After visiting the caverns, we relaxed at the campsite river it probably was the best location site so far. No electricity, empty just us and nature. Very peaceful.
We reluctantly got up early to climb the mega hill straight out of the campsite and headed for our breakfast at a Denny’s in nearby Sullivan.
A short ride today. We want to keep the distance down all the time it’s hilly. At one point we were so close to the interstate with no crash barriers between us it was a bit unnerving, but most of the time we were following a empty road past more deserted buildings. Or run down looking attractions from years ago.
All along the route every town we go to all have water towers that are a welcome site, you can see them from a far it gives us a good idea of how much further we have to go. Even if we are not going to stay in the town.
So I got to wondering if they were still in use. Apparently they are In many towns, the local water works couldn’t function without them. It gets its water from a local reservoir/lake. The town has a pump house at the reservoir which takes in the water and pushes it through the system. It gets filtered for sediment, and treated to kill bacteria, resulting in a safe supply of drinking water for the town. But the pumps have a limited capacity, and as with most towns, they were chosen to accommodate the community’s average water demands. There are times when that demand exceeds the capacity of the pumps to push water through the system.
Almost every morning, any given small town experiences a period of “peak water demand” that exceeds the pumps’ ability to meet. People are taking showers, brushing their teeth, flushing their toilets…you know your morning routine. During those times, the water towers kick in and supplement the pumps’ ability to provide water, and they do so using the gravitational pressure of their stored water. At night, when demand shuts off, they refill themselves. Thus, the water inside them is constantly being recirculated. Thank you Wikipedia!
Our stop tonight is going to be a motel in Cuba.We can’t find a campsite near enough and the weather has changed it’s now rain storms.
Cuba is full of colourful murals giving it the nickname Route 66 mural city.
We are staying in the wagon Wheel motel built 1935 when the nation was barely out of the depression as a cafe and service station. After ww2 it was purchased by John Mathis who converted it into a motel. John designed the famous Wagon Wheel Neon Sign at his kitchen table changing the name to Wagon Wheel Motel. It is now the oldest continuously operated motel on Route 66. Billy Connolly and Henry Cole both have stayed here and featured it in their travel shows.
