The Kitsch Tour
Who doesn’t want to see the Golden Driller or the second largest rocking chair? It was a round trip from Santa Fe to Cincinnati by car to visit family over the holidays.
map courtesy of Mapquest
A considerable amount of the western part of this road trip contains bits of the old Route 66 — parts paved over or intertwined with other highways. But if you want to drive the entire route, use caution. There are miles that are not maintained at all. Maybe think of renting a Jeep?
The first stop was Cadillac Ranch just outside of Amarillo on the Frontage Road of I-40. The row of ten Cadillac’s buried nose deep was the public art creation by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art collective Ant Farm. It opened in 1974.
Bring spray paint.
Want to explore all of the kitsch of the US? Roadside America is your new best friend.
Just off the highway (part of the old Route 66) in Amarillo is the Big Texan, a “steak ranch”. Grilling up some of the best steaks since 1960. You can’t miss the sign.
Whenever I would drive from Los Angeles or Santa Fe back to Cincinnati the route inevitably took me through Oklahoma City. I always stop at the Bombing Memorial.
The attack took place in 1995, and I have seen so much violence since due to guns and terrorism. It’s a struggle to come to terms with the US and it’s culture.
This cross country trip had to make a detour specifically to see the oversized Golden Driller in Tulsa.
It stands at 76 feet and has resided at the fairgrounds since 1966.
Another stop along Route 66 is in Cuba, Missouri: The second largest rocking chair.
When I visited it was the largest rocking chair. But that changed in 2015.
My next stop for several days was Cincinnati for Christmas. Every few years my parents would take us to Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park.
I will return to Cincinnati several times throughout this blog.
I was driving back to Santa Fe, passing through Memphis. Graceland was a must stop because my Mom loved Elvis.
One of the best birthday presents was this…
Memphis loves Elvis, too…
There are a few celebrities that I remember where I was when I heard of their passing. Princess Diana — camping in Michigan. Prince — driving home from a shoot in Santa Fe. Matthew Perry — uploading photos to Facebook.
But the first was Elvis. It was August 16, 1977. We were swimming in the pool with some neighbors. Mom had the radio on. All of sudden Mom let out a blood curdling scream. We knew immediately that something tragic happened.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stepped out on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis to get some air on April 4th, 1968. The day after his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech. He was assassinated.
After paying my respects, I visited the National Civil Rights Museum nearby. I couldn’t stay long because there was an exhibit on lynching. I was sickened.
So much hate in this country. I needed a break so I stopped at some baths in Hot Springs, Arkansas to soothe myself.
Refreshed, I hit the road again stopping at a speck on the map in Texas.
Whenever driving cross country, I try to locate a Valentine’s diner. The company built diners between 1938 - 1974 in Wichita, Kansas. These small diners only offered 5-10 stools, no tables — it was standing room only. Sometimes they added a take out window. There are only a handful left — mostly west of the Mississippi River.
Where am I now? You can find me on Blue Sky.