From Flat Fields to Colorful Roads: A Texas Drive with History
April 2024
Farewell to The Hubbell Duplex
We stayed in the historic Hubbell Duplex on the western end of Amarillo’s famed Route 66. The duplex is included on the National Register of Historic Places and exemplifies the modest houses built during the city’s boom years. Local architect Guy Carlander designed the house in 1925 for Mr. and Mrs. Hubbell, owners of the Hubbell Diamond T Truck Company. The renters said the duplex remained almost the same since its construction; it indeed felt like we stepped back in time.
After four days, it was time to hit the road and continue our journey towards Austin, TX. With a long day ahead, we said our goodbyes to the charming Hubbell Duplex early in the morning: we were on our way by 8:30 am.
Wildflower Spectacle, a Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson
Undeniably flat, the drive through the Texas Panhandle offered a familiar view similar to the Dutch polders I know so well. The scenery changed when vibrant wildflowers started to show and bloomed along the roadside. Interestingly, with a program championed by Lady Bird Johnson, Texas was the first state to begin planting wildflowers along highways. About a century later, a long drive through this immense state is much more enjoyable with all these bright colors along the road.
Date
Friday, April 5, 2024
Distance
489 miles
Moving Time
About 8.5 hours
WEATHER
Dry, sunny, with strong winds