AFTON, OKLAHOMA TO CATOOSA, OKLAHOMA
The Route 66 Landmark Known as the Blue Whale
Friday, October 19, 2012 15:41:53
Departing downtown Afton, Oklahoma.
- 2012/10/19 Friday 15:42
Afton Station
1 (918) 257-4044
12 Southwest 1st Street, Afton, OK 74331
- 2012/10/19 Friday 16:05
Again, from my phone notes....
Closed. We got here too late.
If I re-read the hours of this place again, I would realize they are open from 09:30 to 15:00. However, I spent so much time at 4 Women on the Route, that I missed the closing time. This gives me something to look forward to in the future. In the meantime, there is a blog here...
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:07:32
We are leaving town for Vinita, Oklahoma. There is a landmark there I want to check out.
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:07:42
North Main and Us 69 (66), Afton Oklahoma.
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:08:32
Abandoned Court Motel sign with 3 cabins on the West side of Afton, Oklahoma on US 69 (Old US 66)
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:08:35
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| The sign says Avon Motor Court, I believe |
Route 66 (US 69) turns to the south after Afton. About 3 1/2 miles it veers back towards the west.
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:20:50
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| Pony Bridge that is now no longer used on Old 66 in an area called Craig, Oklahoma |
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| Vinita, Oklahoma |
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| We passed into Vinita. I was hoping to go visit the "world's largest McDonalds," formerly known as the glass house... |
We passed through Vinita, and turned around in town hoping to find the old Glass House restaurant. It nearly put us on I-44, which would break route karma. We turned around disgusted that on this day we would not enjoy some Micky D's kawfee. There are no signs in town for this tourist attraction. Many people who pass on the turnpike probably pass underneath it before they think about stopping. Vinita loses out on tourist business due to hometown complacency.
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:26:57
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| Downtown Vinita, Oklahoma |
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:27:02
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| Downtown Vinita, Oklahoma |
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:28:58
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| The Eat sign is a route 66 icon. |
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:42:26
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| Having not stopped at the Glass House over I-44, we continued on West. |
Many areas on the route have names, such as White Oak, Oklahoma. On this day, there is road construction here.
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:46:09
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| White Oak, Oklahoma on Route 66 |
The route goes southwest of of Vinita, Oklahoma, and there are some tracks that parallel the road here.
These tracks belong to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:59:18
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| Bridge near Chelsea, Oklahoma |
Friday, October 19, 2012 16:59:39
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| Chelsea, Oklahoma |
Friday, October 19, 2012 17:00:11
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| Chelsea, Oklahoma |
Friday, October 19, 2012 17:20:35
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| Chelsea, Oklahoma |
We passed through Chelsea, Oklahoma southwest on Old 66 (US 69). To the southwest of Chelsea is Bushyhead...
This part of the route is great, as the highway is nowhere to be seen. I teased Suyen that we were passing through one of her favorite places. She is a fan of the film "Where the Heart is."
The film was set in Sequoyah, Oklahoma, but was actually filmed in Texas.
We came to Claremore, Oklahoma
One of these eons, when we pass through, we are going to have to visit the Will Rogers Memorial...
You will find many places along the way that Route 66 is called the Will Rojers Highway....
Friday, October 19, 2012 17:21:03
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| Claremore, Oklahoma. |
Friday, October 19, 2012 17:35:08
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| Approaching Catoosa, Oklahoma from the northeast on Old US 66 |
Before you come into Catoosa, you pass some steel arch suspension bridge over the Verdigris River.
Friday, October 19, 2012 17:35:12
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| Suspension Bridge over Verdigris River near Catoosa, Oklahoma |
Friday, October 19, 2012 17:35:15
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| Suspension Bridge over Verdigris River near Catoosa, Oklahoma |
Friday, October 19, 2012 17:35:18
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| Suspension Bridge over Verdigris River near Catoosa, Oklahoma |
We arrived at the Blue Whale, our goal for the day.
Friday, October 19, 2012 17:37:25
- 2012/10/19 Friday 17:40
Blue Whale of Catoosa
According to the handy dandy Gpsies gps tracker in the phone, we have traveled 65 miles since we left Afton, Oklahoma.
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| Palmer Motel sign in Afton, Oklahoma |
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| Sign found at the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma |
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| Blue Whale of Catoosa |
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| Suyen, (not Jonah) and the whale |
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| Oh disappointment! |
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| Inside the whale's head |
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| The Fins are slides! |
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| Noah's Ark |
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| Found on the Property that has the Blue Whale |
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| Parking area for the Blue Whale |
*That's a lot of Glass
*Best KC Architecture needs your Vote
*Texicans Like KC
*Best KC Architecture needs your Vote
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| Roasterie DC-3 in the running for best KC Architecture Courtesy Brenna Hawley/KCBJ |
