I think this was the best day on Route 66 yet! It was the second day it was warm enough for shorts and sandals, and, although thunderstorms were predicted, it only rained on me for 30 minutes or so, and it was warm the entire time. Still windy, though!
There were two major highlights. I stopped in Galena, Kansas when a restored gas station caught my eye. It is now Gearhead Curios, clearly a labor of love by Aaron Perry. There are so many unique decorative touches, but I really liked the US flag created from license plates!
At Gearhead Curious, I also met Richard and Rebecca, newlyweds from England, who are driving Route 66 from Chicago to LA! What an amazing way to celebrate their new marriage!
Later, after I crossed the Oklahoma border, I stopped at Dairy King in Commerce, Oklahoma. Treva Duboise and her son, Charles, were captivating hosts. Treva likes to chat about history, and Charles brought out a scrapbook with pictures of adventurous Route 66 travelers on all sorts of bicycle-like devices, including a Swiss pair, one of whom was on a hand-cycle due to paralysis, and the other of whom was hauling all of their gear in a trailer he was towing behind his bicycle. They’d come through when it was over 100 degrees!
Charles is a really dedicated runner, who was featured on Oprah Winfrey’s show because he runs several miles EVERY SINGLE DAY, usually in the same shoes.
Boots Court sign in Carthage, Missouri. The motel appears to be closed.Boots Court building. I love the design. I hope someone rescues it.
Edit: Good news! I looked it up. Full restoration coming!
66 Drive-In sign.66 Drive In in Carthage, Missouri. I love the ticket booth!Mater! In Carterville, Missouri. Believe it or not, I haven’t seen the movie! I didn’t know it was about Route 66!The gravel Frisco Greenway Trail between Webb City, Missouri and Joplin, Missouri, was lovely!I found this striking mural in Joplin’s East Town neighborhood – the only historically black neighborhood in Joplin. Read more about it here: https://www.route66news.com/2016/10/07/new-east-town-mural-joplin/Missouri – Kansas border!Some of my favorite signs!Erie Lackawanna EL 315 train in Galena, Kansas.The whole three-car train!Buck’s Recreation sign in Galena, Kansas.Gearhead Curious in Galena, Kansas. The hood over the pumps is made from two vintage car hoods. The posts are topped with piston heads. These are just two of the many surprising details you can find here. You MUST visit Aaron Perry’s labor of love!Aaron talking about the license plate display to Richard and Rebecca, the English newlyweds.The spectacular flag made from license plates, wih Rebecca and Richard!Me, holding the Route 66 sign. The motorcyle helmets house LED lights! My socks are actually different. Oops!The flag by itself!Just the pumps.The Rainbow Bridge near Riverton, Kansas. It was built in 1923!This plaque is kind of hard to read, because it is behind a guardrail, forcing weird perspective.
FEDERAL AID PROJECT No 142
Kansas Highway Commission
Jonathan M Davis Chairman
Fred Perkins LF Davidson LR Tillotson State Highway Engineer
W Tyrell Resident Engineer 1923
The Rainbow BridgeA nice shield in Kansas!At the Oklahoma border!Treva Duboise, at the Dairy King, talking to a local (I think his name was Bob), who lives in nearby Miami (the last ‘i’ sounds like the ‘i’ in ‘kid’).Me and Treva DuboiseTreva and Charles, the running man of Commerce!The Dairy King in Commerce, Oklahoma.Across the street from the Dairy King – an old gas station.
Shaun Rides His Bike 
Leave a comment