roadside – Maduko World Headquarters

Mother Road Replay

Oklahoma might offer Route 66 travelers the most immersive experience.

Tourists traveling the Mother Road through the Sooner State need only remember three words: Last Free Exit. That’s because Oklahoma’s best Route 66 experience isn’t in a museum or roadside café. It’s on the road itself.

Signs along the interstate make it pretty obvious the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority wants everyone to take the toll road. But now might be a good time, as America celebrates the Route 66 centennial, to flaunt one of our state’s most overlooked historical assets: State Highway 66.

Random Conversations on the Road

“I want you to know– you just made that man’s day.”

I was just talking motorcycles with a local at a small town eatery.

We had struck up a conversation after our waitress had asked why I was in town. “Just riding my motorcycle all over Arkansas,” was my answer. Soon the highway numbers and forgettable town names were swirling like some alchemist’s formula. A family dining behind me had overheard the conversation when a particularly scenic highway was mentioned. “No, that’s 123,” the husband had chimed in.

Oklahoma Roads

Wondering where to go?
But don’t really need to go anywhere?

We got this. We’re all tired of being stuck in the house. Here are a few suggestions for short but scenic getaways in Northeastern Oklahoma. Most are quite short, but getting to and from each can also offer a scenic break from the pandemic.

View from the Gilcrease Gardens looking east.

Giant Clothes Hangers in Cushing

We were recently passing through Cushing, Oklahoma hunting down modern architecture. We were detoured from our mission when we spotted a pair of huge clothes hangers!

They were hanging out (ahem) in front of the Town & Country Dry Cleaners.

To witness this exotic site in person rush to the corner of North Cleveland Street and Oak in beautiful downtown Cushing. If you’re traveling along Highway 33, look for OK-18 and turn south. It’s only three blocks off the main highway.

And easy on the starch.

Our Nation’s Birthday on the Mother Road

Turned out I had a free morning this Fourth of July. Jackie had most of her morning planned with errands to run, visits to make, etc. I, on the other hand, had not a care in the world.

It had been a while since I rolled out the bike for a solo pleasure cruise. It was a beautiful Oklahoma morning and the weather forecast was favorable, so this seemed like the perfect time. After checking the tire pressure I rolled the BMW out of the garage and saddled up. I honestly had no idea where I was headed as I pulled out of the driveway.

Oklahoma might offer Route 66 travelers the most immersive experience.

“I want you to know– you just made that man’s day.”

Wondering where to go? But don’t really need to go anywhere?

Wondering where to go?
But don’t really need to go anywhere?