Distance covered by motorcycle: ~549 km
Route: Amarillo, TX → Adrian → Glenrio → Santa Rosa → Albuquerque, NM

🌄 From Art Cars to Route 66’s Midpoint

We left Amarillo early and made our first stop at the iconic Cadillac Ranch — a series of half-buried Cadillacs sticking nose-down into the Texas dirt. Graffiti-covered and colorful, it’s one of Route 66’s most iconic photo ops. With spray paint still clinging to our hands, we rode 63 km west to Adrian, TX, the official Midpoint Café — the halfway mark between Chicago and Santa Monica on the Mother Road.

🏜️ Ghost Towns and Gift Shops

As we crossed into New Mexico, the road thinned out, the towns got smaller, and the heat kicked up. We passed through Glenrio, a now-ghost town straddling the TX/NM border, with crumbling Route 66 buildings offering a visual reminder of what happens when the highway moves on.

Quick stops at Russell’s Truck & Travel Center and Glenrio Smoke Stop were perfect for hydration, souvenirs, and vintage car gawking.

💦 The Blue Hole of Santa Rosa

By midday, we reached the unexpected highlight of the day — The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, NM. This natural, crystal-clear swimming hole is a deep spring-fed oasis in the desert. Perfect for a dip (even if just mentally refreshing for the riders who didn’t jump in), it was a great place to cool off and recharge.

☕ Coffee, Burgers & the Long Haul to Albuquerque

After a short stop at Family Dollar and McDonald’s in Santa Rosa for essentials and quick bites, we hit the road again for a long stretch west. A much-needed caffeine fix at Starbucks in Edgewood and a brief stop at Dairy Queen Grill & Chill kept us fuelled for the final leg.

🏍️ Harleys, Brews, and Mountains

Once in Albuquerque, we visited Thunderbird Harley-Davidson — the perfect stop for any motorcycle lover on Route 66. Not far away, we parked the bikes and cooled off with a few local pints at Boxing Bear Brewing Co., sharing stories and laughs from the ride.

🚡 Up to the Mountains, Down to the Steakhouse

Before calling it a day, some of the crew took a side trip to the Sandia Peak Tramway — North America’s longest aerial tram ride — which offers stunning views over Albuquerque and the Sandia Mountains.

Dinner was classic Americana at Black Angus Steakhouse followed by a final ride to the hotel. Day 7 was officially in the books — and what a day it was.

🗺️ Highlights of the Day:

• Total motorcycle distance: ~549 km
• Time riding: 6 hrs 11 mins
• Notable stops:
  • Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, TX)
  • Midpoint Café (Adrian, TX)
  • Blue Hole (Santa Rosa, NM)
  • Thunderbird Harley-Davidson (Albuquerque, NM)
  • Sandia Peak Tramway
  • Boxing Bear Brewing Co.

✍️ Quote of the Day:

“Halfway to California, and the road just keeps getting better.”