Just outside of Albuquerque is 66 Pit Stop, which is just a gas station, but also shares its space with Laguna Burger. Not a "vintage" Route 66 stop, but Laguna Burger serves up a mean old school burger. In fact, they were awarded the Best Green Chili Cheese Burger in the 2016 New Mexico State Fair.
Exiting the parking lot there is a remnant of of the old route in the form of the Rio Puerco Bridge. Built in 1939, it was decommissioned in 1999.
Laguna Pueblo NM
Route 66 finally angles off Interstate 40 and allows us a chance to see the road as it originally was. Acting as a landmark, Owl Rock sits watch as one winds through the New Mexico high desert.
This was an excellent stretch of road to drive, and sometimes... you run into other Route 66 fanatics.
Grant NM
Grant gives us a couple more vintage signs...
As well as, a cool drive through opportunity built just for us tourists.
The Continental Divide is the highest point along Route 66 at 7263 ft above sea level. There are a couple souvenir stands and a vantage point to mark the location.
It's not easy following the route. It serves as a frontage road for long stretches of Interstate 40, it branches off and rolls through the countryside, and sometimes... It. Just. Ends.
Gallup NM
THE highlight of Gallup is definitely the El Rancho Hotel and 49er Bar. Built in 1937 specifically to house Hollywood stars.
The interior is still a campy western motif as most of the movies filmed in the area during its hey day were classic westerns.
The upstairs balcony walls are covered with autographed photos of some of the stars that have stayed at this iconic hotel.
The 49er Bar of The El Rancho Hotel, according to Esquire Magazine, is considered one of the best bars in the U.S. AND Errol Flynn rode a horse into it. This alone makes it A-OK for me to have a drink there.
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