Day Five

It is never a question of if my stomach will betray me, it is always, when will it happen? This morning was that day, causing us to get off to a later start than planned. Then too, the heat is so extreme, driving only a few hundred miles is enough to wear anyone out. Further, Baxter may be tiring of his cozy spot, so landing in our hotel room by 3 in the afternoon was just fine by him.

In an effort to stay more current, I set up the computer once again, this time on the floor with a newspaper as my mouse pad! This may be the only time I do this as my old knees are not nearly as happy being curled up on the floor as they were when I was a youngster.

But I digress. I told you that Oklahoma City is beautiful, and I'm not kidding. Despite the 100 degree temperature,  I took a stroll around a few of the downtown blocks, finding something to delight me at every turn.

Tons of public art, including a gorgeous red sculpture in front of the Bank of America building.

It is really hard to convey how cool this piece is....the tentacles continue inside the building which is a stairway to the underground.

There are all sorts of neighborhoods, including one called Bricktown, where we walked for dinner. Imagine our surprise to see this lovely scene.

Because we had Baxter with us, we sat outside at the Bourbon Street restaurant pictured on the right, however, there weren't a whole lot of folks beside us braving the heat which was still in the high 90's at 7PM. In the upper right corner, behind the trees, there is a mini-golf spot, as well as all manner of play equipment for children. We learned the boat tour runs about two miles to the Oklahoman River and back. Just lovely.

I would go back to Oklahoma City in a heartbeat, especially if we were lucky enough to stay at the Skirven again as there was so much to do within walking distance. The lobby was magnificent, as were the rooms.

Our destination today took us through much of the Oklahoma panhandle, eventually heading North into Dodge City. Only 260 miles away, but finding pet friendly hotels, has at times, informed our route. I'd been warned that it was boring, but I found it anything but. Should you be wondering, although Bruce is doing all of the driving so far,

I am not slacking, taking on the role of chief navigator, dog walker, as well as entertainment director. You would be amazed at how often you have to find a radio station! We have plugged in our phones for music but for something new we look to the radio. I read newspaper articles aloud, as well as all manner of trivia we are curious about as we see it. An atlas rests in my lap allowing me to give Bruce the directions as we come to stuff. Everyone relies on technology but I'm hear to tell you that the routes they often suggest you take are not eh most efficient. Plus an atlas has all sorts of info that I can get Bruce to guess, such as where does Oklahoma rank in size amongst all of the states. I bet you like that kind of thing as well.

One thing that has been so amazing is to think of super small towns producing super stars. We rode by Carrie Underwood's high school. Imagine, she is from a very small town in Oklahoma, which we learned from the sign at the city limit, however, when we drove by the high school, I went to Google to see if that is where she went, and indeed it was. Turns out she was super smart, and was the salutatorian, among other achievements.

So yesterday we drove through Woody Guthrie's birthplace, well today we stopped for a rest in the only shade available in Kingfisher, OK, the birthplace of Sam Walton. Isn't it hard to believe that a man who basically changed the world came from here?

That would be Will Rogers Blvd. btw. So Oklahoma was a super pleasant surprise as to the landscape and what we saw. A whole bunch of huge grain elevators.

Clay soil....

along with wind turbines gone mad. I mean seriously, we could not count them they were so numerous. Bruce stopped alongside the road to make a business call which is the vantage point from which I took the photo below. More wind turbines, as well as a flag for the high school (yellow one). Did you watch the series, Friday Night Lights? If so, you will understand why I took this photo.

Further, we've seen Sonic all over the place. Very few people traveled on the state roads today which was very nice for us. It is no wonder there are turbines everywhere because the wind blows like mad out on the Plains! I've been wearing my customary dresses and I have to constantly watch that they don't blow up in an indecent manner when I get out with Baxter.

From our trusty iPad, which is great when we get a connection, we confirmed that these are indeed Natural Gas derricks as we thought.

Driving through this part of Oklahoma you can't help but think of the misery of the Dust Bowl, caused apparently by farming practices, compounded by years of drought. From what we learned today, the farmers of the 30's removed all of the native grasses in order to feed their families. Little did they know how disastrous that would prove to be. So, I'm imagining these are those native grasses that keep the dust from flying around.

I mentioned it was crazy hot right? Most all of the cows we saw were huddled under the few trees available to keep out of the 104 degree heat!

Then again, once we arrived in Kansas, they were just out in the open!

The topography ranged from the native grasses, to plowed fields, to corn fields, and then again, I'm not sure. Here's my lame attempt to get the "Welcome to Kansas" sign...

Yeah, it's behind the window frame. Clouds, a few clouds appeared! None, however, when we stopped at May's Country Store for ice. Can you just feel the heat looking at this photo? Both Bruce and I cannot even believe that we once drove across the country in a car without air conditioning. Unreal! I do remember wetting towels and hanging them on the window frames as we drove through Palm Springs on that trip. Thank God we are past that part of our life!!

