It was a close call on Route 66, one that made us shudder. We had escaped Texas and crossed into the Land of Enchantment at the spot where New Mexico’s vista opens up like a Georgia O’Keefe flower.

As we approached the world-famous classic car collection at Russell’s Travel Center, we learned that the historic truck stop had been sold.

Would the the pair of Frederic Remington bronze knockouts still greet us?

What would happen to the authentic Route 66 diner and one of the world’s most accessible classic car collections sprinkled with Marilyn Monroe photos and Elvis decanters?

We held our breath, and rolled up to find that the new owners agreed to keep almost everything in place. Whew! Route 66 is an American museum. Russell’s is the Mother Road’s automotive Mona Lisa. Made us smile all the way to Tucumcari.