So all back now at chez Gimpy foot after trading in the two wheel steed for a Ford car to take us to the next stop Tulsa.
But are Ford trying to tell me something or is it just a typo?
Route66
Two Springfields Doh Doh
Well as Mrs Hulk Foot posted I’m now here in my second Springfield Doh (Spiderpig anyone?), after dropping the bike off (quite literally as this silly arse forgot the prop stand as he got off it, double Doh).
I have just driven 95 miles on the I-44 East from Miami (apparently it is pronounced Miama) at 45 degrees due to the 50mph gusts and the bike was a little light without my sexy pillion babe to steady me.
The guys at Avis/ Eagle Riders in Springfield were fantastic, with Jeremia dropping me at the airport where this rather impressive plane hangs in the beautiful airport.
Just gonna grab a snack then check out my Nissan micra for the 95 miles back (no doubt at 45 degrees again).
Never know tomorrow we may get out of Oki land!
The great car swap
Mr Fogg has now gone to Springfield, Missouri to swap the bike for a car, which we then will have to take to Tulsa Airport tomorrow to swap for another car that we can take all the way to Vegas. Long story short, you cannot get one way car rentals in small town Oklahoma.
I’m holding the fort here in Miami, Oklahoma ready for his return. The hotel here have been amazing. They have adopted Mr Fogg, brought in various things to aid in reducing swelling, sorted extra pillows, towels and are checking on me today too. Lovely lovely people.
Miami is a very small place. The picture is their proud arch over Main Street showing where Route 66 runs. The section of Route 66 we unfortunately took is the very oldest, laid in the early 1920s and being only 8ft wide Tarmac mostly covered in eroded gravel from later layers put down. That’s the bit we hit at about 10mph when the normal looking road just stopped.
I’d love to come back and do the tour again all the way- perhaps on a trike though or in an open top posh car.
While there will now be many things we can no longer get to (too far to hobble) I’m in planning mode to ensure we do see some of the big highlights.
I’m determined we shall see Cadillac ranch for instance, but no plans to now leave graffiti as they require a walk across a field.
We’ve 913 miles to cover to get us back on track so we reach Winslow by 31st May. That means we can average just over 200 miles a day after a longer run tomorrow.
The sun is still shining, still smiling and foot/ankle looking good.
Ready, Set, Go
And she out of the blocks, rattling down the corridor at break neck speeds, stopping only to breath, laugh and break wind (in my shorts no less).
Now becoming a dab hand with the crutches, she’ll soon be able to cover the half mile in 2 hours flat.
Tonight is wash night, supervised by Boss Fogg.
Holding Pattern
So day two of me and Mrs Incredible Hulk foot hold up in the back of nowhere. We spent the morning arranging the momentous following day (I’m driving 90 odd miles east to save the extortionate pickup up charge), while the Mrs enjoys Oreo cookies and crapiola day time TV.
I took the trip out to get lunch from a local deli today where the locals all stop, even the drunk and stoned non English speakers.
So now we have updated y’all on the progress of Mrs gimpy foot, she has her work cut out replanning the rest of the trip (hop scotch, skipping, football, tee hee). We have 900 miles to cover from Tuesday to Friday (no pressure) and then hiking the canyon on crutches (I feel a piggy back coming on).
Anyhoo, next chore is the laundry.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles?
Or is that bikes, cars and taxis? So, holed up in our hotel room it’s planning time. Our challenges:
1) Get bike back to rental company to closest depot to avoid $800-1600 collection fee (since we opted to land in the middle of no-where)
2) Find transport from wherever bike needs to be taken back to me who will be laid up in the hotel still
3) Get me, foot, luggage and crutches into new hire car to carry on the journey.
4) Re-plan rest of holiday to factor in two crutches and useless here who has never ever used such things.
Comedy of errors. We have to keep laughing though.
All Change
Yep you see right this is a pair of crutches, but DON’T panic at all.
Yesterday on the route out of Miami Oklahoma, we came across a gravel patch of the Route, we just got the bike down to 15 mile an hour as we hit the gravel patch and unfortunately lost control of the bike and both came off.
Mrs Fogg ever vigilant not to damage the bike decided to prop it up on her ankle and then with the strength only reserved for the Incredible Hulk, kicked it off her.
With the help of a passer by we checked Mrs Foggy out to make sure nothing was broken and I then rode the bike and Mrs Fogg back to the local hospital (after getting a flashing light police escort part way cos we couldn’t find it).
After 3 hours in A&E and what seemed like a glamour photo shoot of x-rays of the foot, all checked out fine, just a very bad sprain. Prescription, pain killers, crutches and rest.
So now the 66 replan on the fly begins, trying to sort one way car rental from the back of beyond Miami Oklahoma on Memorial Day weekend.
But don’t fear Mrs David Banner Fogg is fine, just hobbling a little, just don’t make her angry!!!
And just look, the before and after!
1 out of 100
On 66 out of Carthage we stopped to take a photo of this iconic drive-in, only to be met by the 1 out of 100 American. Everyone else has been amazing, this guy however came out shouting and waving his arms telling us to go away, get off his land and stop taking pictures, nice. Mrs Fogg notices the sticker pertaining to be a member of a certain gun association, so we high tailed it JIC!
After that experience it was nice to come across Galina Kansas and the petrol station on 66, with the truck that inspired CARS, the Pixar cartoon.
So after a nice relaxed lunch, more 66.
24 Hours From Tulsa
Sorry guys but we couldn’t resist although we’re about 8 hours away, but then that wouldn’t make a good song would it?
A restful night until the forked lightning at 2am and Mrs Fogg listening out for the Tornado warnings. Fortunately the sun is shining today as we cut from Missouri through Kansas and into Oklahoma.
It was fantastic to chat with the manager last night and we have educated her on the 80s parody of Spitting Image and Ronald Reagan, which she dutifully went off to find on that there YooHoo Tube.
So come on, sing and think of us on the road, Mrs Fogg sniffling and me sneezing heavily into my visor, cos we’re only 24 hours from Tulsa…..
The road gets rougher from here.