Day 2 — To Tulsa, OK

Let the road trip begin.

Keith called the auto repair shop this morning, and John The Repair Guy reported that everything was fixed, no problem. What a relief! John picked up Keith at the Super 8, took him back to his shop and Keith returned a few minutes later with the van and the trailer, which were sporting a refurbished power outlet and a sparkling new plug. Thank you, John. 

Throughout the day, Keith and I pondered our good luck and for the generosity and expertise of the car repair mechanic, who was available to fix our trailer at 11 p.m.

Full disclosure: When I said that we’re following Route 66, I really meant that we’re driving in the approximate general direction of Route 66-ish. 

The highway, which was established in 1926, and which ran from Chicago, Ill, to Santa Monica, Calif., was one of the original roads in the U.S. highway system. Eventually, though, it was replaced by the Interstate Highway System, and Route 66 was officially removed from the U.S. Highway System in the mid-1980s. There are long sections of the original highway that don’t even exist; the interstate was built right on top of it. But there are segments that are still intact. For short stretches, the old Route 66 meanders through tiny towns, cuts across cornfields, or runs alongside the interstate as a sort of dusty frontage road. Portions of the highway have been designated a National Scenic Byway, and there are plenty of roadsigns marking the way. Our Rand McNally atlas and Google Maps even indicate Route 66. So it is possible for purists to drive every available inch of what is left of the original road.

We’re not those people. We’re trying to cram in almost 600 miles today, from McLean, to Tulsa, Okla., so we did not plan to meander through tiny towns or cut across cornfields on a two-lane highway; in our eagerness to get to the Grand Canyon, we plan to pretty much haul ass on the interstate.

From the Super 8, we did follow the actual two-lane Route 66 highway for a few miles, as it parallels Interstate 55, to Atlanta, Illinois, where we ate breakfast at the Palms Grille Cafe, a Route 66 icon, which first opened in 1934. For dessert, we shared a slice of coconut cream pie.

This statue of Paul Bunyan holding a hot dog is across the street from the Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta, Ill., and stands as an example of all the fiberglass figures that stood along Route 66 to advertise everything from muffler shops to ice cream stands.

But from Atlanta, we hopped on Interstate 55 and hoofed it through St. Louis, where we got on I-44, which took us all the way to Tulsa. For much of that route, the Interstate completely swallowed the original highway. Route 66 and I-44 are essentially the same road from St. Louis to Joplin, Missouri. But there are other sections of the highway that still exist; unfortunately, we don’t have time in our itinerary to explore them.

Yes, I used the phrase "haul ass" in this family blog, and perhaps I offended your delicate sensibilities, gentle readers. But I feel a little freer to use language like that after one of our conversations in the car today — a discussion about each of our favorite swear words.  Charlie likes "bitchin." He explained that it has all kinds of rhyming possibilities, like “itching” and “kitchen.” I like “clusterf***,” because I appreciate the assonance. And in the middle of this, our young, sweet, rule-following, type-A Clare piped up with, “I like A-hole!” 

At around 8 p.m., we pulled up to the Campbell Hotel, on 11th Street in Tulsa — which, for that stretch through the city, is part of the original Route 66. Built in 1927 as the Casa Loma Hotel — 33 rooms above a Safeway grocery store — the building was at the end of a trolley line that ran out of downtown Tulsa.

Over decades, the building fell into disrepair. In 2009, a private group purchased the building and began renovations with the aim of preserving the original Spanish colonial architecture. As a benefit for the Tulsa schools, the new hotel was selected as a designers showcase when it opened in 2011. More than 40 designers decorated the rooms, each with a unique theme.

We were completely charmed when we arrived. The owners happened to be on the front sidewalk when we arrived, and they greeted us warmly as they gushed over the Teardrop. Inside, the lobby was packed with people enjoying a concert by a three-piece western swing band. After we checked in, we got drinks from the bar and joined the crowd.

Our rooms are stunning, with gleaming hardwood floors, tile baths and king-size beds. The kids have the Route 66 suite, beautifully decorated with vintage-inspired artword. Keith and I have the adjoining Patti Page room (she was born in nearby Claremore), so we’re all connected. This place couldn’t be lovelier. And after our stressful experience at the Super 8 last night, we’re looking forward to getting some good sleep tonight.