sandcastle – Page 4 – The Sandcastle

Day 18 Route 66

I tried a new morning schedule. Usually, I do my morning computer stuff before taking my shower. But, when it’s cold outside, I get chilled while doing my computer stuff then I don’t want to take my shower. This morning I went right to the shower while I was still warm from bed. That worked better. So, I’ll try to remember to do it that way again.

Sunshine! We’ve had enough rain lately to make morning sunshine something to notice once again. Wonderful how that works, isn’t it?

This morning’s first stop was the Gilcrease Museum, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is a big place with lots of fascinating exhibits. We spent a lot of time at the Ansel Adams exhibit and a little time at the 101 Ranch exhibit. I need to get up my courage to bring in my segway if I’m going to spend much time in museums. We keep leaving before we are done because my knee gets so sore walking on those hard surfaces. They offered me a wheel chair but we are both less than enthusiastic about having Dave push me around and I don’t think I’d get very far trying to wheel myself. I wish we could come back time and again to see the rest of this museum, though.

The we drove by Cain’s Ballroom. Cool sign. This place still hosts bands playing for dances but I probably wouldn’t enjoy the bands that play there today. I am now officially an old fogy.

Then we went looking for the Center of the Universe. This is a place on a pedestrian walkway that has odd acoustics. We found the walkway but no place to park amidst the road construction so we cannot personally attest to the oddness.

Next we found the Golden Driller standing outside the fairgrounds. He’s 76 feet tall. He even makes the stop lights look short.

Then we went looking for the Blue Dome. This former gas station was open 24/7 decades before that became common. The attendant lived above the station and would fill your tank, check your oil, wash your windshield, and put air in your tires at any time of the day or night. Of course, he might wonder why you needed to do that in the middle of the night. This was the first gas station to offer pressurized air and a car wash and was being restored to be the centerpiece of a 2004 Route 66 gathering. But, it is gone. I wonder what happened?

I like my Segway and the fact that it has a seat but I sure wish the seat had more padding. I’ve discovered the seat looks like one from a unicycle so regular bike seat covers don’t work. I thought Tulsa might be a big enough place to be able to do something about that so I Googled “unicycle Tulsa” and got three hits. The clerk at the first shop was a jerk; he did not want to even try to be helpful. So I was delighted to find the opposite case at T-Town Bicycles. The clerks there got a kick out of seeing my segway, they loaned us a wrench so we could tighten things that were coming loose, and they gave me a URL for a seat one of their customers has and likes that they said would take a week to order if we wanted to wait for it. As much as I would like to go back to the Gilcrease, a week in Tulsa is not high on our list of choices right now. But, thanks, guys! I plan to go to unicycle.com and order a Kris Holm air saddle.

We also stopped at a mall housing an Apple Store and a Radio Shack so Dave could exchange a bad part and buy a new cable. The bad part exchange went extremely smoothly; Dave walked into the Apple Store carrying the part and the clerk automatically brought him a new one. The cable is to hook up his piano to our stereo so we can hear the piano. Right now, only the person wearing the headphones can hear it. That’s OK for Dave’s practicing but we are about to visit a friend we haven’t met yet and she plays piano. We might want to hear her.

You can’t drive very far in Tulsa without seeing signs for Up With Trees. Apparently this is an organization which persuades people to donate money to plant trees in memory of loved ones. They are all over town. What a great project!

Heading on down the road we came to Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and went to our most frequent stop: WalMart. Having stocked up again we drove back to an RV park we passed on our way into town. So we are now parked at the Route 66 RV Park where Dave did four loads of laundry in their two machines. We were lucky to get them done since a couple other people came along while ours were in process. The woman said she didn’t mind waiting until tomorrow and the guy was just arriving as ours was finishing so that worked out OK.

While Dave was doing the laundry I did a bunch more research on upcoming sites. I discovered it’s important to list days and times of openings on my database. For instance the museum I was planning on us going to Friday morning is only open Monday through Thursday. And in the next town the first museum is open Saturday but the second one is not so we need to reverse the order in which we plan to go to them. Maybe now we’ll stop going to museums that just closed.

TTYL,

Linda

Day 17 Route 66

We had an odd night. Our electricity kept turning off then on. I first discovered this when I got up in the middle of the night and the night light in the bathroom wasn’t lit. At first, I figured the bulb burned out. Then I realized the clock on the microwave wasn’t lit, either. So, I checked the frig and it was running on propane instead of electricity. So, we shut down the computers. They were running on their batteries but why run the batteries down while we are sleeping? For that matter why do we use any electricity on them when we are sleeping?

In the morning Dave checked the EMS. That’s the electrical management system gadget that protects our RV from voltage that is too high or too low. It had been too high during the night so, to protect us, the EMS would turn off the incoming electricity until it dropped enough to not ruin our electronic systems. When the voltage dropped back into the safe range the EMS reconnected us. Several times. I’ll bet you never knew you could have too much electricity, did you?

