Everyone who registered was given a “ goodie bag “ that included a numbered yellow and orange New Mexico license plate with “ Tucumcari to Gallup, Route 66 Days July 22-23 2011, and US 66.” How cool is that? We then headed out to Santa Rosa through the ghost towns of Montoya, Newkirk and Quervo. Everyone enjoyed a stop at Bozo’s Route 66 Auto Museum, then it was on to Moriarty had a BBQ lunch at Archie Lewis’ Antique Toy Store and Auto Museum. Archie has a few tons of some really old cars, pickups, tractors and toys. This is a must-see stop and is just across the street from the Sail Plane Museum.
missed this one, make plans now to be a part of the adventure next July. I guarantee you will have a very enjoyable time. A HUGE THANK YOU to Vickie Ashcraft, Andy House and the rest of the crew for a magnificent job again this year — and if you have not staged an event like this you have no idea how much time and effort goes into it! Looking forward to seeing you next year on Route 66 in The Land of Enchantment.
We then drove Route 66 into Albuquerque through Edgewood and Tijeras to Central Avenue where the annual street party was in full swing. They blocked off about three miles of traffic in the Nob Hill district and there were thousands of people milling around enjoying live music, eating and visiting street vendors. The intermittent showers did not seem to dampen anyone’s spirit, in fact they were reveling in it. After the festivities and dinner, our group met at Enchanted Trails RV Park & Gift Shop on Nine Mile Hill ( what a view of Albuquerque at night from up there! ) for a “ Drive In/Walk In Movie. It seems that someone donated a LARGE portable movie screen to the New Mexico Route 66 Association so they put it to good use. We watched “ Thunder Road,” had a lot of fun, enjoyed the movie and free popcorn and candy. Sunday morning after a breakfast everyone met at the Route 66 Casino for the trip to Gallup through Mesita, Laguna, Budville, Villa de Cubero, San Fidel, McCarthy’s and Grants. A car club in Grants staged a car show for us in the park and we added to their show; lots of really cool classic vehicles to drool over and all of us received goodie bags from them that contained discount tickets to restaurants, flash lights, etc. Thanks guys! After a couple of hours in Grants we drove to Thoreau, over the Continental Divide into Gallup ( Indian Capitol of The World ). Every town on 66 in New Mexico is unique and has its own personality, Gallup is no exception with lots of interesting shops, restaurants, and motels. We met at Gallup’s Chamber of Commerce office where plaques and prizes were awarded. The group received a sizable dollar amount worth of prizes. The New Mexico Route 66 Association had gathered together and everyone in the group enjoyed a fun filled weekend. It is such a joy to meet old and dear “ Roadie Friends “ and make new ones on historic Route 66. If you September / October 2011
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