Ah, Day 7. The day we left Oklahoma City, saying goodbye to a night at the BestWay Inn (a name that really undersells the experience). Let me set the scene: we pulled up to the motel and immediately spotted some… well, let’s say "colourful" neighbourhood activity. Picture this: homeless people having a row and an 8ft fence surrounding the entire complex. Classy, right? When we checked in, it was through a 5-inch thick glass, and the guy behind the counter assured us, “It’s very safe here.” We shrugged, thinking, “All part of the Route 66 adventure, right?”
To be fair, once we were inside, the room was actually nice, clean, and quiet. But that’s not where the drama ended. This morning, as Lia opened the door, an alarm went off. We both froze. “Oh great,” I thought, “this is how the day ends.” We briefly spotted what might have been a homeless guy wandering around (naturally, our minds went straight to the worst-case scenario). After a few tense minutes, the alarm went off again. Turns out, it wasn’t a crime scene; they were testing the alarm system. And that homeless person? Just a workman. Who knew? Our concise biases were working overtime!
But after all the excitement, we packed the car and were off to Texas for a 260-mile adventure. Well, we thought the stops would be light… how wrong we were!
El Reno – Mennonite Church, Fort Sites, and History Galore
Our first stop was in El Reno, where we visited the Canadian County Historical Society – we arrived a bit early, but the lovely volunteers still showed us around. The highlight? The Mennonite Church, built in the 1800s without a single nail. It was fascinating to see such craftsmanship and to think about the history behind it. This area also marked the start of the Land Run, which we had seen depicted at the monument in Oklahoma City yesterday. It was a really interesting stop, steeped in local history.
From there, we drove over to the old Fort Site in El Reno. A lot of old barracks and buildings still stand, giving you a glimpse of how soldiers lived back in the day. History really comes alive when you walk through these places!
Hydro, OK – The Forgotten Town of Nutopia
Next, we made our way to Hydro, where we stopped at Nutopia. Now, this place looked like it hadn’t seen much traffic since the '60s. We bumped into a couple of lovely ladies who directed us to the general store, where Nutopia had moved. They were so helpful, and we managed to pick up some snacks for the road before heading out. The store was run by Mennonites, adding to the quirky charm of this stop.
Lucille’s Service Station – Route 66 Classic
One of the iconic stops of the day was Lucille’s Service Station. This is one of the original stations along Route 66, and while small, it’s still standing strong and perfectly preserved. We grabbed a photo and then made our way to Lucille’s Roadhouse for a quick lunch.
Erick, OK – Sandhill Curiosity Shop: A Must-See for the Bold
Now, here’s where things got really interesting. We made a stop in Erick, a small town with a very memorable character: the Sandhill Curiosity Shop. Let me just say, I can’t quite explain the experience, but I’ll give it a shot. This place was run by a self-described “redneck hoarder” named Harley, who offers live, spontaneous performances while you browse. I won’t spoil the whole experience (the photos will do a better job), but let’s just say, I wouldn’t have walked in there alone. As for Harley? Well, here’s my quote of the day: "Give her the sign, she has more to hide!" Yep, that happened.
Side note: If you’re into unconventional experiences and quirky interactions, this place is a must-visit. Just be warned, it’s for mature audiences only—some conversations can get… interesting. Check it out here.
Texas Bound! Everything’s Bigger, Right?
Finally, we crossed over into Texas—everything really is bigger here, including the Texas state sign where we stopped for our usual photo op. We headed straight to Shamrock, where we’re staying tonight.
For dinner, we ended up at the U Drop Inn Café, which is a Route 66 gem. They had a smoked brisket burrito special and, after a brief internal battle, I opted for the chocolate cream pie (because who’s counting carbs on a road trip, right?). The whole meal was phenomenal, and it was the perfect way to end the day.
Tomorrow we head further down the Mother Road, but for now, we’re off to bed in Shamrock. Keep following along, and let’s see where this crazy adventure takes us next!
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