Inside there were locals having lunch and apparently keeping their trucks cool in the gas pump lanes.
Both Bruce and I cannot even believe that we once drove across the country in a car without air conditioning. Unreal! I do remember wetting towels and hanging them on the window frames as we drove through Palm Springs on that trip. Thank God we are past that part of our life!!

Here's the downtown in a tiny town in Kansas.

So there were some tiny hills that I'm thinking will be precursors of things to come the further West we travel.

In Kansas the onslaught of wind turbines continued; at one point we were literally surrounded by hundreds of them. Some folks might find the landscape boring, but not your favorite blogger who loved all the shades of green. Eye candy to me.

Plus, the clouds appeared as if they were suspended in the sky, which you may, or may not, feel from looking at the photograph. Trust me on this one.

Here we go...Dodge City...

We drove by the "re-creation" area, and onto a few streets..

continuing on to our hotel. I loved the hotel sign in this scene, but now that I've actually seen the photo, I'm dying over the small sign in the foreground.

Our hotel is outside of town, fortunately on the road we will take to Colorado Springs in the morning. That said, it is on this huge piece of land with the Boot Hill Casino sharing the property. A bus full of gamers arrived after us. Super weird really, however, they do allow Baxter so there's that.

Did I really type gamers? Get real Gail....gamblers. Because there is not much else out where we are we ate in the casino restaurant, and it was actually one of our best meals yet. How about that? Plus they let Baxter in. He surprised us once again by not making a peep while lying under the table while we ate.

I wish I could say that Colorado is cooler, but that is merely wishful thinking. I'll let you know if the wind blows as hard in Colorado once we've been there....

yours truly,

Gail

Seven States So Far! Many More to Go!

Are you ready for a crazy amount of photographs? Hope so!!

After a crazy day on Sunday packing, we took off around 6AM Monday morning. Neither of us slept that well so when we woke up around 5 it seemed like there was no point in not leaving ASAP. We began the trip on what I still call the East-West Expressway, the same road we left on when we drove to California some 40 years ago.

Driving due North we decided to skip the Florida panhandle,

instead we got off the interstate, after heading into Georgia, as Bruce's first goal was to get out of Florida.

We were driving along just fine and dandy when all of a sudden the sky got so crazy dark, sort of like it was 8:30 at night instead of about 11 in the morning.

After a huge downpour, we stopped for a little rest in Thomasville, GA, the site of a major Rose Festival every year.

In fact, as I recall we visited said Rose festival during Matt's time at FSU as Thomasville is just across the Florida border from Tallahassee. Onward we drove, stopping for lunch in a cute little town called Bainbridge. Baxter has been super great, I mean crazy good, never making a peep and dutifully peeing every time we get to a park such as this one in Bainbridge. I suspect, unlike Orlando, they will not be removing their Confederate statue any time soon.

You always have to wonder how folks in little towns like this earn a living, don't you? We had a delicious lunch, seated outside at the little cafe on the corner.

We continued our drive on a two lane road which fortunately had a gas station! Can you believe the rust on these silos behind the station?

Onward into Alabama...

at first I was a little bummed that the car windshield got in the way, but actually this photo says a bunch about Alabama...we saw fireworks places everywhere!!! Crepe Myrtles too. Dothan, Alabama was our stopping point. We stayed in a La Quinta Inn because they are pet friendly, however, for Bruce and I we are planning on finding places a tiny bit nicer for the remainder of the trip. Fortunately, Bruce was able to walk over to the nearby Red Lobster for our dinner which somehow seems really fitting as it was his work at Darden that has got us to this place in our lives. Plus, the food was super good.

Each night Bruce is bringing my computer and sewing machine into our room for safety sake. Today, because we got to the hotel I finally unwrapped my computer to write this blog post which is a good thing for any reader because if I waited any longer,  just think of how many photos that would be!!!

Early Tuesday morning we began our journey to Crane Hill, Alabama, where our long time friends Doug and Kathy live. How long? Doug was in every single one of my elementary school classes! Kathy and I met in jr. high school, and have remained friends for all of these years. Most people, or so I imagine, when they think of Alabama, their imaginings are probably somewhat negative but I'm hear to tell you that Alabama is really, really pretty.

Along this road we came across a "Country Mall" that sells merchandise like Levis and Birkenstock to name two. We stopped.

As should you if you ever find yourself driving North on SR 231. There was a food truck in the parking lot with signs advertising, "maybe the best hamburger in Alabama," which was hard to resist but as it was only 10:30 in the morning, we did.

Crane Hill is North of Birmingham, way off the Interstate so Kathy told us to meet at a little corner store and she would lead us to their place.

Up and down hilly and winding roads, we finally arrived and oh what a delightful surprise.

There was a super steep drive down which definitely gave us Floridians pause. Look at their view and pontoon boat!!!

