We left Rolla and needed to see some 66 relics on some dead-end alignments. We found Vernelle's Motel, John’s Modern Cabins, and Arlington then were forced onto I-44. It is sad to see what has become of the Mother Road due to two different I-44 alignments. Back on the Mother Road, we visited the remains of the Stony Dell Resort and the Trail of Tears.
We continued to Hooker to see the Hooker Cut, the Elbow Inn and drove over the Devil’s Elbow Bridge. The Mother Road follows the landscape through towns like Waynesville, St. Robert, Hazelgreen and Lebanon, where we got to see the Munger Moss Motel and Wrink’s Market. In Sampson we found the Abbylee Court. It still looks like it is in good shape and people are living in the cabins. Unfortunelly, we saw many more motels/cabins that weren’t as lucky. We couldn’t find the replica of the Hubble Space Telescope in Marshfield and then headed for Springfield and ate lunch at Steak ‘n’ Shake.
West of Springfield we drove through Plano and Halltown to the original alignment in Paris Springs and the Gay Parita Sinclair Station. Gary Turner welcomed Mike and I to his station with some 66 Root Beer and we spent over an hour talking with Gary and a few other visitors. Gary is truly a real Route 66 legend.
The restoration project in Spencer is coming along. I have seen some photos of the site before the restoration and what a difference! We made our way to Carthage to see the Route 66 Drive-In theater and finally called it a day in Joplin. Tommorrow it’s on to Kansas and Oklahoma.
I hope you'll be able to stop at Afton Station today even though I can't be there on Fridays. There should be people working there in the back yard. Ask for Marly or David, tell them you know me, and they'll show you through the Station. I'm so sorry to miss you!!! Truly!
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