Cadillac Ranch

January 10, 2017.

The famous Cadillac Ranch is the original automobile art installation along Route 66.  It's a pretty funky sight, situated in a muddy corn field just outside of Amarillo.  A row of old Cadillacs planted nose-dive style in a corn field.  It's a Route 66 ritual to stop by these monuments.  

        

We weren't the first visitors of the day and a continuous stream of the curious passers-by shared the same urge we did, get up close and check it out.  

Bits and pieces of the cars have been stripped off the vehicles (all the tail fins are long gone) and they're completely covered 

with thick layers of spray painted graffiti.

Getting close to the Caddies may sound like it's no big deal, but the MUD was the stickiest, muckiest, slurpiest goop we've ever experienced.  I swear we were all 2" taller by the time we got to the cars!  
                                

One professional photographer schlepped his camera gear through the slop and tried to kick off a huge glob of dirt, only to watch in dismay as he'd flung his footwear far afield.  Literally.  That was the best shot of the day:  "Get your kicks on Route 66".  I seriously wanted to tell him I missed the shot and ask him if he'd mind doing that again?  Once back at the car, everybody laughed hysterically as they scraped their boots on the fenceposts, then scuffled along in the dirt and small dregs of snow to remove the sticky muck.  It was like some crazy choreographed dance and nobody could help but gasp and giggle.  A very fun way to start the morning.

                        

These two guys got their kicks!

Naturally, there's a nearby gift shop 

with a giant cowboy dude out front 

and three beauful old Cadillacs behind him.  

Hopping back on the highway there's this:

There are lots more laughs on the path ahead.