Route 66 and beyond!

Route 66 and all points west

Many years ago, Physical Geography was one of my favourite subjects. I used to look at the pictures of improbably impressive landscape in both my text books, and also the National Geographic Magazines that Mr Firth, our geography teacher used to make available to us.

North America seemed to have more than its 'fair share' of things 'big, and even 'huge'. One of the seven wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon had to be one of the most amazing geological features in the world.

Many years on, it was time to realise one of my ambitions: to improve my knowledge of South West and Central America and to actually see 'the big one' for myself. Monument valley was also on the agenda as was the Petrified forest. We did the 3200 miles or so in a rental car, not a Harley Davidson as did this couple (with their dog!) Read on to get a taste of our trip

This map of central USA shows the approximate route that we took, starting in Dallas (bottom right hand corner) and progressing west (left) and then clockwise, finally ending up back at Dallas having enriched fuel (gas) sales by a few hundred dollars. Not nearly as much as it would have cost in the UK!

(3200 miles at 30 miles per US gallon....)

If you click on the places that are highlighted it should take you directly to that part of our tour. (No pics of Dallas on this trip; Dallas Fort Worth airport was merely our point of entry to the States.)

Hello!

I came across your excellent website whilst looking for information about touring the USA on a Harley (my intended gift to myself for my 50th birthday in a couple of years). I believe it was the picture with the text about the couple on the Harley with their dog that turned up in a Google search.

This is just to say thanks for spending the time on your site, adding not just some really excellent pictures but commenting on the places and people involved. I know it takes a lot of time, I have tried a similar thing myself and after a while it sort of fades out.

Another of my interests is digital photography, and I have treated myself to Canon's latest DSLR, and your pictures serve as inspiration in this respect also. Better get out snapping!

Thanks again.

Andy

(Expat - Tromsø, Norway the last 20 years. Ex. Wigan)

	Our first two nights were spent in the welcoming home of Terry and Sue Davidson in Comanche, a couple of hours drive north of Dallas, our choice of U.S. airport for the start of our trip. More family pictures of our trip can be seen by clicking here.		I took a short walk around Comanche, just spotting things that were, to me, photographically interesting, amusing or just a snapshot of American life. Fire Hydrants always interest me in their statuesque qualities. they vary subtly and not so subtly as one moves around the country.
Something else that pops out of the ground is gas. At home, we tend to hide the pipe work away. Not here, its a minor work of pipe art!		This time, the pipe work is purely decorative.
	Vintage US mail box.		Vintage US motor car?
A few snapshots of peoples homes, cars and 'white box' furniture.
	Oklahoma is very much the bible belt of the US and liquor stores were either uninviting in style or layout or simply closed due to lack of business!
At this stage, our little Pontiac Vibe was sparkling clean. Later you'll see a very different image...		The bird life around here is very colourful; this is a male cardinal.
	Terry took us for a fascinating insight into the Chisholm Trail, that archetypal route that cowboys used to drive cattle north to their markets during part of the 19th century.
There is an excellent interactive museum near Comanche that tells the full story. Or, you can visit http://www.kancoll.org/khq/1936/36_1_rossel.htm where there is plenty of historical info that I haven't room for here.
	Lunch was taken at a splendidly eccentric eatery called Meers. The burgers were really good. 'Come right on in for the world famous Meersburger!'
		Now I know that hamburgers are not made with ham, but buffalo wings? The mind boggles. This is a very real buffalo that we saw in the Witchita Mountains wild life refuge.