DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS

Our foray into Texas was short and not quite uneventful.  At a stop just about at the Texas State Line, I noticed a slack, almost flat tire.  We found a place where we could put air in it and figured we could monitor it until we could find a tire place open the next day on Monday.  Two stops about 100 miles apart confirmed that the tire could wait as the pressure was holding.

The rolling hills gave way to the “high plains” with flat plateaus and scrub being gobbled by cows as far as the eye could see as we approached Amarillo.  Our ADM plant looks like a gnat, compared to the silos we saw near the feedlots.  They definitely do thing big in Texas!    After settling into a stark, but comfortable KOA, we took the truck to see the Cadillac Ranch.  Dave was a little disappointed that we had no fire ring and due to the wind, (another thing bigger in Texas… especially as you drive across the vast plain with a cross wind)we  would not be able to have a fire.  He was looking forward to grilling and sitting by a fire in the cool evening.  But on the way to the Cadillac Ranch we saw a sign for “The Big Texan, home of the 70 oz. steak… eat it in an hour and it’s free!”  It also boasted handcrafted local brews.  We were in!

But first we had to see the Cadillac Stonehenge at Cadillac Ranch.  The 10 Caddys are just perched beside the side of the road for anyone to walk up and take pictures, no fee, no minders, nothing!... But instead of being black as in the post cards and photos, they are a kaleidoscope of graffiti.  In fact one page we found on the internet suggested a stop at the Home Depot at the closest exit and bringing your own spray paint!  From the looks of things, and the folks we met with HD bags, they should thank that writer!!   I am pleased to report (thanks to some discarded half empty cans) that the Caddies now sport Deb ©David, at least for a day or 2 until it gets painted over… Actually I think the paint is the only thing holding the Caddies together!!

The Big Texas was an obvious tourist trap, but a lot of fun.  It sported a HUGE (Texan!) dining room circled by HUGE taxidermy all sporting fur and multiple antlers.  Wandering the dining room was a Texan trio of a bass, guitar and fiddle.  The singer, the youngest of the trio, was at least 70, but had eyes that twinkled and bugged out slightly when he sang his Texan twang (blue grass for us when he found out we were from the Carolinas! LOL… it differed only slightly!).  We weren’t hungry (or dumb)   enough to try the 72 oz’er but instead split a 16 oz filet.  It was delicious.  And while extremely hokey… the whole evening was fun! 

At least there was no weather drama that evening and I slept like a log.  Dave, however woke me early and said the tire was “down again”… so we set out hurriedly to find the tire place, the KOA hosts had told us about on the other side of town.  We dropped the RV and took the truck out for breakfast when the guy told us it would take about an hour and a half.  We were relieved when we got back to find that it was just a valve that had been improperly installed with the new tires.  $25 later we were on our way to Carlsbad Caverns and a meeting with the Kuklentz.

WHERE THE WINDS COME SWEEPING DOWN THE PLAIN……



Deb hair flies in the wind by the OKC water taxi

Oklahoma City

For the past few days, we kept hearing the locals talk about the “bad weather that’s comin’” … when we got to OKC we got to experience it.  It became obvious that a large front was going to pass over us.  We figured it would be best to be still, rather than moving through it.  We decided to carry on with our plans but to stay in touch with weather warnings through apps on our phones, the TV and radio.

After setting up camp at a nice KOA, we headed into the city and decided the Art museum would be our first stop.  OKC has the largest collection of Chihulys in the world.  The museum was built to hold a 3 story tower of his art and they have dedicated almost a whole floor to their permanent collection.  We truly enjoyed the exhibits and as we were leaving we heard rumbling thunder unlike any we had ever heard and it started raining.  A quick look at the radar on Dave’s handy/dandy accu-weather app told us we should stay put.  We enjoyed the museum for another hour and then got a short reprieve from the storm, long enough to find a brew pub!  After stretching the beer, appetizers and supper for over an hour, the rain had stopped and we walked around Bricktown (think SouthEnd with a canal running through it).  Most everyone was walking toward a coliseum, and we discovered that there was a Thunder basketball game that night.  The prospect of going back to the RV and waiting out the storms was not attractive, so we joined the throng, got $10 nose bleed tickets, and settled in to enjoy the game!  We felt like we were back in an old Hornets game, but maybe plopped into a foreign country.  We were so far up in the nose bleed section that the speakers were below us and the microphone sounded like it was stuffed in marshmallows and we could barely understand a word.  The mascot looked like Hugo but with a buffalo head and it was obvious the town was in that we-go-a-franchise- honeymoon phase and the enthusiasm was infectious.  The difference between the Thunder and the Bobcats:  they beat Sacramento by 25+ and they are on their way to the playoffs!!  We got back to the campsite about 10:30 and the weather was ominous.  I’ve never seen so much red on a weather map!  We heard about a tornado touching down in Norman, but figured that was about 20 miles east of us heading east.  The weather was not that bad where we were so we went to bed, leaving the TV on.  About 2:45 in the morning, Deb woke up Dave to the sound of a siren.  We knew there was a siren at Tinker AFB which was close by.  We walked up to the bathhouse, and as we got up there, the siren stopped.  Deb has been wanting to (in Abbie’s words) “meet peoples”, but meeting a likewise scared RV’er from  Niagara Falls at 3 am in the morning was not what she had in mind!  After about a half hour we went back to the camper and watched the weather for a few minutes.  It all appeared to be north and east of us, so we finally went back to sleep.

