100th meridian on Route 66

Oct. 2, Black Kettle National Grassland-Erick, 35 miles, S wind, 92/65—Erick is now on Interstate 40 but used to be on Route 66, a legendary highway from Chicago to Santa Monica. In Erick I come across the Sandhills Curiosity Shop—it would be impossible to miss—without any idea what it is. There I meet Annabelle and Harley. Our meeting is confusing because they're famous residents of Route 66 (here and here) and thousands come to see them on bus tours, including many Europeans, but I don't know what to make of them until they explain and show me their clippings.

They appear to have a store, but don't actually sell anything, just give away free drinks. I'd describe them as performance artists and musicians. When four French tourists show up, Harley and Annabelle give them bearhugs and free beer.

Erick also has a 100th meridian museum, open by appointment. Clyde and June show up right away and Clyde gets out his laser pointer to show me the exhibits. He's a retired Navy aviation mechanic and spent seven years overseas, collecting rocks in his free time, which he's worked into a museum display. He knows local history with a fierce attention to detail. Clyde covers so many subjects in such detail and so fast that June has to scold him afterward.