Thursday, 27 April 2006 - Route 66

Although today was mostly a day of driving, I did drive the longest remaining stretch of Route 66. The piece that not only runs from OKC to Tulsa, but also saved me the toll! The day was beautiful, perfect for cruising the historic asphalt. Right outside of OKC, there is the Round Red Barn. Butch, the keeper, will show you his collection of pictures of all the other red barns he’s collected. He tells you that in the attic, they host weddings and parties and barn dances. “But ya’ can’t square dance up there!”

Butch

He is quick to point out though, that some of these other “round” barns, actually have sides. “This one here has 8, this one has 10, and this one has 13. So you see, they aren’t really round.” He also told me that if anyone talks about the death that occurred in the attic, “Don’t believe ‘em.” “Well, what’s the story,” I asked. “Some man ran himself to death. He was looking for a corner!”

My Lonely Planet guidebook suggested dining at the Rock Café. I had a big, juicy, hamburger and fries at the bar while I eavesdropped on some of the conversations of the locals. The nice waitress walked around asking, “Is evrythang alraht, hun?” The burger was real good, and the whole meal was only $3.15.

The sign posted on this charming old filling station informs visitors that the owners were tempted by greed and got into printing money. They had the press in a back room that noone knew about. The man got caught when trying to spend some of his homemade cash. The station was closed and never reopened. I do like how nice the current owners keep their flowers. It really spruces it up.

Wednesday, 26 April 2006 - OKC

The Oklahoma City Memorial was very moving, to say the least. The museum is set up by a timeline and starts with the average everyday, OKC morning. Businesses open, parents drop the kids off at daycare and school, and arrive for work. The front page of the newspaper for April 19th tells about some politician; nothing too exciting. Then the visitors enter a room and the doors shut behind us. There are some benches to sit on. A table and a few chairs sit against the facing wall. There is a microphone on the table. A recording begins to play involving a citizen applying for a water permit. The lady’s voice reports the date and time, who is present, the request of the citizen. It is all a very monotonous tone and gives the impression of a very monotonous procedure. Then we hear the explosion and the facing wall lights up with photographs of all of the victims that died in the bombing. The images slowly fade away while we sit there listening to the chaos and screaming in that room. The doors to the exhibit open and a TV displays the first news reporting which shows the destruction of the building and people running around.

Search and rescue teams were offered and accepted. The CSAR team arrived in OKC at 10:40pm. At 10:40pm, the last survivor was pulled out.

As the exhibit turns its focus to the search for those responsible, the sadness turns to anger. Placards describe the backgrounds of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols and how they were apprehended. Terry Nichols got a life sentence in prison. Court illustrations show McVeigh at his trial. He got the death penalty. I remember listening to the radio when he got the lethal injection and how eerie that was, imagining this controlled, legal murder. A live death.

Only 6 months later, 9-11-2001.

After touring the memorial, I headed up to Guthrie. This was the home of the original state capital, and now houses the largest Scottish rite of Masons in the world. I thought I would take the tour and hopefully get a glimpse into the secrecy of the Masons. No such luck. Although the huge Greek Temple of a lodge was interesting, nothing was said about the fraternity’s history or secrets. I guess it takes some more digging than walking in for the free tour.

The guide was, of course, one of the masons and would give his memorized speech in each room. Then he’d say, “Alright folks, just head out that door and I tell you about the _____ room.” It sounded like it might be included in one of their chants. I asked him if we could see the basement. He asked what my ties were to the Masons, to which I replied, “None, that I know of.” And he said, “There is no basement. Alright folks,…”

Back in OKC, an art festival was going on, so I stopped by there to have some dinner, listen to some live music and eat dinner. The festival was in the botanical gardens which also had a rain forest. I stopped in there and started talking to the ticket man, an old fella named Chris who used to be in the Army. He served in KO-rea. He asked where I was from, and when I told him Texas, he said, “I knew you weren’t a Yankee!”

I stayed at Tinker again that night. Many of you know that at a certain time of year, bases will turn off the heat completely, until the next winter. Tinker had just done this. For $29, I can’t really complain that the room was 55 degrees. But I can say that, 5 days later, still hacking a lung every 20min.

25 April 06

Yesterday was cold and windy. Today was colder and windier. And I forgot to bring my gloves.

I made it to Dodge City and passed the rebuilt version of the original. I don’t really know what to say about it, so I’ll just insert the picture and let you decide. I did not pay to take the tour. It was so cold that no one else did either. The place was pretty much a ghost town.

