2019 EB Day 12 - Off to the Flicks

Our morning was mainly spent behind the wheel, driving in the state where Route 66 features well. Cyrus Avery was the Governor who is considered the father of the original concept of joining many existing state main roads to make the nation's first main street.

Naturally Oklahoma features well. The Blue Whale in Catoosa is a hangover from the days when kids used it as a slide and swam in the pool... maybe not these days!

Various bridges span several rivers that flow through the country and remains of old Drive-In Theatres are still visible.

In Chelsea there's a tribute to the road that serves a pedestrian underpass for the main street.

By late morning we'd found our way to Afton and the Packard Museum is no more... the new wife to the previous owner decided to sell up when he died last December.

We found one of the few remaining original 9ft wide sections of road... must have been hard going in those days!

The day came alive in the afternoon through the shortest state on the tour, a stop in Baxter Springs reveals the inspiration for Tow Mater going backwards - Dean Crazy Legs somehow able to twist his (real) legs around to have his feet pointing backwards!

The Rainbow bridge is mid R66 Kansas, just 11 miles of road remains in our sixth state, but a special photo opportunity on a special bridge.

In Galena we reunited with Tow Mater (after our night at the movies two days ago) and both the inspiration (right) and real life copy of Tow Mater parked where the Producer's first got the idea for that crazy tow truck.

Linda opened up especially for us - 'Cars on the Route' is usually closed on Sundays, but such is the hospitality, today was an exception - thanks for helping make today so special Linda!

In Carterville a passionate Larry Tamminen gave us a double treat of Superman and icecream!

That should have been the end of entertainment but in Carthage a dozen Mustangs (and a Commodore, masquerading as a Pontiac!) converge on Boots Motel from a couple of Mustang Clubs to welcome us to town and we're immediately drawn into a whole new circle of friends with a shared interest for cars and road.

The last remaining Adobe style motel on R66 is in the hands of Debbie who welcomed us with sodas, ice tea and home made lemonade (and the odd beer!) to quench our thirst in the 30 degree afternoon heat.

Dinner was a progressive affair, first on the roadside waiting in line for the R66 Drive Inn, the second in place inside while we waited for the sun to sink below the horizon.

Owner Nathan McDonald, once a cop with the local Sheriff's department now runs this sole Drive In for four days a week, six or seven months of the year.

By 9pm we lay back in our Mustangs to watch Aladin. We snuck out (as quietly as you can in a V8 Mustang) before the second movie started and we turned into pumpkins... to end our twelfth day.