Road Trip Out West; Exploring, Wandering and Photography; Part XIV; Driving East; Winslow & Holbrook Arizona

Route 66, Winslow, Arizona.  Texaco Service Station.  I grew up in western Pennsylvania and 
the Texaco stations in my hometown looked exactly the same as this one. (click any image to enlarge)
All images made with a Fujifilm X100VI except as noted.

We left Flagstaff and drove east on a road I don't particularly like to drive—Interstate 40.  That said, there isn't a lot of anlternatives available if you decide to stay off that four lane, divided highway.  But, we have been gone over two weeks and we were ready to head home.  So, I-40 it was.

I wanted to stop in Winslow, Arizona to find a couple of places I had missed the last times I had visited.  No, I didn't stand on that famous corner in Winslow, Arizona as the Eagles song would proclaim.  Been there, done that.  By the way, if you are near Winslow, that corner is very famous.  There is a red flatbed Ford truck parked there along with statues and murals on nearby walls.  The intersection is painted with a huge Route 66 logo as well.  It's worth seeing if you are in the area.

What I wanted to see and photograph in Winslow was the old Texaco gasoline station a few blocks from 'the corner.'  I don't know how I missed it previously, but I did.  We stopped, I grabbed the Fujifilm X100VI and I made a few images of it.

I enjoy finding and photographing these old semi-restored places.  I guess it takes me back to
my youth, which isn't a bad thing.

Well, I'm a-standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
Such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford
Slowin' down to take a look at me

                                                      Second verse of the Eagles song Take it Easy

For those of you who know of the Eagles song Take it Easy but have not been to Winslow, here is a 2013 image I made using an Olympus E-M5 and 12-45mm Panasonic lens.  If you click the photo to enlarge it, in the window of the building there is a painted version of the flatbed Ford truck and a nice looking girl in the driver's seat.  Behind me and to the right of where I was standing are tourist shops with T-shirts, Route 66 memorabilia and other curios.

Back to this road trip.  I wanted to do the same in Holbrook, Arizona.  Holbrook is sort of famous for its Wigwam Hotel.  I've photographed it before a couple of times but I knew there were some other things around town I wanted to find and photograph. Unfortunately, I didn't find what I was looking for.  So, we drove on.

As an aside, it is really nice to travel with no specific agenda as you can stop, find, visit and photograph things, deviate in any direction at any time and figure out where you're going to stay the night when you get there.

The famous Wigwam Hotel in Holbrook, Arizona

I've visited and photographed the hotel a few times now.  I have noticed that some of the cars
have changed or have been replaced over time.  I wonder if someone wanted to buy one?

I did spot one interesting little building.  The West End Liquor Store.  I don't think I would shop there, however, I thought the building itself, extensive bars on the windows and door and  the Route 66 signs (you have to think about marketing!) were 'different.'  By the way, those large 'rocks' at the base of the storefront are pieces of petrified trees.  

West End Liquor.  Route 66 Holbrook, Arizona.

From Holbrook we drove on to spend the night in Albuquerque, but first a stop in Alburquerque’s Old Town Historic District.  That will be next.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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