Each day for over a week it appeared that the repair of my car was imminent. But, alas, each day also brought a new glitch. The car is still not ready and the time for this trip has run out; I will have to fly instead.
There aren't many images of US Route 70 out there, at least that I have found, so I am still intrigued by this project. If you happen upon any images or information about the Lee Highway or US 70 as Broadway of America, please share. Perhaps the way will open for this photo shoot to happen in the future.
According to Red River Historian, the landscape along US Highway 70 reflects the landscape in the Red River Valley. Upcoming images are likely to include thick forests in the east around the Arkansas/Oklahoma border and grand prairies in the west as it tracks through Texas into New Mexico. US 70 follows approximately the entry to the Trail of Tears for the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians. A 2000 year old Cypress Tree still standing in Broken Bow on US 70 in Oklahoma was known as a landmark to early Choctaws traveling the Trail of Tears. Several Indian Academies were located in the region.
Not on the road yet due to car issues. So this blog started out before I did. Hoping to hit the road on Thursday July 9th and make it to the Lee Highway/US Route 70 convergence in Hot Springs, AR on Friday. My hourly log will start then if all goes well.
Recently a friend told me he remembered driving US HWY 70 during his childhood on a family vacation. Tourist motels often offered postcards to guests as mementos. Here is an example. If you have memories related to traveling this route, please share any photos or observations.
When I started this project I was simply looking for an interesting way to get to Phoenix, AZ while avoiding the Interstates. US Route 70 seemed like a pretty direct, mostly rural route. Basic web research didn't reveal much about the route, except some brief mentions here and there of its once important role in the early days of the national highway system. This blog will explore what is known about the highway and also document what it looks like in the summer of 2015. This is a quick trip, so this blog will be brief also. The plan is to stop (at least) every hour and shoot whatever is there to see.
Stay tuned.