Deb under the Chihuly ceiling

Chihuly Boat

Art on the Water Taxi Canal  - Entitled Land Grab 38 sculptures!!

The next day dawned overcast with a prediction of increasing sunshine but high winds.  We went back into OKC and were able to enjoy the water taxi on the canal in Bricktown and got out our Segways to explore the city.  The Memorial at the site of the Oklahoma City bombing was humbling and awesome.  The field of empty chairs with small chairs for the children was heart rending.  As we were rolling around the city, the wind really picked up and at times we almost had to “tack” to go in the proper direction!  We were now parched, but found great relief at the Tap Werks back in Bricktown.  Think The Flying Saucer with over 100 taps and food like RiRa’s.  It was awesome!  From there we drove to a neighborhood called The Paseo which was an arts district with numerous galleries.  Similar to NoDa, we found the art more affordable.  Though tempted on a few pieces, we came away with just a plate from a working pottery shop.  Back at the campsite we settled into a movie from the camp library and beef stew made from Dave’s canning efforts back in Charlotte.  During the night we were once again awakened by a storm, complete with thunder, lightening, and pounding rain, but no sirens.  Again the line of tornados was significantly east and north of us and we remained safe, but sleepless in OKC. 

Dave at Tap Werks

   

Rolling in OKC - Kissing Buffalos!

Empty Chairs at the Memorial

Children from all over made tiles for the memorial

Daily, children are invited to add chalk messages

WHAT IS THIS????

To the uninitiated, it may look like a wooden spatula.  But it has become Deb’s best friend.  Dave and I continually comment on how much we like our rolling hotel suite!!  It is comfortable and has plenty of room for storage and the comforts of home.  However, it is not without frustrations, especially for Deb.  She just doesn’t always “fit” it well.  Believe it or not, it’s a little too big for her!  But the “wooden light switch” has become a most valuable tool for her.  Now she can finally reach to turn on and off the lights---if she can find her handy tool!  Fortunately, the RV is small enough, that it can usually be found.  Necessity is truly the mother of invention…. Now if she could just figure out how to attach the auto-breaking machine for the truck and a way to keep the apples from rolling around every time we pull out she would have it made!!

OOOOOOOKLAHOMA!

We got our first taste of the windy west in Oklahoma.  We’ve been “out” one full week now and we were greeted with cool winds which made us grab jackets.  Driving in on Wednesday from Arkansas, you could tell when you crossed the state line, the Ozarks disappeared and were replaced with rolling hills and constant pastures for horses and cows. 

The River Resort Campground (Good Sam) was a BIG disappointment.  Though it rated 8’s and 9’s in our book (out of 10), shabby and crowded were the words that come to mind.  If I chose to sit at our picnic table, I would virtually be in our neighbor’s bedroom… or could at least touch his slide out!!  Dave did one of those “I told you so’s”… meaning he should have checked it out on Google Earth and not just go by what I read in the in the book!!  But there are “slim pickin’s” in Bartlesville and it will have to do.  And it does have good internet and is convenient.

