I’m a little behind in my travel posting….I totally forgot the photos for Tucumcari, New Mexico.  It is an interesting little town on the Historic Route 66.  Sadly…it has seen better times, but there is such great potential here.  A one time resident,Doug Quarles, painted these murals.  There are many more then I captured here…..

Historic Route 66 Gas Station
Historic Route 66 Gas Station

Many of the gas stations, working or not, have been painted and somewhat restored to what they might have once looked like during the 1950’s era.  Some are still working gas stations, but many have been abandoned.  I think it was a fabulous idea to take these abandoned structures and turn them into a kinda visual museum.

Remember the slogan, "Tiger in your Tank"!
Remember the slogan, “Tiger in your Tank”!
"Where da heck is my horse!"
“Where da heck is my horse!”

This and the next one are two of my favorites

"Hee, Hee, Hee"
“Hee, Hee, Hee”

So funny!  I think there are over a 100 murals in this town and all so very well done!  I couldn’t find out when they were painted, but they have been there awhile.  I do know that the artist has since moved on to paint other murals in other small towns of America.  How fun….but a lot of work!  If you want to see more…..click here.

We enjoyed our short stay in Tucumcari…..the folks there were very friendly and almost all the restaurants are top rated and very reasonably priced.  I don’t know if I would consider the town a “destination place”, but certainly worth the stop if you are traveling in the area!

RV Site Tucumcari
RV Site Tucumcari

Here is a look at our site at the KOA in Tucumcari.  Nice and long and level and the spacing between sites was not to bad.  Again not a ‘destination place’, but find for a night or two!

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I have no idea what kind of bird, but they were everywhere at our site.  Loved seeing them play and call to one another.  Beautiful!

We are currently in Marshfield, MO at the RV Express right off I40…..just 20 miles west of Springfield.  Just kicking back and relaxing before continuing our journey back to Indiana.

18 Comments

  1. Hee Hee Hee. Best ever. I’m with you. Love that. Thank you ever so much for sharing.
    Enjoy your slow amble back to Indiana and the world of your son and new daughter-in-law.

  2. The small desert towns are the best, I think. Route 66 is its own mythology. We’ve traveled most of it, including the original parts that are now bypassed, but never in one long swoop. Someday. So enjoy your photos, especially of places I know. Good to know that others appreciate places like Tucumcari.

  3. I didn’t know you were still traveling! Somehow I thought you’d found your summer spot and were staying put for a few months. Well, happy trails and roads to you — I’m so glad you take us on your journeys.

    Highway 101 winds through my region. Like 66, it’s dotted with towns that have seen better days. But all have a lot of heart. Thanks for sharing some of the heart of Tucumcari.

    1. Thanks Harmony…..I’m back in Indiana now…all settled in and just got my little ‘artist niche’ set up today. Looking forward to a day of painting and I hope filming tomorrow!

  4. thank you for sharring the murals – what a nice little stop! Route 66 would be such a great trip! I wanted to travel US1 from start to finish too – having living near the end of it in South Florida at one time!

    1. You are welcome Vickie….and I hope you find yourself traveling down Route 66 someday soon…..enjoy the ride!

  5. Route 66 is on the bucket list. We considered making the trip this year. But sadly, work is piling up. Next year maybe?? I love the old gas stations! I remember as a little girl where we lived, there was a gas station 1/4 mile down the road. It looked similar to the pictures you posted. A bunch of us kids from the neighborhood would walk there with our nickels in hand to get a coke out of the gas station machine. What a trip. It could take us a whole day with exploring the culverts under the roads to finding cool sticks to play with along side the tree line. 🙂
    Have fun making your way back to Indiana.

    1. Thanks Kelli….it was an interesting journey. I too remember those days of walking to the local gas station and getting myself a big cold ‘chocola’…..do you remember those….basically choc milk in a bottle…so good!

  6. I find murals so interesting and beautiful to look at. Kind of like a story telling of sort. Thanks for sharing!

  7. How fun – a town of 100+ murals. I do love peeking at your travels! I have a soft-spot for those vintage gas stations. They somehow transport me back to a time when things seemed more simple and road trips were always a marvelous adventure. Happy resting.

    1. Yes Deborah….I so agree, that is how I feel too. Transported back to a simpler time….it always evokes a feeling of well being for me.

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