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Turning north on Day 34

Posted in Alone, Country, Planning, Road trip on October 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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While I was sad to veer off of Route 66 (it’s too soon for me to go too far west) I wasn’t disappointed with the scenery as I turned north. Luckily much of the route Aidan put me on had plenty of places for me to pull over to capture photographs along the way. Of course, I had to remind myself I wasn’t in the city anymore!

The first time I pulled over – in awe of the wide open landscape in front of me – I was very mindful that I was in Texas and that I had to watch for snakes, which I really hate. I don’t hate many things, but snakes are one of them. All was fine (a trucker even stopped to make sure I was okay – love southern gentleman), until I got back in the car. A few flies followed me back in, so I was trying to shoo them away as I put my camera away. I felt what I thought was  one landing on my elbow when I glanced down and saw it was actually a giant spider that must’ve attached itself to my clothes. I screamed like a little girl (very, very high pitched – am sure any dogs in a ten mile radius heard me) and flew out of the car, jumping up and down on the side of the road trying to get it off me without touching it. Of course it leaped back in the car! It took a few minutes but I got it out, and then got a picture of it (in the slideshow above). So I learned my lesson and will be watching for more than just snakes from now on. I was much more careful the next times I stopped. What I did seem to get every time I stopped were more flies in the car – so annoying. I spent a good amount of time trying to kill them or shoo them out the window. There are way too many bugs in Texas! No, nature girl I am not…

Crossing into the New Mexico border I was reminded that there’s more to be cautious about than insects and wildlife. The first sign after the welcome one asked people not to pick up hitchhikers as the prison is near by. Nice. Wasn’t planning on it, but that confirmed it! My other safety reminder of the day came from a very nice man I met at the New Mexico rest stop (where I got to take some pictures of the Sierra Grande, the largest extinct volcano in northeastern New Mexico).  Dayton was traveling to the mountains to go elk hunting for a bit, just him, his two horses and two mules. (Did you know some rest stops out here actually have pens for animals? Pretty cool.) He was kind enough to tell me about himself, his family (three daughters – and he dated the mother of Colby from the first Survivor), his travels and show me around his trailer, complete with manger for the animals. Dayton also reminded me that while we may appear to be traveling alone, we always have God watching over us, which always makes me feel better. But, he added, we still need to be smart and – nodding at the Watch for Snakes sign – told me not to forget that it’s more the two-legged variety that I need to really watch out for. I promised I would and we parted ways.

I actually felt like I had some company as I traveled yesterday: a train. Much of the road I took followed along the tracks and throughout the day I would pass the train, then stop somewhere and when I returned to the road it wouldn’t be long before the train would catch up with me. It was like playing tag. And I love trains so it was a good thing – and more photo ops, of course. The train reminded me once again of the movie Far and Away – remember, when Tom Cruise was working his way west? Wish I had the movie with me, but only have it on VHS and while I did bring a lot of things on the road with me, I wasn’t about to pack a VCR.

I can certainly see where the saying ‘Everything’s bigger in Texas’ comes from. It’s like everything is supersized! Bigger farms and ranches, bigger farm equipment, bigger processing plants, bigger trucks, bigger haystacks, bigger (longer) trains, bigger open fields. I even spotted what I dubbed the Eiffel Tower of Texas – it certainly looked like it, a giant red and white tower that just appeared towering over the fields.

When I crossed into New Mexico, I went into the next time zone. My phone actually changed too early – while I was still in Texas – which messed me up when I stopped at the Texline Post Office, thinking it was still open. But the very nice postal woman reopened for me. (Thank you!) I love going back in time as I travel west, but know I’m going to hate losing the hours when I head back east. I am late enough on my own!

The third and final state I entered yesterday was Colorado, right on the Santa Fe Trail. When I stopped to capture the amazing view, the cold hit me. The tank top I put on that morning in Texas was not cutting it in Colorado, elevation 6,017. I think I need to dig into my trunk and pull out some of the fall clothes for the next couple of weeks as I go further north and west. 