Bartlesville is one of my “finds” from TSI excursions.  I had enjoyed the town when I was here 2 years ago training on the Osage Nation and wanted David to see the Frank Lloyd Wright “skyscraper” in town.  We got in just in time to go down to the Tower for a drink and supper in the Copper Lounge.  The next morning we got up leisurely and went back to the Tower for the 11 am tour.  The building was built for the Price Company Headquarters.  Originally Wright designed it for NYC, but the depression had him shelve the design.  At 19 stories the building had 2 floors of retail, eight 2 story apartments, office space for rent and 3 floors for the Price Headquarters.  NYC apartments were not a hit in a little Bartlesville, so only the corporate apartment remains.  The rest were converted to office space, and have now been reconverted to a hotel.  On the tour we got to see the top 3 floors with the corporate apartment, Copper Lounge, and Mr. Price’s office.  The lowest 2 floors are gallery spaces.  Like all Wright buildings, it had water issues.  (He put huge planters in Mr. Price’s office with no drains!!) And the secretaries hated the chairs he designed.  When he found out, he suggested they hire new secretaries!!!   The copper clad outside is meant to mimic tree leaves and is exquisite.   In the foyer, Mr. Wright wanted a blank wall and Mr. Price wanted a mural.  They compromised on a gold leaf lettered quote from Walt Whitman… except Mr. Wright made it up from phrases from Whitman and words “he should have said.”  He was a genius and very arrogant!!

After lunch we went to the Phillips 66 museum.  I almost missed the panel that explained why they used 66.  They were trying out an enhanced gas on route 66 and realized they were going 66 mph and when they were brainstorming branding ideas it just clicked.  The number of patents that they hold was amazing and I was impressed that Betty Crocker was the first woman to serve on their Board of Directors, and it was in their research labs that post-its were born.

Here are some pictures I didn't link to previous posts, but might be fun to share:

Parking meter in Memphis

Dave's toilet seats in Memphis!

Deb Sees Rock City

Listening to Blues in BB Kings

Architecture at Crystal Bridges

Barge on the Mississippi

THE ARKANSAS TRAVELERS

Deb on the bridge over the Arkansas River in Little Rock

We have now passed the 1000 mile mark!  At first we thought Arkansas would be a “stop and drop” and we would blow across the state quickly, but we researched a website entitled “Must Sees in Arkansas and decided to stop in Little Rock and Bentonville.  Both places provided great places to use our Segways!

In Little Rock they have a great linear park along the Arkansas River.  We parked at the Clinton Library and enjoyed rolling along the river.  We toured Heifer International.  Some of you have received Christmas gifts from us from the Heifer Society and their international headquarters is next to the Clinton Library.  Their philosophy is to end hunger by providing a cow instead of a cup of milk.  When animals are given, they always give a pregnant heifer and the recipient is required to give the first born female to a neighbor so that the gift keeps on going.  They are also involved in sustainable farming, education, fair trade practices and health education.  The visitor’s center was very well done and some of you may receive more cows or goats as gifts!  Little Rock was similar to Memphis in that it appeared to have a healthy bar scene, but the recession had left many empty store fronts…We guess the booze is the last go!

We did a “stop and drop” in Russleville at an RV Park that was fairly stark, but served its purpose and then we headed off to Bentonville to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  It was started by Sam Walton’s widow (of Walmart).  The buildings and trails were amazing.  First we had to park over a mile away, but the trails through the woods to get there were perfect for the Segways!  The museum is a series of buildings down in a ravine that are architecturally amazing, using lots of wood, glass and copper.  The museum is set up chronologically beginning with Colonial artists through contemporary art.  We could have spent more time there and really enjoyed each collection.  In the 20^th Century building they had several Norman Rockwells, including Rosie the Riveter.  She is modeled after Michelangelo’s Isaiah on the Sistine Chapel.  Who knew?  

Can you find the woman and man drinking wine here?

The countryside driving through the Ozark’s was really pretty.  We were reminded of West Virginia, an extremely poor state with amazing natural resources and beauty!

On to Oklahoma!  (though we dipped into Missouri for just a few miles!)

Deb and Dave with "yard art" at Crystal Bridges'

DAM! WE SAW ROCK CITY!: mountains, rock "climbing", driving, and Easter

FONTANA DAM AND THE NC MOUNTAINS

The mountains of North Carolina and Tennesee have been spectacular.  We were expecting rain and cold, and luckily got neither!  The “new greens” are almost as spectacular as the fall colors especially with the dog woods and rhododendron.  Fontanna Dam hadn’t changed in 35 years which I guess is a good thing (how can a dam change?).  But we still marveled at its height -480 ft- and the beauty of the lake – clear blue water!!   The narrow public road across the dam is very unique and reminds Dave of a movie set where the bad guys are trying to blow up the dam.

WE SAW ROCK CITY!

