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The favorite stop of travelers. New Mexico rest stop have
wireless internet, and allow overnight parking. Many states do not allow
this. |
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These rest areas are comfortable enough spots. The old Spanish
style architecture, with arcades, and plazas, provides a shaded respite from
the hot sun and soaring temperatures of the day. |
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Outside of the rest areas, the highways, and the few other
man made structures is the wide open nothingness of the New Mexico countryside. |
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Left: A little country shop sits next to a gas station and truck stop. You never know what you might find, out here, and many collectors hope for that great find of something which has been sitting for decades in a garage or attic. Below: My first glimpse of Mount Tucumcari, since my last visit, several years ago. |
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Above: Mount Tucumcari Left: I have no idea why I took this photo. It is not exactly scenic or historical. Below: The old railroad station. sadly, the train no longer stops here, and the station is not open to the public. |
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Much of Tucumcari has entered that state of scenic decay,
which many tourists find so quaint and historical. Needless to say, residents
have quite a different feeling about the way their town has contracted since
the bypassing by the interstate. |
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Optimistic, and hopeful, the town welcomes visitors. Unlike
some of the larger cities, through which the old road passed, Tucumcari was
too dependent upon Route 66, for it's closure to be anything but a disaster.
Still, the town remains, bloody but unbowed. |
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Left: A view down the main drag, shows that tucumcari still holds some prospects, and is attempting to revive itself. Below: The Blue Swallow Motel, has forever been a landmark, and favorite stop along the road. |
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Many signs of the old road are visible here, as in a number
of other places. Teepees, statues, and all kinds of plastic animals mark
many of the businesses, as they attempt to get the attention of the harried
traveler. |
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Motels are cheap here. If you are a traveler on a budget,
it might pay to schedule your trip to make this town one of your stopovers.
In addition to economy, the town has a real history, and is the stereotypical
road town. |
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The competition here is fierce, and not all survive. Up
until the closure of this section of Route 66, everyone traveling east or
west passed through here, and there were hundreds of motels. Now traffic
has dropped down to enough to support only a few dozen. The rest stand mute,
and await a resurgence. |
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An old burger stand, which became a souvenir stand before
it closed. |
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More hotels attempt to draw visitors, with bargain rates,
breakfast, cable TV, and other extras. Most of these are the classic 50s/60s
hotels, of the great days of the road trip. This was back when gas was cheap,
muscle cars ruled, and everyone was hiring. |
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Above: Stark and hot, the New Mexico countryside seems like the middle of nowhere. Left: A bit outside of Tucumcari, stands Clines Corners. This place was a legend, even back in the early days of the old road. Below: Sunset in the Old West/ |
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| Back to Texas |
Forward to
Albuquerque |