Last, but certainly not least of the Route 66 blog post tour is Catoosa and Foyil …

Catoosa’s other claim to fame (besides being the most inland port in the US) … the Blue Whale. This was the second time I’ve seen it in person (the first being in 1999 and not having a clue that it was a Route 66 icon) … the second image was shot with the fisheye lens I’d rented for this trip.

This bridge crosses the Verdigris River …

Next up, Foyil and the Totem Poles!

… and that’s all folks! At least of the Oklahoma Route 66 series! Next up during the summer blog vacation, some images from Fredericksburg, Texas …

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As you can tell, I’m having a hard time coming up with large enough variety of Route 66 themed titles for these posts … at least this is the next to last one!

This short series is from Claremore — home of Rogers State University and the Will Rogers Museum. I’ve been to Claremore before (in 1999) and visited both places, along with Will Rogers’ birthplace, but hadn’t driven past a few other sights that my tour guide detoured by …

Such a shame it was closed. I considered sneaking in, but didn’t think my tour guide wanted to bail me out of jail …

This once was the Will Rogers Hotel … where you once could receive radium water baths! Now its senior citizen apartments. The lobby’s still quite gorgeous. I’d show you photos, but they weren’t open to visitors that afternoon …

I’m not quite sure I like my reflection in this one …

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Tonight’s images are from the Tulsa portion of Route 66. I didn’t have the opportunity to visit all the Tulsa Route 66 sights, but here’s the ones I made it to, with exception of the drive in that we pulled into the payment line at dusk, thus no images!

Tally’s Cafe …

Another perspective of this car can be found here …

Cherry Street area …

One of my tour guides attended high school here — was built during the art deco era

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On Monday I shared a few images from my pitstop in Stroud, Oklahoma … these next few are stops along the way between Stroud and Tulsa … as well as some places along US 69 in Northeastern Oklahoma.

I was at a complete stop at the red light when I took this … since I know someone will ask …

So … anyone tried a Happy Burger?

Love this sign … wish it had been in a better location (it was an iffy spot along the route) so I could get a better shot!

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Last Friday we toured some of the sights in Chandler, Oklahoma. Today we’re headed northeast …

First a quick swerve to the roadside (okay, the parking lot of a park, no ditches were harmed!) to snap a shot of one of these historic Route 66 sign markers … and then I headed into Stroud.

First iconic sign I whipped into the closest parking lot in order to capture — the Skyliner Motel.

Love the architecture of the building. The fact the telephone office (a National Historic Landmark) became the Cue and Brew, not quite so much.

If you’ve seen the movie Cars — this cafe might seem a little familiar … click that link and tell me if the owner doesn’t remind you of one of the movie’s characters as well!

The Rock Cafe sign and part of the cafe…

Little shop next to the Rock Cafe

Just west of the Rock Cafe is a small memorial park …

… and the town is a part of the Sac & Fox Reservation …

… one last view of Stroud before leaving …

Next up, a few spots along the road before reaching Tulsa …

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Continuing from Wednesday’s post that began this series of Oklahoma Route 66 images, the next stop I made along The Mother Road heading east out of Arcadia was in Chandler. I already featured the Meramec Caverns barn that is just west of town back last fall (see this post) …

I really needed about a 20 foot extension ladder — or to be on the rooftop of the building to my right to have captured these restored ghost signs properly. Alas, a 20 foot ladder would have not fit in my car (which is not the one in the foreground), plus with no one to hold it, I would have had to sought treatment from the nearest medical professionals … the vet hospital in the foreground

Just around the corner from the ghost signs and down a few feet was this sign … it was so out of place with the architecture I had to photograph it.  There’s also another museum coming to this old downtown area that was under construction when I passed through …

Head a few blocks north to find the classic architecture of the Phillips 66 gas stations of yesteryear. What I wouldn’t give to see one still in business — hopefully the guy restoring it will have it in business the next time I pass through! I personally like the chimney addition …

The Phillips 66 sign up close …

The Chandler Route 66 Interpretive Center — one of two Route 66 museums in Oklahoma (the other one is in Clinton, Oklahoma). This one’s on a sharp curve (can’t miss it) and is located in an old armory. Wish I’d had time to peruse through … but unfortunately a late start and road construction ate up the time I’d budgeted for a stop here.

And finally, the last stop before we head out of Chandler — the Lincoln Motel. For another (artsy) take on this sign, view this post from last fall.

Tomorrow, despite it being the week 22 of the 52 week photo challenge, will be a Route 66 themed image. What, you ask? Its a surprise   Then, on Monday, we’ll head east towards Stroud!

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The Mother Road — the classic American highway better known as Route 66. Last year I drove a stretch of the Oklahoma portion but only shared a few of the images captured. So, here’s the first of a six part series featuring some of the sites between Oklahoma City and Foyil, Oklahoma …

Welcome to Arcadia … the first stop on Oklahoma Route 66, just east of I35!

Silly me forgot to take a shot of the Pops neon light soda pop bottle (which is named Bubbles, in case you were curious) with a regular lens … thus the fisheye version! That’s what I get for rushing after hitting construction on I35 in the Norman area!

I featured the black & white version of the logo last year … now here’s the retro color edit …

The outer walls of Pops are covered in soda bottles — over 500 varieties available for purchase. While I could find Dublin Dr Pepper, Pepsi, RC Cola, Nugrape, and several other brands/flavors from my parents’ childhoods, I couldn’t find Coca-Cola!

I’ve also featured another version of the Round Barn in Arcadia, but here’s the fisheye edition!

As you’re leaving out of Arcadia heading east, keep an eye on the left side of the road (see another image previously posted here) … this little gem of a location is easily overlooked if you’re not expecting it to be there. I didn’t have time to stop in and talk with its creator, but I quickly snapped some images and headed on my way to the next stop along the route …

Check back on Friday for the next stop along Oklahoma Route 66!

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By Tally’s Cafe … love the dice on the mirror!

This was on one of the detoured Rt 66 routes in Tulsa that we took en-route to Booker T. Washington High School … I want to uproot this building and transport it here to use for sessions!

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Yes, if it wasn’t so impractical for a country girl like me, I’d one of one these in either red or tiffany blue … or maybe both …

Love that the tractor tires are cherries …

Images captured on Cherry Street in Tulsa — August 2009

Tonight we’re gonna travel down Historic Route 66 aka The Mother Road. I’m slowly processing the ‘fun’ images I captured back in early August when I took the ‘long route’ to Tulsa. I’m all about the backroads, some of my favorite locales for photo sessions are off the beaten path. Plus, after being stuck in 28 mph traffic tie-ups in the Norman area that morning, it was nice to not deal with interstate/turnpike traffic, being able to pull over when I wanted (which was quite often due to the sights), and not be in ‘auto pilot’ mode because of the lack of scenery. Sometimes taking twice as long to get somewhere is actually better … after all, aren’t vacations about relaxation and enjoyment, not to rush rush rush everywhere for just a while.

Okay, enough ramblin’ … y’all are here for the images after all

Just outside of Arcadia … for more details about this twist on classic Route 66 icons, read more here at Roadside America … I have more images, just haven’t processed them yet.

I saw several of these ‘advertisements’ on barns along 66 as well as near Tulsa while I was on the turnpikes …

A classic Oklahoma Route 66 establishment. I did u-turn to go back and photograph the sign … and then decided to be artsy with the mirror shot.