Then this morning we found proof of how rough the roads have been lately. Our microwave oven had moved. It was no longer sitting flush in it’s cupboard. Dave had to remove the faceplate surrounding it to discover that a screw had come loose so the bracing bracket was no longer bracing it in place. He screwed it all back together, though, so we should be fine–at least until it shakes loose again.

Today was Dave’s turn to get us lost. He entered incorrect data into his iPhone so the map sent us wandering. We did eventually find the Will Rogers’ farm east of Oologah, Oklahoma.

It was nice enough but it made me think of the saying fulltimers use to help them clear out stuff: If it only has meaning because of who it used to belong to, who in the future is going to care?

I much more enjoyed the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, because it talked about his life as an adult with all it’s entertainment value. I only took one picture there, though, since I was too busy being entertained to remember to take pictures.

For lunch we stopped at KFC. I ordered their new original chicken strips which I greatly enjoyed. I’ve often wondered why they didn’t offer them. They provide the best taste with the least mess.

Next we headed to Catoosa, Oklahoma, to see the famous Blue Whale and the Arrowwood Trading Post. They are the first things in town after you clear the trees so we almost missed them. By the time we saw where they were it was too late to pull over and the weather was too iffy to make it seem reasonable to turn around and go back. So, if you want to see them, you’ll need to Google them for yourselves.

We passed a billboard I thought said something worth remembering but I forgot half of it before I could get it written down so I can’t give you the exact wording but it said something like, “Save your money and someday it will do the same for you.”

So, now we are in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where we drove down old Route 66 and admired a bunch of old buildings and signs that we did not stop to photograph. You’ve seen nearly as many motels and drive-in restaurants as we have by now so we need to save something for you to see when you make this trip.

We pulled into the Cherry Hill Mobile Home and RV Community after their office closed for the day. A quick phone call revealed that they parked 15 RVs here today–the circus is in town. But, they managed to find one more spot so we are safely tucked in among the mobile homes with our furnace running.

It is cold enough outside today that our furnace started running when we drove away from KFC. We turned it off again until we got here but I am very glad we have enough proprane on board to not have to wonder if it will shut off in the middle of the night.

TTYL,

Linda

Day 16 Route 66

We are finding Dave’s iPhone has lots of uses Our newest is using Google maps. We can search for local addresses and the built-in GPS finds us and show us where we are in relationship to where we want to go. That saves a lot of printer paper trying to print maps with enough detail to be useful.

No one came around to collect the fee for camping at the city park in Baxter Springs, Kansas, and there was no place on site to pay. A sign said we needed permission from the Chief of Police if we wanted to stay long term. So, when we left camp today we went to the police department. No one there wanted our money. A woman there said someone was supposed to come around but since they didn’t–then she shrugged. So, we camped for free last night but we are on now record that we tried to pay.

Then we walked down to the corner to have lunch at the Cafe on the Route. I had a turkey with Harvarti cheese and Portobello mushroom on pretzel bread served with Parmesan potatoes. Dave had a hamburger and skinny fries. I’ve been surprised at the food offered in these little small town cafes. This one has even been shown on the Food Network. We stopped there, though, because it’s one of the Route 66 landmarks. The great food was a bonus.

Next up: Miami, Oklahoma. Miami here is pronounced my-am-uh. The Coleman theater has been a performance venue for many, many years and is still doing business as such.

South of town we drove a stretch of old Route 66 that is known as the “sidewalk road”. It is only nine feet wide so, if you meet another vehicle the guide book told us, both of you have to drive with one wheel on the shoulder. Watching a pickup truck after it passed us we learned the locals always drive with one wheel on the shoulder. Most of this road is in very bad shape so we were really glad when it ended.

Rain. And more rain. We are in an area where we have noted several campgrounds we could stay at but it seems awfully early to stop. We could do laundry if we stop but it’s raining. So we went on.

The next planned stop was the Eastern Trails Museum, in Vinita, Oklahoma, but once again we got there just after they closed. Maybe we should start traveling earlier in the day? Naw. I like my leisurely mornings too much to give them up.

Finally we drove out of the rain but the skies still look iffy so I’m making no promises about the weather.

We stopped in Chelsea, Oklahoma, to get gas. Diesel here is $3.599 and we are glad to get it so “cheaply”.

Next stop: Totem Pole Park four miles east of Foyil, Oklahoma. The book says this is “the results of that rare flash of artistic genius some roadside entrepreneurs find in themselves.” I think it’s a lot of kitsch but so much of Route 66 is and was so this fit right in.

For camping tonight we pulled into our first Corps of Engineers park. It’s not the one we thought we were pulling into but it’s nice. It’s similar to the Missouri State Parks we liked so well except my Access America card means we pay only $7 a night here for an electrical hookup. I appreciate that. I don’t think the owl who is announcing his presences cares.

TTYL,

Linda

Day 15 Route 66

It was not a good night at WalMart. A truck came to pick up the semi-trailer parked next to us during the wee hours of the morning. Next time maybe we’ll remember to park by only RVs not trucks.