Astonishing isn't it? Doug took us out in the boat, driving all around the lake which cooled us off some,

but what really cooled us off was swimming off the end of the dock! It was just perfect. We ate dinner on one of the decks overlooking this idyllic scene, catching up on old times while listening to the music of  what seemed like hundreds of cicadas. Plus, I saw the first fire flies of my life!! We slept well, with Bruce getting up very early to chat with Doug before he went to work. Here's my good pal.

Baxter also slept well on the little doggie bed Kathy provided. We are just so pleasantly surprised at how well he is doing. Looking cute in his new color coordinated diaper on Kathy's pretty porch with chairs made from old Jack Daniels whiskey barrels.

Although I never did get any shots of hummingbirds, here is a nest they watched this Spring.

You may recall, well probably not, but anyway, one of my most favorite documentaries I've ever watched is Muscle Shoals, the story of Rick Hall and Fame Studios. Because we could, we went to see it for ourselves.

If you love music, it should not be missed. Or, at least that is my opinion anyway! Watching it you learn that after making hundreds of hit songs together, the musicians left and began this studio which is very nearby.

When you see it for yourself it is so hard to imagine the likes of the Rolling Stones heading into this building to record hit songs! Just across the Tennessee River is Florence, Alabama where about 12 years ago Bruce built and Olive Garden with a very talented group of people, one of whom has now passed away. As an homage to Rex, we drove to see how it is faring and honestly, it looks as if it was built last week.

From here we left to make some time, heading into Mississippi.

All across that state which is not nearly as pretty as Alabama, and into the West corner of Tennessee through Memphis.

Before long we crossed the Mississippi River into Arkansas.

It turned out to be a really long day, made even longer because we still had Kathy and Doug's wonderful home in our minds. Finally, we crossed the Arkansas River into Little Rock.

Thank God for the internet where I found a darling bed and breakfast that took pets. The garden was just beautiful and the shade welcome as it was very hot.

We stayed in a little cottage behind that staircase and it was super cute. The only drawback was no thermostat where we could set the temperature more to our liking! Baxter was thrilled with all the place to roam.

Leaving Little Rock around 8AM this morning, we drove on Interstate 40 today, arriving in Oklahoma mid morning.

Neither of us have ever been in Oklahoma which bills itself as the center of the country. We were mostly pleasantly surprised. This stop for gas was an exception! $29.99 for a hotel room?

We stopped again soon thereafter for lunch in what turned out to be what you can imagine an Old West downtown looked like. Turns out it was the birthplace of Woody Guthrie.

Who is both immortalized in a mural,

as well as a yearly festival advertised on the movie theater marquee.

We had a wonderful lunch at the Hen House, sitting outside, thankfully under an umbrella, as it was most definitely not pet friendly. Who can blame them, right?

And now, here I sit in a gorgeous Hilton, in downtown Oklahoma City which is absolutely wonderful. Bonus points for a thermostat set at 68 in the 101 degree heat!! So much to stay about this lovely city which will be saved for another post.

In spite of the insane heat, it is time to find an outdoor cafe for dinner. I can hardly wait to share the beauty of this city but hunger beckons. Not to mention I need to find lodging for the next few nights before I can't!

Please forgive any errors, I'm typing this on a nightstand!

Next stop...Dodge City, Kansas.

yours truly,

Gail

The Road Ahead

A whole lot has changed since last we sold a home, so it was a surprise to us that we would sign the closing papers on one day, and the buyers would sign on the next day. As fate would have it, our realtor Lynn was on her yearly vacation, so her partner Ann stepped in for her. We met at a title company downtown...

and within about thirty minutes, we began the moving on process. We both thought it was so weird to not have the buyers there, in fact it didn't even feel real, but apparently that is how it is done in 2017. Although we gave Ann most of the keys, I still had one, and technically the house was still ours, so I made one last trip over to check on the pool, and bring up a garbage can. I cooked many a meal in this now spotless kitchen...

I took one last photo of the MINI in our driveway before saying goodbye to a third of our lives together.

If you are a long time reader you may recall picking out the paint color, and what I put myself through for that! The windows, the blue door, it all belongs to other folks now as of Friday afternoon at 4:30PM.

 Meanwhile back at the condo the birdies have been good...the owl was nowhere to be found this morning, but one of them has been around for several days prior.

The ducklings are growing up...

and just this morning a Snowy Egret showed up for a photo shoot.

Although I got rid of a whole bunch of stuff, this was not something I could part with. A tiny little journal of our first trip across the country, and interestingly enough, the timing is pretty darn close, at least the month is. The year was 1977.

Another page in this notebook details every time we filled up with gas. The total for 2,500 miles? $81.00! I suspect we'll spend nearly that much by our second day, don't you?

This post is written in great haste as the day has somehow slipped away...Bruce is anxiously awaiting my completion, so he may find a place for my computer. I really want my sewing machine with me, but I HAVE to take my computer ...how else will we stay in touch?

Wish us luck as we leave bright and early in the morning for a GRAND ADVENTURE...or so we hope!!

yours truly,

Gail

p.s. I will try and blog along the way but no promises!