On Tuesday morning we began the day with a stop at Tee Pee Curios, located near the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari.

Before leaving town, we followed directions given to us by Mike Callens to visit the cemetery where Lillian Redman is buried. We wanted to stop and pay our respects before continuing west along Route 66.

The Cuervo Cutoff Adventure

The highlight of the day came when we decided to attempt the Cuervo Cutoff, one of the more adventurous historic Route 66 alignments.

Using Jim and Jerry’s “Bones” map, we headed southwest along this fascinating stretch of old highway. Unfortunately, after about 2.5 miles we reached a section that proved completely impassable for our 1993 Caprice, forcing us to turn back and reconnect with the main Route 66 alignment.

Still, it was exciting to experience even a short portion of this historic roadway.

A Close Encounter in Newkirk

Back on Route 66, we passed through Newkirk, where we planned to stop and photograph an old gas station. Just as we were getting ready to park, however, three very determined dogs came charging toward the car.

Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, we took our photos from inside the car and quickly continued down the road, eventually outrunning the territorial trio.

Santa Rosa and Albuquerque

Our next stop was Santa Rosa, where we spotted Bob Waldmire’s famous VW bus parked outside a Denny’s — always a fun sight for Route 66 travelers.

By mid-afternoon we reached Albuquerque, where we enjoyed a great lunch at the 66 Diner, a classic retro-style Route 66 restaurant that perfectly captures the spirit of the Mother Road.

Across Western New Mexico

After lunch we continued west through some beautiful stretches of Route 66 across New Mexico, enjoying the wide-open landscapes and classic roadside scenery.

By evening we finally arrived in Gallup, pulling into town around 8:30 PM.

Another unforgettable day on Route 66.

All Route 66 Honeymoon Photos