On the way out of Dodge I passed a beefery. I kind of wanted to take a picture, but I’ve already mentioned the gale force winds so decided against getting out of the warmth and safety of the car. But then, I passed a sign claiming a scenic overlook. You can guess what the view was of. Yep.

You can't really tell from this pic, but believe me, it was A LOT of cows.

It’s kind of disgusting really. I mean we never want to think about the sad pathetic lives of the sad pathetic animals we eat. But here you have it. A crop of cattle wading through their own crap, waiting out their lives to feed us. Now I’m not saying I’m converting to vegetarianism, but I may wait a few days to forget the image before eating a burger.

I guess it doesn’t affect everyone this way, because I passed a sign for another ranch that claimed “The next best thing to Cattle Ranching and making money, is Cattle Ranching and LOSING money.” My friends, such is the philosophy of the backroads.

Since I was behind schedule, the only thing I really wanted to see in Wichita was Frank Lloyd Wright’s Allen House. Aside from the Guggenheim, this is the first I’ve seen of his. The house is in an old residential neighborhood; one of those neighborhoods where all the houses are built in very different styles and all look about 100 years old. The trees are old enough to cover the road, which is still brick in this case. It’s just there, on the corner of 6th and something. No fences around it, no “keep off property” signs. If you did not know the significance of it, you may think someone lived there. Like the rest of the houses around it.

Tours are by appointment only, so I did not get to go in the house. However, no one was there so I did peer in the windows and climb the garden walls to look over into the Koi pond. What I realized about this place, is how small it looks in pictures and how big it actually is.

Downtown Wichita was nice. The architecture reflected many different styles here too. But I wanted to get to Oklahoma City, so I didn’t meander too long.

Day 1 - April 24, 2006

It only takes that one guy to ruin it for the rest of us! I wonder if they just wanted to make a point, or if the thought of white paint escaped them.

Day 1 of the trip and I didn’t leave until about 4pm. THEN, about 40 miles down the road, in Pueblo, the dreaded check engine light decides to light up. Joy. So I called Steve, the most mechanically enlightened person I know, and asked for help. He told me to go to AutoZone and they would be able to tell me exactly what error message was popping up. It was decided that it is “probably” nothing to worry about, so I am now ignoring the fact that I am a little worried.

I think I am naming the car Sheila (with an Australian accent) even though she drives on the Right/Correct side of the road. I didn’t really appreciate the attitude I got from her today, but I think she’s warming up to me.

I wish the maps warned of the towns with industrial plants in them. I decided to stay in Garden Springs, KS tonight, and as I drove into town, the place smelled like toe jam. The wonderful aroma even penetrated the car’s recycle air feature, which usually works when behind cars that blow stinky exhaust. I will have to make a note of picking up some Oust at the next Super Wal-Mart.

I’ve heard before, that now, every town which has a Super Wal-Mart, also has a huge vacated building that used to house the regular sized Wal-Mart. I saw one set today, and will not be surprised to see several more. If anything, the parking lots of the old Wal-Marts make good practice driving areas or skate-boarding lots. I wonder if, in the distant future, the old Wal-Mart buildings will become historical ghost towns for tourists. They could hire actors to dress up and push carts around, and have arguments over the last Tickle Me Elmo at Christmas time. Parents will drag their kids to see what the times were like at the turn of the century. Instead of bleachers for the show, the audience can sit in the little booths in the food court.















Here is a building I passed while still in Colorado. And this whole time, I thought livers came standard.

For Sale: 1997 Honda Accord, Excellent Condition $5800.00

After being outbid by a very mean man on a 94 Accord I was preparing to buy, I looked at a newer, cleaner 97 Accord which I bought. Ha ha! My car is cooler and he didn't see that ad because it was in the base paper!
She is in excellent cosmetic condition. I'm not too worried that there are any mechanical problems, but I will have her checked out to make sure. She needs new rear tires, window tint, and definitly a stereo. The Colorado Christian College stickers will most definitly have to come off. Hopefully I can get all this and the adminstration stuff done in 2 weeks.

Dun, dun, duuunnn - D-U-N

She was good to me and now she must be replaced. All I ever had to do was replace the battery and the tires. The insurance company gave me $10,300.00 for total loss. Very fair. I am happy with State Farm. Also, I must plug USAA, because they are always so great. Slightly higher rates are sometimes worth every penny. But here is my advice, get rental on your coverage. State Farm only gave 3 days rental after the total loss offer. USAA would have paid for a rental for 30 days had I had that on my policy. Well worth the $20 per 6mos price tag.
The trip is still scheduled as planned but if I see any problems with the "new" car it may be postponed.