DenverTSXer

I recently drove, for probably the 50th time, from Denver CO to my folks' home where I grew up -- less than an hour south of I-40 and Route 66 in southwestern Oklahoma. Even with today's gas prices (we paid from $3.12 to $3.65 for premium on the trip), it's still cheaper to drive than fly. Plus who doesn't love a road trip now and then?

Thanks to my Dad, I was aware of Route 66 as a kid, as well as the impact the opening of the national interstate highway system had on the Mother Road and small towns across the country. Hadn't thought about it much in years til seeing (and loving) Pixar's "Cars" movie last year.

In the 20+ years I lived in Oklahoma, and the 20 years I've been making the drive, I'd never visited the Route 66 museum. Or rather, museums, as I learned on this trip -- the National Route 66 Museum is in Elk City, Oklahoma, and the state museum is 25 miles away in Clinton. So we made quick stops at both, and I thought I'd share some pics.


This is actually just a marker in the pavement at a new rest stop in the Texas panhandle.


The highest mileage achieved on this trip. Wound up with about 33.5 for the 1600 mile round trip. Hey, it's uphill and into the wind on the way back to Denver! The highest mileage I've ever seen on the MID is 37.


TSX resting in the shade of the big sign at the national museum. The sign lights up with neon at night.


Speaking of neon... honestly, I don't know if it's authentic or not. Probably not.


Part of a poscard map.


Nice Corvette.


The panhandle's too thick. I've driven the length of it many times -- seems like you can see Texas and Kansas on either side of the road.



Now at the state museum in Clinton, Oklahoma.


Old and new.




Cool signs in the museum.


VW bus traveling from the 60s into the 70s.


This is one of the markers placed at the end of construction of sections of Route 66.


The TSX at my parents' home.


A nice collection of bugs from the trip. Mostly grasshoppers. What's the best product/means to get 'em off? It was after the last trip that I had the little incident with the TSX and got rid of the bugs by having the entire front end replaced and repainted. Effective, but not something I'd choose to do again.



Obviously I love the look of my TSX, and this is my favorite part of the car.

Thanks for looking. Happy driving.

xenonhid

Who doesn't like roadtrips?

IMG]http://www.moopoint.net/pics/tsx66/17-home-tsxbugs.jpg[/IMG]


^^ thats why!

xenonhid

Who doesn't like roadtrips?




I don't, if its in my TSX, cause of that ^^

mav3556

Clean Me!!!!!!!!!!

TSXHunter05

nice shots, I would love to travel RT 66 sometime, I am also very well aware of it from my dad.

PS as far as bugs, keep a good coat of wax on the front of the car and make sure to wash the front after you take a long trip if you stay on top of it you won't need any special magical chemical cleaner to remove the bugs.


again great shots and thanks for the information.

nj2pa2nc

reminds me of what my 06 6spd/wnav MR/eb tsx looked like after a 6,177 road trip thru 20 states in May. I used our pressure washer to get rid of the numerous collection of bugs-I think most of them came from Kansas. love road trips. My car is 8 months old, bought new, with just over 19,000 miles.

JayRoam

great pix. looks like fun! As for the bugs, maybe some mild bug'n'tar remover?

hunterk1

Thanks for the Pix, I grew up on 66 too (Albuquerque). I knew it as "Central Avenue", or "the place where the hookers are". I've never been to that museum but I'll try to make it now - I remember spent nights in Clinton as a kid traveling to Tennessee to see family, and I'm sure I'll be on 66/I-40 sometime in the future to see them again.

I love the drive from Colorado Springs into Denver if the traffic is good, I managed 42.1 MPG on the MID in May coming back from my parent's place in ABQ. I was totally floored by that figure.

Mokos23

nice pics! how many times did you fill up in total back and forth and what was your speed? i've achieved that number too, but the highest i ever saw on my navi was 37.3mpg for 10 miles.

bhavin3623

bugs

mrgold35

A clear bra is your best bet for eliminating bug guts causing damage on your front end and side mirrors. I also have the clear bra on my fogs and headlights.

I was on Route 66 yesterday (Sunday) cruising back from Phoenix to Albuquerque. I only managed 34.4 mpg @ 80 mph on the cruise control in my 5AT. I will spend my evening tonight washing the bugs off my car.

Bleser

Did you check its math? Mine is always 2-2.5 MPG high.

DenverTSXer

Thanks for the comments guys.

TSXHunter05 : It is time for a wax, thanks for the reminder. It's a leased car, so I don't spend as much time keepin' her shiny as perhaps I should. I really haven't driven much of 66, though I think OK has more driveable miles remaining than any other state.

nj2pa2nc : Now that's a road trip! I think the most I've ever done on one trip is 3,500 miles or so.

JayRoam : The bugs came off much easier this time. Last time, even the bug and tar remover wouldn't take 'em off. I think they were baked on.

hunterk1 : Yes, Route 66 goes by many names these days -- not all of them flattering. I do enjoy the drive from the Springs to Denver (along the oddly named Ronald Reagan Highway) if I'm not in rush hour. We timed our return to miss it. 42.1 on the MID is amazing.

04EuroAccordTsx : Well, I put gas in the car a total of five times, which is a lot of course, but it really only got close to empty once. Gas was cheaper in OK, so I filled up more there than necessary. Speeds were anywhere from 75 to 85. Better mileage at 75 of course.

mrgold35 : I thought about the clear bra when I got the car, but really didn't want to spend the money. As I said, it's a leaser. Have fun washing.

Bleser : I suspect it's at least 1mpg high -- maybe more. I forgot to check.

waTSX

Great photo shoot! Looks like a real fun trip.

waTSX

Cars are meant to be driven. The TSX is a great road trip car. To avoid driving it because you're worried about a few bugs is a waste.

mltk53

nice pics.

DenverTSXer

Amen, waTSX, and thanks. You too, mltk53.