After a godawful night, we hit the road early, glad to get away from that little hell hole! The countryside didn't improve much as we passed through some oil and gas fields, and some large, dry looking ranches.
We returned to Route 66 at Elk City, hoping to have a look at a Farm and Transport Museum, but everything was shut on Sundays, we realised by the large numbers of cars parked at the churches, that this is a bit of a Bible Belt and everyone goes to church and nothing in the towns opens!!!
Following the route we found most places were shut, including the famous barbed-wire museum and many other places of interest! Quite strange that they remain closed because there were many tourists like us wanting to have a look.
Route 66 has been a major disappointment to us, I'm sorry to say, the so-called highlights are pretty ordinary and it seems the whole intrigue about the road is a bit of a beat up! We had been so looking forward to driving it (especially after watching the Billy Connolly show about it) but it is nearly impossible to follow exactly and basically we are not impressed!
We have pretty much decided to do the next section to Albuquerque, and then we are going to give the rest a miss and do some sightseeing! Monument Valley is on the list and we might even head south from Flagstaff and get to San Diego!
The temperature was rising even more as we arrived in Amarillo and we decided to have a break and chill for a while at a large shopping Mall, which had opened at noon. We had some lunch and did a bit of shopping - the end of summer sales are on and clothes are so cheap, we couldn't resist and got a few things ready for summer at home! Thank goodness we are allowed 2 checked cases on the way home! Gonna need them I think!
We also checked out a nearby Home Depot (an oversized Bunnings) and whiled away some time in the cool, before finding a great Sleep Inn close by which was a great price and is ultra comfortable! After the debacle of last night, a good nights sleep is very much needed and the room with great air-con and two queen beds fits the bill perfectly!
There is an Outback Steakhouse next door and I reckon a couple of ice cold beers and a Texan steak are on the cards, and will help erase the memories of last night and the disappointment of Route 66.