I spent a good amount of time yesterday and today trying to plan the rest of the trip, as I realized the time is flying and there is no way I’m going to be able to fit everything in if I keep just meandering along wherever, whenever. So I think I’ve nailed down at least through the next month – see the Road Trip Itinerary above if you’re interested…

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Getting back on track (mentally and physically) via Oklahoma’s Route 66 on Day 32

Posted in Alone, Country, Dating, Home, Planning, Road trip, Uncategorized on October 11, 2010| 2 Comments »

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For more reasons than I can list – or even understand myself – I haven’t been able to really write much for the last week, other than the couple of times I absolutely forced myself and had something concrete to say. That hasn’t been enough for some of my faithful readers, and I apologize. Several of you have written or called to ask what’s going on and one of those readers – my dad – told me straight out last night that it wasn’t fair to those who check in on my blog daily. He reminded me that everything (everyone) has ups and downs and if this is going to be authentic, I should include it all. Well, I think ALL might be going a bit far (maybe in the book – we’ll see…) but I did scribble some things in my notebook this week (as did Lilly, Jason’s youngest daughter, but I can still read my words through the crayon), especially yesterday, so the following is some of that to fill you in. And for those who really just want the travel stuff, skip to the Arcadia, Day 32 section, and check out the Oklahoma Route 66 pics above. And thanks, Dad…

(Day 30, on way back to Holdenville from Oklahoma City and Choctaw) Live, Laugh, Love. Sitting at a stoplight in the middle of Oklahoma, feeling a little bit sorry for myself, I glanced to my left. There it was. ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ – the name of the store next to me. It happened to be the last thing I saw in my aunt and uncle’s house as I left tonight, too. It was on a small plaque hanging over their dining room table: ‘Live, Laugh, Love.’ Those also were the words I wrote in my high school yearbook nearly 20 years ago. I’ve always tried to live by that saying. Why am I having such a hard time doing it now? Part of me came to Oklahoma to do more than just catch up with friends and family. I think deep down I was looking and hoping for more, only for so very many reasons it didn’t turn out that way and now I’m feeling a little lost about what to do and where to go next. What I did do in Oklahoma was renew a couple of old friendships and made some new ones – including the four most wonderful new little friends a girl could ask for! Now I need to find a way to be a good example for them and demonstrate that favorite saying of mine: Live, Laugh, Love…

(At the football field, Day 31) Life in a small town. Everybody knows everybody. Everybody knows everybody’s business. Everybody knows everybody’s family – or is part of their family, in one way or another. There’s history and rivalry, love and feuds. The boy plays football on the same field as his dad played, and his father before him.  There’s something special about walking the same streets as your ancestors – it’s like they’re always with you. I have moved more times than I can count. When I was young we lived at the family farm with my grandparents. I loved it so much. Years after it was sold, I did exactly as Miranda Lambert does in her song ‘The House that Built Me’ and went and knocked on the door. But the people had changed it so much that the feeling I was looking for just wasn’t there anymore. It led me to the conclusion that it’s not the place, it’s the people. Home is where your family is. If they’ve all stayed in one place for generations, it’s much easier to find and go home again…

(On the road, Day 32) I’m leaving. I won’t stay anywhere this long again. You get too into the family and daily life and it’s too hard to leave. You also worry that you’re messing up their normal routine and feel like you’re in the way. A few days anywhere is more than enough. Honestly, I feel more lost than ever. And a bit jealous of the family life and stability – and the hugs from little ones, especially now that mine is grown and away at school. (Need to get back to my goddaughters – Tina, thank you again for sharing!!!) I just don’t know where I  belong, and hate the feeling of not being needed somewhere – I’ve just never not had somewhere to be or someone to help…

I guess I’m getting more than I bargained for on this road trip. I’m learning a lot about myself, more than I am about geography (since I leave most of that to Aidan). Or is this really what I set out to do? If it is, I’m crazy – think I might be happier going back to my mile-a-minute, always busy, chaotic life. Sometimes it’s better not to have so much thinking time. There’s too much of that alone on the road! So what is my latest lesson? Well, I’ve always prided myself on being this strong, independent woman, who doesn’t need a man, never wants to marry again, hates depending on anyone, blah, blah, blah. I think having Nick has been a shield, in a way. As long as I had him at home, needing me, I really didn’t need anything (or anyone) else. I won’t go as far to say I actually need someone, but I will say it would be nice to have a partner in crime. But not just anyone…

(Arcadia, OK, Route 66, Day 32) Okay, I feel a bit better. It’s amazing what a dose of family and laughter can do! I just met my aunt and uncle at Pops, a great (fairly new) gas station/hamburger joint/gift shop, right on Route 66 by the Old Round Barn and the Biker’s Shak in Arcadia. They have a zillion (well, more than 400) different types of soda pop, and the thickest shakes I’ve ever had – it’s basically like trying to drink ice cream. Lunch with them at such a fun venue was just what I needed to kick off the next leg of my road trip.

A bit about Oklahoma as I make my way out of the state:

  • It is the home of several country music stars including Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood.
  • While Oklahoma has the longest drivable stretch of the original Route 66 of any state, it is not at all easy to follow. You’ll be driving and it will just disappear – a few times I hopped on the highway and caught back up with it further west. If you’re ever going to really try to stick solely with Route 66, make sure you map out your journey ahead of time on the computer because most maps and GPS’s aren’t very helpful…
  • The shopping cart was invented in Oklahoma. (Didn’t know that, did you? Ah, the things you learn by reading billboards.)

