Since Oklahoma I've been following Route 66 - sort of. There are many places where the road surface simply doesn't exist any more. Sometime the old road runs within about 30 yards of the Interstate, and where as the Interstate is quiet, smooth and fast, the old road is pretty rough - enough to loosen your fillings in places. Where the old road and Interstate deviate is going through the towns, but to really appreciate the old road would need 2 people; and driver and a navigator. But let me try and summarise in a positive way - I've been following the route of the old 66 enjoying the sights and scenary along the way, while taking advantage of the well maintained Interstate. Progress does sometimes have its advantages.

Along the way, I've had some great meals:

• A juicey T-Bone Steak at The Cattleman's Steakhouse in Oklahoma City (home of the busiest stackyards in the world);
• A sticky 1/2 rack of Texas Barbeque Ribs in Vega, Texas;
• Enchiladas in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I've also visited some intersting sites along the way:

• Cadillac Ranch - cars half buried nose-first in the ground;
• The National Museum of Nucear Science and History - facinating displays on the history of the bombs and cold war, with a B-29 and B-52 aircraft in the back yard;
• Petrified Forrest and Painted Desert;
• Meteor Crater - relatively small, but perfectly formed.

But I suppose the outstanding thing throughout the journey has been the changing scenary. At times it is unimaginably flat, then distant bloughs, then monumental lonely peaks, then colourful sandstone cliffs and then twisty mountain passes. The vegitations has switched between grasslands, scrubland and forested. Each time I come through one phase, I can't wait to see what is coming up next.

I now have a couple of days at the Grand Canyon. It will be nice to stay in one place for 2 nights.