The Great American Road Trip III; Day 6

Detail from the "U Drop Cafe" in Shamrock, Texas.  Elvis Presley ate here in 1964. (click to enlarge)

This is day six of our cross country road trip.  All spirits are still high, still lots of laughter, talking and excitement.  Still, three old 70-something unsupervised guys out on an adventure across America!  So far, all has gone well, no trouble.

Today, we drove just over a hundred miles from Shamrock to Amarillo, Texas.  No hurry.  Taking our time to see the interesting sights and meet really interesting and friendly people.

In Shamrock, we spent about an hour at the U Drop Inn, Café and old Conoco gas station.  Both nicely restored.  The two ladies in the visitor's center were funny, upbeat and helpful.  The cafe is now open and serving ice cream, milkshakes, brownies, candy and other sundries as it did many decades ago.  The milkshakes are made from the kind of machine that was used when I was a boy.  A young man has taken it upon himself to make a go at making this café a success.  I wish him well.

Back and side of the U Drop Inn and Café and Conoco service station. (click to enlarge)

Before we left Shamrock, we also visited an old Magnolia Service Station and the Pioneer West Museum that occupies the Old Reynolds Hotel.  It was there we met Raquel, the docent who seemingly knew the entire history of the town and many details about life decades ago.  She was very nice and very helpful.  For those who know me well know I I talk a lot.  Well, my gabbing doesn't compare to Raquels'!  Lol  Again, another wonderful person being kind to us travelers.

Later, we stopped to make some photographs of what remains the first Phillips 66 filling station which also had a perfectly positioned old rusty truck next to it.  After that, we stopped to see the 'leaning water tower' in Britten, Texas.  It was built to make one believe it was falling over.  Then it was on to Amarillo.

Once we arrived in Amarillo, we drove to the old Historic District along old Route 66.  We parked and decided to walk around a bit to see what was there.  The temperature was 103 degrees F!  Even with a brisk dry southerly wind and about 5% humidity, that was HOT!  The constant wind would suck the moisture out of every exposed piece of skin on your body.  In no time, I was parched.  I seemingly couldn't get enough water to replenish my thirst.

In the Amarillo historic district.  It was 103 degrees F when I make this photo!
(click to enlarge)

In the Historic District, we had dinner at the Golden Light Café and Cantina, which has been on Route 66 since 1946.  It is a 'hole in the wall' kind of place but the food is excellent.  The same griddle from 1946 is still in use, I was told.  The hamburger was highly recommended and it did not disappoint.  I had a green chilies cheeseburger and the burger just about melted in my mouth.

From there we grabbed as hotel, debriefed late into the evening and settled down to a great night's sleep.  Another fine day of adventure!

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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