Lord Colliers Active Retirement Life

The hotel was bustling this morning with Route 66 travelers. It’s a fascinating mix—people well into retirement reliving the past, alongside college-age adventurers experiencing it for the first time. Somehow, everyone shares the same excitement for the road ahead.

Quirky Beginnings & Cadillac Ranch

My first stop of the day was a small cowboy museum just outside Amarillo. It was a bit sparse and quirky, but still an interesting way to start the morning. From there, I headed to the legendary Cadillac Ranch.

Cadillac Ranch is exactly as odd as you’d expect—ten Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground, completely covered in layers of spray paint. Visitors are encouraged to leave their mark, so I added mine. There were cans of paint scattered everywhere, left behind by others. Even the road leading up to it is covered in graffiti. It’s chaotic, colorful, and strangely iconic.

A Step Back in Time in Vega

Next, I stopped in Vega, a town that feels like it belongs in an old Western film. The buildings and storefronts have that classic frontier look. The local museum was surprisingly good, with artifacts dating from the 1930s to the 1960s—old telephone exchanges, vintage cars, and everyday items from another era.

Crossing the Texas Plains

Driving west across Texas, the landscape opened up into vast, flat plains stretching endlessly in every direction. The horizon seemed to surround me. Wind turbines dotted the skyline, quietly generating power across the open land.

The Halfway Point

By 10:30 a.m., I reached the Midpoint Cafe—officially the halfway point of Route 66. Standing there made it feel real: halfway across the journey. I ran into a few familiar faces I’d been seeing along the way, and we talked about possibly meeting up again later in Albuquerque.

Ghost Town at the Border

Not long after, I passed through Glenrio, a true ghost town straddling the Texas–New Mexico border. Abandoned buildings, empty streets, and tumbleweeds—it had all the elements. The old Texas Longhorn Motel sign still stands, a reminder of what must have once been a thriving stop along the route.

Into New Mexico

As I crossed into New Mexico, the landscape began to change. The flat plains gave way to distant hills rising on the horizon. The sense of space out here is immense—you can easily lose yourself in it.

Tucumcari: Nostalgia and Decline

In Tucumcari, I found a town full of Route 66 history, though clearly past its prime. There are still several iconic motels, but much of the area feels run down and in need of investment. I parked downtown and wondered how a visitor might spend a couple of hours there today.

Still, there’s a certain nostalgia here, and I had some great conversations with fellow Route 66 travelers. As I was leaving, a group of about twenty motorcyclists from Europe pulled in for photos by a Route 66 sign—it made me curious what their impressions would be after exploring a bit more.

A Stop at the Blue Hole

Next stop was the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa. The water was a striking deep blue, and a few divers were using it for training. Like Tucumcari, it did not live up to the billing!

Arrival in Albuquerque

By late afternoon, I was heading into Albuquerque. Catching a glimpse of the Sandia Mountains in the distance was the first clear sign I was getting close.

I spent a couple of hours in Old Town, exploring shops and local artwork. The area was lively, welcoming, and felt very safe—definitely a highlight of the day.

Later, I made my way to Nob Hill, Albuquerque’s arts district. I stopped at Two Fools Tavern, a British-style pub I used to visit years ago. It was great to be back—same atmosphere, same charm, and a lot of good memories.

A Surprisingly Comfortable Stay

For the night, I stayed at the Imperial Inn Motel on Central Avenue. It was my first motel of the trip, and honestly, it exceeded expectations—clean, comfortable, and a pleasant surprise to end the day.

Reflection

At the end of the day, this trip isn’t really about the miles—it’s about the memories. Route 66 has a way of turning simple stops into lasting moments.