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Texas
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A strange fact is that Texas, the largest of the states on Route 66, has the second shortest length of highway (only Kansas is shorter). This is because the road takes you across the Texas Panhandle.

A short way into Texas you reach Shamrock which has the fanciest gas station and cafe you ever saw.
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At its peak business along Route 66 must have been fantastic to support the cost of building such an imposing edifice in 1936.

It survives today in good repair as the offices of the local Chamber of Commerce.

As you carry on west along the empty road you reach Groom where you will see this leaning water tower (it’s actually supposed to do that).

The name Britten on the water tower refers not to a place (as is usual) but to the long gone ”Britten USA Truck Stop”.
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As you exit Amarillo to the west you encounter Cadillac Ranch on your left. I definitely recommend a stop here - where else are you going to see ten Cadillacs buried nose down and painted pink!
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Carrying on further west you will reach the town of Adrian which is billed as the “geo-mathematical” centre of Route 66.
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They really want to make sure that you don’t miss the place.

 

Rather more usefully Adrian is home to the Mid Point Cafe which is a “Don’t Miss” spot on the road. Go in and celebrate making it half way along Route 66 with some of their trademark pie.
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The GrandAm resting its wheels after covering half of Route 66.

I was off inside for refreshment and, thanks to Fran (who ran the place), I acquired a copy of EZ66 that made the rest of the journey easier.
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Heading west from Adrian you start to encounter strips of Route 66 which have been dug up, are on private land or are otherwise undrivable. To travel as much of the road as possible you need to hop on and off the Interstate to travel between the sections of Route 66 that can still be driven on.

You also see more and more signs of the disappearance of businesses along Route 66 like this one that was once a gas station.
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This closed and collapsing diner

And this closed Motel. The sign used to say “First Motel in Texas” and on the other side “Last Motel in Texas”.
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And suddenly it’s time for New Mexico

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