Leg 9: Shamrock to Springfield
Leg 9: Route 66
GS II - Leg Nine
Shamrock to Springfield
“Museums - Giants - and Lightning Bugs!”
As my eyes catch their very first glimpse of lightning bugs across this field of dreams, I asked: “Is this heaven?” “It’s Missouri” she said, watching the flickering lights bounce off the grass. “Wait, maybe this is heaven.” (Sorry Iowa)
This is our reward for riding America’s Main Street in the hot and humid June of the Midwest. These magical insects were a first for us and have entertained us nearly every evening since.
Our path to Springfield and the BMW MOA Motorcycle Rally begins in Shamrock... IN the Grand Shamrock... the affectionate name we call our RV. The Conoco Station here is one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture that we have seen along the road. The smiles on our faces betrayed the fact that our truck and RV are as long as the service stations that once met the travelers before us.
On to Elk City, Oaklahoma and the pristine replica of a typical Oaklahoma town. The National Route 66 Museum here demanded more time than we had, so if you are traveling the Route, plan at least 4 hours to take it all in.
We cheat 66 out of destroying our 10 wheeled subdivision knowing we will circle back from Carthage to Tulsa on our preferred method: Two Wheels! 🏍
As a seven year old, John, like most boys of an era, was fascinated with the TV series “Land of the Giants.” The real location of this fictional place is this stretch of highway, “ Our Highway”, 66 from Tulsa to Catoosa. The Cyrus Avery Monument Bridge was instrumental in carrying travelers across the Arkansas River, and is recognized as such with the sculpture “East Meets West” with the Giant Horse Drawn Wagon startled by Henry Ford’s Model T. Photo above.
On to the Biggest, Hugest, most Giantest GIANT: The Golden Driller! At 43,500 pounds and 76 feet tall, he is by far the largest giant we will see.
Next we visit Buck Aton.I enjoyed Buck Atom so much, I now have one from the Curio Shop that he stands sentry over. My “Little Buck” now guards the laptop for these posts . Moving on, we have a few more “Giants” to locate... (“Giants? Yeah, right” says The Driller).
And we are off to find a whale of an attraction; a blue whale to be more precise. The 70’s was it’s hay day, but we enjoyed it in it’s current condition. No fluke... Get it? No fluke! 🐳
Our next ride from Carthage took us down the 9 foot wide Old Ribbon Road, a museum in Joplin, a “Superman” museum in Webb City (actually an Ice Cream Shoppe), and a Service Station Museum in Galena, Kansas. Now is a good time to mention that I have been to more museums in the past two months than in my previous 39 years? 😉
We have added a photo of an armadillo as we paused to pay our respects to. ☹️ Dead armadillos out number museums on The Mother Road... but just barely!
We load the motorcycles tonight just in time for our evening “light show”. We have one Motorcycle Rally, one “Giant” Arch, and one “End of the Road” sign to look forward to before we finish this journey. There may even be another museum or two before we are done. 😳
As my eyes catch their very first glimpse of lightning bugs across this field of dreams, I asked: “Is this heaven?” “It’s Missouri” she said, watching the flickering lights bounce off the grass. “Wait, maybe this is heaven.” (Sorry Iowa)
Travel safe all and we will see you at the end of The Mother Road!
Caroline and John 🍀
There is only one word for fireflies: Magical!
A few more GIANT photos…