The sky suddenly got very dark and there’s major lightning in the distance. Which leads me to think that it’s not always good to listen to satellite radio – you don’t get the local weather and warnings. I’m wondering exactly what you’re supposed to do if you’re driving and you just see a tornado coming at you? Maybe I should find out, and maybe I should start listening to local radio stations…

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A brief break from the road – and Aidan rebels!

Posted in Country, Planning, Road trip on October 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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I have been taking a much needed break from traveling the last few days, catching up with an old friend in Oklahoma and visiting with him and his family. This is the first time we’ve seen each other in about 17 years! He was in boot camp with my brother, we became pen-pals and wrote for several years. Luckily he found me on Facebook. (See, Facebook isn’t all evil!) This is definitely the best part of doing this road trip – catching up with old friends and making new ones.  

The first day I barely got out of my pajamas and did nothing all day – a first for me in a very long while! I think it was especially needed after the horrid day of flight delays (five) followed by the straight drive from Little Rock to Oklahoma. I so prefer being in the car to flying – something I never thought I’d say. But when you’re behind the wheel you’re in control of when and where you go, rather than being at the mercy of the airlines. I have never been so happy to see my car (Holly) as I was when I landed.

Speaking of Holly, she’s in need of some attention: she’s already hit 15,000 miles. I scheduled maintenance for her at the Volvo dealership of Oklahoma City and set off yesterday – Day 28 – to find it. Oklahoma City is about 70 miles from Holdenville, where I’m staying. Should be easy with Aidan, right? Well, I’m afraid I’ve gotten a bit to complacent and too reliant on Aidan because he finally failed me!

Yes, I say finally, because I was kinda waiting for it to happen – no one is perfect, not even a GPS. However, his past record of success lulled me into a false sense of security. I didn’t even use my brain yesterday, when we were clearly in the wrong place. You see, I blindly followed him to within two miles of our supposed destination. I saw we were early so I let a bookstore sidetrack me for a few minutes (I’m a sucker for bookstores). I got back in the car with just under 10 minutes to spare. But we were only going a couple of miles so should be fine, right? Wrong.

I drove to where Aidan said “Congratulations! You’ve reached your destination!” and found some warehouses, but certainly no Volvo dealership. I should’ve known we weren’t yet in Oklahoma City. It was a rather suburban area, but hey, it’s Oklahoma, and it’s been 20 years since I’ve been there so couldn’t be sure. I ended up finding the right place by doing two things: putting the name of the dealership in the GPS and calling and confirming the new directions with them. I was about 15 miles away. Luckily they were very nice and still able to help me. So lesson learned – no more blind trust! Sorry Aidan…

On the way back I took my time and was able to get some photographs of the area. It’s very pretty, but I’m afraid so many of my pictures from these middle states are looking rather similar. Yes, I want to get photos of the area, but I think I also have to be better at seeking out some of the more unique places along the way. So over the next couple days while I’m still in Oklahoma I’m going to take advantage and do a bit more research and forward planning. Don’t worry – I won’t fall into my rigid planning, I’ll still take the impromptu detours, but I also want to make sure I don’t miss any that may not be in my direct path…

P.S. – completely forgot a very interesting encounter I had on Day 28! While I was on my way back to Jason’s, taking pictures along the way, I saw this old, rusted trailer at the end of a dead-end road. It was parked at the beginning of a field and looked like it was begging to be noticed and have its picture taken. It was pretty dark (I only noticed it because my headlights flashed on it), so I wasn’t sure if the picture would come out, but I took a few anyway. As I pulled away, a man came out of a house. I smiled, gave a tiny wave and kept driving. I was on the phone (hands-free, of course) with my cousin Tara and just driving slowly through town when I came to a train roaring through the crossing ahead of me. I thought that, too, would be a good picture if I could pull over quick enough. As I did, I realized the truck behind me pulled over too, and a man got out. I told Tara to wait a minute and rolled down my window. (I think her just being on the phone helped me to not be scared.)

“Why were you taking pictures of my trailer?” he asked. “Because I thought it was pretty,” I replied. He scratched his head and squinted at me. “Really? Why?” he asked again. “Yes. I’m just going around Oklahoma taking pictures,” I said. “Really?” he asked yet again. “Really.” He kind of shook his head, said OK, and slowly walked back to his truck, stopping only to analyze my license plate and then left. Jason laughed when I told him about the encounter later and agreed that he probably does know the trailer man and might even hear about it in town. Oh those small towns…  

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