We got on Route 66 in Grants New Mexico and followed it for several miles.  It parallels I-40 but is not in near as good condition.  At one point we had to turn around and backtrack because the road was just too rough to continue.  We have gotten off I-40 in several places and driven into the towns that Rt 66 used to go through and have taken some photos which will follow.  We also took a slight detour and went to Santa Fe for a few hours.

The New Mexico capital building is the only round capital building in the country, so we got a picture of it as best we could.

The San Miguel Mission dates back to 1610 and is claimed to be the oldest church in the country.

The Loretto Chapel is a very beautiful church building and contains a spiral staircase that goes up to the balcony.  The staircase makes two complete revolutions and has no center support or external support bracing.

That is real craftsmanship!

Turns out that neon is a big deal along Rt 66, so when we can we get some night shots.  This restaurant is one of better lit ones in Santa Rosa NM.

This motel sign also in Santa Rosa NM had very nice neon with the exception of a burned out L.

Adrian TX is the midway point between the opposite ends of Rt 66.  It is now barely a wide spot in the road.

Adrian TX also is home to the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop.

Amarillo has its' Cadillac Ranch, Conway TX has its' VW ranch, and not much of anything else that we were able to find.

Groom TX has a leaning water tower, note the two legs on the left aren't even touching the ground.  The tower was originally installed as a drawing card for a truck stop at the same location.  The truck stop is gone but the tower remains.

This old Phillips 66 station is in McLean Tx.

The proprietors of the Devil's Rope (barbed wire) Museum created these two balls of barbed wire, about 400 pounds each, as a tribute to barbed wire.  Some folks collect various types of barbed wire, yes barbed wire comes in many different styles and patterns.  This museum is dedicated to barbed wire.

This old Conoco station was designed and built in the early thirties to attract customers who passed through Shamrock TX on Rt 66.  It is very ornate for a gas station and it also contained a car wash and a cafe.

This Magnolia gas station is also in Shamrock TX but it isn't near as big or fancy as the Conoco station in the previous and following pictures.  The pumps are from an earlier time as well.  Magnolia was a Texas panhandle oil company founded in the early 1900's.  They later merged with Standard / Mobil Oil.

Here's the Conoco station after the neon lights come on, very attractive.