Steve Vaught, the formerly 400-pound man who’s walking Route 66 and across the country to lose weight, says in his Oct. 17 journal (scroll down to see it) that he was interviewed via satellite by Oprah Winfrey. But Vaught said he was more nervous being questioned by a bunch of Elk City high-schoolers. No word on when the “Oprah” segment will air.

By the request of El Vado Motel’s owner, the rezoning request was deferred for 60 days. The next Planning Commission meeting is Dec. 15.

Media reports say the owner is going to try to work out a compromise in the meantime, including keeping part of the motel and building townhouses on other parts of the property.

So El Vado Motel is safe for the time being.

Emily Priddy, who is in Albuquerque, is going to try to provide more details later.

Congratulations, folks. Your letters and e-mails to the city definitely had an impact.

UPDATE: Emily called to say that she, another Route 66er and a reporter from the Albquerque Tribune had a private meeting with Mr. Gonzales, the new owner of El Vado. He told them he was amenable to preserving most of the motel. In fact, he implied he didn’t even know the historical significance of El Vado until after he bought it. It sounds like he was startled by the outcry over the prospect of it being torn down.

So things are looking pretty good on the preservation front.

From today’s Albuquerque Journal:

El Vado Motel owner Richard L. Gonzales says he will ask that his zoning request be postponed so there is time to explore the possible preservation of the motel.

Gonzales has planned to build townhomes at the site at Central and New York near the BioPark.

Mayor Martin Chávez said this week he will oppose a zoning change that would clear the way for the project. He offered to work with Gonzales to find a way to preserve the structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gonzales said Wednesday he’s open to discussing the possibilities, which could include saving part of El Vado while also building townhomes.

“This doesn’t change my intent to build townhomes there, but I’m willing to compromise with a portion of the property,” he said.

This is a big change from his earlier stance last week in which he basically said he would bulldoze El Vado, damn the torpedoes. So the pressure from the local politicians and Route 66ers must be inducing him to take a more conciliatory tone.

He’s near Clinton, Okla. Here’s his latest journal entry.

I hadn’t checked on Cow Bop’s Route 66 journey in a few days. I’m glad I remembered, though. The band met up with Harley and Annabelle Russell, aka the Mediocre Music Makers, at the Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, Okla.

Here’s an excerpt from Cow Bop’s journal:

Well let me first say that Harley & Annabelle (the Melody Makers) are anything but mediocre. They are exceptional in every way, talented musicians and performers (Harley is seriously swingin on the guitar, and I should know!), warm-hearted, funny, generous and human dynamos. They played for us and then we played for them, they brought some of their friends in too—they knew we were coming—and we had a blast. As far as I know, they are the only ‘people’ listed as a Route 66 roadside attraction, and believe me they deserve it. No trip down this road is complete without experiencing their brand of fun. I’m glad to know them, hear them and consider myself fortunate to have had another opportunity to hang in their museum of curios and musical instruments. And on top of it, they donated generously to our mission…Harley and Annabelle, you didn’t need to do that, but we thank you on behalf of the kids, truly.

Here are their journal entries from Gallup, N.M., and Flagstaff, Ariz.