Day 9 - The Great Plains

There is a big difference in the landscape of the southwest and the Great Plains!  Instead of dusty, dry browns and reds, we are experiencing rolling green hills and vast expanses of plowed fields - really just gorgeous.  

Top to Bottom/ L-R:  Both top photos....(2) Lane bridge in Catoosa, Field in Claremore, Original Route 66 rolling through Calumet and another hay field - Calumet

Here's something you don't see every 10 miles or so in Southern CA (besides the bright yellow and black Waffle House signs), water towers.  Ridiculously tall and of all different design, these water towers hover over their beloved city below announcing to all that you have arrived.  I have really taken a liking to these large destination markers.  I tried to capture as many as I could as we drove by each little town as we pressed on eastward through Oklahoma today.  Some of the pictures turned out alright and some, not so much - I've put together a little collage of the ones that I like best.  I really dig these!

Another obsession of mine as we have traveled on this historic road are signs....more specifically, neon signs.  Neon isn't necessarily a thing of the past - right?!  I mean, we have tons of neon signage in southern California from the typical "Open" sign in a store front to say, the well known In-n-Out signs that point us all in the direction of a good cheeseburger.  There is something though, to be said about the signs that we have seen all along Old 66.  I gave you a few samples of my findings a few days ago while we were in eastern New Mexico...I seriously can't help myself as we pass by.  I am sure Shale at this point has had it with my newly found love but, he is a trooper and will pull over, turn around and back up whenever I cry out that there is a "must have" photo....thank you sweet man!  Here are just a couple that I found today.  Of course, these and ALL the photos I have been taking and posting are done with my handy-dandy iPhone.  Lisa, I am SO sorry.  I know you are rolling your eyes right now knowing that I have a really good Canon camera - with me! This trip for you, my dear friend is a photographers dream - I can only imagine the photos you would take if you were with us!  Damn you for not coming!!! I miss you!! 

The Ranger Motel - El Reno, OK

Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs - Oklahoma City, OK

The Rock Cafe - Stroud, OK

This last photo of my new obsession neon....The Rock Cafe.  This place was fantastic.  Thank you once again Guy Fieri for doing your obligatory taste testing here - I swear...this "Guy" has the BEST job - EVER!  I think I forgot to mention a few days ago in my post about Albuquerque; that he worked in Long Beach at Parker's Lighthouse at the same time that I was working in LB at Barwinkles while I was in college.  My friends and I did go over and hang at Parker's every so often but I am sure he doesn't remember me, that's ok.  I love food and I love that he does too because that fact has led me to a few really "good eats" on this trip!

Another cool fact abut the Rock Cafe is that the character, Sally (blue Porsche) in "Cars" was inspired by the owner of this establishment - Dawn Houser.  We didn't meet Dawn today, she wasn't in, but the gals that were there were so nice and the food - OMG - enough said!

Braum's is a company that supplies all of Oklahoma with milk, and ice cream and who knows what else!  There are Braum's signs all over Oklahoma.  In downtown Oklahoma City there is a little brick building sitting in the middle of a street island.  Atop this small building is a very large milk bottle with the Braum's logo on it.  Why not stop and take a picture?!

We spent a lot of time on the road driving today.  When we left last Saturday, we felt like we had all the time in the world to get to Chicago and then down to Louisville for the 4th of July weekend...boy has time flown by, and the time we had is quickly slipping away!  "Time flies when you are having fun", is a true statement!  We are to arrive in Louisville this coming Thursday evening to spend time with family over the weekend so making up some time today was a must given that by the time we stop tonight there will be more than 600 miles just to get to the end of Route 66 in Chicago, IL!!  

One of our last two stops before finding camp today was in Catoosa, OK.  In Catoosa, there is an old swimming hole.  Back in the early 1970's, hugh Davis built this blue whale for his wife for their 50th wedding anniversary because she collected whale figurines.  By the end of the 1980's the couple were unable to continue the upkeep on this popular swimming spot.  The park has now closed and is only open for people to come by and walk the grounds.  No swimming is allowed.  Bummer!

Big Blue Whale - Catoosa, OK

Our last stop of the day was about 10 miles east of Claremore.  Ed Galloway constructed a 90' totem pole here and it took him 11 years to do it (1937-1948).  This is the largest concrete totem pole in the world! There are also other concrete statues here at the park that Galloway designed and carved...all tributes to the American Indian which he had much interest in.  In addition, there is an eleven-sided "Fiddle-House" that he built that originally housed hundreds of his own handmade fiddles.  Almost all of the fiddles were stolen in the 1970's and never recovered.

We pulled into a last minute camp spot in Vinita, OK right on Grand Lake of the Cherokees around 8:30pm this evening.  Our spot was right on the lake and couldn't have been better.  We 

un-hooked and got set up and found ourselves talking with our neighbor who is a semi-pro arm wrestler of all things.  He was with his family boating/ camping on the lake and will be leaving in the morning to make his way to Las Vegas for some huge tournament.  Good luck Shane!!  You will be able to catch him competing on ESPN...if you are interested!  

There is an abundance of mosquitoes out tonight - I am certain it is because we are near the water - dang it!   The little buggers really love both Cassidy and I and I am already itchy - agh!  The joys of camping!!  I guess I'll go cover myself with anti-itch cream and get to bed.   Until tomorrow.....

Sun setting behind the trees of our RV park