We realized that we would be near to Rock City when we drove by Chattanooga.  I never knew Rock City was on my “bucket list” but when I realized I could go there, it quickly moved to the top!!  All my life I’ve seen the barns and the bird houses saying “See Rock City”, and now I was!!  I expected it to be very commercial (it was a little, but not the upscale South of the Border Dave was expecting) but it was really very classy.  The founder had carved a garden trail through the rocks and you wandered through crevasses and onto plateaus with spectacular views of the city and beyond.  On our drive up there, we missed the parking lot at the bottom and ended up having to drive the RV up the mountain with some VERY steep grades.  Dave gets an A+ for getting us both up and down the mountain safely and with all our mirrors and pieces in tact!  We enjoyed the day there.

ON TO…DAVID CROCKETT & DEB DRIVES

We made our first “adjustment” in the itinerary.  Neither of us was excited about Nashville.  We had done the Opry Hotel and sites when Emily and Greg lived there, so we decided to cut across the southern part of Tennessee to get to Memphis.  A review of the possible campsites revealed David Crockett  State Park.  It became our destination.  Once we were out of the mountains, Highway 64 became a very flat, divided 4 lane highway and practically deserted.  Dave decided it was time for Deb to practice driving the Marvy RV (we’re testing out names, what do you think?.. suggest some others!)  After some initial weaving, Deb got the hang of it and even drove through a small town, but Dave still said that being a passenger was more nerve-wracking than driving!!

David Crockett Park was very nice, shaded and quiet.  We thought we were being smart and choosing a spot near the bath house when we discovered that only one of the bathhouses was unlocked and ours wasn’t it!!  But we were so pleased with the park that we decided to stay in another TN State Park in Memphis.  When Deb called to ask for availability, she made sure the bathhouses were unlocked!!

HAPPY EASTER

The little town near David Crockett, Lawrenceberg, had 7 churches none of which were Lutheran or Episcopal, so we decided to be Methodist for Easter.  The church was very welcoming with folks giving us a mug and  everyone sitting around us making a point to say hello.  The little chapel had a gorgeous free standing stained glass cross and the preacher had a nice sermon, though his delivery sounded like a “radio preacher”.  In the bulletin, they were asking for a donation for a computer with a floppy disk. (Dave whispered to me… I have one of those!!)  I guess they have a treasurer still using an “old program”… lol!!  After a hearty breakfast by the campfire, we are off the Memphis.

Dave has posted on his blog about maintenance and improvements to the RV… but he doesn’t think anyone is “reading” him…. Please let him know, he isn’t being left out!!

ANNNNNNND WE'RE OFF!!

10:30 Thursday morning (4/5/12) we pulled out of Clay’s… The last few weeks have been busy planning and getting things ready.  Dave’s handy dandy RV checklist kept us from leaving the MiFi at the last minute and I figure anything else we left, we can buy at the next WalMart!! LOL  (except we just figued out we didn't bring the remote to the bedroom TV/Computer... guess we'll have to change the channels and turn it off the old fashioned way... )

Last night we had a “Last Supper” (appropriate for Holy Week) with our friends and Clay and Tracy dropped by to see everyone and show off THE RING.  We really enjoyed sitting out on Sir Edmond Haley’s patio and visiting with our friends.  I’m glad we will see them in a month at Kate’s wedding.

Dave can list all of the things he did to the RV on his website, let’s just  say here that it spent about a week in various mechanics' bays and that Tom Johnson and various tire and transmission folks will greet us warmly with $$ signs in their eyes should we visit them again!

We are looking forward to Fontanna Dam in the short run and OK City and Phoenix later on.  And of course THE WEDDING with all of its surprises will be a highlight.  I think Dave got a little frustrated with me because I wouldn’t research places along the way, but I’m looking forward to the surprises the most.

We rode by the Nantahala river for several miles and enjoyed seeing the rafters and kayakers.  We decided that the Nantahala is where old school buses go to die!! (used to transport the rafters).  We got to our camp site about 4 and there are lots of campers with children as it is Spring Break everywhere.  Most of the folks we met are from nearby in Georgia. The technology is working great, and I've already "skyped" Dot and Abbie and Ella! As I write this by the Nantahala River with a glass of wine on the picnic table, Dave is inside the RV… about 2 drinks into his work email!! LOL  Life is rough on the road!!

Abbie, here are the ducks I tried to show you!

Those of you that follow our blog, please either comment or  email us occasionally to let us know you’re out there!! And if you have suggestions on places we should visit, please share them and we’ll post pictures when and if we visit them.  Clay has already added breweries and brew pubs to our google map!!