Day 3 - Part 2

The drive continued to our next stop, Adrian, TX, which is known as the “geomathematical midpoint between the east and the west”. 

We stopped at a landmark – The Midpoint Café, but were disappointed to find that it had just closed.  There was an old gas station which was no longer in use next to the café.  Parked under an overhang was an old Ford truck.  People have been signing this truck for years.  There are tons of names and dates and cities all over it.  There was also an old Chrysler parked next to the building but was not intended for signatures, just admiration.

The Midpoint Cafe - that's my red Sentra and PW walking in the picture

We drove on I-44 because most of old Route 66 in Texas is not drivable. New Mexico came next, and while there are similar characteristics between these three states (Oklahoma, Texas, & New Mexico), they quite different. OK appears to have a redder soil and the rolling hills.  Texas is sandier and flat, then all of the sudden the land “folds” as my mom put it.  You know how power plants have that yellow film of pollution above them?  Well Texas has a hazier version of that, but it's dust.  New Mexico is similar to Texas but has buttes that just rise out of nowhere – no transition upward, just butte.

There was a time change (into Mountain time) we experienced that we weren't prepared for.  We gained an hour, which made today's trip seem even shorter.  Our plans were to stay in Tucumcari, NM, at the historic Blue Swallow Motel.  We made it there by 430p, after getting lost in some rougher areas of the neighborhood (which included dirt roads and a "horse motel").



 The town itself is quite short but still has a few of the old motels and business still running.  The motel is now owned by a husband and wife from Michigan.  They took over a few years ago and renewed the original feel of the motel.  They are so friendly and take great pride in the motel. 

After shopping at some kitschy stores we stumbled upon an old movie theater, which is an old building rich in art deco design.  The were playing TheHelp at 7p, so we decided to grab dinner (and a margarita..), then catch the movie. 

Tee Pee Curios

store surveillance? 

outside the movie theater

inside the movie theater

The movie was great (I liked the book more) and now we are back in our cute hotel.. did I mention this is the type of hotel that has a little garage bay for each unit? And my little sentra is parked inside of said garage?

 It is.. :)

how about another shot of Texas for the night...