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Route
66 Bridge AKA "Rainbow Bridge" near Baxter Springs, Kansas
Photo by John Troesser, Feb. 2005 |
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Route
66 Sign in a Baxter Springs Gift Shop
Photo by John Troesser, Feb. 2005 |
While
the former Route 66 stretches comfortably across some states (Arizona,
Missouri, Oklahoma and New Mexico), three states get short shrift.
California (because of its narrowness), Texas (where it crosses at
the narrow Panhandle) and Kansas - where it enters and exits before
you realize you've been there. The "Mother Road" runs a mere 13 miles
across the SE corner of Kansas and Baxter Springs was the only Kansas
town along the route.
But every dog has it's day and although Kansas can't claim a long
run on 66, what it can claim is one of the more interesting relics
of the Route - the unusually attractive (and ridiculously small) bridge
shown here. We learned of the bridge from Wendy, a friendly and helpful
veterinarian's assistant in Baxter Springs who took us in even though
it was five minutes before closing time and the doctor was in another
town. Wendy eased our dog's discomfort and while doing so she mentioned
a local "white bridge" where local teenagers used to gather. The bridge
served as a sort of de facto bulletin board where news, messages,
threats, challenges and the constantly changing status of romantic
relationships were left (in the attention-grabbing medium of spray
paint). Needless to say the bridge was soon a daylight eyesore. Being
a little off the current beaten path, local police could do little
to curb the postings - that is until a new anti-grafitti paint (containing
Teflon) appeared. Now, when a would-be "artist" goes to leave his
mark, his statement slides slowly down into a colorful puddle. Who
said those billions of dollars spent on space exploration haven't
paid off? |
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The
Route 66 Bridge front view
Photo by John Troesser, Feb. 2005 |
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Side View of bridge
Photo by John Troesser, Feb. 2005 |
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The
Bridge's sign
(Click on image for sign text)
Photo by John Troesser, Feb. 2005 |
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