mid 80s), and no threat of thunderstorms!  The riding wasn't all that difficult--only two 'small' mesas to get over, and gentle rollers.  All in all, a pretty pleasant riding day.

From Tucumcari, we headed west to San Jon, population 219, where we had lunch at Chisam Station, a convenience store/fueling stop on steroids.  There were no other towns until our destination, but one of the highlights of the day was Russell's Travel Center--truck stop + restaurant + awesome free car museum (see photos), just before the Texas state line.

After pedaling 42 miles (68 km) today, and a total of 465 miles (753 km) in the Land of Enchantment, we finally rolled out of New Mexico and into the Lone Star State.  New Mexico has more Route 66 miles than any other state.

Today's destination--Adrian, Texas--is the exact midpoint of Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles.  There's even a line on the pavement that marks the exact spot: 1,139 miles (1,845 km) each direction.

This is the third summer that the owners of the Fabulous 40 Motel have experienced in attempting to revive the ONLY motel in Adrian.  It's their "retirement project."  They are very bicycle friendly and have done a great job.

Tomorrow we head for Amarillo, the largest city in our path since Santa Fe.

After 10 days, we've cycled 488 miles (791 km) on Route 66.  One week to go before we reach Oklahoma City, our final destination.

Pedalling out of Tucumcari, we are treated to some very creative Route 66 expressions.

This is truly an amazing work of art.

"Ya'll just bring Old Paint in here with ya, and that'll be great."

I think being a road surveyor in the region might get a little tedious. 

Notice our Route 66 "Service Road" is rather snug with Interstate 40.

Red water. Red dirt. Lots of it around here.

Another "Once Upon A Time" Route 66 business.

The right time of the season, and just the right amount of rain, and we are treated to miles and miles (kilometers and kilometers) of waist high yellow flowers.

No doubt a sign that Texas is drawing near. (I recall something about a yellow rose of Texas.)

These small buildings were once overnight rooms for weary travellers. 

A vintage building that held on as long as it could against the cash flow diversion created by Interstate 40.

Another business bites the dust.

If you love vintage cars and related memorabilia, Russell's Truck and Travel Center at Glenrio on Interstate 40 is worth your time and stop.  

These are not just any restrooms (or, as we say in Canada, washrooms).

You get to use Elvis' restroom, or Marilyn's restroom. 

Well, look who is in the building!

These are called vintage cars. 

Yikes! I saw these driving up and down the street everyday as a child.

What does that make me??

This vehicle surprised me.

In 1971, I owned the 1944 version of this Willy's Jeep.

My first car.

Was red, too.

It has been a real pleasure. 

"Howdy, ya'll!"

(Our parents are both from Texas, so we got some Texas blood and DNA.)

We reach our day's destination. 

This is one of the best "cyclist friendly motels" we have experienced.

The owners really seem to "get" the unique travel needs of those who pedal far.

Bumper sticker on the truck in the previous photo.

I'm almost believing it is true.

Our home for the night.

Very nice, clean rooms, with room for all our gear.


Nellie Bell here belongs to the motel owners. 

A most unique family pet, eh?

Yep. That's Clark Kent transforming into You Know Who.

Parked in front of the restaurant next to our motel.

Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed for the evening.

True art.

You are seeing the exact midpoint on Route 66 between Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California.

You are seeing it again.

While this might not look like much of a meal to some folks, it is a feast for a cyclist who has pedalled 65 miles (105 km) while surviving off power bars and Power-Aid sports drink for most of the day.

To obtain these meals we walked about a half mile (1,000 m) over the Interstate bridge to a delightful gas station with an equally delightful snack bar. 

There are not too many places that afford such a unique view.

But if you look closely at the window pane you will notice something very unique.........

I don't have a PhD in criminology and forensics, but I do believe those are genuine Texas bullet holes.

I'm guessing .38 or .44 caliber. 

And I discern that they were shot from the outside with the intent to penetrate into our dining area.

I'm not sure the motive behind such an act, but I guarantee this -- The food wasn't that bad!

Red dirt. Red water. Red sky.

Back at the motel, we enjoyed an early bed time and soft beds.

Bring on tomorrow's adventure when we awake!