Day 14: Let's Get the Heck Out of Dodge

We didn't have to go far out of our way, but we did actually make a slight detour to cut through Dodge City on our way home. Dan was indulging my desire to be able to say, "Let's get the heck out of Dodge." And then I was so tired the next morning that I didn't remember to say it until we were on the highway!!!

When we originally left CA, we were taking it nice and slow, but once we said our last good-bye to someone we knew, all we wanted to do was get home! We travelled from Dodge City, KS, to Gallup, NM, on Day 14. That's 9 1/2 hours of driving, not counting breaks. That's LONG. If any of you have the Cars soundtrack, then you've heard of Gallup, New Mexico, in the song "Route 66":

"Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri
Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty
You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino

Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66"

It was easy to see where the creators got their inspiration for the movie. We passed through several real "route 66" towns, and it was like stepping into the movie:


Tires and car repair:




Need some gas and refreshments?


Getting some souvenirs?

And there were even weird looking hotels all down the strip, just like Sally's Cozy Cone Motel:



We really had a very "Cars" themed drive because much of the terrain looked just like the movie does. Timothy actually thought we saw Radiator Springs. We already owned the movie, which of course the kids watched on the trip. But Dan surprised us by buying the soundtrack a few days before we left. We all enjoyed it, although Timothy always asks me to skip the "slow songs"!