Seeing Red (Feathers)

Saturday, May 14, 2011

The day began cool and clear. We didn’t need an early start because we were camped not too far from our next stop, the Washita National Battlefield.  We ate before leaving camp, and while Barney was repositioning his cave house, Wilma got to see a few cardinals for the first time in about 10 years. What a great start for the day.

When we arrived at the VC, we first talked to the ranger a little, and watched the orientation movie.  It was a nicely done movie, but sort of depressing seeing the re-enactment of the massacre of many Indians, including women and children.  We did learn more history that tied back into our second day of the trip, at the Golden Spike. After stamping our passport books, we took off across Oklahoma. 

Oklahoma doesn’t seem to think anyone driving through needs to use “the facilities.” Most of their roadside stops are picnic areas and say “no facilities.”  We did eventually see a “rest area” sign, but underneath was another sign “no facilities.” So don’t drink much along the way if you drive I40 through Oklahoma!   Fortunately we can stop and use our own!

This was more of a travel day, with our only other stop in Oklahoma City at the National Memorial there. This was not a passport stamp stop, we just wanted to see it since we were so close.

Oaklahoma City Murrah Building Memorial

Thoughts from the rescue workers

We wandered a little ways into the city and found ourselves trapped behind some traffic cones, so Betty hopped out, moved the cones and directed us through!  I think people watching got a good laugh out of that.  We then pulled over and filled Garmin in on where we wanted to go, and this time Garmin got it right.  We walked around the memorial grounds (very nicely done) and took a few pictures, then asked Garmin to get us back to the freeway. She tried to take us through an underpass with 11 feet 11 inch clearance, and since we “think” we are 11 feet 10 inches, we didn’t want to take a chance.  Looking around we could see a sign pointing us the right direction, so away we went.

Betty tried to get us to stop at a Taco Bell, but Wilma wasn’t paying any attention and we sailed right on by. And we never did see another one!

We later stopped to fuel up, and then went on to a KOA in Sallisaw for the night. There is a limit to how much off the grid we can take.  We are about 20 miles from Ft Smith, Arkansas, and will continue our quest for National Park passport stamps there tomorrow. 

From the rolling cave houses of the Bedrock Bunch, good night.