I can’t wait to check out Cars Land and see the Disney versions of all the spots I’ve visited the past couple of years…
Flo’s V-8 Cafe Entrance in Cars Land
Nearly everything that Pixar touches turns to gold. When Cars Land opened in Disneyland’s California Adventure, the atmosphere matched the original films’ vibe so closely that as you strolled to each attraction in Radiator Springs, you couldn’t help but feel like you were sightseeing in another world – a community of sassy vehicles cruising somewhere along Route 66.
I always get a little sedimental around the Holidays.
The most impressive feature may be Monument Valley: a massive sprawling rock formation that houses the “Radiator Springs Racers” track. It’s so detailed that you’re almost fooled into thinking that the towering behemoth occurred naturally. The lone restaurant in Radiator Springs, Flo’s V-8 Cafe, is right across the “street” from Monument Valley. You can enjoy your grub as you watch racers lose their hats as they speed around the curves. With the jukebox blasting oldies-but-goodies and…
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…at Starbucks in Albuquerque, but… Panda don’t care…
….stumbled across this cool #sign in Nevada, Missouri.
If he looks guilty, it’s because he just shook his Santa until his beard fell off! Merry Christmas Eve!!!
375 miles (not enough!)
Gas was $2.49/gallon in Albuquerque
Woke up to snowflakes this morning in Albuquerque, but it was all gone by the time we got outside, so Panda will have to wait to experience snow (probably not too long!). I spent some time in Santa Rosa, New Mexico today, which I missed on last year’s trip. It’s one of those cool historic towns on Route 66 that was bypassed with the building of I-40. It must have been ultra-cool back in the day, with neon lights to rival any town of that size. It’s sad to see the empty buildings languish today.
We’re not going all the way to Chicago, but…Panda don’t care…
One final stop of the day: Cadillac Ranch, the ultimate folk art installation in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere. The first time I visited this mecca was in the summer and it was crawling with people — hard to get a clear shot of a single car. So it was a special joy to have the whole place to myself today. I’d spent the day listening to a classic rock station from Amarillo, and Keith Richards’ Autobiography, Live, read on Audible by the delicious Johnny Depp. So, I don’t know why, but it seemed fitting that the song playing as I drove away from the Cadillacs was “Free Bird.”
Ended up in Shamrock, Texas. Wanted to keep driving, but there was heavy fog, so we hunkered down in a hotel in the shadow of the historic U Drop Inn.
475 miles
Gas $2.23/gallon in Gallup, New Mexico
Couldn’t resist stopping at a couple of my fave places along Route 66 today. I adore Seligman, revived most-recently by Disney’s “Cars” franchise. And you are not allowed to bypass the Jackrabbit Trading Post without stopping for a pic…
600 miles
Gas $2.66/gallon in Kingman (woohoo!) (I’ll just keep driving)
Raining when I left Carmel, but I out-drove it! This is a quick trip back to Missouri for Christmas, so I’m not stopping as much as I usually do. To be honest, I’m still processing the photos from last year’s Route 66 pilgrimage, so this time I’ll just post the drive-by’s and the iPhone pix…
obsessive hobbyist 