When we left Weatherford two days ago it was 25 degrees F and by the time we arrived in Amarillo it was 60 degrees F !

After Weatherford we stopped at Clinton Oklahoma and visited a brilliant route 66 Museum. Bought a few extra souveniers too

Elk City was our next stop where they have a recreated Route 66 town from the 1930's and also THE WORLD'S LARGEST Route 66 Sign. They also have to World's Largest silly Indian Statue.

Time for a history lesson

Route 66 was commissioned on 11 November 1906 and was the first National Highway in the Midwest running eats to West from Grant Park Chicago to Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. It became known as "The Mother Road." and was used by many thousands of travellers.

In the 1930's when the poor of Oklahoma and Arkansaw ( The Okies and the Arkies) succumbed to the twin tragedies of the depression and the drought which turned middle America into a dust bowl route 66 was the road to the riches of California.

In the 1960,s with the building of the interstate highways 40 and 44 much of route 66 was bypassed. These new interstates were the creation of President Eisenhower who had returned from WW2 impresses by the German Autobahns and believed that America needed a network of national Highways.

This left many Motels, Filling Stations, Cafes and other businesses to die a slow and painful death.

In 1984, Williams Arizona was the last town to be bypassed on Route 66.

Today, thanks to many volunteers and eccentrics coupled with programs such as Billy Connolly's trip along Route 66, The Mother Road survives with people like Peter and myself and many thousands more travelling the road.

After crossing the Texas border we visited McLean home to the WORLD'S LARGEST Barbed Wire Museum. We took a picture of the outside and moved on.

Then on to Amarillo wher we ventured out last night to The Big Texan which has a ginormous statue of a cow out front. Must be a contender for World's Biggest. The Big Texan is a huge eating barn (I hesitate to call it a restaurant, however my steak was excellent) At the Big Texan they have a 72 ounce steak and if anyone can cosume it in 60 minutes then they eat for free (where was Andy Coldrey when we needed him)

As I said, we arrived in Amarillo in 60 Degrees F but this morning it was 27 Degrees F and snowing.

On our way out of Amarillo we stopped at the Big Cadillac Ranch where someone, for reasons best known to them, have buried 10 Cadillacs nose down in the middle of a paddock! Has to be a World's Biggest and most ridiculous. Nearby there was also a huge cross near a church but this was only claimed as the biggest in the Northern Hemisphere. A poor effort really!

On to Adrian Texas where we reach the mid point of the trip 1139 miles down and 1139 to go ( yes its now shorter than the original 2448 miles) We waited for someone to take our photo together here but no one showed up.

On to New Mexico and through Tucumcari which has to have the largest collection of abandoned and ageing Motels of any town in the world.

Our drive into Santa Fe along a stretch of highway which covers the original Route 66, was s[ectacular with magnificent scenery and snow capped mountains in the distance. Santa Fe is a combination of Mexican ans Indian influences with unique architecture.

So here we are in Santa Fe and will continue our journey tomorrow towards Alburqueque