Route 66: 4 Ladies, 4 States, 900 Miles

Tuesday, OKC --> Tulsa, Baxter Springs (KS), Joplin (MO), Springfield --> Branson  Oh, the list of sites to see! (Seriously, you should see the list on Chelley's phone, clearly the organizer of the group.) How to choose? The answer: haphazardly. Leaving OKC we drove past the Milk Bottle Grocery, functioning now as a nail salon, but no time for that indulgence! Renni & Alyson & a big bottle of milk! We were like kids as we marveled at the 700 soda varieties served up by Pop's. Forced to choose, we drove away with: Route 66 Root Beer, Jic Jac Strawberry, Route 66 Black Cherry, and Anchor Ginger Root Beer ("Soothing beverage for the traveler"). The giant pop bottle is lit up at night A sampling of their 700 varieties of soda pop "Are any of you singers?" was the question asked as we entered the Arcadia Round Barn. Concerned that this was the price of admission, we were relieved to learn he just wanted to let us ...

Monday: Home Ports --> Oklahoma City This road trip was inspired by Renni, when she and Chelley began their journey on the western portion of Route 66 in 2017. Renni has checked it off in pieces over the years, and this stretch from Oklahoma to Illinois is all she has left to complete her adventure along this iconic Mother Road. Sister Alyson, long-time friend Chelley, and (relatively) new friend Lisa have joined Renni in 2023 for the fun! Alyson, Lisa, Renni, Chelley - Whiskey Chicks was closed by the time we got there, so we had to settle for a Chick Stampede We gathered in OKC, and immediately headed for the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Such a somber and impactful reminder of the horrific bombing of April 19, 1995. The Gates of Time on each end of the Reflecting Pool signify the time before the bombing (9:01) and the time after (9:03). The Field of Chairs has a seat for each soul lost that day, arranged by the floor they were on in the Murrah Building,...