Day FIVE, and the end of the FIRST WEEK.

That's right! We're in TEXAS, Y'ALL!!

Texas is our FIFTH state, and we reached it on the FIFTH day of the challenge. How cool is that? Very cool, actually.

Friday the 9th was a raw, rainy day here in Vermont, and that put a damper on the number of steps that most people walked. No worries, though, as we're cruising along Route 66. 

When we hit Texas, the first town we come to is the town of Shamrock. Some interesting early history AND some pop-culture history there as well. Let's check it out...

Shamrock, TX was first settled in 1890 when a couple running the local mail from his dugout

sample dugout on the prairie

were given the opportunity to name the town. They named it Shamrock because is mother had told him to always count on a Shamrock to bring him luck. Shortly after they made the decision,  to name the town, his dugout was destroyed in a mysterious fire and he was never able to open the post office.

At its peak, in 1930, Shamrock had a population of 3,778. Despite some rebounds, the city population continues to fluctuate. According to the 2000 census, the city population has dropped to its lowest recorded point with 2,029 residents.

For the pop-culture reference, I'll start by saying, "KA-CHOW!" That's right, Disney/Pixar's film Cars got some inspiration from Shamrock. I'll let Wikipedia tell the story...
"In 1936, the U-Drop Inn was built at the corner of the U.S. Route 83 and the now historic Route 66. At the time of opening, the U-Drop was the only café within 100 miles of Shamrock, enjoying brisk business and becoming a successful establishment. Once considered a beautiful and impressive example of Route 66 architecture in Texas, the U-Drop Inn fell into disrepair with the decommissioning of Route 66. Referred to as "one of the most impressive examples" of Route 66 architecture by the Texas Historical Commission, the U-Drop Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In May 1999, the First National Bank of Shamrock purchased the then closed U-Drop Inn and gave it to the city of Shamrock. With a $1.7 million federal grant, the city was able to hire a firm specializing in historical renovation to restore the building to its original glory and adapt it into a museum, visitors' center, gift shop, and the city's chamber of commerce. The revived U-Drop Inn was featured in the 2006 animated film Cars as the inspiration for the fictional Ramone's body shop."

See?

Conoco's U-Drop Inn

Ramone's Body Art Shop

Look how far we've come!!!