Since we didn’t have hookups I decided to try another water saving device. Dave had discovered he could dip the soap into water rather than wetting his whole body before washing it so I decided to try my version of that. When taking my morning shower I just dipped my washcloth in water in the pitcher left over from his shower the night before. Brrrr. That was a cold wash. But, at least I didn’t have to turn on the water until I was ready to rinse. I am determined to find ways to use less water so when we get to places we want to boondock for a long time we’ll be able to do so.

We also used pocket inverters to run our computers off the 12 volt system until Dave started to worry about draining the batteries. Then we powered up the generator to recharge everything. WalMart parking lots are good places to run generators since no one minds the noise there. As a bonus, we ran it long enough to cook breakfast. It’s important to run the generator under load at least an hour a month to keep it functioning properly. We have trouble remembering to do that since we hook up to shore power electricity most of the time.

For our first tourist stop in Carthage, Missouri, we visited their Civil War Museum. It’s hard to remember that the war came this far west but it did. In fact the first full scale land battle took place here on July 5, 1861 preceding First Bull Run by 16 days. The displays are interesting but the descriptions they wrote are hard to read so I didn’t get to learn everything I wanted to before my eyes gave up on me.

Then we drove by some of Carthage’s places of the past. Check out that glass block ticket booth at the drive in. They are still showing movies there in the summer.

From Carthage we headed west into Kansas. We stopped in Galena, Kansas, at the former KanOtex station for lunch. This place is being rehabbed by a group calling themselves Four Women on the Route. They have great plans for what they want to do here. I think they are doing fine already; don’t you? Check out the vehicles that were the inspiration for some of the ones in the movie Cars.

In Riverton we stopped to take pictures of The Eisler Brothers’ Old Riverton Store.

Since we didn’t need to buy anything we didn’t go in. We probably should have, though, since the owner of the KanOtex station grill made it clear she watches everyone who stops to take a picture to see if she’s going to get any business from them. I like to support the people who are trying to keep Route 66 alive but we don’t have room to store something from every shop along the way so we mostly buy food we can consume rather than store. But, we filled our larder at WalMart last night then ate lunch out so we have no place even for food right now.

Then we drove across the rainbow bridge. This place is known locally as graffiti bridge since this is where the youth come to record their conquests. Apparently, we got here just after the town gave them a clean slate to start on again.

Finally, we drove into Baxter Springs, Kansas, where we decided to stop early for a change. We are parked at a city campground here that charges $10 for electric and water hookups. That provided us lots of time and energy for me to do some more research and Dave to play his piano. We are content.

TTYL,

Linda

Day 14 Route 66

Day 14? We’ve really only been doing this two weeks?! Huh.

I spent the entire morning writing blogs trying to catch up with my backlog of notes It’s more challenging to write them when they are not fresh in your mind but I think I did OK. We left camp about 1 p.m. and headed into Springfield, Missouri.

The rig had a new squeak. Dave though it might be the springs that hold the new carpet on the retractable steps. When we stopped along the way I discovered we’d left one of the slider windows open. I closed it. No more squeak We’re glad we don’t have to figure out an alternate way of holding the carpet on the steps.

The Rest Haven Court has been in existance in 1947 which means it was built the same year we were born. Now it is advertising free Internet. Glad to see it has also kept up with the times. I thought I had a picture of that sign but, if so, I don’t know where I stored it.

We had planned to go to WalMart next but since we got such a late start we decided to skip it and go on to Steak N Shake for lunch. This place still has the original 1962 architecture. You can still get curb service and the guys still wear paper hats. They had some funny signs inside. One said, “It’s important to study the classics.” Another one defined a milkshake as “milk a-la-mode.”

Next we drove by the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque. I wonder what today’s Shriners think about being so clearly identified with Islam?

We drove by the Gillioz Theater but there was no place to safely stop to take a picture of it. Then we drove by the Old Calaboose which was built in 1892 but we couldn’t find a place to park since we are too tall a rig to fit into the parking garage next door to it so we only got a picture of the back of it.

The Melinda Motel is a place I would be wiling to stay if we didn’t have our own house with us. I like the individual cabins so you don’t get a lot of neighbor noise.

The only thing worth photographing at Danny’s Service Station is the old sign. Every thing else original is long gone and what’s there now is nothing special. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to stop close enough to get just the sign.

The Yeakley Chapel is out in the country. It has been standing since 1887 and is still an active Methodist Church today. Note the two front doors from a time when men and women were expected to enter and sit separately.

Traveling on down the road we came to this gas station and took a break here to use the restroom. We had to use our own since the building is closed. It must have been a real something once upon a time though. Notice the change in stone where they “fixed” the false front roof. Gas was 31.9 cents but Ethyl didn’t have a price listed.

The writer of the turn-by-turn book sometimes gets poetic. Today he suggested that we somehow revive the relics we are looking at by rebuilding them in our minds. I find that idea amusing in a likable sort of way.

When we entered Carthage, Missouri, we decided we’d better make that WalMart stop to resupply our RV. While there, we decided to try using our freezer so we bought a bunch of frozen dinners to microwave on those days we have electrical hookups. Then we decided it was late enough to just stay at WalMart overnight. So we moved over near other RV’s and semi-trailers and sort of set up camp.

TTYL,

Linda