Route 66 - Springfield to Tulsa

Day 5, Route 66 - Springfield (Missouri) to Tulsa (Oklahoma) 182 miles.

From Springfield we decided to spend as much as possible today travelling on Route 66.  Only a short stint driving on Highway 44 before turning off at Halltown to follow Route 66. Stopped for quite a while at Gay Parita Sinclair Station at Paris Springs -  Gary and Lena Turner's Station was a re-creation of a circa-1930 gas station owned by Fred and Gay Mason, which burnt down in 1955. Unfortunately they have since passed however this icon has remained open and it is a true gem. So much memorabilia and we had a great chat to the present owner. 

Stopped at Paris Springs to look at Gay Parita Sinclair Station - great collection of Route 66 memorabilia 

The Garage - still retains that old garage smell I remember as a kid! 

The reception area.

This 56 Chev was passing and stopped to look at the service station, was also kind enough to put his vehicle next to the pumps for a photo (and he loved it!)

Crossed over a picturesque 1926 thru-truss bridge over Johnson Creek and pulled into Spencer, a very small community on the original 1926 roadbed of US 66.  There is a renovated (not operational) 1930s complex comprising Spencer Store, Spencer Cafe and Barbershop and Spencer Garage and Service Station (Phillips 66 Gas).  Met up with some of our travelling companions and enjoyed morning tea by the buildings.

Along the route you come across many classic features in private yards, this Aero van was one.

Spencer service station, recently restored and also provided us with shade for our morning coffee stop.

Bulger Used cars on Route 66. The son still lives there and came out for a chat when I was taking this photo. Gave me a post card and asked if  could send him one from Australia.

The road wound through Webb City and Joplin, where we drove over the border to Kansas and had lunch at Rainbow Bridge (last of the 3 'Marsh Arch' bridges - named for their designer - that once graced US 66 In Kansas).  Drove south into Oklahoma and whilst driving through Commerse, noticed lots of American flags flying from businesses in Main Street. Commerse is the hometown of American Professional Baseball player Mickey Mantle.  Stopped to look at 9-foot Highway - narrow strip, with concrete curbs and an asphalt surface was used from 1922-1932.  Didn't drive on this section as it was very, very rough.

En-route to our RV Park in Claremore/Tulsa we crossed the 1926 iron bridge over Pryor Creek.  Off to the Casino for drinks and tea tonight - lovely mild evening after a warm day.

Crossed the border into Kansas - stopped for lunch next to Rainbow Bridge, last of the 3 Marsh Arch bridges (named for their designer) that once graced Route 66 in Kansas

Kansas has the shortest state section of Route 66, 13 miles.

The only 9-foot section of Route 66, 15.46 miles. This section was taken out of service in 1932.

It's also known as the Will Rogers Highway and the 9-foot section was concrete base with bitumen over top.

One of the Will Rogers monuments on the road, this one explains the 9-foot section.

The Historical Pryor Creek Bridge was built in 1926 and carried Route 66 traffic until 1932 when the road was realigned. 

Route 66 - St Louis to Springfield

Day 4, Route 66 - St Louis to Springfield 256 miles.

First stop this morning was the Chain of Rocks Bridge (with the 22-degree bend in the middle) which was built in 1929 and became part of US 66 in 1936, but abandoned in 1968.  The bridge has been refurbished (completed 1997) and now open only to hikers and bikers. Walked across the bridge and can now say we have walked across the Mississippi River!

Chain of Rocks bridge which crosses the Mississippi River from Illinois to Missouri

The bridge is part of Route 66 however only open to hikers and bikers now.

There are some signage and an old gas pump which may have been put there later.

The bridge has a 22 degree bend which was needed to find solid footings for the bridge piers

One of the seats on the bridge with a Route 66 sign.

The Mississippi River from the Chain of Rocks bridge.

From the Bridge we travelled on Highway 270, Highway 44 and turned off at Stanton where we had lunch at the Meramec Caverns (apparently Jesse James hid out in caves along the Meramec River).  Decided not to do the tour and drove on Route 66 which was a more pleasant drive than rattling along the Motorway.  Passed the town of Bourbon (infamous for its water tower labelled "Bourbon"), then onto Cuba (proclaimed Route 66 Mural City) enjoying the many murals and saw the Missouri Hickery Bar B Q with its sign of a coverall-clad Hillbilly, holding his favourite hog.

Our lunch stop

I thought we would top up with bourbon here, but as it turned out it was the name of the town on the water tower

Cuba and is known for the various Murals on the buildings around town.

Once again time was getting away from us so travelled to our RV destination in Springfield via the Motorway - hang on tight to the steering wheel, go like the clappers and put up with all the banging and clanging in the Motor Home, not to mention being passed by trucks!

Seemed to be a long drive not getting to the RV park until 6pm so a well earned happy hour.