And then comes Glenrio, Texas. The motel is in ruin. So is the cafe. So is what was once a town. Happier is Tucumcari, N.M., which celebrates Route 66.
Banners fly from lampposts.
And it prospers. Not so many years ago, downtown Gallup was a nightmare. The old road quickly gets absorbed by Interstate 40 but revives about 8 miles out of town. With visions of Indian fry-bread, I'd planned a lunch stop in the town of Navajo, but the only restaurant there is a Subway. Subway doesn't fry its own bread.