Del Rio Bound

We're off on our winter trip to Del Rio, Texas, taking several days to get there. We move quickly south of Warsaw and hit I-44 in Springfield, Missouri, before making our way west to Oklahoma. Beyond Tulsa, we stop for some Route 66 pics along an old stretch that last we passed was raining so hard, we couldn't get a thing. We begin in Sapulpa, which got its start in 1850. It soon became an important cattle-shipping center, before moving into the age of the oil industry. Today, it continues to display numerous remnants of its history and was obviously thriving as its streets are busy and it was incredibly loud, with trains, factories, honking horns, and noisy mufflers. We snap off a few pictures and move westward.


Just three miles west of Sapulpa, be sure to check out the 1921 Rock Creek Bridge with its red brick pavement. Having seen better days, this twelve foot wide rusting hulk can still be driven across.
Just beyond the bridge is the long abandoned TeePee Drive-In Theater. 


Then we mosy down an old winding stretch of Route 66 to Kellyville, Bristow, and Depew, Originally Route 66 went right through Depew's along Main Street. Later; however, a newer alignment bypassed the small town, and then of course, I-44 bypassed it and all the other small Routee 66 towns along this stretch. Though Depew continues to have a few open businesses, but it's main street is lined with abandoned buildings. Losing light, we head on into Oklahoma City where we hook up with old Route 66 friend, Ken the Landrunner, of Postmarkart fame.

Next morning we are off to Texas for an evening with my sister. We make only one stop along the way, taking an old stretch from Gainesville to Sherman, along the old Butterfield Stage Route. Here we find an old well in Whitesboro that once serviced long ago travelers. Arriving at my sisters, we enjoy an afternoon in the 70 degree sunshine and have a little late Christmas.

Next, we're off to Fort Parker, Texas, Waco, and Round Rock, with lots of stops along the way.